The Myth of the Arrow Volley: Why Hollywood Gets Archery Wrong

This article debunks the common Hollywood trope of coordinated arrow volleys in battles. Historically, archers didn't fire in synchronized volleys; instead, they shot individually. Volley fire is a tactic suited to slow-loading ranged weapons like firearms, compensating for their reload times. The author explains why volley fire was impractical for archers (high draw weight leads to archer exhaustion), and reveals the actual lethality of arrow barrages was far lower than depicted in films. Even powerful warbows struggled against armored infantry, with shields and armor significantly reducing arrow effectiveness. Historical examples demonstrate that arrow fire's primary impact was on morale and combat effectiveness, not mass casualties. The article highlights the discrepancy between cinematic portrayals and historical reality.