Skeleton Uses Custom Bow

Allows skeletons to properly use modded bows.

Many modded bows rely on player-specific firing mechanics, which vanilla skeleton AI cannot use correctly.
This mod lets skeletons fire those bows using player-style bow behavior, improving compatibility with many bow mods.

Works with bows from most mods automatically.

Vanilla bows are unaffected.

Features

Skeletons can use most modded bows automatically
Uses player-style bow logic for non-vanilla bows
Skeletons can upgrade to better bows they pick up
High-tier bows stay equipped (see priority system)

Note:
Not all skeletons can pick up dropped items due to vanilla mob spawn rules.

https://minecraft.wiki/w/Geared_mobs#Picking_up_gear

Compatibility

Works automatically with most bows that extend the vanilla class:

BowItem

Some bow-like weapons that do not inherit from BowItem require explicit compatibility patches.

Currently included patches:

Alex's Caves — Dread Bow
L_Ender's Cataclysm — Cursed Bow, Wrath of the Desert

For Modpack Authors

This mod is drop-in and low-risk:

does not replace skeleton AI
does not modify projectile systems
does not change combat balance

It only adjusts how skeletons fire modded bows.

Bow data (datapack)

Bow behavior can be configured with datapacks:

data/<namespace>/skeleton_bow/<item>.json

Example:

{
  "priority": 10,
  "chance": 0.25,
  "min_difficulty": 1.0,
  "max_difficulty": 5.0,
  "charge_time": 20,
  "post_shot_delay": 40,
  "post_shot_delay_hard_mode": 20,
  "drop_chance": 0.05
}

Detailed explanation can be found here.

Prevent skeleton usage

Add the item tag:

skeletonusescustombow:skeleton_do_not_use

to prevent skeletons from using a bow.