The SRD says about Arrows that
An arrow used as a melee weapon is treated as a light improvised weapon (-4 penalty on attack rolls) and deals damage as a dagger of its size (critical multiplier ×2). Arrows come in a leather quiver that holds 20 arrows. An arrow that hits its target is destroyed; one that misses has a 50% chance of being destroyed or lost.
Is an arrow that's successfully used as an improvised melee weapon destroyed?
"Seriously? Who Cares?"
I'm buying gear for a level 6 solo campaign character who's not a spellcaster, and EL 6 is when creatures start to get weird... and sometimes incorporeal. Rather than putzing around with ghostblight (CAd 122), ghostoil (AE 34), ghostwall shellac (Du 90), or whatever I figured I'd just buy an arrow made of serren1 (BE 38) for 80 gp 5 cp and stab ghosts with it--y'know, if the ghost has it coming.2 I want something reusable rather than throwing cash at an alchemist after every ghost battle for capsules, vials, or paints, and the level 6 Wealth by Level is stretched pretty thin after the +1 valorous greatsword. So, yeah, alternatives to this strategy are acceptable, but preface them with an opinion about the question.
- A single arrow of adamantine (DMG 283) for 60 gp 5 cp wouldn't be bad either.
- Ghosts always have it coming.