Revision 2

Overview

The Plume Bow is an upgraded ranged weapon in Starsand Island. It is the first true bow in the game, representing a major step up from the starter Slingshot. The Plume Bow is unlocked at the Junior Explorer tier under Zephyria at the Exploration Club and is the recommended weapon for mid-game boss fights against Crystalith, Glintortle, and the Ruin Guard in the Moonlit Forest.

Unlike the Slingshot, which uses pellets, the Plume Bow fires arrows. Arrows deal significantly more damage per shot, and the bow supports multiple specialty arrow types including Bomb Arrows, Fire Arrows, Water Arrows, and Gale Arrows. This versatility makes the Plume Bow the backbone of your combat loadout through the middle and late portions of the game.

Crafting Details

How to Obtain

To unlock the Plume Bow, you need to advance to the Junior Explorer tier. This requires completing the Apprentice Explorer quests under Zephyria, which includes entering the Moonlit Forest and completing the Slingshot tutorial. Once you reach Junior Explorer, the Plume Bow blueprint (650 Coins) and the Arrow blueprint (550 Coins) both become available for purchase at the Exploration Club shop.

After purchasing the blueprint, craft the Plume Bow at Worktable II. You need Worktable II to build it, so make sure your Crafter profession has progressed far enough to unlock the Worktable upgrade.

Material Sourcing

Hardwood Planks are processed from Hardwood at the Cutter. Hardwood is chopped from Banyan trees on the island surface using the Impact Axe or better. You need 5 planks, so gather at least 5 Hardwood logs (one log per plank at the Cutter).

Carbon Line is crafted from Carbon Fiber at a crafting station. Carbon Fiber is obtained from certain plants and tree bark in the forest. Carbon Line is also used in fishing equipment upgrades, so you may already have some if you have been pursuing the Angler profession.

Upgrade Path

The Plume Bow can be upgraded to the Golden Bow, and the full ranged weapon progression continues to the endgame Crossbow:

Upgrading from the Plume Bow to the Golden Bow requires 2x Gold Ingot (smelted from Gold Ore at Furnace II) plus the Plume Bow itself as an ingredient. The Golden Bow provides higher base damage, and since Gold Ingots are relatively easy to produce once you have access to gold deposits, the upgrade is worth doing as soon as possible.

Arrow Types

The Plume Bow (and its upgrades) can fire multiple arrow types. Arrows are crafted at the Ammo Maker, a crafting station whose blueprint costs 50 Coins from the Exploration Club. Here are the arrow types available:

Fire Arrows and Water Arrows are puzzle-solving tools, not combat weapons. They do not deal extra combat damage. Save them for burning vines, growing bridges, and clearing environmental obstacles. For combat, stick to Standard Arrows for sustained damage and Bomb Arrows for burst damage against bosses.

Combat Strategy

The Plume Bow is the recommended weapon for all three mid-game Moonlit Forest bosses. Here is the basic combat loop:

1. Open with a Bomb Arrow to stun the boss and trigger the cracked armor state (visible as cracks on the boss's health bar).

2. While the boss is stunned, fire Standard Arrows rapidly. Every hit deals bonus damage during the cracked state.

3. When the stun wears off, dodge the boss's attack pattern and reposition.

4. Fire another Bomb Arrow to re-stun. Repeat the cycle until the boss is defeated.

Hold the fire button to charge your shots for increased damage. Charged Bomb Arrows are especially effective, dealing roughly double the damage of a quick shot. This technique works with all arrow types.

Bring stamina food (Watermelon Smoothie, Cappuccino, or any high-stamina meal) and HP food (Grilled Chicken Wings, Grilled Mushroom Skewers) before entering boss fights. Running out of stamina mid-fight forces you to eat, leaving you vulnerable.

Comparison: Plume Bow vs. Other Ranged Weapons

Here is how the Plume Bow compares to the other ranged weapons in terms of progression and role:

• Slingshot: The starter ranged weapon. Adequate for the first few Moonlit Forest encounters but outclassed quickly. Uses pellet ammo, which is cheap but low-damage.

• Golden Slingshot: A slight upgrade to the Slingshot received as a quest reward from Momo. Still uses pellets. Not worth investing in once you have the Plume Bow.

• Plume Bow: The first bow. Massive damage increase over both slingshots. Uses arrows, which are more expensive but hit much harder. The go-to weapon for mid-game.

• Golden Bow: Direct upgrade to the Plume Bow with higher base damage. Costs 2x Gold Ingot plus the Plume Bow. Worth upgrading to as soon as you have the materials.

• Crossbow: The endgame ranged weapon. Expert-tier quest reward. Highest DPS in the game but chews through ammo quickly. Uses arrows (same as the bow).

Tips

• Craft the Plume Bow as soon as you reach Junior Explorer. It is the single biggest combat upgrade in the mid-game and makes Moonlit Forest exploration dramatically easier.

• Build an Ammo Maker on your property as soon as possible. The public Ammo Maker at the Exploration Club works, but having your own saves travel time. The blueprint is only 50 Coins.

• Stockpile Bomb Arrows before boss fights. Plan for 15 to 20 Bomb Arrows per boss. Regular arrows can fill in for sustained damage, but the stun-and-burst cycle from Bomb Arrows is what makes boss fights manageable.

• Do not discard your Plume Bow when upgrading to the Golden Bow. The Plume Bow is a required crafting ingredient for the Golden Bow.

• Carry the Plume Bow alongside the Blast Hammer in the Moonlit Forest. Use the bow for ranged combat and the hammer for mining and clearing trash mobs. This combination covers both combat and resource gathering in a single trip.

• Eat buff food before boss fights. Chicken Stewed with Mushrooms (Battle Spirit buff) increases your attack power, and it stacks with charged shots for even higher damage output.