Today's top Archer build

[Avaran]

Returning player and wondering where to start. I've seen all kinds of builds: monchers with holy sword, without, pure rangers, monk Ranger pallys, monk Ranger fvs... A little lost. Difficult to sort through current builds. Thanks for any help in advance.

[Riekan]

U28 just had a ranger pass, but Arcane Archer didn't make it in. That is coming in the next patch. Might be worth waiting to see how AA changes before making any current archer decisions.

[Tom116]

Returning player and wondering where to start. I've seen all kinds of builds: monchers with holy sword, without, pure rangers, monk Ranger pallys, monk Ranger fvs... A little lost. Difficult to sort through current builds. Thanks for any help in advance.

I have to agree with Riekan, AA is getting a nice bump quite shortly so I would wait to see how that plays out. If you want something pre-U28, 14 Pally/6 Monk Half elf or elf with Holy Sword, 10k Stars, multishot, and racial AA tree was the top build before that

That being said, the crit multiplier/threat range given by HS is now available in the 2 trees that already have had a pass, and not out of reach for an AA

[Avaran]

I have to agree with Riekan, AA is getting a nice bump quite shortly so I would wait to see how that plays out. If you want something pre-U28, 14 Pally/6 Monk Half elf or elf with Holy Sword, 10k Stars, multishot, and racial AA tree was the top build before that

That being said, the crit multiplier/threat range given by HS is now available in the 2 trees that already have had a pass, and not out of reach for an AA

What does get a pass mean? So you can get the same effect of HS with something else in AA?

[EllisDee37]

If you want to get started right away, an int-based rogue Mechanic using either great crossbows or repeaters is the best range combat dps.

"Getting a pass" means they redo enhancement trees. Tempest and Deepwood Stalker just got a pass with the most recent update, and Arcane Archer is planned to be next. (The update before the Tempest/DWS pass was a rogue pass, which bumped up rogue mechanics greatly.)

[Ykt]

I TR'd my caster into a Ranger with 2 Paladin and 2 Rogue (because I rarely find people to play with and I like to have trap skills and good saves). Currently level 7.

INT focused with Harper Agent INT to hit & damage. That way I only have 2 important stats: INT and CON. Rest is just bonus, CHA for UMD and extra saves, STR for carrying stuff. Insightful reflexes for great evasion.

You get so many ranged feats for free you can use a few on Skill focus UMD, Insightful Reflexes and even Force of Personality (not too sure about that last one).

[Avaran]

I can't bring myself to play xbows or repeaters. Has to be a bow for me. Any idea when the next update will be?

[Jetrule]

I would Suggest starting a ranger focusing on the deepwood stalker tree offensive ranged bits and the tempest defenses. Mixing in some Arcane archer for utility and ammunition. When ever the Arcane Archer changes happen you will be well placed to dive in and experiment. In the mean time the deepwood stalker is a good main tree for a archer.

[Avaran]

What would that build look like. Is it a red based Archer? I bought monk think to go moncher. So don't go pally with holy sword?

[daniel7]

U28 just had a ranger pass, but Arcane Archer didn't make it in. That is coming in the next patch. Might be worth waiting to see how AA changes before making any current archer decisions.

Or if you don't want to wait just make a ranger now. You could stay ranged with AA and Deepwood but I would make a Tempest and Deepwood build for now instead. A long time ago they took out all feat requirements for any of the Ranger Enhancements and I find it unlikely they will add any feat requirements to AA. Given that your stats will be about the same playing ranged or melee/ranged (especially if you use Deepwood Stalker Improved Weapons Finesse), all you have to do is change enhancements.

Worse case scenario is that AA ends up having a feat requirement in there. At that point you do an Epic TR so you can change your feats, or with a regular TR or Iconic TR you will gain the ranger past life feat which is nice. Having said that you could also make a paladin ranged build and TR if you like the upcoming changes to AA. IMHO paladin and ranger past lives are awesome and worth doing.

For more advice though it would be helpful to know how long you have been gone? Is this a 28, 32, 34, 36 point build? What tomes will you have?

[Avaran]

I've been gone since about 6 months after launch. My main is 6 ftr 2 Ranger when that was the build. So I'm basically starting new. Just leveled a 1 Ranger 1 monk. So before I do anything else wanted some advice. No tomes - really I'm a blank slate looking to build the best ranged bow toon. As far as playstyle - obviously I will need a soloabke build and a like to raid and PvP about equally.

[EllisDee37]

I can't bring myself to play xbows or repeaters. Has to be a bow for me. Any idea when the next update will be?

My guess is October 26th, since we'll definitely be getting an update for the new Mabar some time before Halloween. I'm hopeful that the AA pass will be included in the Mabar update.

Before U28 went live the devs said that AA wouldn't be included in U28, but that they hoped to get the AA pass done in a patch before U29. Not set in stone, just what they hoped for.

[daniel7]

I've been since about 6 months after launch. My main is 6 ftr 2 Ranger when that was the build. So I'm basically starting new. Just leveled a 1 Ranger 1 monk. So before I do anything else wanted some advice. No tomes - really I'm a blank slate looking to build the best ranged bow toon. As far as playstyle - obviously I will need a soloabke build and a like to raid and PvP about equally.

Moncher requires a lot of points to put into a lot of places and its hard to level up. Ranged Paladins and TWF Paladins have the same problem but to a lesser extent. For a first life I would just do a mostly pure ranger. A pure or mostly pure Ranger really just requires a lot of two stats, Dexterity and Strength (maybe). I don't want to talk you out of doing a Moncher or a Ranger Paladin if that's what you want to play, because you certainly can make it work if you are willing to lose some DPS, but if I were you I would do 18-20 ranger for your first life. Pick up a free +2 Dexterity tome when you get 1750 favor. When you get to level 20 do True Resurrection or an Iconic True Resurrection. As a 34 point build with a +2 dex tome you'll be able to make a Moncher or Ranged Paladin a lot easier.

[Avaran]

Thanks - pure ranged it is. And good builds? For ranged pure Ranger?

[daniel7]

With just two levels of Ranger you can use this Deepwood enhancement:
Improved Weapon Finesse: You can use your Dexterity modifier for damage when wielding bows, thrown weapons, and melee weapons with which you can use your Dexterity modifier to hit. The Weapon Finesse feat is NOT required to take this enhancement.
Note: Handwraps are Unarmed strikes, not Melee Weapons. Weapon Finesse makes this explicit distinction.
With just three levels of Ranger you can use this Tempest enhancement:
Tempest: +10% stacking chance to make off-hand attacks when dual wielding weapons. You now treat Scimitars as if they were light melee weapons. While you are dual wielding, you can use your dexterity modifier to hit with light melee weapons.
Note: Does not work with handwraps.</div>

28 Point Human Ranger

Stats
Strength 8-10
Dexterity 16-18 put all level up points here, +2 dex tome here with 1750 favor
Constitution 14-16
Wisdom 8-12
Intelligence 8-10
Charisma 8

Feats
1. Point Blank Shot
1. Dodge
3. Precision
6. Empower Healing or Maximize
9. Improve Critical piercing
12. Improve Critical range
15. Quicken
18. Mobility
21. Overwhelming Critical
24. Combat Archery or Blinding Speed
28. PTWF or Blinding Speed


Read up on Enhancements
http://ddowiki.com/page/Deepwood_Stalker_enhancements

Everything here
http://ddowiki.com/page/Miss_chance

[daniel7]

By the way you can change your enhancements whenever you want now a days so feel free to reset them from time to time.

[daniel7]

Oh and for skills heal is now a good one to put points into, wasn't back in your day. I would take quicken spell and skip concentrate. You like to solo so maybe do hide and move silently. As a human with an INT of 8 you get 6 points.

Heal > Spot > Move Silently > Hide > Balance > UMD and put one Rank (two points) into Tumble so you can use it

Your Jump will be real high at later levels so many people don't put points there. If you plan on jumping while sneaking or if you plan on doing a TR at 20 then maybe put points into jump and leave off UMD.