U49 Bow Max DPS Build Complete Guide

[Pandjed]

We are the lifeblood that keeps the lights on at SSG. If they continue to ignore us and try to squeeze us more for money, more and more, people will leave. I don't care what title you give it and how you think recurring revenue differs from spot purchases, but it all amounts to the same thing. Our money supports their jobs and they seem to think it is ok to ignore the folks paying for their livelihood.

So you speak for all players on DDO? By whose power? Did you speak with the majority? Or could it be, that the silent masses more than encourages the way SGG does business? That each expansion gives them more revenues and that everything else they work on may be in their good faith to actually improve the longivity and longterm balance of the game (be it misled or not)?

Seriously, go ahead. Tell all people on the forums, on the twitter, in the discord, all the servers, and elsewhere to not spend money on Saltmarch for at least a week. If you're right, and SGG doesn't do what is best for their income and that their believe what's right for the game is wrong, then you should have it easy to convince everyone. I mean, if it's so obviously that what SGG is doing is bad for the game, and everyone knows it, it should only take a little push. If SGG sees how their income is stagnating and how you have been the driving force behind it, then they will listen, because suddenly cheap words spoken by anyone had consequences.

If however, the majority ignores you and still buy Saltmarch immediately, it shows that SGG seems to make enough right decisions for their user-base to pay their rents and their food. Then it shows, that this was just than one opinion, that needs to contest with every other opinion like everyone's else.

Btw, SGG even given any credence to the forums is a big plus for them, as it sets them above about every AAA company in existence. Often enough, users have no say in how a game developes.

[Artos_Fabril]

So you speak for all players on DDO? By whose power? Did you speak with the majority? Or could it be, that the silent masses more than encourages the way SGG does business? That each expansion gives them more revenues and that everything else they work on may be in their good faith to actually improve the longivity and longterm balance of the game (be it misled or not)?

This is a stupid and disingenuous argument. He's making a prediction, not stating a universal position. There will still be some people playing up to the day they shut down the servers because DDO is no longer economically viable, but they don't need "some people" they need a majority of the current income stream to continue, or they need to develop new income streams. This nickel-and-diming VIPs for content packs by calling them mini-expansions and the way they have used classes and trees to push sales (previously be releasing them overpowered and nerfing them down when the next is ready to go live; and now to all rational appearances by laying down the nerfs first and selling back the power afterwards) is going to drive people away. I don't have to speak for all players, because I'm not making anyone do it. I'm seeing a clear trend and extrapolating into the future.

[Carpone]

If you've got analysis about bows to share, then by all means share it. Otherwise take your off-topic bickering elsewhere. It doesn't serve this thread at all.

[Arkat]

If you've got analysis about bows to share, then by all means share it. Otherwise take your off-topic bickering elsewhere. It doesn't serve this thread at all.

Hey Ying, what's the current gear setup for your and Viamel's build?

I think the version I have is outdated.

Thanks.

[sacredguyver]

Gear: Max DEX and doubleshot. Ravenloft bow at 10. Wallwatch 3pc at 15. Have enough HP to not get one-shot.

AP: Leave Falconry and Harper last. Get T5 DWS at level 12.

Use your best judgement.

On the topic of heroic leveling and gear, would race matter as much in heroic levels as it would in epics?
How about the Completionist feat, what would be an adequate replacement if it's not available?

For heroic gear, is there anything in particular from Feywild to keep an eye out for, or do the lower levels go too fast for it to matter?
What about the Silent Avenger 3pc set from Ravenloft at level 10, which would grant another SA die and an artifact bonus to doubleshot?

[Carpone]

what's the current gear setup

The guide is up to date.

[tpbtoc]

I noticed that there is no Improved Deception on the fear set. It is not necessary?

[Carpone]

On the topic of heroic leveling and gear

If you're doing racial past lives, I wouldn't recommend bows. There are far more efficient builds, like fire sorcerer.

My guide isn't optimized for leveling. It's impossible to do a satisfactory job of leveling advice without adding another 15 pages to the guide, and I'm just not interested in that. The majority of my playtime is focused on R10s at level cap, so optimizing for that is where my interests lie.

[Carpone]

I noticed that there is no Improved Deception on the fear set. It is not necessary?

U49 decimated Improved Deception with the reduced non-dmg proc changes.

If there was ever a soul augment for Improved Deception, I'd include it in the gearset. But it's not worth building around.

[achaius]

Carpone,

What are you using for iconic PL active ability toggle? Playing ranged makes the lack of ranged type stats from the active iconic PL abilities evident. I am using Shadar-Kai which I guess is another layer of defensive chance, but I only pick that because it’s better than nothing. I always appreciated the choices as a tempest ranger in the past with both doublestrike and hit and damage, but never really payed attention to the fact that they are all melee only. I guess this isn’t a huge issue, but all we have is power creep right now so I’m fixated. I posted elsewhere on the possibility to just add ranged to the existing melee only stats, but this isn’t really the thread for that.

Also, do you feel like you need more action boosts on this build? I am switching between stay frosty and extra action boosts from LD as I use haste more than RP boost in general but that’s because Attacks feel slow without it. This is compounded by the weapon and target switching causing some pauses in actions.

Targeting: I changed my targeting to ‘target nearest’ while ranging which seems to work better than target next as it would target something around a corner or through a door (like in shroud flag quests). But while it seems better I feel like I still have room for improvement when I see other archers occasionally having a large margin of kill count differences. It also seems that those characters are shiradi 99% of the time. Is that just the nature of Fury vs Shiradi where Fury is more single target vs Shiradi being more median damage hits without the highs and lows of Fury? The kill count isn’t really important but I am using it as a tool to try and measure my targeting effectiveness and attack speed effectiveness to improve overall DPS effectiveness.

[magaiti]

I would like to see an elaborated argument towards Harbinger of Chaos vs Embodiment of Law. Yes there's 0.5 damage per hit difference, but really?

There seems to be roughly equal number of both Lawful and Chaotic bosses out there, but afaik the only raid where DPS can really make or break the raid is THTH, and the boss there is Chaotic.

[Arkat]

I would like to see an elaborated argument towards Harbinger of Chaos vs Embodiment of Law. Yes there's 0.5 damage per hit difference, but really?

There seems to be roughly equal number of both Lawful and Chaotic bosses out there, but afaik the only raid where DPS can really make or break the raid is THTH, and the boss there is Chaotic.

The preponderance of Devils that can be found in DDO quests and raids (THTH and DandD, notwithstanding) would have me leaning toward Harbinger of Chaos, too.

[magaiti]

The preponderance of Devils that can be found in DDO quests and raids (THTH and DandD, notwithstanding) would have me leaning toward Harbinger of Chaos, too.

Nono, THTH has Chaotic Evil Forgewraith Titan, which takes additional damage from Embodiment of Law, not Chaos.

Dryad and Demigod has no lawful enemies afaik, and quite a few chaotic ones.

Overall through the raids :

Lawful (take additional damage from Harbinger of Chaos):
Legendary Shroud - portals, most trash mobs
Project Nemesis has some lawful devils trash, though really dangerous enemies such as bosses and Elementals are neutral
Legendary VoD - Suulomades
Defiler of the Just - most enemies are Devils

Chaotic (take additional damage from Embodiment of Law):
THTH (Forgewraith Titan)
Baba (Wisps, Baba)
Strahd (Strahd, Shadows of Hate)
Legendary Tempest Spine (Sorjek)
Fall of Truth: Truthful one and some of hit disciples are chaotic (Stormreaver is Lawful, but dracolich is of more concern)
Caught in the Web: most enemies are demons

[Arkat]

Nono, THTH has Chaotic Evil Forgewraith Titan, which takes additional damage from Embodiment of Law, not Chaos.

Dryad and Demigod has no lawful enemies afaik, and quite a few chaotic ones.

Look up the word "notwithstanding."

[magaiti]

Look up the word "notwithstanding."

Ah yes, lol, my reading skills have failed me.
In the end, I believe the lvl 29 feat is a matter of personal choice

[mckennaric]

So this seems like a good thread and a good write up with a lot of useful information and I think it's probably the best single target "my job in the group is strictly to kill bosses and reapers" bow build but I'm not sure if it has all of the optimal choices. I have played exclusively bow builds for around a decade and I'm by no means saying that I am the best or know more about bow combat than anyone else but I did have some questions based on your experience. I obviously am very interested in trying out this build as I'm always learning and trying to get to the best bow build possible. I looked at your ranged power number and thought it looked decent but in the breakdown I saw that you are running in Archers Focus instead of IPS. I usually only switch to Archers Focus during boss fights, do you keep it on the whole time? Granted I do a ton of soloing and short man stuff, but I find that IPS is a net increase in damage. I solo DOJ every 3 days off timer and I think it would be really impossible to do that raid only in Archers Focus unless you're in a group. I also think it would be hard to solo that raid in anything but the Shiradi Champion. Are you mostly using Fury of the Wild for the Unbridled Fury ability? Hunts end seems like a way better ability than adrenaline overload except for when you're using Unbridled Fury. Plus in Shiradi Champ you get a lot more base ranged power. Do you find the additional con to be a big draw to Fury? Or am I missing something obvious? I don't do a lot of R10 quests so if this is mostly looking for group R10 quests then I 100% believe this is the build you want. And I want to try this build out and maybe there will be some obvious things that I'm missing when reading it that I'll realize by playing it. I'm also curious about VKF over Arcane archer. Is it mostly for the 10 doubleshot? It just seems like getting 20 extra ranged power from AA is worth a little more than 10 doubleshot especially when you factor in a few other perks of the (admittedly not great) AA tree. Again it could just be a style of play thing and I don't do a ton of R10 content but I'd love to hear your thoughts from another person who clearly loves the way of the bow.

[magaiti]

I'm also curious about VKF over Arcane archer. Is it mostly for the 10 doubleshot? It just seems like getting 20 extra ranged power from AA is worth a little more than 10 doubleshot

I'm curious about this 20 extra ranged power in AA. AFAIK AA tree offers no ranged power

[Carpone]

I use the Shadar'Kai iconic PL because there's nothing else relevant.

Use whatever L29 damage feat that makes sense for the content you're doing to maximize DPS.

I spend 80-90% of my time in Archer's Focus when doing RXP. I'm in Archer's Focus 99% of the time in raids. D+D fire beetle optional is the only time in raids I use IPS.

> Granted I do a ton of soloing and short man stuff

The guide explicitly calls out this is a group/raid build, and doesn't consider soloing. Short-man/solo is it's own thing.

> I'm also curious about VKF over Arcane archer. Is it mostly for the 10 doubleshot?

It's about math. VKF does more than AA.

[mckennaric]

I'm curious about this 20 extra ranged power in AA. AFAIK AA tree offers no ranged power

Sorry I meant 20 doubleshot. Mystical Archer in AA gives +20 doubleshot and +4 Dex. I didn't really proofread what I wrote I was just wondering about a few of the choices. Like why VKF over AA. Is it to save on AP?

[mckennaric]

I use the Shadar'Kai iconic PL because there's nothing else relevant.

Use whatever L29 damage feat that makes sense for the content you're doing to maximize DPS.

I spend 80-90% of my time in Archer's Focus when doing RXP. I'm in Archer's Focus 99% of the time in raids. D+D fire beetle optional is the only time in raids I use IPS.

> Granted I do a ton of soloing and short man stuff

The guide explicitly calls out this is a group/raid build, and doesn't consider soloing. Short-man/solo is it's own thing.

> I'm also curious about VKF over Arcane archer. Is it mostly for the 10 doubleshot?

It's about math. VKF does more than AA.

Thanks for the reply. I honestly just was curious about some of the choices. Like I said, I play exclusively pure ranger bow builds and have for the last decade or so, so I was just trying to see where you came up with some of your information. Idk if saying that 'it's about math' is exactly what I was looking for but I'll take your word for it that you've done out the math for it. It just didn't seem obvious at first glance since VKF gives 10 doubleshot, 9 PRR and MRR and 1 Dex while AA gives 20 doubleshot, 4-6 Dex, and 31.5 points of elemental damage. Plus damage breaking stances and several arrow attacks. Am I missing something on the VKF? Or is the 9 PRR and MRR worth losing the extra doubleshot and dex and damage? That was my question. I'm sure I'm missing something obvious but that's why i was asking. We all learn from each other so I'm just trying to make my character the best Pew Pew shooter I can. And I did read that it was specifically a group/raid build but I was just wondering because I also do raids a lot. And sometimes I solo raids. I find it easier to do DOJ in a group of course but I also can solo DOJ on my character. Adding more people to the group only makes my character better. Is the role of this toon to be a boss slayer? I agree that this build will do a lot of damage to 1 target. If you don't want to explain because you think I'm being a jerk that's OK you don't have to answer any questions. But honestly I just had some questions as a fellow bow enthusiast who has put countless hours of testing into bow builds and would love to hear your thoughts on a few things to help make my character better.

Thanks for your time!
Rich