Comprehensive Archer Skills and Equipment Guide

[Physiologic]

You need to add Terror combo and thorn root also works for Nature Strike.

'Terror' combo + Thorn Root = Nature Strike combo, as in a combo can create another combo?

[Fyrce]

No, terror is shattering scream + hell scream. You already have nature strike in your thorn wall commentary. You need to add it to your thorn root commentary.

[Physiologic]

No, terror is shattering scream + hell scream. You already have nature strike in your thorn wall commentary. You need to add it to your thorn root commentary.

Oh I read your sentence completely wrong, I'll add those in, thanks!

[rku]

Something I think you should mention is that every single skill with the exception of the self buffs does damage. Shattering scream, thorn wall, thorn root, blinding shot, and break armor all deal pretty significant damage (150+ for me, typically. Archer in sunblessed set)

And also that both thorn root and thorn wall in combination with lightning create the nature strike combo. Maybe you have this already but I thought I only saw you mention thorn wall. This can be advantageous if you watch carefully for when your mages are using lightning. If you use them one after another and a mage uses lightning its only one combo. But if you use one, allow time for a mage to use lightning, then use the other, thats 2 nature strike combos and double the damage.

good guide overall man, nice work.

[Physiologic]

Something I think you should mention is that every single skill with the exception of the self buffs does damage. Shattering scream, thorn wall, thorn root, blinding shot, and break armor all deal pretty significant damage (150+ for me, typically. Archer in sunblessed set)

And also that both thorn root and thorn wall in combination with lightning create the nature strike combo. Maybe you have this already but I thought I only saw you mention thorn wall. This can be advantageous if you watch carefully for when your mages are using lightning. If you use them one after another and a mage uses lightning its only one combo. But if you use one, allow time for a mage to use lightning, then use the other, thats 2 nature strike combos and double the damage.

good guide overall man, nice work.

Yep I've got Thorn Root added for the Nature Strike combo. As for the skills, I didn't denote that they added damage (since it's on the skill window) since they all basically do but rather just focused more on their function.

[noobmigo]

Excuse me, could you help me answer this q: What is the average hit debuff for lvls 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Blinding shot?

[Physiologic]

Excuse me, could you help me answer this q: What is the average hit debuff for lvls 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Blinding shot?

Even though it doesn't say in the descriptions, Blinding Shot has the following hit% reductions:
lv 1: -5 hit% debuff
lv 2: -10 hit% debuff
lv 3: -15 hit% debuff
lv 4: -20 hit% debuff
lv 5: -25 hit% debuff

Thanks to Phana for testing this with me!

[chrononh]

Just wanted to say thanks for this guide. My archer was languishing in the mid 30s since September, and this thread really helped me get a better handle on how to play the char. I finally got him to level 50 last night.

[Physiologic]

Just wanted to say thanks for this guide. My archer was languishing in the mid 30s since September, and this thread really helped me get a better handle on how to play the char. I finally got him to level 50 last night.

Very glad to have helped, if you have any future questions just ask away

[Yanis]

Hey

Any advice on how to recalibrate assuming lvl55 and 6 levels per skill?

[Nightarcher]

Hey

Any advice on how to recalibrate assuming lvl55 and 6 levels per skill?

As it is now, I have 5 points in every skill except thorn wall, restore, and mediation.

With the extra 6 skill points @ lv56, I plan to (eventually) have all but these three skills @ rank 6, leaving one extra point to go into Thorn Wall.

[Physiologic]

Hey

Any advice on how to recalibrate assuming lvl55 and 6 levels per skill?

For archers, 1.7 is really a blessing for skill adjustments, provided that the devs gives us a free respec (considering this is a large change and they promised free respecs for such changes), or if you are able to afford a respec on your own.

We can subtract the 4 points from the rather useless range-limited Avian Scream skill, and with the 5 other points granted from levels 51 to 55, we can max out every other imperative skill that we have (minus Restore and Meditation). If a skill point is granted for level 56, then that can be saved or dumped into any of the 3 pointless skills.

Here are the extrapolated figures for level 6 provided they follow the same damage/range increments from levels 1 to 5.

Focus (unlocked at lv 2)

Lv 1: 25 mana, 30.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
20 sec. buff, +5 hit chance, +5 crit chance
Lv 2: 25 mana, 30.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
20 sec. buff, +10 hit chance, +10 crit chance
Lv 3: 25 mana, 30.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
20 sec. buff, +15 hit chance, +15 crit chance
Lv 4: 25 mana, 30.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
20 sec. buff, +20 hit chance, +20 crit chance
Lv 5: 25 mana, 30.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
20 sec. buff, +25 hit chance, +25 crit chance
Lv 6: 25 mana, 30.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
20 sec. buff, +30 hit chance, +30 crit chance

Blast Shot (unlocked at lv 4)

Lv 1: 20 mana, 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range
200-213 damage, 2m target area blast
Lv 2: 20 mana, 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range
200-225 damage, 3m target area blast
Lv 3: 20 mana, 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range
226-250 damage, 4m target area blast
Lv 4: 20 mana, 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range
253-277 damage, 5m target area blast
Lv 5: 20 mana, 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range
280-304 damage, 6m target area blast
Lv 6: 20 mana, 6 sec. cool-down, 12m range
307-331 damage, 7m target area blast

Avian Scream (unlocked at lv 6)

Lv 1: 15 mana, 8 sec. cool-down, 3m area effect
194-237 damage, knock-back + 3 sec. stun
Lv 2: 15 mana, 8 sec. cool-down, 3m area effect
194-247 damage, knock-back + 3 sec. stun
Lv 3: 15 mana, 8 sec. cool-down, 3m area effect
194-257 damage, knock-back + 3 sec. stun
Lv 4: 15 mana, 8 sec. cool-down, 3m area effect
194-267 damage, knock-back + 3 sec. stun
Lv 5: 15 mana, 8 sec. cool-down, 3m area effect
194-277 damage, knock-back + 3 sec.stun
Lv 6: 15 mana, 8 sec. cool-down, 3m area effect
194-287 damage, knock-back + 3 sec.stun

Thorn Root (unlocked at lv 8)

Lv 1: 20 mana, 6.25 sec. cool-down, 10m range
3 sec. root, -5 DODGE % debuff
Lv 2: 20 mana, 6.25 sec. cool-down, 10m range
3 sec. root, -10 DODGE % debuff
Lv 3: 20 mana, 6.25 sec. cool-down, 10m range
3 sec. root, -15 DODGE % debuff
Lv 4: 20 mana, 6.25 sec. cool-down, 10m range
3 sec. root, -20 DODGE % debuff
Lv 5: 20 mana, 6.25 sec. cool-down, 10m range
3 sec. root, -25 DODGE % debuff
Lv 6: 20 mana, 6.25 sec. cool-down, 10m range
3 sec. root, -30 DODGE % debuff

Meditation (unlocked at lv 10)

Lv 1: 10 mana, 45.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
3 sec. buff, +12 mana regen rate
Lv 2: 10 mana, 45.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
3 sec. buff, +16 mana regen rate
Lv 3: 10 mana, 45.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
3 sec. buff, +20 mana regen rate
Lv 4: 10 mana, 45.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
3 sec. buff, +24 mana regen rate
Lv 5: 10 mana, 45.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
3 sec. buff, +28 mana regen rate
Lv 6: 10 mana, 45.5 sec. cool-down, self-target
3 sec. buff, +32 mana regen rate

Restore (unlocked at lv 12)

Lv 1: 15 mana, 16.25 sec. cool-down, self-target
Heal 13-17, +5 health regen for 5 sec.
Lv 2: 15 mana, 16.25 sec. cool-down, self-target
Heal 16-27, +5 health regen for 5 sec.
Lv 3: 15 mana, 16.25 sec. cool-down, self-target
Heal 19-34, +5 health regen for 5 sec.
Lv 4: 15 mana, 16.25 sec. cool-down, self-target
Heal 28-51, +5 health regen for 5 sec.
Lv 5: 15 mana, 16.25 sec. cool-down, self-target
Heal 44-67, +5 health regen for 5 sec.
Lv 6: 15 mana, 16.25 sec. cool-down, self-target
Heal 60-83, +5 health regen for 5 sec.

Evasion (unlocked at lv 14)

Lv 1: 25 mana, 30 sec. cool-down, self-target
10 sec. buff gives +4 dodge
Lv 2: 25 mana, 30 sec. cool-down, self-target
10 sec. buff gives +8 dodge
Lv 3: 25 mana, 30 sec. cool-down, self-target
10 sec. buff gives +12 dodge
Lv 4: 25 mana, 30 sec. cool-down, self-target
10 sec. buff gives +18 dodge
Lv 5: 25 mana, 30 sec. cool-down, self-target
10 sec. buff gives +24 dodge
Lv 6: 25 mana, 30 sec. cool-down, self-target
10 sec. buff gives +32 dodge

Break Armor (unlocked at lv 16)

Lv 1: 15 mana, 5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
10 sec. debuff reduces armor 4 pts.
Lv 2: 15 mana, 5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
10 sec. debuff reduces armor 8 pts.
Lv 3: 15 mana, 5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
10 sec. debuff reduces armor 12 pts.
Lv 4: 15 mana, 5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
10 sec. debuff reduces armor 16 pts.
Lv 5: 15 mana, 5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
10 sec. debuff reduces armor 20 pts.
Lv 6: 15 mana, 5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
10 sec. debuff reduces armor 24 pts.

Shattering Scream (unlocked at lv 18)

Lv 1: 20 mana, 5.5 sec. cool-dow, 8m range
Reduce DMG -4, ARMOR -4
Lv 2: 20 mana, 5.5 sec. cool-dow, 8m range
Reduce DMG -8, ARMOR -8
Lv 3: 20 mana, 5.5 sec. cool-dow, 8m range
Reduce DMG -10, ARMOR -10
Lv 4: 20 mana, 5.5 sec. cool-dow, 8m range
Reduce DMG -12, ARMOR -12
Lv 5: 20 mana, 5.5 sec. cool-dow, 8m range
Reduce DMG -14, ARMOR -14
Lv 6: 20 mana, 5.5 sec. cool-dow, 8m range
Reduce DMG -16, ARMOR -16

Repulse Shot (unlocked at lv 20)

Lv 1: 15 mana, 7.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
183-188 damage + knock-back (no stun)
Lv 2: 15 mana, 7.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
194-200 damage + knock-back (no stun)
Lv 3: 15 mana, 7.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
204-216 damage + knock-back (no stun)
Lv 4: 15 mana, 7.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
214-228 damage + knock-back (no stun)
Lv 5: 15 mana, 7.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
224-243 damage + knock-back (no stun)
Lv 6: 15 mana, 7.5 sec. cool-down, 12m range
234-258 damage + knock-back (no stun)

Blinding Shot (unlocked at lv 22)

Lv 1: 25 mana, 7 sec. cool-down, 12m range
171-214 damage plus 5 sec. hit debuff
Lv 2: 25 mana, 7 sec. cool-down, 12m range
174-227 damage plus 5 sec. hit debuff
Lv 3: 25 mana, 7 sec. cool-down, 12m range
177-243 damage plus 5 sec. hit debuff
Lv 4: 25 mana, 7 sec. cool-down, 12m range
198-257 damage plus 5 sec. hit debuff
Lv 5: 25 mana, 7 sec. cool-down, 12m range
201-264 damage plus 5 sec. hit debuff
Lv 6: 25 mana, 7 sec. cool-down, 12m range
204-257 damage plus 5 sec. hit debuff

Here are the following hit% reductions unspecified by the skill descriptions:

Lv 1: -5 hit% debuff
Lv 2: -10 hit% debuff
Lv 3: -15 hit% debuff
Lv 4: -20 hit% debuff
Lv 5: -25 hit% debuff
Lv 6: -30 hit% debuff

Thorn Wall (unlocked at lv 24)

Lv 1: 30 mana, 11 sec. cool-down, 6m area
3 sec. root, 6 target damage per sec.
Lv 2: 30 mana, 11 sec. cool-down, 8m area
3 sec. root, 6 target damage per sec.
Lv 3: 30 mana, 11 sec. cool-down, 8m area
3 sec. root, 9 target damage per sec.
Lv 4: 30 mana, 11 sec. cool-down, 10m area
3 sec. root, 9 target damage per sec.
Lv 5: 30 mana, 11 sec. cool-down, 10m area
3 sec. root, 12 target damage per sec.
Lv 6: 30 mana, 11 sec. cool-down, 12m area
3 sec. root, 12 target damage per sec.

[Yanis]

I knew I would get everything I needed . Thanks much.

[Yanis]

What would be your advice for optimal pve attribute mix at lvl55?

[Zeus]

What would be your advice for optimal pve attribute mix at lvl55?

Ok... Do this. Max the following: Focus, Evade, Blast Shot, Break, Blind, Repulse

5 in the following: Thorn Root, Thorn wall, Shattering scream

3 in avian scream or heal

[Yanis]

My question was about attribute points, not skill points... Sorry for the confusion..

[Otukura]

Blinding shot loses max dmg at lvl 6?

[Physiologic]

What would be your advice for optimal pve attribute mix at lvl55?

For now, I would stick to pure Dex only. If you're thinking of going the Warbird route (STR/DEX), you may want to hold off on that until Cinco fixes a whole bunch of things regarding looted Balefort Sewer pinks and crafted pinks (See this thread). I'm not sure if Cinco will revamp just the armor, or the entire thing altogether. If the armor is indeed supposed to be THAT low, then I'll start to fiddle around with the attributes and gear because birds would have absolutely no survivability with being dex-only with lv 51/53/55 gear .

Ok... Do this. Max the following: Focus, Evade, Blast Shot, Break, Blind, Repulse

5 in the following: Thorn Root, Thorn wall, Shattering scream

3 in avian scream or heal

I don't like avian scream purely because (along with its limited range) its knock-back capabilities are shabby and don't seem to push back enemies far enough.

Blinding shot loses max dmg at lvl 6?

That was a bad typo Thanks for pointing that out! I'll remake these numbers as soon as I hit lv 55, as those numbers were just estimates before 1.7 was even released.

[WindBreakr]

Sweetness imma go do this now

[Physiologic]

Guide has been updated to 1.7 information. Detailed information about the new lv 55 pinks and the crafted lv 55 pinks will follow.