Archer

Archer
Job Base(s):	Novice
Job Type:	First
Race:	Human
Changes At:	Payon
Number of Skills:	5
Total Skill Points:	50
Total Quest Skills:	2
Job Bonuses
STR AGI VIT INT DEX LUK +3 +3 +1 +2 +7 +2

Overview

Archers are experts at long-range combat with Bows and Arrows. Their range gives them several advantages, which includes:

• The ability to change the element of their weapon quickly by changing their arrow type. This makes Archers able to exploit elemental advantages easily.
• Accuracy and damage is increased by the same stat (DEX), allowing all attacks to connect and deal a lot of damage.
• Range enables archers to defeat stationary or slow-moving opponents that are stronger than they are without being hit.

Drawbacks of the Archer class include:

• Low VIT limits their ability to survive when they are caught up in melee situations.
• Require Arrows for every attack with a Bow. Running out of arrows in a firefight can make an Archer useless.

Job Changing

Once you are Job Level 10, head to the Archer Guild (pay_arche 145, 164) in the Archer Village north of Payon and talk to the Archer Guildsman (payon_in02 64, 71). He changes your job to Archer and rewards you with a Novice Composite Bow [3], and 1 Fire Arrow, Silver Arrow, and Normal Quiver.

Alternatively, after attaining Job Level 10, advance to an Archer class at Criatura Academy (izlude 125, 257 or 130, 257) in Izlude.

Builds

See Hunter Builds, Dancer Builds or Bard Builds for build strategies.

For builds using a bow's long range as a leveling tactic, refer to Sniping Maps for some map suggestions on leveling.

Stats

• STR: The only normal reason to up STR on an Archer is to extend the Weight Limit, allowing for more Potions and Arrows to be carried. Archers should leave this at 1, but they may find it useful/other uses for it once they become a second class. The other reason to get STR is for a Beast Strafing build which requires to be Soul Linked.

• AGI: Archers aspiring to be PvM Bards or Dancers, or who will become Hunters will find AGI to nearly as/more important than DEX. AGI increases ASPD, allowing the Archer to attack faster(and before the enemy can close into melee range) and deal more damage over-time. It also enables Archers to Flee an adversary and more easily evade their attacks.

• VIT is reasonable for players who wish to PvP or take part in the War of Emperium, as it increases MaxHP and resistance to the common stun status. Pure PvM builds do not often invest in VIT.

• INT increases MaxSP, SP recovery, and MATK, and reduces cast delay. It is useful for archers planning on using many active skills, though most builds do not have much room for a large amount of INT. INT is used for the Bard skill Magic Strings for reducing skill delay. INT also contributes to Falcon damage and trap damage (for hunters). INT becomes more important as a Transcendent or 3rd class archer, as many active archer skills have long cast times, and some Wanderer/Maestro skills require a large amount of SP and MATK.

• DEX: Begin with these stats on a Novice for most types of Archers. As an Archer, the most important stat will be DEX. It increases ASPD a little, reduces cast time, increases hit, and it improves bow and trap damage. For archers hoping to someday become a Ranger, your ATK also influences your Warg's damage, which is most commonly influenced by a bow and therefore DEX, though you could conceivably wear a dagger and have your Warg's damage influenced by STR.

• LUK is useful if the Archer intends to change into a Hunter. LUK increases the automatic use of a Falcon's Blitz Beat and Warg's Warg Strike. INT also contributes to Falcon damage by increasing its ATK, but Falconers should prioritized it after AGI and LUK. These stats should also not be invested for Falconry until the player is a level 75+ Hunter. LUK also contributes greatly to CRIT, which deals 140% of your regular damage and never misses. To a lesser degree, you also gain ATK, MATK, hit, flee, and Perfect Dodge from LUK.

Skill Build

Standard Build for Archers

• Double Strafe 10
• Owl's Eye 10
• Vulture's Eye 10
• Improve Concentration 10
• Arrow Shower 9

Equipment

From Scratch

If as a Novice you begun with a lot of DEX, switch to a bow as soon as possible. Initially the startup fee will be high because you will have to buy arrows, but this fee decreases overtime. Any kind of upgrade that increases ATK or DEX is good for an archer. Keep an eye out for Slotted Ribbons, Mantles, Boots, and Mufflers, which are all very common and very inexpensive on the market. Your best bet is to buy the strongest NPC bow that you can, and begin the Eden Group quests as soon as each rank becomes available (Level 12, Level 26, and Level 40) which will net you some decent gear for free. Otherwise, start off by hunting Mandragoras and collecting Stems, which are common drops that sell for a comparatively large amount of zeny to other players. Later, you can move on to hunting Floras for Maneater Blossom, which again sell for large amounts of zeny and drop quite frequently from an immobile monster. Once you reach level 60 you can hunt Geographers for even Maneater Blossom, and by now you should have enough zeny to follow the gear recommendations below.

With Budget

Buy Wise Goggles or any Wise headgear. The +80 SP helps with Double Strafe, Arrow Shower, and Improve Concentration. Use upgraded composite bows as soon as you become an archer. At level 18 Archers are able to wield Cross Bows. If you obtain a Cross Bow [3], you have the choice to overupgrade and add cards. Then, switch to Arbalests or Gakkungs as soon as possible (level 33 or whenever funds are available). If you have a decent amount of money, you should be able to find plenty of Gakkungs and Arbalest bows with 2 slots on the market, or you can try slotting your own bows using the slotting NPC. Burning Bows are also an inexpensive bow with high attack power and two slots, though they require level 55 and you may have classed up by that level. Ballistas are similarly high level and tend to be overlooked. These are gears that you can freely add cards to, until you can afford an Orc Archer Bow, arguably the best bow that archer classes can wear until they reach their 3rd class.

For armor and other accessories, look for Tights [1], Bow Thimbles (slotted or unslotted), and Nimble Clips. Any gear that increases DEX tends to fit archers well. However, if you're planning on a build with high ASPD, you may want to look for AGI boosting gear as well. If you have Kafra Points, the Robo Eyes are one of the best headgears for archers as they increase both DEX and ATK %, which there is no alternative for in cards.

Quest Equipments

Free equipments for starters without funding support.

Item(s)	Required Level	Subtype	Effect(s)	Obtain From
Criatura Academy Hat [1]	1	Headgear	Def + 2, Max HP + 15, Max SP + 5	Izlude Criatura Academy
Cotton Shirt	0	Armor	Def + 10
Novice Main Gauche	0	Dagger	Atk 45

Class Data

Skills

For second class skills see Hunter Skills, Dancer Skills, or Bard Skills.

Skill	Description	Levels	Type
Arrow Shower	Deal up to 250% damage to targets in a 5*5 area around target.	10	Offensive
Double Strafe	Deal up to 380% damage to a single target.	10	Offensive
Improve Concentration	Increase DEX and AGI by up to 12% for a duration. Uncovers hidden enemies in a 3*3 area when activated.	10	Supportive
Owl's Eye	Increases DEX by up to 10.	10	Passive
Vulture's Eye	Increases range and HIT when using bows.	10	Passive

Quest Skills

Skill	Description	Levels	Type	Job Level Requirement	Quest
Arrow Crafting	Create arrows from various items.	1	Active	30	Arrow Crafting Quest
Arrow Repel	Shoot a target to inflict 150% damage and push it back 6 cells.	1	Offensive	35	Arrow Repel Quest

Job Bonuses

Job Bonus

Stat\Amount	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	+6	+7
STR	6	38	40
AGI	26	33	49
VIT	46
INT	10	47
DEX	2	14	18	30	36	42	50
LUK	22	44

ASPD

Equip Attack Speed From Novice Bare Handed 156 0 Shield -9 +1 Dagger -15 0 Bow -10 N/A

ASPD Potions Usable Concentration ✔ Awakening ✔ Berserk ✘