Minimum Dex for Archers to hit at end game

[Titus_Groan]

I've started my first AA ranger and I'm trying to get some idea of where my STR and DEX should be at end game. I know a lot of AAs put all their level ups in DEX, but in perusing the forums there seems to be an increasing number of players who think one should put level ups in STR and enhancements into DEX. Considering that even a good archer is going to have to pull out their swords at some point in this game a high STR seems like a good idea, but then I hear your to-hit may suffer.

Never having yet capped a toon, my question is, what numbers should I hit in each? Are there any sweet spots or diminishing returns to look out for? Has anyone crunched numbers on this?

[sweez]

I've got 28 dex on my 12/6/2 kensai/aa (will be 30 once I round up my gear), and have been testing a bit in edq2. Using a +7 weapon (+5 holy of regular chaotic outsider bane), standard raid buffs (not sure if bardsongs were available) I tend to miss a lot, roughly 50% of the time. Swap to +4 attack goggles and turning on my active fighter PL clicky (+4 from clicky and +1 from 20 bab since I have 19 without it) and I'm hitting on a 2.

So, I guess it all depends on the gear and such stuff you have available. Without +4 attack item and a greater bane bow with at least some guild slot (or fighter PL clicky) you'd definitely need 30+ for tougher epic mobs (especially the ones which you actually have to range instead of just shooting a manyshot in their backside since you can't count on sneak attack bonus or PBS bonus in those cases).

[grodon9999]

30ish. Depends though on what other gear and buff you commonly have available. +8 from Epic Thornlord helps to. Mine is 34 and she rarely misses but she's also geared to the gills.

[WruntJunior]

I don't know how it stacks up now, but last time Wruntsploit was a ranger, I was able to hit most enemies with a ~30 dex (manyshot is so wonderful for pulling initial aggro, even as a tempest). As long as you put a bit of effort into dex, it should be fine, from my experience. Next time I'm capped as a ranger (hopefully with epic thornlord if I ever get that stupid shard), which will be next life, I'll be able to give a better answer.

[goodspeed]

usually ive seen em start at about the same in builds (usually 16) then all level ups in str to use the one feat. After that it's just +6 items, and bonus to hit stuff.

To hit is hero or greater hero. +2 luck bonus from recitation or some other stuff, gear set bonus, theirs the gloves or crafted goggles that give competence bonus for 2 attack, or the +4 competence bonus to attack from crafted goggles.

If you wanted to take it further, take a bow with a guild slot on it, and craft it then slap accuracy shard in there.

Favored gives you extra to hit against some mobs of your choosing for end stuff. So maybe work whatever ud be running into those.

Course then theirs outside sources that could buff you but can't always depend on those. Either way you should be more then cleared for to hit. You could even take a couple lvs of barb and rage up for some more. Not just the stat, but the bonus's and items you acquire to determain weapon effectiveness.

And with the last few changes id say their are no short supply of ways to obtain good gear to enter epics in order to obtain better gear.

[wax_on_wax_off]

I would say that to hit everything on a 2 on a strength based archer in epics then you're going to need gear that you can only get in epics - namely, epic spectrals or epic ravens sight.

Therefore, I'd strongly suggest that before you roll up an archer that you level up another character, gather the materials and then roll up or TR into your strength based archer build.

[sirgog]

What bosses are you regularly running?

Hitting Turigulon, Epic Malicia or Epic Hound of Blades on a 2 is a lot harder than hitting Epic Velah or Normal Lord of Blades.

[sweez]

I would say that to hit everything on a 2 on a strength based archer in epics then you're going to need gear that you can only get in epics - namely, epic spectrals or epic ravens sight.


+4 to-hit goggles/trinket can be cannith crafted and take up a much better spot than epic spectrals :p

[wax_on_wax_off]

+4 to-hit goggles/trinket can be cannith crafted and take up a much better spot than epic spectrals :p

Yeah I am crafting newb :)

[Emili]

32 to 34 is the sweet spot depending on gear...

[wax_on_wax_off]

32 to 34 is the sweet spot depending on gear...



But gear makes such a massive impact. You've got Windhowler bracers (effective +4 dex for AB), Shintao (or other) set (effective +4 dex for AB), Greater Raven's Sight/Epic Spectral Gloves/+4 competence CC trinket (effective +8 dex for AB).

Then there is the -8 AB that you get while manyshot is active according to the wiki. I'm pretty sure this exists and is WAI but some people seem to dispute it (from a recent thread). I haven't bothered to check it yet.

[sweez]

Hmm I'll have to check out my attack rolls during manyshot... anyway, with gear and fighter PL clicky, 28 is enough to hit DQ on the outer platforms (so no PBS or sneak bonus) on a ~2ish... I also haven't had any issues with manyshotting eDA bosses, since they're close enough for sneak bonus and PBS to be active (so +5 from tharnes instead of +4 from crafted goggles, and +1 from PBS)... as long as you don't pull aggro heh.

Gonna check my attack bonus during manyshot and out of manyshot and post just in case.

[sweez]

Nope, tried it out on the dummy, activating manyshot does not affect attack rolls in any way.

[Kareena]

Necro'd!


What is the current dex you think is needed to hit end game with ranged weapons. Specifially for a Repeating xbow arti. :)


Thanks!

[EpiKagEMO]

I'm not joking. you can have 8 dex and hit at end game. Take zen archery feat. I wouldn't recommend base dex, but go for atleast 13 so you can take Point Blank Shot and maybe shot on the run. However, you might want either 6-12 ranger. Take 6-12 monk.
But your wis needs to match many other AA's Dex to hit. *shrugs*

I have the habit to mix in monk with ranger now, sorry :'(