Explosive Arrow

Explosive ArrowAttack, Projectile, AoE, Duration, Fire, Bow
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (7-10) Mana
Projectile Speed: 3260
AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 28Fires an arrow which will stick into an enemy or wall, and then explode, dealing area damage around it, either after a duration or when the maximum number of arrows stuck to that target is reached. If an enemy has multiple Explosive Arrows stuck in them, the first one to explode will consume the others, adding their damage to its explosion.Base duration is 1.00 seconds
Explosion deals 50% less Base Damage
Explosion will have (47-522) to (71-783) added Fire Damage
+0.2 metres to Explosion Radius per Explosive Arrow on Target, up to a maximum of +1.2 metres
Explosion deals 6% more Damage with Hits per Explosive Arrow on Target
Explosion deals 3% more Damage with Ailments per Explosive Arrow on Target
Maximum 20 Explosive Arrows stuck in an Enemy

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
+(0.1-2) Maximum Explosive Arrows stuck in an EnemyPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.

Acquisition
Drop level: 28Metadata
Item class: Skill Gem
Metadata ID: Metadata/Items/Gems/SkillGemExplosiveArrow

Explosive Arrow is a bow attack skill that fires an arrow which sticks to terrain or enemies and explodes after a duration, dealing damage in an area. Any additional arrows stuck to an enemy will add their damage to the explosion, while also granting more damage with hits, damaging ailments, and area of effect.

Skill functions and interactions

Explosive Arrow has two separate damaging mechanics: arrow collisions and exploding arrows.

Collision: Attacking fires a regular arrow, colliding with enemies and dealing damage with no special mechanics. Instead of disappearing, arrows remain stuck to terrain or enemies for a duration. Sticking additional arrows in an enemy does not affect the duration of other arrows.

Explosion: When the duration of an arrow expires, the maximum number of stuck arrows is reached, or a target dies, all arrows on a target will explode for area projectile damage. Each arrow calculates its own damage, individually, including critical strike chance and chance to inflict damaging ailments. Hit damage and ailment dps from each arrow are then combined and applied as a single hit and debuff.

If any contributing arrow deals a critical strike, the combined hit counts as a critical strike for relevant effects, though without further modifying damage.

The Explosion deals 50% less Base Damage stat only modifies base damage, meaning flat damage contributed by local values on your bow.

Projectile Mechanics: Arrows cannot stick in enemies if they continue due to Chain, Pierce, Fork, Split or Return.

Duration: Modifiers to skill effect duration, such as from Less Duration SupportLess Duration SupportSupport, Duration
Icon: d
Level: (1-20)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 31Supports any skill that has a duration.Supported Skills deal (10-19)% more Damage
Supported Skills have (40-49)% less Skill Effect Duration

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
Supported Skills have (0.5-10)% less Skill Effect DurationThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., will affect the duration an arrow sticks to terrain or enemies.

Proxies/allies: Arrows from different sources such as Ballista Totem SupportBallista Totem SupportBow, Projectile, Support, Totem
Icon: R
Level: (1-20)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Requires Level 8Supports any bow or wand attack skill, causing it to summon a ballista totem that uses the skill for you.Supported Attack Skills cannot be used with Melee Weapons
Supported Skills deal (32-24)% less Damage
Supported Skills will summon a Ballista Totem which uses that Skill
Totem lasts 8 seconds
Supported Skills have +2 to maximum number of Summoned Ballista Totems
Supported Skills have 50% less Attack Speed

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
Supported Skills have (0.5-10)% increased Totem Placement speedThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Mirage Archer SupportMirage Archer SupportBow, Attack, Support, Duration
Icon: M
Level: (1-20)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 4Supports attack skills that can be used with bows. Supported skills can only be used with bows. Cannot support Vaal skills, minion skills, movement skills, or skills used by totems, traps, or mines.Maximum 1 Summoned Mirage Archer
When you Hit an Enemy with an Arrow from a Supported Skill, Summon a Mirage Archer which uses that Skill
Mirage Archer can use Triggered Attacks as though they were not Triggered
Mirage Archer uses Supported Skill with 60% less Attack Speed
Mirage Archer lasts 4 seconds
Mirage Archer deals (40-31)% less Damage with Supported Skills

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Attack DamageThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket. or party members may all contribute to a single explosion. Each arrow will calculate the damage it contributes independently, but for the purpose of on-hit effects, the explosion hit is dealt by the entity that fired the arrow responsible for causing the explosion. This is the last arrow if the maximum was reached, or the first arrow if the explosion occurs due to duration or enemy death.

Gem level progression

Level			Mana Cost	Added Fire Damage to Explosion	Exp.	Total Exp.
1	28	67	7	47 to 71	0	0
2	31	73	8	57 to 86	199345	199345
3	34	79	8	69 to 104	285815	485160
4	37	85	8	83 to 125	401344	886504
5	40	92	8	100 to 149	554379	1440883
6	42	96	8	112 to 168	477437	1918320
7	44	100	8	126 to 189	583786	2502106
8	46	104	8	141 to 212	710359	3212465
9	48	109	9	158 to 238	1355511	4567976
10	50	113	9	177 to 266	1138877	5706853
11	52	117	9	198 to 298	1368233	7075086
12	54	121	9	222 to 333	1638338	8713424
13	56	125	9	247 to 371	1956648	10670072
14	58	130	9	276 to 414	3655184	14325256
15	60	134	9	307 to 461	3017327	17342583
16	62	138	10	342 to 513	7759995	25102578
17	64	142	10	381 to 571	15138193	40240771
18	66	146	10	423 to 635	26083825	66324596
19	68	151	10	470 to 705	62620247	128944843
20	70	155	10	522 to 783	211708088	340652931
21	72	159	10	579 to 868	—	—
22	74	—	10	642 to 963	—	—
23	76	—	10	711 to 1067	—	—
24	78	—	11	788 to 1181	—	—
25	80	—	11	872 to 1308	—	—
26	82	—	11	964 to 1447	—	—
27	84	—	11	1067 to 1600	—	—
28	86	—	11	1179 to 1768	—	—
29	88	—	11	1302 to 1954	—	—
30	90	—	11	1438 to 2157	—	—
31	91	—	11	1511 to 2267	—	—
32	92	—	11	1588 to 2382	—	—
33	93	—	12	1668 to 2502	—	—
34	94	—	12	1752 to 2628	—	—
35	95	—	12	1840 to 2760	—	—
36	96	—	12	1933 to 2899	—	—
37	97	—	12	2030 to 3044	—	—
38	98	—	12	2131 to 3197	—	—
39	99	—	12	2238 to 3356	—	—
40	100	—	12	2349 to 3524	—	—

Item acquisition

Explosive Arrow can drop anywhere.

Recipes

Explosive Arrow can be created from the following recipes:

Amount	Part	Description	Meta
6	The FoxThe Fox6Level 20 Gem"Masters of wit, strength and cunning. To survive the harsh winters, you must be like the fox." - Ezomyte Proverb	Random level 20 gem	A
3	Gemcutter's PromiseGemcutter's Promise3Gem Quality: +20%"I swore to use my position to help the people. What good is power when it just accumulates on the already-powerful?" - Erasmus, Imperial Gemcutter	Random gem with 20% quality	A
1	Gemcutter's IncubatorGemcutter's IncubatorStack Size: 10Adds an incubated Quality Gem item to an equippable item Item drops after killing {0} monstersRight click this item then left click an item to apply it. The Incubated item drops after killing a specific number of monsters.	Random gem with 1–20% quality	A
1	The VoidThe Void1Reach into the Void and claim your prize.	Random divination card set exchange	A

Vendor reward

This item can be bought at the listed NPC vendors, after completing the following quests:

Class →	Witch	Shadow	Ranger	Duelist	Marauder	Templar	Scion
Quest ↓
A Fixture of Fate Act 3 Siosa
Sever the Right Hand Act 3 Clarissa
Fallen from Grace Act 6 Lilly Roth

Related helmet enchantments

The following helmet enchantments affect Explosive Arrow.

Note that helmet enchantments are no longer obtainable since version 3.23.0 and can only be obtained in permanent leagues as already enchanted items from before this patch.

Name		Labyrinth	Stats	Spawn Weighting
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Attack Speed 1	66	Merciless Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 10% increased Attack Speed	helmet 75
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Attack Speed 2	75	Eternal Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 15% increased Attack Speed	helmet 75
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Damage 1	66	Merciless Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow deals 25% increased Damage	helmet 75
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Damage 2	75	Eternal Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow deals 40% increased Damage	helmet 75
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Increased Duration 1	66	Merciless Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 25% increased Duration	helmet 50
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Increased Duration 2	75	Eternal Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 40% increased Duration	helmet 50
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Area Of Effect 1	66	Merciless Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 16% increased Area of Effect	helmet 75
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Area Of Effect 2	75	Eternal Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 24% increased Area of Effect	helmet 75
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Reduced Duration 1	66	Merciless Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 20% reduced Duration	helmet 50
Enchantment Explosive Arrow Reduced Duration 2	75	Eternal Labyrinth	Explosive Arrow has 30% reduced Duration	helmet 50

Alternate skill effects

Explosive Arrow has the following alternate skill effects:

Item	Description
Pandemonium Explosive Arrow EffectPandemonium Explosive Arrow EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Explosive Arrow becomes a Pandemonium Effect.	Your Explosive Arrow becomes a Pandemonium Effect.
Revenant Explosive Arrow EffectRevenant Explosive Arrow EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Explosive Arrow becomes a Revenant Effect.	Your Explosive Arrow becomes a Revenant Effect.
Twilight Explosive Arrow EffectTwilight Explosive Arrow EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Explosive Arrow becomes a Twilight Effect.	Your Explosive Arrow becomes a Twilight Effect.

Version history

Version	Changes
3.25.0	Now has a Mana cost of 7 at gem level 1 (previously 8), scaling up to 10 at gem level 20 (unchanged).
3.23.0	Quality now provides +0-2 Maximum Explosive Arrows stuck in an Enemy, instead of 0-20% increased Skill Effect Duration and 0-20% chance to Ignite enemies.
3.19.0	Explosive Arrow no longer has "Explosion deals 5% more Damage with Hits and Ailments per Explosive Arrow on Target. Instead, it now has "Explosion deals 6% more Damage with Hits per Explosive Arrow on Target" and "Explosion deals 3% more Damage with Ailments per Explosive Arrow on Target".
3.17.0	Explosive Arrow now has "Explosion deals 5% more Damage with Hits and Ailments per Explosive Arrow on Target" (previously just Hits).
3.16.0	Now has “Explosion deals 5% more Damage with Hits per Explosive Arrow on Target” (previously Hits and Ailments). Because of base Ignite damage changes, Ignite with the skill is now 66.7% higher with 10 arrows on the target. Ignite with the skill is now 25.0% higher with 20 arrows on the target.
3.15.0	Explosion now deals 5% more Damage with Hits and Ailments per Explosive Arrow on Target (previously 3%).
3.10.0	Now gains +2 to Explosion Radius per Explosive Arrow on the target, up to +12 at all gem levels (previously scaled as the gem levelled up, from +10 at gem level 1, to +19 at 20). You can now stick a maximum of 20 Explosive Arrows to an enemy (previously no limit). Explosions now deal 3% more damage with Hits and Ailments per explosive arrow on the target (previously, this only applied to ignites).
3.9.0	Now costs 8 mana at gem level 1 (from 18), up to 10 at gem level 20 (from 27). Arrows stick into the enemy or wall and explode after a duration. The duration no longer refreshes whenever a new arrow is attached (previously they were handled like "charges", which refresh their duration whenever a new one is gained). If an enemy has multiple arrows stuck in them, the first one to explode will consume all other attached arrows, adding their damage to the first arrow's explosion. On-hit effects such as Chance to Ignite or Critical Strikes are determined by the exploding arrow, however each arrow's damage is calculated with their independent critical strike chance taken into account. For example, if the exploding arrow did not successfully roll a critical strike or ignite, the explosion will not ignite. If two other arrows were also attached at the point of the explosion and they successfully rolled to critically strike, they will add their critical strike damage to the explosion, but it will not cause an ignite (or trigger any other on-critical-strike effects). Explosions now deal 50% of base damage (previously weapon damage was not taken into account). Explosions now also deal added fire damage based on gem level, up to 522 to 783 at gem level 20 (from 586 to 879). Now inherits its base critical strike chance from your weapon (previously had a 6% base critical strike chance). Now gains +2 to explosion radius up to a cap determined by gem level, up to +19 at gem level 20. Previously it naturally capped at +10 due to the charge limit. Explosions now deal 3% more damage with Ignite per explosive arrow on the target.
1.1.1b	Fixed a bug that caused the first level of Explosive Arrow to have a greater mana cost than intended.
0.9.12m	The explosion damage is now classified as projectile damage and is hence scaled down by Lesser and Greater Multiple Projectiles support gems.
0.9.12f	Fixed a client crash with Explosive Arrow.
0.9.12	Explosive Arrows now have their own arrow effect. If they miss and stick into terrain, they'll explode as normal after a short time. Now does not explode each time it pierces through monsters.
0.9.8	Reduced the mana cost.
0.9.5	Made Explosive Arrow more powerful. The damage has been increased and the fuse time is now one second.
0.9.4	Increased the damage Explosive Arrow.
0.9.3g	Changed Explosive Arrow to not have the damage scaled by mods that affect Spell Damage.
0.9.3e	Increased damage by 15%.
0.9.2g	Fixed a server crash that would occasionally occur when using Explosive Arrow.
0.9.2f	Fixed a bug with Explosive Arrow not exploding serverside when the monster is killed by the arrow outright. Fixed a bug with Explosive Arrow interacting badly with other buffs. Fixed two server crashes that occurred rarely when using Explosive Arrow.
0.9.2b	Updated the description to describe that the Area of effect of the explosion is proportional to the number of fuse charges.
0.9.2	Added new skill prototype - "Explosive Arrow": Fires an arrow which inflicts a short duration fuse charge on the enemy. Applying additional charges extends the duration. When the target dies or the fuses expire, the charges explode, dealing fire splash damage to nearby enemies.