Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Arrow.The humble bow was Oliver Queen’s weapon of choice, but he augmented his arsenal on Arrow with a number of specialized trick arrows. While he most often employed ordinary broad-head arrows and blunt-point shafts capable of knocking an enemy out non-lethally, Oliver Queen came to use more and more trick arrows over the course of the series. This became necessary as the non-powered Green Arrow began to face more dangerous enemies, including alien invaders and metahuman supervillains.
While many superheroes have adopted the avenging archer archetype, Green Arrow was the first, predating Marvel's Hawkeye by over two decades. Both heroes make intensive use of trick arrows, but those used by Oliver Queen in the Arrowverse generally tended to be more realistic in their application. Here is a rundown of every trick arrow ever used on Arrow and in the many Arrowverse crossovers.
Router Arrow
Acting as a mobile hot spot, the Router Arrow allows Oliver Queen to remotely hack into nearby computers. The Router Arrow has the distinction of being the first exotic trick arrow used in the Arrowverse, being utilized to steal the ill-gotten gains of corrupt businessman Adam Hunt in the pilot episode of Arrow.
Grappling Hook Arrows
Officially designated as "jettisoning arrows" by Green Arrow Oliver Queen, the Arrowverse's archery-themed heroes make use of a variety of arrows based on the ability to latch onto a distant object. Variants of this trick arrow include swinging lines and zip lines for fast but controlled descents from great heights. They have also been used for catching criminals from a distance and suspending them in midair.
Microphone/Recorder Arrows
The Microphone Arrow contains a compact listening device, which allows Green Arrow to listen in on conversations from a distance. The Recorder Arrow works on the same principle but can record ambient noise to be replayed later. Oliver Queen used the Recorder Arrow to deliver an incriminating recording of shipping magnate Martin Somers to Detective Quentin Lance in Arrow season 1, episode 2, "Honor Thy Father."
Incendiary Arrow
The Incendiary Arrow contains a chemical solution capable of burning through metal quickly. Green Arrow used this trick arrow in Arrow season 1, episode 18, "Salvation," to gain access to the abandoned subway system used as a lair by the murderous vigilante called The Savior.
Flashbang Arrow
The Flashbang Arrow functions like a standard flashbang grenade, generating a non-lethal explosion and a blinding burst of light. Oliver Queen most famously used the Flashbang Arrow in Arrow's season 1 finale, during his final battle with the Dark Archer, Malcolm Merlyn, but he also routinely used this trick arrow for crowd control fighting large groups of criminals.
Snare Arrows
The Snare Arrow releases several high-tension wires on impact, which wrap around the target and hold it in place. Oliver Queen used this trick arrow to capture the assassin called Canary in Arrow season 2, episode 4, "Crucible," just before he discovered that Canary was Sara Lance.
Explosive Arrows
Oliver Queen employed a number of Explosive Arrows with varying payloads and triggers. Some exploded on impact while others could be triggered by a remote control or set on a timer. Some were barely powerful enough to knock a grown man off his feet while others could blow walls in the sides of buildings.
Flare Arrow
The Flare Arrow generates a brief burst of flame on impact. While it could theoretically be used to start a fire, Oliver Queen primarily used it to blind snipers, like when he raided the home of gangster Cyrus Vanch in Arrow season 1, episode 13, "Betrayal."
Syringe Arrow
The Syringe Arrow injects the target with whatever liquid it is filled with on impact. Green Arrow used one filled with "200 milligrams of horse tranquilizer" to try and slow down Barry Allen, The Flash, when Barry became influenced by the Rainbow Raider in The Flash season 1, episode 8, "Flash vs. Arrow." John Diggle similarly used a Syringe Arrow containing an antidote for the designer drug Vertigo to save Green Arrow from a lethal overdose forced on him by drug dealers, in Arrow season 1, episode 19, "Unfinished Business."
Taser Arrow
The Taser Arrow emits a controlled electrical discharge capable of rendering a grown man unconscious. Green Arrow used one to incapacitate the assassin Bronze Tiger when the two fought in Arrow season 2, episode 2, "Identity."
