Spelunky is © 2008, 2009 Derek Yu and Mossmouth, LLC, and is used under the [Spelunky User License v1.1b](https://spelunky.ai/LICENSE.txt). spelunky.ai is an unofficial fan project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Mossmouth. The game and its assets may not be sold. Music by George Buzinkai and Jonathan Perry; sound effects made in SFXR. From Spelunky Classic 1.1, © 2008, 2009 Derek Yu and Mossmouth, LLC. # Arrow From the spelunky.ai wiki: . Verified against the spelunky.ai port [v0.1.10](https://github.com/851-labs/spelunky/releases/tag/v0.1.10) on 27 October 2026. *For the trap that shoots them, see [Arrow Trap](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/arrow-trap).* The Arrow is an item in Spelunky Classic, shot by arrow traps and the Bow, that takes 2 hearts from the player when it hits him fast. ![A wooden arrow with a grey head, pointing right](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/media/60545f62383bb75b/sprites/sArrowRight/frames/0%404x.png) | Arrow | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Kind | Carryable | | Effect | Hurts what it hits; sticks in walls[^1] | | Damage | 1 hit point[^2][^3][^4][^5][^6][^7] | | Object | `oArrow` | | Dropped by | [Arrow Trap](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/arrow-trap) (Fired once; left behind if the trap is destroyed unfired)[^8], [Spear Trap](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/spear-trap) (never in play: only from an alarm nothing sets)[^9] | Most arrows come from [Arrow Traps](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/arrow-trap), which shoot one along their row when something moves into it; the [Bow](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/bow) shoots them too. Once an arrow has stopped, it's an item like any other, and can be picked up and thrown. ## Usage **Clip: Arrow trap.** The player climbs a ladder into an arrow trap's line of fire. The trap shoots an arrow that hits him with his last heart, and he dies. ([video](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/media/60545f62383bb75b/clips/arrow/trap/clip.mp4)) An arrow trap shoots its arrow at 8 pixels a step[^10]. In the clip, the player climbs a ladder into a trap's row; it shoots, and the arrow takes his last heart and kills him[^11]. An arrow faster than 3 pixels a step across that hits the player takes 2 hearts, knocks him its way and stuns him for 20 steps, and is destroyed, unless it's one he shot or threw in the last 10 steps[^12][^13]. It moves by the code all items share: its own lighter gravity, 0.2, lasts its first step, and then it falls 0.6 pixels a step faster each step as items do[^14][^15]. It turns to point the way it's flying[^16]. While it moves faster than 2 pixels a step, it takes 1 hit point from the monster nearest it, a [Vampire](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/vampire) that isn't stunned 3 more, and is destroyed, unless that monster is invincible or a [Magma Man](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/magma-man), when it flies on; a Damsel it hits loses 1 hit point, and the arrow is destroyed too[^17][^18][^19]. ### Stuck in walls An arrow that hits a wall faster than 6 pixels a step across sticks in it, 2 pixels deep: it stops, and no longer falls[^20][^1]. A player falling past a stuck arrow, when it's 5 or 6 pixels above his middle, catches it and hangs from it, as he does from a ledge[^21]. ### By hand At rest, an arrow is picked up and thrown as any item is, at 8 pixels a step plus the player's speed: fast enough to hurt, and to stick in a wall[^22][^23]. Holding a [Bow](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/bow), the player takes back an arrow at rest that isn't stuck in a wall by touching it, adding it to his count[^24]. ## Locations Level generation makes no arrows lying about; they come from: - **[Arrow Traps](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/arrow-trap)**, one each: a trap shoots once, and a trap destroyed before it shoots leaves its arrow[^25][^26][^27]. - **The [Bow](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/bow)**, which shoots the player's arrows[^28]. ## Interactions - **[Bombs](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/bomb).** An explosion destroys an arrow[^29]. - **Exits.** Carried through a level's exit, it's in the player's hands on the next level[^30][^31]. ## Tips - An arrow trap shoots only once, so the arrow it leaves is the end of it. - An arrow stuck in a wall is a handhold: a player falling past it can stop there. ## Trivia - The arrow's code keeps an arrow from flying through the target in the Moon challenge room, as its comment says[^32]. ## FAQ ### How much damage does an arrow do in Spelunky Classic? 2 hearts to the player, from one flying faster than 3 pixels a step across, and it stuns him. To a monster, 1 hit point, and a [Vampire](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/vampire) takes 3 more. ### Can you pick up arrows in Spelunky Classic? Yes. An arrow is an item like a [Rock](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/rock): crouching over it with empty hands, the attack key picks it up, and it can be thrown. Holding a [Bow](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/bow), the player takes back an arrow at rest that isn't stuck in a wall by touching it. ### Can you climb on arrows in Spelunky Classic? An arrow that hits a wall faster than 6 pixels a step sticks in it, and a player falling past one catches hold of it and hangs there, as from a ledge. ### Does an arrow break when it hits something in Spelunky Classic? When it hurts a monster, a Damsel or the player, yes: it's destroyed. It flies on through a Magma Man or an invincible monster, which it can't hurt, and against walls and floors it bounces, or sticks, and stays. ## See also - **Related:** [Arrow Trap](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/arrow-trap), [Bow](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/bow), Throwing ## References [^1]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:122-137` [^2]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:282` [^3]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:294` [^4]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:305` [^5]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:315` [^6]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:325` [^7]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:344` [^8]: `objects/oArrowTrapTest/collision_oCharacter.gml:14-23` [^9]: `objects/oSpearTrapTop/alarm_0.gml:1-2` [^10]: `objects/oArrowTrapTest/collision_oItem.gml:5-26` [^11]: Clip arrow/trap [^12]: `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml:1513-1535` [^13]: `objects/oArrow/alarm_2.gml:1` [^14]: `objects/oArrow/create.gml:6` [^15]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:160-170` [^16]: `objects/oArrow/step.gml:3-22` [^17]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:256-363` [^18]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:365-398` [^19]: Quirk 1 (docs/quirks.md) [^20]: `objects/oItem/step.gml:82-84` [^21]: `scripts/characterStepEvent.gml:462-475` [^22]: `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml:1203-1214` [^23]: `scripts/scrUseItem.gml:605-646` [^24]: `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml:1973-1988` [^25]: `objects/oArrowTrapLeft/step.gml:1-2` [^26]: `objects/oArrowTrapTest/collision_oItem.gml:9-21` [^27]: `objects/oArrowTrapLeft/destroy.gml:1-10` [^28]: `scripts/scrFireBow.gml:24-50` [^29]: `objects/oExplosion/collision_oItem.gml:1-5` [^30]: `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml:842-850` [^31]: `scripts/scrHoldItem.gml:38` [^32]: `objects/oArrow/step.gml:24-37` ### Source code - `objects/oArrow/create.gml` - `objects/oArrow/step.gml` - `objects/oItem/step.gml` - `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml` - `scripts/characterStepEvent.gml` - `objects/oArrowTrapTest/collision_oItem.gml`