Missile weapons and DR- the weapon or the missile

[Helaman]

Will a magic bow beat DR or is it the magic arrow?

[Derwalt]

They combine. The arrow gains both its own magical abilities and those of the bow.

[Helaman]

So magic bow and normal arrow can still beat DR?

[AvalonXQ]

Yes. That's why typically you put your standard enchantments into your bow (so that all the arrows get them), and only put special properties that you want available occasionally onto arrows (like bane). The arrows are cheaper to enchant, but you only get one use of the magic per arrow.

[Derwalt]

Hmmm. Now I can't actually find any quote from the CRB to back me up. But yes, I absolutely believe so.

[cibet44]

Helaman wrote:

Will a magic bow beat DR or is it the magic arrow?

Technically both would. Here is a quote from the PRD:

"Ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an enhancement bonus of +1 or higher is treated as a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. Similarly, ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an alignment gains the alignment of that projectile weapon (in addition to any alignment it may already have)."

So a normal arrow fired from a +1 bow would be considered magic.

Again from the PRD:

"Ranged Weapons and Ammunition: The enhancement bonus from a ranged weapon does not stack with the enhancement bonus from ammunition. Only the higher of the two enhancement bonuses applies."

So a +2 arrow fired from a +1 bow would be considered a +2 arrow.

[Bob_Loblaw]

It depends on the DR you are trying to beat. If it's against a damage type or a material, the arrow is what matters. If it's against something that the bow would impart on the arrow, then all you would need it a bow that meets the requirements.

So DR 5/adamantine: arrow must be adamantine. DR 5/evil: either the arrow or the bow needs to be unholy. If it's DR 5/adamantine and evil, then the arrow will need to be adamantine and either the bow or arrow needs to be unholy.

[graywulfe]

PRD wrote:

Ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an enhancement bonus of +1 or higher is treated as a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. Similarly, ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an alignment gains the alignment of that projectile weapon.

That should answer the question.