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Light ballista

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Light ballista
Released6 May 2016 (Update)
MembersYes
Quest itemNo
Properties
TradeableYes
EquipableYes
StackableNo
NoteableYes
OptionsWield, Drop
ExamineA weapon forged from the wreckage of an airship.
Values
Value125,000 coins
High alch75,000 coins
Low alch50,000 coins
Weight3 kg
Grand Exchange
Exchange537,778 coins (info)
Buy limit8
Daily volume264
View real-time prices
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Advanced data
Item ID19478
LinkMOID

The light ballista is a two-handed crossbow that uses javelins as ammunition, requiring level 65 in Ranged to wield.

It is created by using ballista limbs on a light frame, then using the resulting incomplete light ballista on a ballista spring, and finally adding a monkey tail on an unstrung light ballista. This process requires 47 Fletching and grants 330 experience.

Despite being classified as a crossbow, it cannot be used with a mith grapple to grapple across certain Agility shortcuts.

Combat stats

 Attack bonuses
StabSlashCrushMagicRanged
+0+0+0+0+110
 Defence bonuses
StabSlashCrushMagicRanged
+0+0+0+0+0
 Other bonusesSlot
StrengthRangedMagic damagePrayer2h slot table
+0+0+0%+0List
Combat styleAttack typeWeapon styleAttack speedRangeExperienceLevel boost
AccurateHeavyAccurate7 ticks (4.2s)9 tilesRanged Hitpoints+3 Ranged
RapidHeavyRapid6 ticks (3.6s)9 tilesRanged HitpointsNone
LongrangeHeavyLongrange7 ticks (4.2s)10 tilesRanged Defence Hitpoints+3 Defence

Special attack

A player performing the light ballista's special attack, Concentrated Shot.

The light ballista has a special attack, Concentrated Shot, which it shares with the heavy ballista. It performs an attack with 25% increased accuracy and damage and uses 65% of the player's special attack energy.

Creation

Requirements
SkillLevelXP
Fletching Fletching47 (b)300
Members
Ticks? (edit)
Materials
ItemQuantityCost
Unstrung light ballista186,279
Monkey tail1463,798
Total cost550,077
Light ballista1537,778
Profit−12,299
Profit after GE Tax−23,054

Sound effects

Sound Name Description ID
equip_ranged Wielding 2244
javelin Attacking 2699
powershot Special attack 2536

Comparison between other ranged weapons

Ranged weapons comparison table [
]
Name Ranged level required Ranged attack Ranged strength
(Max ammo) 		Price Notes
Twisted bow Ranged 85 +70 +20
(+80) 		1,406,366,161
  • Has a passive effect where the higher the target's Magic level or Magic attack bonus is, the more accurate and damaging it becomes.
  • Against high magic levels, it is usually the strongest ranged weapon in the game.
  • Uses arrows as ammunition up to and including dragon.
  • Has the maximum attack range of 10.
  • Attack speed of 5 ticks on rapid.
Zaryte crossbow Ranged 80 +110 (+122) 356,941,709
  • The strongest crossbow in the game.
  • Has a special attack which provides double accuracy on the next shot and guarantees the special effect of any enchanted bolts used if it hits, costing 75% special attack energy.
  • Its passive effect strengthens the effects of enchanted bolts by 10%.
  • Can fire up to dragon bolts.
Bow of Faerdhinen Ranged 80 +128 +106 106,792,343
  • Has the highest ranged bonus of any ranged weapon, including a +106 Ranged Strength bonus.
  • Receives significant damage and accuracy bonuses if worn alongside pieces of crystal armour.
  • When created, the bow starts off at 10,000 charges and degrades.
  • The bow can be upgraded to the bow of Faerdhinen (c) for 2,000 crystal shards to stop it from degrading - usage contributes to this cost.
  • Has the maximum attack range of 10.
Venator bow Ranged 80 +90 +25
(+85) 		70,841,220
  • Has a passive effect when charged with ancient essence that allows arrows to ricochet to nearby targets when in a multicombat area.
  • Poor single target performance but excels in multicombat.
  • Uses arrows as ammunition up to and including dragon.
  • Has an attack speed of 4 ticks on rapid, between that of a shortbow and a longbow.
Scorching bow Ranged 77 +124 +40
(+100) 		30,770,431[n 1]
  • Untradeable; created from a tormented synapse and magic longbow (u) with 74 Fletching.
  • Has a passive effect that increases accuracy and damage by 30% against demons, making it incredibly strong against them.
  • Offers a special attack that binds demonic creatures in place for 20 ticks (12 seconds) and deals burn damage.
  • With an innate 40 strength bonus, it performs decently well against non-demonic targets.
  • Uses arrows as ammunition up to and including dragon.
  • Has the maximum attack range of 10.
Toxic blowpipe Ranged 75 +30 +20
(+55) 		10,256,099
  • The strongest blowpipe, with an innate ranged strength of 20.
  • Relatively weak accuracy but fast, high damage, making it great against low defence targets.
  • Requires Zulrah's scales and any unpoisoned darts to charge.
  • Ranged strength bonus stacks with the darts that are used to charge the blowpipe (up to +55 ranged strength with dragon darts).
  • Offers a special attack where accuracy is increased by 100% and damage is increased by 50%, and heals the user by half of the damage dealt. Costs 50% special attack energy.
  • Has 25% chance per shot to inflict venom on an opponent.
  • Has an attack speed of 2 ticks on rapid (non-pvp; 3 ticks in pvp).
Heavy ballista Ranged 75 +125 +15
(+165) 		1,015,721
  • Has the second highest ranged bonus of any ranged weapon, including a +15 Ranged Strength bonus.
  • Slow-firing but very high damage, with low average DPS, but good KO potential.
  • Only accepts javelins as ammunition.
  • Offers a special attack which increases accuracy and damage by 25% each for one shot. Costs 65% special attack energy.
  • Requires completion of Monkey Madness II to equip.
Eclipse atlatl Ranged 75 +87 +40 (Melee) 784,654
  • Uniquely uses the player's melee strength bonuses when determining the amount of ranged damage dealt to a target. The max hit is based off of visible boosts to melee stats (eg. super combat potion) and ranged boosting prayers (eg. Rigour).
  • Only accepts atlatl darts as ammunition.
  • If worn with the rest of the eclipse moon armour set, it offers a set effect which has a 20% chance to inflict a stackable burn effect on the targets.
  • Offers a special attack which consumes the remaining burn effect in exchange for increasing the player's minimum and maximum hit. Costs 50% special attack energy.
Armadyl crossbow Ranged 70 +100 (+122) 34,180,711
Dragon hunter crossbow Ranged 70 +95 (+122) 31,832,007
  • Similar base stats to the Armadyl and dragon crossbows.
  • Increases accuracy and damage by 30% and 25% respectively when fighting draconic creatures.
  • Can fire up to dragon bolts.
Crystal bow Ranged 70 +100 +78 481,365[n 2]
  • Does not use ammunition, instead uses charges, provided either with crystal shards or by purchase for GP.
  • Available as a quest reward and becomes cheaper to charge with usage.
  • Has an attack speed of 4 ticks on rapid, between that of a shortbow and a crossbow.
  • Has the maximum attack range of 10.
  • Receives noticeable damage and accuracy bonuses if worn alongside pieces of crystal armour.
Webweaver bow Ranged 70 +85 +65 15,683,884
  • Upgraded version of the Craw's bow, which requires the fangs of Venenatis to create.
  • Must be charged with revenant ether to be fired, and does not require ammo, similar to the crystal bow.
  • While charged, an additional 50% ranged accuracy and damage boost is applied when attacking any NPC in the Wilderness. This effect will stack with a Slayer helmet or a Salve amulet, making it the strongest ranged weapon in the Wilderness.
  • Has a special attack that hits an enemy four times in succession with increased accuracy, each dealing up to 40% of the player's max hit, along with a chance to inflict poison, starting at 4 damage. Costs 50% special attack energy.
Karil's crossbow Ranged 70 +84 (+55) 98,751
  • One of the fastest crossbows, together with the hunters' crossbow.
  • Can only fire bolt racks, which cannot be retrieved by an Ava's device.
  • If worn with the rest of Karil the Tainted's equipment, it offers a set effect which lowers the target's Agility level (only works on players).
  • Wearing an amulet of the damned together with the whole equipment set grants a 25% chance for an attack to hit twice, in which case the second hit will inflict half the damage of the first.
  • Like all Barrows equipment, it degrades and will fully degrade after 15 hours of combat. It is repairable.
Hunters' sunlight crossbow Ranged 66
Hunter 50 		+79 (+60) 6,844
  • Significantly cheaper than other options while still being quite strong, especially against lower-defence targets.
  • Unlike most crossbows, it has an attack speed of 3 on rapid, making it comparable to a Magic shortbow (i) but with a slightly higher range (8 tiles) and accuracy, along with being one-handed.
  • It is also easier to obtain for Ironmen, requiring Fletching 74 Fletching to make. However, Ironmen can only obtain the ammunition via Hunter.
  • Uses Sunlight antler bolts or Moonlight antler bolts as ammunition, giving +55 and +60 ranged strength which are equivalent to Amethyst arrows and Dragon arrows, respectively.
Dragon crossbow Ranged 64 +94 (+122) 675,279
  • Has similar base stats to Armadyl and Dragon Hunter crossbows, while being markedly cheaper.
  • Offers a special attack where the player can hit any target in a 3x3 area, while in a multicombat area, making it one of three range weapons that can hit multiple targets. Costs 60% special attack energy.
  • Can fire up to dragon bolts.
Rune crossbow Ranged 61 +90 (+115) 9,232
  • Considerably cheaper than dragon-bolt firing crossbows, but of course weaker.
  • Good low-budget option for higher defence/HP enemies, compared to a Magic shortbow (i).
  • Can fire up to runite bolts.
Craw's bow Ranged 60 +75 +60 15,400,045
Dark bow Ranged 60 +95 (+60) 705,217
  • Has the ability to shoot two arrows at a time.
  • The slowest weapon in the game, with an attack speed of 8 ticks on rapid - at 4 ticks per arrow, this makes it worse than other bows for raw DPS, but has much stronger KO potential.
  • Offers a powerful special attack, which if used with dragon arrows increases damage dealt by 50% with a minimum hit of 8 (30% with any other arrow type with a minimum. hit of 5). Costs 55% special attack energy.
Magic shortbow Ranged 50 +69 (+55) 771
  • Remarkably cheap, even when imbued.
  • Weaker accuracy than the rune crossbow but the fast firing makes it good budget DPS.
  • The only shortbow to offer a special attack, which fires 2 shots in rapid succession but with reduced accuracy. Costs 55% special attack energy.
  • Can be imbued with a magic shortbow scroll, increasing its ranged attack bonus to +75 and lowering the special attack cost to 50%.
  • Can fire up to amethyst arrows.
Magic shortbow (i) +75 33,818
Magic comp bow Ranged 50 +71 (+55) 1,931
  • The only composite bow to offer a special attack, which is guaranteed to hit the target but is not boosted by damage-boosting prayers or the Slayer helmet (i). Costs 35% special attack energy. Shares this special attack with the magic longbow.
  • Is slightly more accurate than the magic longbow and 1 tick faster (1 tick slower than the shortbow), while keeping the same attack range of the longbow.
Seercull Ranged 50 +69 (+55) 45,389
  • Has slightly less accuracy but otherwise identical stats to the magic comp bow.
  • Has a special attack that targets mages by lowering their Magic level, costing 100% special attack energy.
Magic longbow Ranged 50 +69 (+55) 1,130
  • The only longbow to offer a special attack, which is guaranteed to hit the target but is not boosted by damage-boosting prayers or the Slayer helmet (i). Costs 35% special attack energy. Shares this special attack with the magic comp bow.
  • Like all longbows, is 2 ticks slower than the magic shortbow, in exchange for 3 additional attack range.
  • Unlike the magic shortbow, cannot be imbued.
Adamant crossbow Ranged 46 +78 (+100) 884
Chinchompas Ranged 45
(Grey) 		+45 N/A Varies[n 3]
  • One of the four ranged weapons that offers the ability to hit more than one opponent at a time (similar to burst or barrage Ancient Magicks), the others being the special attack of the dragon crossbow (with a similar attack), the rune thrownaxe (with a ricochet special type attack), and the Venator bow with a passive ricochet attack.
  • Excels against multiple close-together targets, where at least one has a low defence.
  • Regarded to be the best way of training Ranged, but at a very high cost.
  • Has an attack speed of 3 ticks on rapid/medium fuse.
Ranged 55
(Red) 		+70 +15
Ranged 65
(Black) 		+80 +30


Salamanders Attack Ranged Magic 30
(Green) 		+20 (+16) 168
  • Unique and versatile two-handed weapons that facilitate the use of all three combat styles.
  • Notably lower DPS than other options.
Attack Ranged Magic 50
(Orange) 		+29 (+22) 160
Attack Ranged Magic 60
(Red) 		+47 (+31) 38
Attack Ranged Magic 70
(Black) 		+69 (+49) 272
Attack Ranged Magic 80
(Tecu) 		+87 (+60) 249,716
Dorgeshuun crossbow Ranged 28 +42 (+49) 2,662
  • Is one tick faster than most other crossbows and it is able to fire bone bolts, which are significantly cheaper than most other ammunition of similar strength.
  • Popular for low-cost ranged training.
Shortbows Ranged 40
(Yew) 		+47 (+49) 319
  • Offer slightly less damage output than using rune knives, but are a lot cheaper.
Darts Ranged 30
(Adamant) 		N/A +17 Varies[n 3]
  • Are cheap, deal decent damage and are easy to buy from the Grand Exchange.
  • Adamant darts have comparable damage output to using a shortbow with rune arrows, so players should use whichever is cheaper.


 Dwarf multicannon N/A N/A N/A 742,791
  • Can be set up and used alongside other weapons for passive Ranged damage and experience.
  • Cannot be set up in all areas.
  • Has a static max hit of 30 with steel cannonballs and 35 with granite cannonballs.
  • Derives accuracy from player's current attack style (Ranged while ranging, Melee while meleeing, and whichever is higher with powered staves) while rolling against the target's heavy Ranged defence.
  1. ^ Untradeable; cost is of the tormented synapse and magic longbow (u) required to craft it.
  2. ^ Cost of having Ilfeen charge a crystal weapon seed after obtaining minimum cost.
  3. ^ 3.0 3.1 Cost of thrown weapons is only that of the ammo.
RankMethod
1Tormented Demon/Strategies (Shield down (Heavy ranged + Accurate))

Special attack

RankMethod
3Tormented Demon/Strategies (Ranged switch)

Changes

Date Changes
29 May 2024
(Update)

Ava's devices now pick up Javelins

1 December 2016
(Update)

The light ballista's ranged attack bonus was changed from 75 to 110. Its level requirement was also increased from 30 to 65 Ranged to wield. The light ballista can now fire javelins up to Dragon.

31 October 2016

The delay between the projectile hitting the player and the damage hitsplat appearing has been removed. Previously, there was a delay that allowed a ballista hit and other weapon special attacks to stack in quick succession.

Trivia

  • The special attack tooltip stating that it has a 2.4 second delay to attack is false; there is no extra delay associated with the special attack.
Ranged weapons
Bows
Shortbows
Longbows
Composite bows
Special bows
Crossbows
Standard
Ballistae
Special crossbows
Thrown
Darts
Throwing knife
Thrownaxes
Chinchompas
Blowpipes
Other

Source

Content from the Old School RuneScape Wiki (operated by Weird Gloop), licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Source siteOld School RuneScape Wiki
Canonical sourceLight ballista
Content licenseCC BY-NC-SA 3.0
License statusdeclared
PictureLight ballista · file details

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