Elf AA

[Enguebert]

I am exploring ideas for my next life and i was wondering if anyone has found a decent build that use the elf AA tree ?
Of course that means a build without ranger levels

I was thinking to class with wisdom (as wis would raise DC of AA enhancements). Maybe cleric,fvs paladin or monk ?
But investing in elf tree and AA tree let very few enhnacments points for other tree.

Also, a fvs or cleric elf can choose Silver flame religion (and having bow as deity weapon) ?

[mikarddo]

I am exploring ideas for my next life and i was wondering if anyone has found a decent build that use the elf AA tree ?
Of course that means a build without ranger levels

I was thinking to class with wisdom (as wis would raise DC of AA enhancements). Maybe cleric,fvs paladin or monk ?
But investing in elf tree and AA tree let very few enhnacments points for other tree.

Also, a fvs or cleric elf can choose Silver flame religion (and having bow as deity weapon) ?

I am playing a 18 mnk / 2 rng HELF shuriken (bow only with manyshot up) AA build that very much uses the Elf AA tree. Dex based for max shurikens. I dont use the DC abilities in the tree though.

[unbongwah]

I was thinking to class with wisdom (as wis would raise DC of AA enhancements). Maybe cleric,fvs paladin or monk ?

Monkcher is the most common option, which I define as an archer build with at least 6 monk lvls for Ten Thousand Stars (works w/bows if you have Zen Archery as well). Although because of the feat requirements and APs involved, most people seem to do purely ranged monkchers, rather than melee / ranged hybrids. See my monkcher thread for examples.

But investing in elf tree and AA tree let very few enhnacments points for other tree.

This is the fundamental drawback with the racial AA tree; it costs at least 14 APs just to unlock it and 41 APs to take the capstone, so it caps how many APs you have left for other things. Plus it makes you wait until epic levels to take the last two core enhancements. Oh, and the +1 crit multiplier from Shadow Arrows is still broken, AFAIK.

[Enoach]

As mentioned Monkarcher is a common route, usually blending of Ranger/Monk levels but not always necessary. Using Ranger levels benefits are it reduces the M.A.D. requirements by removing the Dexterity requirements as the use of Zen Archery allows you to use your wisdom. It also opens up the DWS and AA trees via Ranger Levels so you don't need to spend in the Elf tree.

I personally have a 12/8 Fighter/Wizard Elf that I enjoy playing. I use the Elf AA as well as Grace to move everything to Dexterity, do not have Bow Strength as I use Dex (Sure there are more ways to pump Strength) I also use the EK tree for the Improved Mage Armor/Improved Shield as well as a single Elemental Stance which imbues my bow. The wizard levels grants access to two additional Wizard Feats, but also opens up other possibilities such as not using the EK tree but to use AM or even PM if you want.

Now depending on the Fighter adjustments I may consider some additional changes - but that is still a wait and see.

[Selvera]

I've started an elf-AA character who's planning on doing as many different AA builds that I can think of (preferably without ranger levels, or at least without ranger AA). This does have the problem mentioned above. If I go 14 in the elf tree for AA and 41 in elven AA, then there's only 25 points left. If I go 22 in the elf tree (dex to damage and doubleshot/dodge/ignore dodge) then that's only 17 points left. AP are tight. Fortunately the elf stuff is useful for an elf AA build (hit chance, damage, dexterity), it just might not be optimal.

Unfortunately, my elf-AA character is still on her first life (Fighter 20, epic 8 atm). Fighters get more ranged power (via feats), easy access to haste boost (kensai), heavy armour and stalwart stance (good prr/mrr), unfortunately the stance can't be used at the same time as primal attack boost (common destiny for crazy high arrow of slaying damage), but if you want to do this build you just need to remember to turn off the stance before you do the fury->multishot->arrow of slaying combo. The stance does work well with blitz and with shardi if those destinies are more your style. While I would not consider my fighter an optimal choice, it should get better with the kensai pass for the better crit (and my damage can still keep up, mostly due to how good elemental arrows damage is).

Plans for future AA on this character:
Cleric AA with high wis for high paralyzing dc and good healing.
Paladin AA for holy sword and all those paladin goodies (defenses, self heals, etc)
Wizard or Sorcerer AA since elemental arrows stack with spellsword.
Ranger AA because they're just really good at it, and also the past life will be good on a pure-archer character.
Rogue AA for sneak attack, evasion and trapping skills.
Considering a bard AA for all the enchantment DC bonuses for paralyzing DC, with all the good bard songs/spells.

Basically, I figure AA is a strong enough tree on its own right now that it can get you to 30 via the damage it affords you, and you can try to play any class that you want as an archer via being an elf, as long as you're ok with being somewhat sub-optimal while doing it, most classes have something that synergies well with arcane archer.
Also, if you're into it, there's little reason not to multiclass, since you can take the elf-AA capstone no matter what your class split is.

[Yalinaa]

Also, a fvs or cleric elf can choose Silver flame religion (and having bow as deity weapon) ?

Yes, I have a 18 fvs / 2 monk AA, she is cool, DEX based. After all the feats needed for archery taken, only 3 feat choice remains, I took maximize, quicken, and... the dragonmark for displacements... XD

I also tried iconic sun elf AA build, a fun build to play, 15 druid, 3 cleric, 2 monk, but you prefer 36 points characters for this type of build. Started with 16 WIS and put all leveling and enhancement points there for a nice earthquake DC, and ofc with a good enchantment item paralyzer arrows are working well. If u take zen archery from monk feats, your attack bonus is based on Wisdom, damage still based on strength, means sadly, u have to take weapon focus - ranged to get bow strength feat... and you should start with at least 14 STR to have a good strength score (with divine might enhancement from warpriest tree you will have more, assuming you have some charisma). Have to care about DEX stat as well, u need 19 for improved precise shot, so get your dex tome as well. It's a fun build, but still an AA, means great burst dps in fury destiny. And it has water or fire elemental form, which means immunity to stun, paralyzing, venoms, trip etc.

[dontmater]

elf AA is busted. you'll want to reset enhancements like everyday to use tier 5's

[Selvera]

I don't understand how you came to that conclusion. My level 28 elf AA has been using T5s for weeks and they've always worked, I haven't reset the elf-AA tree in a while (not since the new T5 attack was added).

[Enguebert]

Thanks all for the replies

I will look at monk , either pure or 18/x

I will also keep in mind the elf cleric or Fvs AA when i will need to do a cleric/fvs past life

[dontmater]

I don't understand how you came to that conclusion. My level 28 elf AA has been using T5s for weeks and they've always worked, I haven't reset the elf-AA tree in a while (not since the new T5 attack was added).

from what im figuring out.. elvin arcane archer with any lv ranger seems to be the busted part. and that without using any ranger enhancements.
in the process of figuring it all out, and trying to have more detailed information soon.
its just taking awhile to pump out lives, just don't have it in me anymore

[mikarddo]

from what im figuring out.. elvin arcane archer with any lv ranger seems to be the busted part. and that without using any ranger enhancements.
in the process of figuring it all out, and trying to have more detailed information soon.
its just taking awhile to pump out lives, just don't have it in me anymore

I play a 18 mnk / 2 rng HElf using the racial AA tree. I am not experiencing any issues.

[bsquishwizzy]

I am exploring ideas for my next life and i was wondering if anyone has found a decent build that use the elf AA tree ?
Of course that means a build without ranger levels

I was thinking to class with wisdom (as wis would raise DC of AA enhancements). Maybe cleric,fvs paladin or monk ?
But investing in elf tree and AA tree let very few enhnacments points for other tree.

Also, a fvs or cleric elf can choose Silver flame religion (and having bow as deity weapon) ?

I tried Elf AA. Respec-ed and went Elf Ranger 4 / Wizard 16. Doing that gave me most of the AA tree, TWF, Multishot, and some Wizard EK benefits. The rest I spread around into Harper (INT to attack and INT to damage) and Elf trees.

Having wizzy levels gives me Blur, Displacement, Solid Fog / Glitterdust, and a bunch of other defensive goodies along with something like Web and disco balls. Plus going Elf means I can enhance Spell Penetration and give you a deeper spell pool.

The cost for the Elf AA tree is genuinely cost prohibitive, especially when you can take just 4 levels of ranger and get just as much if not more benefits.

[Livmo]

Pure iconic sun elf with soul majic and moonbow.

Max wis.

[dontmater]

I play a 18 mnk / 2 rng HElf using the racial AA tree. I am not experiencing any issues.

and the tier 5s work perfect? the key to noticing seems to be final shot