Arbalistic
Kill five unique mobs with one crossbow shot
Overview
Arbalistic is a challenge advancement in the Adventure tab of Minecraft's advancement system, carrying the in-game description "Kill five unique mobs with one crossbow shot." It branches directly off Ol' Betsy, so that earlier advancement is its prerequisite and must be earned first. The Adventure tab covers advancements focused on exploration, combat, trading, and interacting with the world and its inhabitants. Arbalistic was added in Minecraft 1.14 and remains part of the current 1.21 advancement set.
It is rated Expert difficulty on this site: extremely difficult challenges that require extensive game knowledge and dedication. Because it is flagged as a challenge advancement, completing Arbalistic makes a special toast and a sound play, and its frame in the advancement screen is the magenta challenge style rather than a normal square. Challenges are the hardest tier and usually represent a milestone rather than routine progress. Nothing else in the tree depends on it, so it is a leaf at the tip of its branch.
In tree terms, Arbalistic sits second along its line: the full path from the Adventure root reads Adventure -> Ol' Betsy -> Arbalistic. That means 2 advancements must be completed before this one becomes available, and Arbalistic is one of 40 total advancements in the Adventure tab. It shares its parent with 2 sibling advancements (Two Birds, One Arrow and Who's the Pillager Now?), all of which open from the same point in the tree.
How to Complete Arbalistic
Earning Arbalistic comes down to the following, performed in order:
- Kill 5 different types of mobs with a single crossbow shot using Piercing IV.
- This requires lining up 5 different mob types and shooting through all of them.
- Use a narrow corridor and different mobs.
Tips & Fastest Route
Tips & Fastest Route- Fastest route: With Piercing IV, line up five different mob types and kill all five with one crossbow shot.
- A one-wide corridor that funnels mobs into a single line is the standard setup.
- Piercing IV lets one bolt pass through up to five targets, which is exactly what this needs.
- Make sure Ol' Betsy is already ticked off before you start, otherwise Arbalistic will not be tracked even if you perform the steps correctly.
- As a challenge advancement this is best saved until you are well-equipped; rushing Arbalistic underprepared is the usual reason attempts fail, so gather everything the steps above require before you commit.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes- The five mobs must be different types; five zombies will not count.
- Remember that Arbalistic will not appear as available until Ol' Betsy is done, since the game only tracks an advancement once its parent has been unlocked.
Reward & What It Unlocks
Reward & What It UnlocksCompleting Arbalistic grants 100 experience points, reflecting its status as a challenge — challenge advancements pay out far more XP than ordinary tasks. The XP drops at your position the moment the advancement fires.
It is a leaf advancement, so nothing further unlocks from it; it stands as a completed tip of its branch.
Details
Advancement ID
Category
Version AddedAdvancement Tree
Parent Advancement
Child Advancements
Arbalistic Advancement FAQ
How do you get the Arbalistic advancement in Minecraft?
With Piercing IV, line up five different mob types and kill all five with one crossbow shot. In full, kill 5 different types of mobs with a single crossbow shot using Piercing IV. This requires lining up 5 different mob types and shooting through all of them. Use a narrow corridor and different mobs.
What do you need for Arbalistic?
Before you can work on it you must have completed Ol' Betsy. Kill 5 different types of mobs with a single crossbow shot using Piercing IV. This requires lining up 5 different mob types and shooting through all of them.
Which advancement tab is Arbalistic in?
Arbalistic is in the Adventure tab, hanging beneath Ol' Betsy. Its in-game advancement ID is minecraft:adventure/arbalistic.
Is Arbalistic part of the Ol' Betsy branch?
Yes. Arbalistic sits directly below Ol' Betsy in the Adventure tree, so you must earn Ol' Betsy first. It is a leaf, so nothing further unlocks from it.
How much XP does Arbalistic give and how hard is it?
Arbalistic awards 100 XP and is rated Expert difficulty, and it is a challenge advancement (the hardest tier, with a special completion toast).
When was Arbalistic added to Minecraft?
Arbalistic was added in Minecraft Java Edition 1.14 and is present in the current 1.21 advancement set.