History Main / TrickArrow

* Franchise/{{Batman}}:

* Raptorella uses arrows with explosive heads when she is HuntingTheMostDangerousGame, using Miriem as her prey, in ''ComicBook/{{Cavewoman}}: Raptorella''.
* Celestial Archer of the Great Ten doesn't technically use trick arrows, but because his bow is a peerless magical weapon created by the gods, he can basically do anything with his arrows anyway -- for instance, he can create a bridge or walkway by shooting an arrow that leaves solid terrain behind it as it flies.
* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' once made trick arrows during a team-up with Hawkeye in ''A + X'' #8, riffing on Green Arrow's boxing glove arrow by using ''Hulk Hands'' (one even went "Hulk smash!" on impact). However, the ''real'' trick was that these arrows were all ''explosive''.

** At one point, GA and Franchise/{{Batman}} faced off against a [[BreathWeapon fire-breathing]] [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demon]]. Thus:

* ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Once you discover just how varied his arsenal is, including acid, rocket, putty, explosive, bola, and suction arrows, you realize that most of the time he's in a jam it can be easily solved with one of them, but writers tend to not remember that. Exploding arrows seem to be his favorites, at least of the ones that have gimmicks.

** One issue of Matt Fraction's series had Hawkeye (in a new costume without the bandoliers) get into a scrape as he was about to label all of his trick arrows. Consequentially, he had no idea which was which until he either took a good look at the head or just shot them and saw what they did.
** In Ultimate War, he used a localised mini-nuke arrow on Colossus. Pity that it didn't work.
* Hawkeye's mentor Trick Shot used trick arrows as well, such as a sleeping-gas arrow he used to knock out some clowns so that his {{Mook}}s [[MuggedForDisguise could steal their costumes]].

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Nymphs use lasso arrows to try and capture Diana and Paula in issue 5.

* The Knifeketeer, a recurring superhero identity of Rick in ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions'', is a parody of superheroes like ''Franchise/GreenArrow'', and thus uses trick ''knives.'' The most commonly observed one? A boxing glove knife, natch.

* Titular ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' once made trick arrows during a team-up with Hawkeye, riffing on Green Arrow's boxing glove arrow by using ''Hulk Hands'' (one even went "Hulk smash!" on impact). However, the ''real'' trick was that these arrows were all ''explosive''.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has occasionally been depicted as using trick [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang Batarangs]] when the situation calls for it. ''Film/BatmanReturns'' had him use a programmable Batarang to knock out a large group of {{Mooks}}, while a {{Gamebook|s}} featuring the Caped Crusader had him using a "Flash-Batarang" (which emitted a bright flash of light when it was thrown, blinding the Joker in the process) and a "Sprinkler-Batarang" (which sprayed fire retardant to extinguish a fire started by the Riddler) in different storylines.

* ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} in the MarvelUniverse. Once you discover just how varied his arsenal is, including acid, rocket, putty, explosive, bola, and suction arrows, you realize that most of the time he's in a jam it can be easily solved with one of them, but writers tend to not remember that. Exploding arrows seem to be his favorites, at least of the ones that have gimmicks.

* The Angry Archer from ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated.'' (He's basically a villainous version of Green Arrow, though he's also a homage to staff member Aaron Archer and a fan of RobinHood.)

While some other types of weapons get similar treatment ([[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang boomerangs]] and [[KillerYoyo yoyos]] especially), the Trick Arrow is a trope in its own right that seems to appear anywhere there are bows and arrows. Doubly so if the characters are [[ThouShaltNotKill honor-bound not to kill]], since there's very little bows are normally designed to do except shove sharp projectiles into bodies. Deconstructing the trope suggests that trick arrows are almost inevitable with superheroic archer characters. They are useful and straightforward starting points for superheroic characters for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that RobinHood is a cultural icon in the English-speaking world. In addition, references for the poses and equipment are fairly easy to come by, as well as being readily identifiable by readers. And therein lies the problem: We Have Seen ALL Of This Before, at least with respect to plain vanilla archery. Hence, trick arrows to surprise the readers and to break up the tedium of writing/drawing ordinary pointy-arrow-work. Finally, there is the issue of having an archer as part of a superhero squad whose members include mostly characters with explicit superhuman abilities. Expertise with trick arrows would work to set them apart from [[CripplingOverspecialization "others who just shoot arrows"]].

* The Street Angel in ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' used to use gimmicked throwing rings ("halos") before he turned DarkerAndEdgier, after which he used halos made of high-impact ceramics with a steel core. This fact drives one character into virtual catatonia; the only person who calls himself an angel in Astro City hits people in the mouth with his steel-cored halo.
** Quarrel is a more straightforward example of the 'archer with trick arrows' archetype in ''ComicBook/AstroCity''. In this case, they're launched from a wrist-mounted mechanism similar to a crossbow.

It seems that there is no end to the inventiveness of bowmen, especially in SuperHero comics. If a character uses a bow as their main weapon, you can expect that their quiver will hold, at the very least: explosive arrows, arrows which split into nets for capturing opponents, and knockout gas arrows. Furthermore, they will undoubtedly be [[ImprobableAimingSkills masters of trick shots, hitting targets around corners or rebounding from behind]].

Characters who use boring old [[ArrowsOnFire flaming arrows]] don't fall under this, unless the arrows are otherwise complex and/or unlikely. They may be pointless, but at least they're possible. A character who uses trick arrows is almost always capable of successfully pulling off a {{multishot}}.

* The Nakaizumi Ryuu from ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'' is renowned for the Kyokyu (Mad Bow) and their Kuruiya (Crazy Arrows), arrows specifically made to make the school as deadly as possible. They include Ha (Destruction), a special arrow with a blunt reinforced head which can crack barkskin open, En (Circle), an asymmetrical arrow which can curve midflight, Kiba (Fang), a monstrous arrow with a bladed head and fletching all over the shaft made to spin as it flies towards a target, shredding it to pieces, at the cost of being lethal only at close range. After the timeskip, Nakaizumi Arata comes up with an explosive arrows to send signals and Hao (Lord of Destruction), a monstrous arrow with a huge metal head which is basically a maul and, with the right bow and strength, can rip off limbs and blow gates open.

* Michelle in ''Anime/ReadOrDie'' uses paper arrows which can do pretty much anything (being a Paper Master) -- the example that springs to mind was an arrow whose tip split in two, allowing it to wrap around the target (a book) and carry on with it securely held.

* The Street Angel in ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' used to use gimmicked throwing rings ("halos") before he turned DarkerAndEdgier, after which he used halos made of high impact ceramics with a steel core. This fact drives one character into virtual catatonia; the only person who calls himself an angel in Astro City hits people in the mouth with his steel-cored halo.
** Quarrel is a more straight forward example of the 'archer with trick arrows' archetype in ''ComicBook/AstroCity''. In this case, they're launched from a wrist-mounted mechanism similar to a crossbow.

* Titular ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' once made trick arrows during a team up with Hawkeye, riffing on Green Arrow's boxing glove arrow by using ''Hulk Hands'' (one even went "Hulk smash!" on impact). However the ''real'' trick was that these arrows were all ''explosive''.

** He's been seen to use oxygen-mask arrows; particularly puzzling since they are never seen to be fired (that would be impractical), simply used as ordinary oxygen-masks... with the rest of the arrow sticking out of them. This is in keeping with "arrow themed" gadgets, much in the same way Batman had boomerangs shaped like bats.

--->'''Green Arrow:''' Net arrows! Boxing glove arrows! How about just one! Pointed! Arrow! Dad!

** One advantage that Hawkeye has is that he keeps the heads separate from the arrows. Those bandoliers he wears? The capsules along them contain the arrow heads, allowing him to change them in and out at will.

* Various minor Creator/MarvelComics villains have their own special gimmick weapons that have varying special effects. The Ringer uses large, hula hoop-sized rings, Boomerang throws special gimmick boomerangs (like the "razorang" and "gasarang"), and Oddball throws specially made juggling balls. Oddball's brother and Death Throws teammate Tenpin uses gimmicked ''bowling pins'', as well; the other Death Throws just used relatively normal stuff (Ringleader stuck with razor sharp rings, Knicknack used various heavy objects, and Bombshell simply had ''bombs'').

* Several trick arrows are shown in Treefoot's workshop in ''ComicBook/{{Thorgal}}''. They are pretty down to earth though; harpooned, whistling, stunning (with a ball wrapped in some cloth instead of the point), crescent-shaped and saddleshaped, an inverted crescent on a broadpoint, supposedly for cutting ropes. In the same book Kris de Valnor uses an crescent arrow to cut off a man's hand.

* Played straight for the first time in ''ComicBook/Youngblood2017''. Shaft uses an explosive arrow to take down [[FlyingBrick Suprema]], and an arrow that releases a gas to break a villain's mind-control over Sentinel, Suprema and Doc Rocket.

* ''[[http://www.rogermwilcox.com/stories/blue.html The Blue Avenger]]'' is a story based on [[http://www.rogermwilcox.com/champions/blue_shooter.html this]] TabletopGame/{{Champions}} character, who is a CaptainErsatz of the Green Arrow. In addition to regular arrows, knockout arrows (with a boxing glove that makes a sound like a fight bell when it hits), net arrows, blinding flash arrows, smoke grenade arrows, grenade grenade arrows, flight arrows, tunnelling arrows, and healing arrows, he has a once-in-a-blue-moon Death Arrow, which does enough damage to kill a UsefulNotes/TyrannosaurusRex.

** Hawkeye of ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' uses these to devastating effect. Mostly he sticks with normal broadheads and explosive arrows, but he also has some that hack computers, melt steel, or act as a grappling hook. He has a special quiver that attaches the desired heads to the arrows selected via pressing buttons on his bow. This comes in handy when he runs out of arrows, he simply grabs a close one and changes the head as needed. From the director commentary:

* ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'': Clint Barton's arrows gets a tour de force in the third episode with the help of Kate Bishop. Which includes but aren't limited to goo, explosive, plunger, grappling line, USB, and even a [[SizeShifter Pym Particle]] arrow. Kate tries to pitch a boomerang arrow, but Clint shoots it down on the basis of having a deadly projectile coming back to you is not a very desirable outcome. The finale of the mini-series has Clint and Kate work together to make a bunch of them when having to face the Tracksuit Mafia. The series also has Clint explain that it's easy for him to make new arrow heads but that he requires specialized shafts which are hard to come by and his current supply is in NYPD custody.

* The villains in ''Series/TheMagician'' episode "The Illusion of the Fatal Arrow" are a pair of {{Professional Killer}}s who uses bows and arrows: including some 'realistic' explosive arrows.

** Most egregious is the healing arrow. Which was invented to heal front rank fighters. Most of the time it'd heal more damage than it did.

** Siderials have two charms to do this. The first allows them to fire anything shorter then their arm as an arrow, the second transforms arrows in flight into such things as glass, boulders, enough grain to feed a person, snow, or raw life force.

** In ''Low-Tech'' including humming bulb, flight (super long range), cutting and "fire cage".

* ''Videogame/DeepRockGalactic:'' The Scout's Nishanka Boltshark X-80 crossbow has a ''wide'' selection of arrows to pick from, though you can only access certain arrows at a given time. Normal bolts (which by themselves can be magnetized to hit electrified enemies harder and can have radio receivers for retrieval) can be traded for bouncing Bodkin Points, firestarting Fire Bolts, chilling Cryo Bolts and the tripling Trifork Volley. You also have a stock of Special Bolts that can either be a Pheromone Dart (which makes enemies fight each other), a Chemical Explosion bolt that sickens an enemy until it bursts in a puff of horrid toxins, or a Taser bolt that connects with other Tasers to make damaging electric arcs. Not bad for a medieval weapon!

* In ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'', the thief shortbow skills in particular show off variations of this trope. Some warrior and ranger bow skills also fit.

* ''VideoGame/MassiveChalice'' has a six armed bow that fires bone shards from a particular enemy. It reduces damage but enables the "arrow" to pierce enemies hitting everything in its path.

* ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'''s Xbox remake had armour-piercing arrows. There is also the "standard" explosive varieties.

* ''VideoGame/OddworldStrangersWrath'' has the main character use a crossbow that fires critters that have various different effects, such as baiting the enemies towards them via TrashTalk, a skunk that serves as a stink bomb, bats that serve as explosives and others.
* Hanzo of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' is an ArcherArchetype with an arsenal: Sonic Arrow, which grants you echo-location with a noticable radius; Scatter Arrow, which [[MacrossMissileMassacre splits into many arrows on impact]]; and finally, Dragonstrike -- a slow-moving, spirit-charged, wall-clipping arrow that looks like [[OurDragonsAreDifferent two coiled dragons]].

* ''VideoGame/RedneckRampage'' had dynamite arrows, and a... peculiar... variant in which the arrow was stuck up the bottom of a chicken. It basically amounted to a guided rocket: upon launching it, the whole thing would fly to the target and explode with a loud shriek and a puff of feathers.

* Raven from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'''s arrows do everything from laying explosives to healing. His bow can even be used as a double-bladed sword, since it's got sharp edges.

* ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'''s sanctioned mod Chaos UT introduced a crossbow which could fire exploding arrows or poisoned arrows in addition to the regular pointy kind.

** Another Unreal Tournament GameMod had a bow that had even more arrow options from normal flaming poison exploding (both small frag grenade and NukeEm levels of explodyness ) And finally Black Hole and Disintegration Arrows

* The Hunter class in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has numerous different "shots" (they can be used with guns as well as bows but otherwise fit the trope). These include several variants of poison shots (scorpid sting, viper sting, wyvern sting etc.), an "arcane shot" that deals magic damage, a shot that dazes the enemy, and the Aimed Shot (which reduces healing on its target). There's also a trap-throwing arrow, which lays any of the hunter's 5 different kinds of traps where it lands, a flare which reveals nearby stealthed opponents, and [[ArrowsOnFire Explosive]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Shot]].

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', one of [[{{Mons}} Servant]] Archer's favourite tricks is to make sword arrows: He can create a sword and transform it into a slimmer, aerodynamic shape, which he then fires from his long bow as an arrow. This has various effects, depending on the nature of the sword, and can cause them to explode on contact by overloading them with mana. In the original VisualNovel he uses a sword that can twists space around it as it flies, allowing it to pierce any target; in ''VisualNovel/FateHollowAtaraxia'' he uses a sword that moves at ten times the speed of sound and will change course to hit its target, even if it's already missed.

* Darkhood in ''Literature/InterviewingLeather'' is a BadAssNormal, probably based on Green Arrow. So obviously he has a bunch of different arrows like taser arrows, grappling arrows and even *gasp* normal arrows.

* ''Website/{{Neopets}}'' has various arrows that range from serious to silly, for example the [[http://items.jellyneo.net/?go=item&showitem=10705 Lava Arrow,]] "Dipped in smouldering lava this arrow will burn its way through anything," [[http://items.jellyneo.net/?go=item&showitem=56161 Lovestruck Arrow,]] like what Cupid has, [[http://items.jellyneo.net/index.php?go=item&showitem=59594 Arrows of Happiness,]] which causes happiness, [[http://items.jellyneo.net/index.php?go=item&showitem=47450 Frozen Bow and Arrows,]] an arrow tipped with an ice cube, and the [[http://items.jellyneo.net/?go=item&showitem=31835 Marshmallow Bow and Arrow,]] an arrow tipped with a marshmallow.

* So far in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'', [[ArcherArchetype Vex]] has used burning arrows, lightning arrows, grappling arrows, exploding arrows and more.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E24EquestriaGames Equestria Games]]", the final event in the games is an archery contest. The twist is that the arrowheads ''freeze'' what they hit, and the goal is to cover the entire target in ice before the other ponies. Chaos ensues when one participant trips up and fires one into a cloud, turning the entire thing into an ice ball which nearly crushes the audience.

* Bow in ''Westernanimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' describes himself as a member of the "maker's community" because of his knack for building specialist arrows, including dedicated message arrows, sonic arrows that make a loud noise on impact, and arrows that explode into a gooey net. This is lampshaded in one episode when Bow pulls out a ''magnifying glass arrow'', leaving Catra incredulous as to how the Horde had been losing to them.

* Mongols and other Eurasian nomadic people had many specialized arrow heads (and occasionally arrows). Some were designed to whistle (both to communicate with troops and to scare the enemy), some for hunting, some to pierce armor, short range arrows, long range arrows, barbed arrow heads, (allegedly) poisoned ones, even some that aren't even pointed (for stunning people). Iranians had a two pronged arrow for hunting, while Turks had a really small arrow for use with a wooden guide that would essentially turn a regular composite bow into a crossbow. So quite clearly, Truth in Television (just not in the way they show it).
* Much like the Mongols, Japanese archers used whistling arrowheads for signalling, for religious rituals, and for scaring the enemy. They were mainly employed in warfare during the Heian period, when battles were more often a series of individual duels. Firing such an arrow would signal the beginning of a battle.
* A South American tribe once made arrows for detaching feathers from bird mid-flight, while leaving the bird relatively unharmed.

* Flu-flu arrows are blunt arrows, designed to travel only short distances. They were meant for hunting small game and birds, which they could kill or cripple without causing substantial damage to flesh. They are also a lot easier to retrieve, since they don't end up burying themselves in whatever they end up hitting.
* On the other hand, there are [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Os-xozVekw/maxresdefault.jpg hypodermic arrowheads like the Toxic, the Rage and others]] that are designed to rip heavily into tissue around the arrow's shaft and cause extensive hemorrhage, both for a quicker death as well as making the blood trail easier to follow. They're used almost exclusively for larger game like moose, deer and bears -- not only is it a costly overkill for smaller animals[[note]]The arrows are far easier to lose on such a small target, as they overpenetrate without losing much velocity and either bounce off out of sight or hit a hard surface and damage the arrowhead blades, and these are far from cheap.[[/note]], they tend to be [[LudicrousGibs torn wide open]] and end up unfit for consumption, which is counterproductive if the user is hunting for food.

-->'''Green Arrow:''' Because sometimes I want to punch someone who's a really long way away.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
** Hawkeye of ''Film/TheAvengers2012'' uses these to devastating effect. Mostly he sticks with normal broadheads and explosive arrows, but he also has some that hack computers, melt steel, or act as a grappling hook. He has a special quiver that attaches the desired heads to the arrows selected via pressing buttons on his bow. This comes in handy when he runs out of arrows, he simply grabs a close one and changes the head as needed. From the director commentary:

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'': Yondu Udonta's signature weapon is a self-propelled, armor-piercing arrow controlled via a piece of cyberware and his whistling. He shows it's the only weapon he needs when [[spoiler:he uses it to take out an entire squad of Kree goons and one ship in the climax]]. In [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 the sequel]], he uses it to [[spoiler:take out every single mutineer on his own Ravager ship in a matter of minutes]]. And he even uses it as NotQuiteFlight simply by holding onto it in midair.
* ''Film/KingArthurLegendOfTheSword''. The blacklegs use signal arrows; first to [[LuredIntoATrap spring the trap]] and then during the subsequent chase through the streets of Londinium to show which way LaResistance after fleeing and call more soldiers to that area. They appear to have charges of gunpowder that explode in a cloud of black smoke after being shot into the air.

* ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': Several Amazons shoot a rope arrow to swing down from the cliff to fight the invading Germans on the shore.

* The Creator/AdamWest ''Series/Batman1966'' series had Creator/ArtCarney as "The Archer," (with henchfolks Maid Marilyn and Crier Tuck), who had (among other things) arrows with a 90° bend in them that went around corners.
* ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'' had dynamite arrows, which were often fired from a moving car.
* ''Series/Hawkeye2021'': Clint Barton's arrows gets a tour de force in the third episode with the help of Kate Bishop. Which includes but aren't limited to goo, explosive, plunger, grappling line, USB, and even a [[SizeShifter Pym Particle]] arrow. Kate tries to pitch a boomerang arrow, but Clint shoots it down on the basis of having a deadly projectile coming back to you is not a very desirable outcome. The finale of the mini-series has Clint and Kate work together to make a bunch of them when having to face the Tracksuit Mafia. The series also has Clint explain that it's easy for him to make new arrow heads but that he requires specialized shafts which are hard to come by and his current supply is in NYPD custody.

* Hercules used the blood of the hydra to make poison arrows. Eventually his own death indirectly resulted from this.
* Eros, the god of love, acquired a bow and arrow to represent his power during the Hellenistic period. He is mostly known for his golden arrow, which makes people feel love (usually for one specific person), but he also has a leaden arrow, which makes people feel aversion to love. This was used to tragic effect when used on Apollo and Daphne.
** Apollo himself is sometimes described as firing arrows that release disease upon impact as a part of his sphere as god of both healing and plagues.

** TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition also saw the Arcane Archer prestige class, with the ability to put spell effects into arrows and create a few other trick arrows on the spot once per day each.
** The TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFourthEdition Ranger is an archery fanatic, surpassing previous incarnations. While not using trick arrows per se, the nature of the powers certainly has much the same effect. Notable effects include arrows splitting into two shots mid-flight, knocking enemies back several squares, or outright stunning or dazing opponents. Of course, pretty much every other class can also knock back, stun, or daze opponents, without using arrows.

** The TabletopGame/AdvancedDungeonsAndDragons1stEdition ''Oriental Adventures'' supplement had several non-damaging arrows, including the "frog crotch" (cuts rope) and "humming bulb" (whistles loudly in flight); all of these are based on history, believe it or not.
** Unlike the healing arrow. Which was invented to heal front rank fighters. Most of the time it'd heal more damage than it did.

* ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'''s crossbow, which, along with firing steel bolts, could fire both incendiary bolts, and bolts which themselves fired deadly electric tripwires.

* The "Trick Arrow" support powerset in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' included, among others, Glue Arrow, Poison Gas Arrow, Oil Slick Arrow, and Electromagnetic Pulse Arrow.
** For direct damage, Blasters, Corruptors, and Defenders got access to the Archery power set, which allowed for [[ArrowsOnFire flaming arrows]] and blunt arrows that stunned opponents, plus firing multiple arrows at once (Fistful of Arrows and Arrow Rain).
** Plus, the oil made by the Oil Slick Arrow could [[KillItWithFire catch on fire]] if a fire or energy attack hit the pool.

* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' has a wide variety of enchanted arrows, from standard elemental damage and stat debuffs to [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere making enemies run away in fear]] or creating an area of light around the arrow when fired. Bows themselves can be enchanted as well, providing even more effects for would-be CrazyPrepared archers.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'' had a spell which split one arrow into three; they then [[{{Roboteching}} Roboteched]] their way to the target.
** The best/worst part is [[SerialEscalation the spell could be upgraded, and each upgrade added another arrow, meaning that a Hero could potentially be firing more than six arrows just from one shot]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' has the Dart Gun, which is essentially a crossbow that fires pre-war throwing darts... dipped in radscorpion venom. While it does extremely little real damage, the poison immediately cripples the target's legs, drastically reducing its mobility. Extremely effective against [[DemonicSpiders Deathclaws]], which are rendered pretty much helpless. Deathclaws are one of the deadliest creatures in the entire game otherwise.
* In ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Fate/stay night]]'', one of [[{{Mons}} Servant]] Archer's favourite tricks is to make sword arrows: He can create a sword and transform it into a slimmer, aerodynamic shape, which he then fires from his long bow as an arrow. This has various effects, depending on the nature of the sword, and can cause them to explode on contact by overloading them with mana. In the original VisualNovel he uses a sword that can twists space around it as it flies, allowing it to pierce any target; in ''VisualNovel/FateHollowAtaraxia'' he uses a sword that moves at ten times the speed of sound and will change course to hit its target, even if it's already missed.

* In ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'', both the bow and crossbow-type weapons can be modified to use explosive or poison-tipped arrows.

* The new [[VideoGame/TombRaider2013 Tomb Raider reboot]] gives Lara several different arrow types to play with, primarily [[ArrowsOnFire fire arrows]] for extra damage and rope arrows which serve as [[GrapplingHookPistol grappling hooks]], to bridge gaps and pull distant objects. The fire arrows can be upgraded into napalm and explosive arrows, whilst the rope arrows can be upgraded with a rope ascender, letting Lara pull heavy objects.

** The Chaos Unreal 2: Evolution mod for ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004'' upgraded both the bolt selection, to include flaming arrows, and the crossbow itself, allowing it to be "charged up" to make regular pointy bolts more useful (they could head-shot unlike the other kinds and when charged would fly further and faster, dealing proportionately more damage as well). It could also fire up to five bolts simultaneously, another staple of trick-shooters.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* The Knifeketeer, a recurring superhero identity of Rick in ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions'', is a parody of superheroes like ''Franchise/GreenArrow'', and thus uses trick ''knives.'' The most commonly observed one? A boxing glove knife, natch.
* Haley Starshine of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' turns from Archer into this trope when she acquires [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0615.html a bow that does cold damage, freezes the target in a block of ice, and gives them a fresh minty breath.]] She also has [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0858.html one]] to counter an ArrowCatch.
* Appears a couple of times in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance''. In [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=041130 this]] strip, Alt-Torg has a quiver of [[EmpathicWeapon talking arrows]] which includes at least one flaming arrow and one grappling arrow. These are actually somewhat plausible (aside from the talking part). Where things get to silly levels is in a [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=080901 later arc]] when Riff uses magic arrows that confuse and slow down a monster on impact, until Torg points out that putting a regular arrow through the monster's head might be more effective in taking it down. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] since this takes place inside a video game, where RuleOfCool reigns supreme.
* Treneth in ''Webcomic/{{Visseria}}'' does this by payloading his arrows with magic scrolls. [[ArrowsOnFire He seems to favor fire spells]], but has also shown a flare gun effect.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* So far in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'', [[ArcherArchetype Vex]] has used burning arrows, lightning arrows, grappling arrows, exploding arrows and more.
%%* ''Blog/HowToHero'' discusses a whole bunch of these in their entry on [[https://howtohero.tumblr.com/post/173018161764/archers-and-arrows Archers and Arrows]].
* Darkhood in ''Literature/InterviewingLeather'' is a BadAssNormal, probably based on Green Arrow. So obviously he has a bunch of different arrows like taser arrows, grappling arrows and even *gasp* normal arrows.
* ''Website/{{Neopets}}'' has various arrows that range from serious to silly, for example the [[http://items.jellyneo.net/?go=item&showitem=10705 Lava Arrow,]] "Dipped in smouldering lava this arrow will burn its way through anything," [[http://items.jellyneo.net/?go=item&showitem=56161 Lovestruck Arrow,]] like what Cupid has, [[http://items.jellyneo.net/index.php?go=item&showitem=59594 Arrows of Happiness,]] which causes happiness, [[http://items.jellyneo.net/index.php?go=item&showitem=47450 Frozen Bow and Arrows,]] an arrow tipped with an ice cube, and the [[http://items.jellyneo.net/?go=item&showitem=31835 Marshmallow Bow and Arrow,]] an arrow tipped with a marshmallow.
* In ''Series/{{Noob}}'', Gaëa, the archer reroll of Gaea's player, is sometimes seen using element-imbued arrows.

* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', both crossbow-wielding superheroes, Shadow Stalker and Flechette, have trick arrows: the former has her tranquilizer bolts, the latter has a chain-generator she can use to turn her arbalest into a GrapplingHookPistol.

* Bow in ''Westernanimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' describes himself as a member of the "maker's community" because of his knack for building specialist arrows, including dedicated message arrows, sonic arrows that make a loud noise on impact, and arrows that explode into a gooey net.
** This is lampshaded in one episode when Bow pulls out a ''magnifying glass arrow'' leaving Catra incredulous as to how the Horde had been losing to them.

* Speedy from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'', who is a (possibly former) sidekick of Green Arrow. In one episode, unable to use his trick arrows or bow, he uses nearby vehicles and supplies to make a giant bow, firing ''himself'' as a trick arrow to defuse Control Freak's threat.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'', pretty much all of the Cra race has these.
* Green Arrow, Artemis, and Red Arrow all use trick arrows as their primary weapons in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010''. In addition, Artemis uses trick bolts for the compact crossbow she carries while in her civilian gear.

-->'''Green Arrow''': Because sometimes I want to punch someone who's a really long way away.

* Shaft from Creator/RobLiefeld's ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' plays with the trope. His arrows are the standard pointy variety, but he has a trick bow that doesn't require a string.[[note]][[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not because Liefeld was too lazy to draw bowstrings, no never.]][[/note]] (According to the tech manual, it uses focused ''artificial gravity'' to fire the arrows.) During Creator/AlanMoore's run on ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'', GoldenAge hero Waxman tried to get Shaft to consider using trick arrows, giving examples of older archer heroes who used them. [[spoiler: Not one of which had survived the experience.]]

* In ''Film/BladeTrinity'', VampireHunter Abigail Whistler uses various trick arrows. Including ultra violet flashbang arrows, for dusting Vamps. A drill arrow, for penetrating cover. And [[spoiler: A virus delivery arrow for taking out the films BigBad, Drake]].

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'': Yondu Udonta's signature weapon is a self-propelled, armor-piercing arrow controlled via a piece of cyberware and his whistling. He shows it's the only weapon he needs when [[spoiler:he uses it to take out an entire squad of Kree goons and one ship in the climax]]. In [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 the sequel]], he uses it to [[spoiler: take out every single mutineer on his own Ravager ship in a matter of minutes]]. And he even uses it as NotQuiteFlight simply by holding onto it in midair.

* In Literature/CodexAlera, Bernard is seen using arrows coated with rock salt (which hurts wind furies) against some wild wind furies and later [[spoiler: shoots High Lord Kalarus out of the sky with one.]] In the last book, he upgrades to ''exploding'' arrows.

* On the other hand, there are [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Os-xozVekw/maxresdefault.jpg hypodermic arrowheads like the Toxic, the Rage and others]] that are designed to rip heavily into tissue around the arrow's shaft and cause extensive hemorrhage, both for a quicker death as well as making the blood trail easier to follow. They're used almost exclusively for larger game like moose, deer and bears -- not only is it a costly overkill for smaller animals[[labelnote:+]]the arrows are far easier to lose on such a small target, as they overpenetrate without losing much velocity and bounce off out of sight or hit a hard surface and damage the blades, and these are far from cheap[[/labelnote]], they tend to be [[LudicrousGibs torn wide open]] and end up unfit for consumption, which is counterproductive if the user is hunting for food.

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' has Yondu, whose signature weapon is a self-propelled, armor-piercing arrow controlled via a piece of cyberware and Yondu's whistling. He shows it's the only weapon he needs when [[spoiler:he uses it to take out an entire squad of Kree goons and one ship in the climax]]. In [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 the sequel]], he uses it to [[spoiler: take out every single mutineer on his own Ravager ship in a matter of minutes]]. And he even uses it as NotQuiteFlight simply by holding onto it in midair.

* ''Series/Hawkeye2021'': Clint Barton's arrows gets a tour de force in the third episode with the help of Kate Bishop. Which includes but aren't limited to goo, explosive, plunger, grappling line, USB, and even a [[SizeShifter Pym Particle]] arrow. Kate tries to pitch a boomerang arrow, but Clint shoots it down on the basis of having a deadly projectile coming back to you is not a very desirable outcome. The finale of the mini-series has Clint and Kate work together to make a bunch of them when having to face the Tracksuit Mafia. The series also has Clint explain that it's easy for him to make new arrow heads but that he requires specialized shafts which are hard to come by and his currently supply is in NYPD custody.

* In ancient Persia, [[http://margo.student.utwente.nl/sagi/artikel/retarrow/retarrow.html returning arrows were known,]] and have been reconstructed and used. They're light, and have very short range, and are strictly for showing off the fletcher's and archer's skill, but they do indeed return.

* Naturally in ''Series/Hawkeye2021'', Clint Barton's arrows gets a tour de force in the third episode with the help of Kate Bishop. Which includes but aren't limited to [[spoiler: Goo, explosive, plunger, grappling line arrows, Avenger's USB arrow and even a Pym Particle Arrow]]. Kate tries to pitch a boomerang arrow, but Clint shoots it down on the realistic basis of having a deadly projectile coming back to you is not a very desirable outcome. The finale of the mini-series has Clint and Kate work together to make a bunch of them when having to face the Tracksuit Mafia. Showing off a very impressive performance of using them one after the other in the final battle. The series also has Clint explain that it's easy for him to make new arrow heads but that he requires specialized shafts which are hard to come by and his currently supply is in NYPD custody.

** The TabletopGame/AdvancedDungeonsAndDragonsFirstEdition ''Oriental Adventures'' supplement had several non-damaging arrows, including the "frog crotch" (cuts rope) and "humming bulb" (whistles loudly in flight); all of these are based on history, believe it or not.

* ''WebAnimation/RWBY'': Robyn Hill primarily uses regular bolts for her crossbow, but she has a few [[ElementalPowers Dust-based]] ones up her sleeve for special occasions, as [[spoiler:Tyrian]] learned the hard way when he caught an explosive bolt [[NowThatsUsingYourTeeth with his teeth]].

* ''VideoGame/RedneckRampage'' had dynamite arrows, and a... peculiar... variant in which the arrow was stuck up the bottom of a chicken. Upon launching it, the whole thing would fly to the target and explode with a loud shriek and a puff of feathers.
** The chicken-butt arrow amounted to a guided rocket. The chicken would home in on the nearest enemy.

* In ''Film/TheWildGeese'', Coetzee uses crossbow bolts with acid canisters affixed to the tips to make sure that his shots will be immediately lethal.

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' has Yondu, whose signature weapon is a self-propelled, armor-piercing arrow controlled via a piece of cyberware and Yondu's whistling. He shows it's the only weapon he needs when [[spoiler:he uses it to take out an entire squad of Kree goons and one ship in the climax]]. Taken UpToEleven in [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 the sequel]], where he uses it to [[spoiler: take out every single mutineer on his own Ravager ship in a matter of minutes]]. And he even uses it as NotQuiteFlight simply by holding onto it in midair.

* The astras from Myth/HinduMythology are every trick arrow, ever, taken UpToEleven. Natural disasters and instant death are some of the ''milder'' effects. And for the love of Brahma, [[ApocalypseHow don't let them hit each other.]]

Contrast ArcherArchetype: simple and sane. Compare TrickBullet. See also MageMarksman, who may be capable of creating these through magic.

->''"[[ThisIsADrill Drill Arrow]]: This fits into the category of 'arrows that really don't need to be arrows.' There's precious little call for long-distance carpentry. Most people who need to make a birdhouse or a replica colonial rocking chair or something are pretty content to actually be next to the item they're drilling."''

* ''VideoGame/MassiveChalice'' has a six armed bow that fires bone shards from a particular enemy. It reduces damage but enables the "arrow" to pierce enemies hitting everything in it's path.