Comprehensive Archer Skills and Equipment Guide

[DawnInfinity]

You know what that means? Make a bird and named it Dawnlogic.

I actually have a bird already, hate to break it to ya.

[Zerious]

Thorn Root (unlocked at lv 8)
Explanation: Damages a single enemy and stops them in their tracks for 3 seconds, as well as decreasing their ability to dodge your attacks up to 25%. Useful for bosses. Important to note that this works completely different from Thorn Wall.

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

Note that this skill also does damage (not listed in the descriptions) similar to your damage range.

I'd like to add that from very recent tests (done yesterday) That Thorn's "Bleed" effect increases per level. We were able to pinpoint the amount per level and it looks like this:

level 1: -6 H/s
level 2: -10 H/s
level 3: -14 H/s
level 4: -18 H/s
level 5: -22 H/s
level 6: -26 H/s

Thorns wall has a similar effect, but we're still not sure on specific levels, as it seems to jump around in terms of unfixed increments, thus cannot post any data we are unsure of.

[Physiologic]

I'd like to add that from very recent tests (done yesterday) That Thorn's "Bleed" effect increases per level. We were able to pinpoint the amount per level and it looks like this:

level 1: -6 H/s
level 2: -10 H/s
level 3: -14 H/s
level 4: -18 H/s
level 5: -22 H/s
level 6: -26 H/s

Thorns wall has a similar effect, but we're still not sure on specific levels, as it seems to jump around in terms of unfixed increments, thus cannot post any data we are unsure of.

Very interesting, did you test this out in PvP? I'll add this in. It's impossible to test this skill attribute in PvE where I usually ran all my tests.

[WhoIsThis]

Very interesting, did you test this out in PvP? I'll add this in. It's impossible to test this skill attribute in PvE where I usually ran all my tests.

It's probably of limited use in PvE anyways, as the duration for this to take an effect means that the target is either dead or reset. The one possible exception may be against bosses. More testing here will be needed I think.

In PvP, when you're taking on an isolated bird or bear though ... another story (mages can just heal themselves).



@Physiologic

I think that you tested the new recurve bow last night after we did the Hideout runs ... what were your impressions after using it? Is it a major step up from the sentinel shotgun that you carry around? I can't remember, but some of the newer bows have some sort of hit% proc on them that reduces their hit by up to 50%.

[Physiologic]

@Herwolf - The Thorn Wall bleed proc is already a part of its skill description.

@Attackelf - I only tested out the range distance of the Customized Recurve Bow, and it's actually shorter than the Shotgun - The Recurve Bow travels 10 meters (same as a Talon distance) whereas the Shotgun/Mega Blaster/Cyber Blaster travels 12 meters. I didn't test for any procs, though.

[WhoIsThis]

Read this thread about the proc discussion:
http://www.spacetimestudios.com/show...pons-and-procs

You know, part of me still wonders if I should I remained dex-mage, despite the lower damage output compared to pure int. On the other hand ... maybe not. The new roach gear doesn't have any mana regen (fatal to any mage). Oh well ... I still have to level my bird at some point.

It doesn't surprise me that the range of the new bows is the exact same as their lower level counterparts. Other people around have been expecting an equivalent of the megablaster of the void or shotgun to emerge at some point - a raid roach blaster.

[Beanmachine]

[SIZE="6"]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

This skill also causes a bleed proc that decreases enemies' health per second (H/s). Credits to HerWolf for this useful piece of information.

Lv 1: -6 H/s
Lv 2: -10 H/s
Lv 3: -14 H/s
Lv 4: -18 H/s
Lv 5: -22 H/s
Lv 6: -26 H/s

I tested the bleed proc with Herwolf, do I get credit?

[Physiologic]

There ya go, credits added

[tonebjr]

Thumbs up physc!!

Great details, easy to digest!!
Keep it comin!!

[WhoIsThis]

@Physiologic - I can lend you my raid roach leather if you want to do some real world tests. Meet me in the game if you want to. You'll have to borrow the helm and bow off someone else, but it is probably worth finding out.



At this point, I'd have to say that raid roach is probably better overall, but there are some significant tradeoffs to be made. Maybe raid roach with the highest mana regen ring is the optimal solution. Do you think that it's worth crafting this?

[Physiologic]

Hmm thanks for the offer - but you can go ahead and sell it or keep it Moogerfooger has done extensive research on the new sets and I most likely will follow-up once I have a complete set as well. I'd probably hold onto it for weeks (that's how long I usually do trial and error and do results) and wouldn't want you to part with it for so long

[WhoIsThis]

I really don't need it right now. It will be some time before I begin levelling my bird. I'm probably gonna sell it for cash then. Hopefully in a few weeks, things will be cheaper and I can just buy another one.

[Yvonnel]

I just want to say thanks. This is a great guide. This is going to help me a lot when I start playing my bird more. Right now I am grinding out levels for it.

[Fedah]

Wonderful guide! Can't wait to see lvl 55 additions!

[Physiologic]

Thanks I unfortunately maxed out the character limit allotted to a post - 50,000 characters to be exact, so I'm afraid I cannot update this guide any longer, or I may need to cut a lot of things out...

[Beanmachine]

There ya go, credits added

Cheers MATEY

[adwin]

Here's a new setup I came up with. I call it the FD (Finger Dance)



Explanation:
I built it so you just need to run your fingers through. Not necessarily mashing, but it's so much easier.

- 1st column: arguably the most important self buff: "Focus". Just underneath add "Evade". I messed up my respec, which is why evade isn't in the screenshot.
- 2nd column: thorns -> root for boss, and thorn wall for mob. Chain this into the next column
- 3rd column: run this from top to bottom (just be careful when u activate Shattering scream - you might need to time that with a bear's bekon)
first comes blinding shot (you can link to evade). This enables you to enter a mob with greater safety in order to unleash
shattering scream: major enemy debuff leading to further debuffing with armor break (this also gives you a pause in order to successfully chain ->)
blast shot combo. Your grand finale. In the mean time, mages can unleash lightning for cleaning up.
You CAN, but not necessarily need to use, Repulse as the last move.

In a good party, regular mob doesn't survive 1 such strike, and a few iterations of this combo quickly and efficiently takes care of demi-bosses.
Just finger dance from top to bottom. 1st column, then second (select either thorn wall or root) then third column et voila.


Don't clutter your skill list with meditate, restore and avian scream since you're not gonna be using those anyway,
AND they're a waste of mana (which, as a bird, you always be short on).

@Physiologic: I tested out AS vs Repulse, and I must admit that repulse seems to work better. The bigger active radius effectively makes up for the lack of stun.

[Physiologic]

I'll try this set-up too Was getting kinda bored with my own. If I can somehow coerce the devs into giving me a 50k+ character limit I'll add this in.

And yeah, I really wish AS would have a larger range of attack. The stun would be so much useful with an 8m range, but the 3m range really bites. Not sure how the knockback compares.

[adwin]

@Physiologic: just remember to add "Evade" underneath "Focus".
Other than that, it's a smooth motion from top -> right -> down
The only "drawback" I could experience is me automatically hitting SS, when not necessarily needed.

Let me know how that works for you.

[Moogerfooger]

I have something sorta similar, other than I have SS right next to Blast Shot for our favorite birdie combo I just hesitate for a split second before hitting Blast Shot. I'd try this out, but I think finger muscle memory may cause issues at first, haha.