Archery DPS help

patternwalker · September 2020

I'm playing an Archery DPS build with Quarry and I'm really struggling. His damage is great, but he's very squishy at level 27. I've considered adding CON as a superstat but I feel like I need DEX, REC, and EGO. I know that Bountiful Chi Resurgence isn't a great heal, but I'm not sure what to replace it with. I'd like to stay tech-themed if possible. I'd like to avoid obviously magic-looking powers.

I'd like to stick with Archery and DPS, but just be more survivable/resilient. This is definitely my squishiest DPS--I'm running through healing patches at an alarming rate. Ideas?

Hunter 1.2 - Freeform (Any / Multiple)
v3.43:35

Super Stats
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Squall (Dex: 8, Ego: 10, Rec: 10, End: 10)
Level 6: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 15: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Daredevil (Ego: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Strafe
Level 1: Sonic Arrow (Rank 2, Deadly Dissonance)
Level 6: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Split the Arrow)
Level 11: Chilled Form
Level 14: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Hunter's Instinct
Level 20: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki)
Level 23: Gas Arrow (Rank 2, Noxious Fumes)
Level 26: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 29: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Swinging (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Specializations
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Evasion (2/2)
Dexterity: Quick Reflexes (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)

Devices

theravenforce · September 2020

A few things:

As someone with an Archery DPS, I've gone Ego/Con/Int.

Seems to have worked well for me so far.

Also at present...I'd consider looking into Targeting Comp for your passive moreso than Quarry. But Quarry can definitely work, but favours some Intelligence as a super stat in the mix to get a good benefit from Audacity, which you would have if you go Ego/Con/Int

When it comes to managing squish, it helps to have a fully ranked block as soon as possible. The build above doesn't have a block.

I would also consider two sources of healing, one HoT and one reliable hit. (BCR and Conviction come to mind)

Also an active defensive like Resurgence Rank 2 or Indestructible Rank 2 will help with survival.

The main thing that jumps out though is a lack of block power.

jaazaniah1 · September 2020

This is my current archer build. I rely a great deal on stuns and knock backs/knock downs for survival (along with the 2 heals and, as Ravenforce noted, a fully ranked block). I open at extreme range with Sonic Arrow and Explosive Arrow. As they close in I used Torrent of Arrows w. Relentless Recurve and with Sonic Device to knock them back and stun them. Then it's Arrow Assault (also possible to open with that). Whatever is still standing after that gets taken down with more Sonic Arrows and Explosive Arrows. At cosmics I also weave in the grenade for some more dps. During Nightmare event he can solo the missions with horrors and worms and can handle the QWZ by using cat and mouse, hit and run tactics.

Someday I will have to experimented with Focused Shot. Maybe that could be useful at extreme range against non-flying targets?

Archer X 5 - Freeform (Any / Multiple)
v3.43:35

Super Stats
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Specialist (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Int: 8, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Coordinated (Dex: 5, Int: 5)
Level 9: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 12: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
Level 15: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Academics (Int: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 21: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Strafe
Level 1: Concentration
Level 6: Sonic Arrow (Rank 2, Deadly Dissonance)
Level 8: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Imbue
Level 14: Sonic Device (Deafening Dissolution)
Level 17: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 20: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Relentless Recurve)
Level 23: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 26: Frag Grenade (Cuts and Scrapes)
Level 29: Retaliation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 35: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Arrow Assault (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Hover Disk

Specializations
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (1/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

Devices

flowcyto · September 2020

Here's how I may edit that build, to throw some more options out there:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Ranged Damage)
v3.43:35

Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Scourge (Con: 10, Ego: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Worldly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 15: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Shooter (Dex: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 21: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Strafe
Level 1: Sonic Arrow (Rank 2, Deadly Dissonance)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Targeting Computer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Hunter's Instinct
Level 14: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Explosive Arrow (Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Energy Shield (Rank 2)
Level 32: Lock N Load (Rank 2)
Level 35:
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 28/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

The last 2-3 powers can be w/e ya want

I added Rec SS mostly for leveling, though by max level and w/ decent gear you can prob switch Rec SS for Dex SS and still be okay w/ energy. Sonic Arrow and Storm of Arrows can serve as basic filler in between taps of Explosive Arrow and waiting for its delayed charged to go off, and Torrent can make for a decent AoE opener (if you want more CC, then you could take Storm's and/or Torrent's special advs, though mind Torrent's KB in groups). Gears mostly for Ego, w/ some Con.

patternwalker · September 2020

Thank you for the feedback, everyone. I'm sure having a better burst heal (like Conviction) will help my survivability. I actually did take a block at 26 rather than Storm of Arrows, I just hadn't updated the build I uploaded.

How do Quarry, Targeting Computer, and Composure measure up against one another? I know that Quarry and Composure offer some Dodge and Avoidance--is it too little to really add to survivability? And Targeting Computer offers some resistance after 3 seconds, is it enough to actually help out? (I just realized that Quarry doesn't fully buff the sonic damage from Sonic Arrow, so that's a bit of an issue.)

flowcyto · September 2020

Targeting Comp is the best of those 3 for dps for Ranged Tech builds. Quarry is okay if you have an Int-based setup, but after all the nerfs it's no longer really standout at anything. Composure is generally less dps than Targeting Comp, but will be a bit better defensively (and also gives some knock resist). Night Warrior is another good dps passive pick (as usual), esp if you want stealth, but for Ranged Tech dps builds I'd usually still pick Targeting Comp over it.

lillysaturn · September 2020

How significant is the Defense Buff from Composure ? IT might be worth it?

patternwalker · September 2020

That's a good question, lillysaturn. Looking at the numbers in game, the Dodge and Avoidance numbers look roughly comparable to stacked Quarry, but I'm not sure the numbers in game match what's working under the hood.

I can also see how Quarry really needs INT, something I hadn't paid attention to before. I'm tempted to try a Composure build that otherwise matches flowcyto's, and add in Frag Grenade with Cuts and Scrapes for the debuff like jaazaniah1 has.

I'd picked Gas Arrow hoping for a little control for mitigation, but it's not very good, probably due to being in ranged damage mode and lacking PRE. Sonic Arrow is more useful there because it at least provides front-loaded damage and is spammable.

I tend to pick consistent defenses over active defenses, even if I lose a little dps, because I'm often not quick enough to click the active defense to prevent dying. (Resurgence is a bit of an exception, essentially just being a big heal.)

(As an aside, I love Torrent of Arrows. It's my favorite opener. Each *thwing* just destroys mobs.)

Any reason to pick any specific block other than aesthetics? Nothing seems to offer any particular synergy with Archery. Energy Shield's look is good, and the numbers are better than most. But I tend to like Force Shield or TK Shield for the residual resists with the 3 point advantage. I know TK shield's residual resists are better (twice as good, actually), but the look isn't as good for this character. *shakes fist at deciding between aesthetics and effectiveness*

theravenforce · September 2020

patternwalker wrote: »

Any reason to pick any specific block other than aesthetics? Nothing seems to offer any particular synergy with Archery. Energy Shield's look is good, and the numbers are better than most. But I tend to like Force Shield or TK Shield for the residual resists with the 3 point advantage. I know TK shield's residual resists are better (twice as good, actually), but the look isn't as good for this character. *shakes fist at deciding between aesthetics and effectiveness*

Aesthetics and block resist values, determine which blocks to grab.

If you are looking at raw percentage values, the best for Physical Damage blocking is Telekinetic Shield, whilst the best for Non-Physical Damage blocking is Eldritch Shield.

Energy Shield the "I have generally better resists to everything than all other blocks, but my physical and non-physical resistances do not match that of TK Shield or Eldritch shield"

After the unwanted change to Force Shield & TK Shield's lingering resists, unless you REALLY need it for tanking or have no idea where else to put points, I would avoid them like the plague. Far better to rank up your block to max.

The block with the most innate buffs is in Bestial, called Antagonize and is actually quite good when you look at what the stacking buffs can grant overall. No other block has that.

flowcyto · September 2020

There's not a large difference between most blocks, esp for a non-tank. You can go for a block w/ a linger effect (though keep in mind that getting the linger w/ exclude you getting R3 on it), but you can also be fine picking a bock based on its visual. Energy Shield is a good universal pick, but it's up to you what to take.

Gas Arrow is okay, though the proc rate on its stun adv is a bit low, iirc- and yeah Sonic Arrow gives you more control over the CC effect, in that respect. I'd still prob recommend Targeting Comp for the passive, but you can do fine going w/ Composure too.

patternwalker · September 2020

Just wanted to come back and say I ultimately went with Targeting Computer and it's working great! Thanks flowcyto and everyone! (And CON as a secondary superstat has really helped survivability.)

flowcyto · September 2020

Glad it's working out. Good luck out there 8)

Archery DPS help

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