Proximity Arrows
by CHIC3EN
Proximity Arrows changes how bows pick arrows: the arrow nearest the bow's slot in the inventory is used first, with the offhand still checked before anything else.
What it does
Vanilla Minecraft searches the inventory in a fixed order, so players with several arrow types often end up firing the wrong one mid-fight. Proximity Arrows picks the arrow whose inventory slot sits nearest the bow's slot, using a flat two-axis distance, so a shot fires the closest match instead of following the vanilla search order. Stacks of damage arrows can be kept next to the main bow, and stacks of healing or support arrows next to a secondary bow, so swapping between harmful and helpful arrows does not require dragging items around the inventory.
Arrows with beneficial potion effects such as Healing, Regeneration, Swiftness or Night Vision keep those effects for longer when fired, and the arrow applies the effect without dealing damage or knockback. Buffing allies this way is safe. The mod works automatically for players, pets, villagers and other living entities, and a zero-damage item list can be set through the built-in Item tag. Modded arrows that do not use standard potion effects are not covered by this behavior.
Key features
Closest arrow first
Bows fire the arrow whose inventory slot is physically nearest the bow's slot, bypassing the vanilla search order.
Harmless buff arrows
Arrows with beneficial potion effects apply the effect to a target without causing damage or knockback.
Longer beneficial effects
Healing, Regeneration, Swiftness and Night Vision arrows keep their effect for a longer duration.
Zero-damage item list
Items can be added to a zero-damage list through the built-in Item tag, so they never hurt the target.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players who use several arrow types in combat, and server owners or modpack makers who want predictable arrow selection.
How it compares
Arrow Selector is a Fabric-only mod for 1.20.1 – 1.21.11 that is not open source and runs on client and server. Arrow Bundles is server required with optional client support, works on Fabric, Forge and Quilt for 1.20.1 – 1.21.5, and is released under the MIT License. Proximity Arrows is client and server, works on Fabric and Forge for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1, and is released under the MIT License without being open source.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proximity Arrows | Fabric and Forge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-07-23 |
| Arrow Selector | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 1.21.11 | Client and server | 2026-06-30 |
| Arrow Bundles | Fabric, Forge and Quilt | 1.20.1 – 1.21.5 | Server required, client optional | 2024-01-03 |
Questions
Does Proximity Arrows need Fabric API?
Does the server need the mod?
Which versions does Proximity Arrows support?
In the catalog
Proximity Arrows is one of 17,631 Equipment mods on ModsFinder, and one of 8,894 Equipment mods for Fabric. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.
Similar mods
What the author says
A lightweight, server-sided Fabric mod that completely overhauls archery combat by making arrow selection intuitive and buffing your allies safe. In Vanilla Minecraft, managing different types of arrows is a nightmare. The game blindly prioritizes arrows in your offhand, and then searches your inventory from top left…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/proximity-arrows
- Owner
- CHIC3EN
- Published
- 2026-06-26
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-07-23
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15