The bow is the best weapon in the game and this is why:
1- Bows and arrows are made from renewable resources so falling in lava and losing your weapon is not a big deal. Contrast that to losing a diamond sword.
2- 17 xp gets you to level 1 for enchanting. I have enchanted 50+ bows (hard survival in the last four weeks) and every time I get power 1 (one exception I got flame 1). A power 1 bow increases damage to mobs 150%.
3- you need 825xp for a level 30 enchantment. So you can enchant 48 bows at level 1 as opposed to having one 30 level enchanted weapon.
4- bows can safely kill mobs at a distance. Got Creepers? Not a problem for a power 1 bow.
5- bows can kill mobs that swords can not reach. Ghast and ender dragons are often out of range for the sword. No problem with the bow.
6- bows can be used to easily dispatch animals trapped in holes or on cliffs that never despawn thereby fixing animal spawn issues on your map.
7- because they are a cheap and easy to make powerful weapon bows make a great item to give to new people on a survival server. This helps them survive and thrive while they can more easily dispatch creepers and such threatening your property.
8- bows work underwater also
9- in player versus player you can take out multiple sword welding opponents from a tree top or tower before they can get to you. it's also a good ambush weapon.
A couple of negatives.
1- bows are not the best weapon against cave spiders and silverfish. They are smaller mobs and move fast in groups. Luckily they are only found in very limited locations on maps.
2- bows are easy to make but are limited by the number of arrows you have. You get four arrows with a feather, flint and stick so just remember to mine that gravel and kill those chickens as you minecraft. Arrows can also be gathered after killing skeletons. A skeleton grinder will give you a surplus of arrows no matter what your needs. A higher level enchantment can give you infinity on a bow which gives you unlimited arrows for that weapons life.
Other weapons have uses too. The bucket of lava can easily block a cave entrance you are not ready to explore yet or take out a group of creepers that are standing under the ledge you are on in a ravine. The sword is a versatile weapon the can not be beat on close combat. It feels great to take down a zombie with fist only and tools are often already in your hand when facing a hostile mob. etc.
But I hope I have convinced you to at least try the power 1 bow. It's a dynamic, versatile, ranged weapon unlike any other on the map. Sure swords are the favorite weapon for novice players. But why not take your game to the next level.
I'm going to go with the diamond sword because I can enchant to level 8 and get knockback and fire aspect. The bow is very good as well, but I prefer a sword.
I said other, because I think gravel or sand make really nice weapons as in traps. I always have some gravel lying around. Plus fists I mean infinite attacks, of course it not the strongest.
And now my opinion on everything since I have no preference!
Fists can actually be a powerful weapon when combined with Strength II potions.
You'll laugh when you see a newb punch someone to death....
Of course, they are the weakest hit without boosts.
Depending on the situation, a bucket of lava can be extremely useful since it can almost promise a death for a player or mob.
It also works very well for preventing from being followed in certain areas.
This can also backfire on you if not careful.
Harming II potions can be extremely useful if aimed correctly seeing as they can hit many enemies at one time.
The only problem is you don't want to bomb yourself.
Swords can deal a lot more damage a lot faster, but also put you in greater danger.
This is where a sneak attack will definitely come in handy.
Bows with Power I are useful for one-hitting animals and 2-hitting mobs. In a PvP world, their usefulness would vary depending on the situation--a bow in a small room isn't a smart idea.
Tools are okay as weapons, but I use them only in panic situations....
Snowballs may be more useful in future updates when they knock players around, too. For now I have never seriously used them as weapons.
Humans, while I have never technically used one as a shield, I like the concept. The most I've done is a zombie shield.
Other--I can safely say I get a kick out of drowning and suffocating people with water/sand. I have yet to legitimately pull off a cactus-kill, but I have had people run into them before....
fists....eh. Mostly for hitting friends in the face for when they did something stupid...and pushing people off cliffs.
Bucket of lava is great for traps and for putting behind you when your running away from a group of mobs...namely in caves. not recommended in a forest.
harming potions are fun, unless your bad at aiming...and if your fighting zombies, pigmen, or skeletons. then it just heals them. though that can be useful for when your trying to get a skeleton into a spot for a creeper/music disc grinder. or get a bunch of zombies in your friends house
swords are your typical weapon. great for zombies, and easy to reach skeletons. not so much against creepers and that darn dragon.
very fun with knockback if your pvping on a sort of cliff, or skyblock or something.
bows are great against creepers, skeletons, the end dragon, and other mobs that are out of reach. bad in tight areas, and unless you have infinity, eats arrows up pretty quick. relatively easy to get early in a game, except the arrows are pretty limited, unless you have a massive amount of gravel and chickens.
Like phoenix said, tools are panic weapons, though axes do only slightly less damage than a sword of the same type.
snowballs are good against blazes, if you don't feel like using swords, or have them trapped to where they cant hit you. since snow golems don't take damage in the nether.....yet, you can put them right next to your blaze spawner, and get infinite snow, or just let it attack the blazes.
meat shields? how about an iron or snow one? once we get iron golems, you can guess who im going to hide behind.
and for other....it is FUN to have a cactus wall, agro a mob, and let it kill itself on the wall. not as effective on spiders, unfortunatly, but everything has its downside. it also sometimes destroys the drop.
Fists can actually be a powerful weapon when combined with Strength II potions.
You'll laugh when you see a newb punch someone to death....
Of course, they are the weakest hit without boosts.
I'm the first to vote for harming potions -_-.
Try them. Bring 3 Instant Damage II, Poison extended, Weakness extended, Slowness.
A guaranteed kill if used correctly.
1- Bows and arrows are made from renewable resources so falling in lava and losing your weapon is not a big deal. Contrast that to losing a diamond sword.
2- 17 xp gets you to level 1 for enchanting. I have enchanted 50+ bows (hard survival in the last four weeks) and every time I get power 1 (one exception I got flame 1). A power 1 bow increases damage to mobs 150%.
3- you need 825xp for a level 30 enchantment. So you can enchant 48 bows at level 1 as opposed to having one 30 level enchanted weapon.
4- bows can safely kill mobs at a distance. Got Creepers? Not a problem for a power 1 bow.
5- bows can kill mobs that swords can not reach. Ghast and ender dragons are often out of range for the sword. No problem with the bow.
6- bows can be used to easily dispatch animals trapped in holes or on cliffs that never despawn thereby fixing animal spawn issues on your map.
7- because they are a cheap and easy to make powerful weapon bows make a great item to give to new people on a survival server. This helps them survive and thrive while they can more easily dispatch creepers and such threatening your property.
8- bows work underwater also
9- in player versus player you can take out multiple sword welding opponents from a tree top or tower before they can get to you. it's also a good ambush weapon.
A couple of negatives.
1- bows are not the best weapon against cave spiders and silverfish. They are smaller mobs and move fast in groups. Luckily they are only found in very limited locations on maps.
2- bows are easy to make but are limited by the number of arrows you have. You get four arrows with a feather, flint and stick so just remember to mine that gravel and kill those chickens as you minecraft. Arrows can also be gathered after killing skeletons. A skeleton grinder will give you a surplus of arrows no matter what your needs. A higher level enchantment can give you infinity on a bow which gives you unlimited arrows for that weapons life.
Other weapons have uses too. The bucket of lava can easily block a cave entrance you are not ready to explore yet or take out a group of creepers that are standing under the ledge you are on in a ravine. The sword is a versatile weapon the can not be beat on close combat. It feels great to take down a zombie with fist only and tools are often already in your hand when facing a hostile mob. etc.
But I hope I have convinced you to at least try the power 1 bow. It's a dynamic, versatile, ranged weapon unlike any other on the map. Sure swords are the favorite weapon for novice players. But why not take your game to the next level.
Also, if you have a bow you can attack from some angles that your opponent cant see you.
If you are good with the bow, you can kill your enemy in 3 hits
Fists can actually be a powerful weapon when combined with Strength II potions.
You'll laugh when you see a newb punch someone to death....
Of course, they are the weakest hit without boosts.
Depending on the situation, a bucket of lava can be extremely useful since it can almost promise a death for a player or mob.
It also works very well for preventing from being followed in certain areas.
This can also backfire on you if not careful.
Harming II potions can be extremely useful if aimed correctly seeing as they can hit many enemies at one time.
The only problem is you don't want to bomb yourself.
Swords can deal a lot more damage a lot faster, but also put you in greater danger.
This is where a sneak attack will definitely come in handy.
Bows with Power I are useful for one-hitting animals and 2-hitting mobs. In a PvP world, their usefulness would vary depending on the situation--a bow in a small room isn't a smart idea.
Tools are okay as weapons, but I use them only in panic situations....
Snowballs may be more useful in future updates when they knock players around, too. For now I have never seriously used them as weapons.
Humans, while I have never technically used one as a shield, I like the concept. The most I've done is a zombie shield.
Other--I can safely say I get a kick out of drowning and suffocating people with water/sand. I have yet to legitimately pull off a cactus-kill, but I have had people run into them before....
Stay fluffy~
Bucket of lava is great for traps and for putting behind you when your running away from a group of mobs...namely in caves. not recommended in a forest.
harming potions are fun, unless your bad at aiming...and if your fighting zombies, pigmen, or skeletons. then it just heals them. though that can be useful for when your trying to get a skeleton into a spot for a creeper/music disc grinder. or get a bunch of zombies in your friends house
swords are your typical weapon. great for zombies, and easy to reach skeletons. not so much against creepers and that darn dragon.
very fun with knockback if your pvping on a sort of cliff, or skyblock or something.
bows are great against creepers, skeletons, the end dragon, and other mobs that are out of reach. bad in tight areas, and unless you have infinity, eats arrows up pretty quick. relatively easy to get early in a game, except the arrows are pretty limited, unless you have a massive amount of gravel and chickens.
Like phoenix said, tools are panic weapons, though axes do only slightly less damage than a sword of the same type.
snowballs are good against blazes, if you don't feel like using swords, or have them trapped to where they cant hit you. since snow golems don't take damage in the nether.....yet, you can put them right next to your blaze spawner, and get infinite snow, or just let it attack the blazes.
meat shields? how about an iron or snow one? once we get iron golems, you can guess who im going to hide behind.
and for other....it is FUN to have a cactus wall, agro a mob, and let it kill itself on the wall. not as effective on spiders, unfortunatly, but everything has its downside. it also sometimes destroys the drop.
Good point, wish I had mentioned that.
Try them. Bring 3 Instant Damage II, Poison extended, Weakness extended, Slowness.
A guaranteed kill if used correctly.
I love potions
wack
if u say the fist (: