Archer Low to High Level

WARNING: The contents of this guide are, for the most part, completely false or horribly inaccurate. Please disregard this guide and, instead, refer to the forums until the proper edits have been made to allow some semblance of decency. One of the best archer guides can be found here: http://pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=331432 Continue reading at your own risk.

Basic Archer Info

• Archers are one of the main damage dealing (or DD) classes in Perfect World International. However, since their main stat (Dex) is truely only good for light armors, they are limited in builds. However by changing build at certian levels, survivabilty and high damaging dealing can be achieved. Though the damage will not be the same as a pure (all dex) archer, it will still be high and you won't be made of "the squishy stuff," (no physical or magical defense).

Low levels (1-20)

• In these levels, mobs are relativly easy to kill, reqardless of high dex or not. That is why during these levels it best to have a build as follows...

"per level"

• • 4 Dex
  • 1 Str
• The standard issue build most archers brand consists of 4 dex and 1 str every level, granting optimal damage, and the ability to wear the next bow/armor when avaliable. Following this build, one can expect an additional crit % every 5 levels. This may be confusing, seeing as most would think, Str is physical attack, but in the case of an archer, they recieve their physical attack increase via dex.

There are some variants that include vitality, known as a hybrid build, which roughly increases hp by a small amount higher than the standard, but lowers damage significantly.

Mid levels (21-60)

• Now that you have knockback arrow, and eventually stunning arrow and aim low, most monsters will be lucky to hit you. Here is where you will start wanting to combo moves to keep monsters at bay, this is because archers will do half damage if the offending monster is within a range of 5 meters of you. This is when most people turn to running from the monster and continueing the attack. A more efficient way is the following combo...

"from start to finish (assuming all of the attacks hit)"

• • Take Aim
  • Frost Arrow
  • Attack until Frost Arrow wears off (or until mob gets too close for comfort)
  • Knockback Arrow
  • Quickshot
  • (if mob is still alive then use these) Attack until mob is close
  • when close Lightning Strike
• Most monsters will be dead before full combo is done, but the reason you save lightning strike for last, is because it is the most mana intensive skill level 20 archers have. You also wait until the monster is close, because lightning strike inflicts magic damage, and thus does full damage at all ranges. This combination should be your main combo until you get stunning arrow; in which case, perform the following combo...

"from start to finish (assuming all of the attacks hit)"

• • Take Aim
  • Quickshot
  • Knockback Arrow
  • Stunning Arrow
  • Quickshot again
  • Lightning Strike
• Stunning Arrow starts with only a 55% chance to the stun the monster, this is why I reccommend leveling it when possible, for it has a 90% chance to stun when fully maxxed out (level 10).
• At level 49 archers learn 2 important skills, called Deadly Shot and Sharpened Tooth Arrow. Both of these are very important DD skills, however Sharpened Tooth Arrow is another skill that should be maxxed ASAP due to its ability to shorten boss fights, where as Deadly Shot is much more so for soloing, and should be combined with Aim Low when possible.
• Level 59 is when archers learn their best AOE and DD skill, Barrage of Arrows (also called BoA or barrage). This skill is very important for Territory Wars (TW), Zhenning (AOE grinding), Rebirth Orders (RBs), etc. However it puts a massive strain on one's mana, and is reccommended that you keep it at level 1 if you intend to only Zhen with it. If you wish to RB or TW though, it is reccommended that you max it.

High Levels (61+)

• Heres is where you can really do what you want with your archer. Most reccommend adding vit for a bit, and then going completely pure dex. This is a good build, especially since you already have vit from your lower levels. I reccommend adding shards to your armor to support your health and mana. If you wish to abuse Barrage of Arrows, then I reccommend adding mostly mana shards, but also some health shards for survivablity. Congradulations, you are now a high level archer, have fun with the green glowy TT (Twilight Temple) weapon ^^.

--air1 (Altros-Sanctuary Server) (11:13), 16 August, 2009 (UTC)