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[PC] I'm Looking for Archer Companion Suggestions
lordhavelock
Member Posts: 17 Arc User
Hello!
Can anyone recommend a good ranged-attack Companion with a decent rate of fire (at least good enough to keep Bonding Runestones up)?
Here's a little history to why I ask... I've been playing Neverwinter about 3 months, now. A couple weeks into playing, a generous person gave me a Goat Augment companion and some companion gear to go with it. This significantly increased the functionality of my character. Sometime later I upgraded to a Quasit Augment, which is what I have today.
I have learned that Bonding Stones, with a good companion, are really a better way to go. Even post-12b nerf, having even only Rank 9-10 Bondings, you get the same-or-better stat sharing than with an Augment, and you have an active companion that can add a little more damage (and/or debuffs), too.
So with an alt, I have been playing around with Bondings, and that seems for sure to be the way to go, and I'm about ready to make the transition from Augment to Bonded Companion on my Main. I've been saving up resources to buy the stones off the Auction House (I think I'll be able to afford Rank 10 stones, straight away), but I have a question about which Summoned Companion I should use.
The main character I'm asking about, is a Hunter Ranger Stormwarden/Archer. I'm using a build based off the MMO Minds' Blood Talon Archer. I enjoy playing that, not interested in becoming a different flavor HR (melee or trapper?). I like standing outside the battle and poking at a distance, but that's where I get a problem.
I've read a lot about companions, and it seems the usual recommendation is the Con Artist or Sellsword for their debuff attacks. My build works best when I'm far away from my foes. Before my Augment, I had a Sellsword. Many times in combat she'd just stand there. And in recent testing with various other companions, I find the same holds true, that they mostly don't run-up and engage, meaning no triggered Bonding Stones.
Is there a suggestion for how to overcome this problem?
Can anyone recommend a good ranged-attack Companion with a decent rate of fire (at least good enough to keep Bonding Runestones up)?
Here's a little history to why I ask... I've been playing Neverwinter about 3 months, now. A couple weeks into playing, a generous person gave me a Goat Augment companion and some companion gear to go with it. This significantly increased the functionality of my character. Sometime later I upgraded to a Quasit Augment, which is what I have today.
I have learned that Bonding Stones, with a good companion, are really a better way to go. Even post-12b nerf, having even only Rank 9-10 Bondings, you get the same-or-better stat sharing than with an Augment, and you have an active companion that can add a little more damage (and/or debuffs), too.
So with an alt, I have been playing around with Bondings, and that seems for sure to be the way to go, and I'm about ready to make the transition from Augment to Bonded Companion on my Main. I've been saving up resources to buy the stones off the Auction House (I think I'll be able to afford Rank 10 stones, straight away), but I have a question about which Summoned Companion I should use.
The main character I'm asking about, is a Hunter Ranger Stormwarden/Archer. I'm using a build based off the MMO Minds' Blood Talon Archer. I enjoy playing that, not interested in becoming a different flavor HR (melee or trapper?). I like standing outside the battle and poking at a distance, but that's where I get a problem.
I've read a lot about companions, and it seems the usual recommendation is the Con Artist or Sellsword for their debuff attacks. My build works best when I'm far away from my foes. Before my Augment, I had a Sellsword. Many times in combat she'd just stand there. And in recent testing with various other companions, I find the same holds true, that they mostly don't run-up and engage, meaning no triggered Bonding Stones.
Is there a suggestion for how to overcome this problem?
Post edited by lordhavelock on
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As archer, one of your pets should be hunting hawk. Boosts atwill i.e.. aimed shot.
I do currently have the Hunting Hawk. I also have the Manticore, Owl, Lightfoot Thief, and the aforementioned Quasit.
I have a Sellsword and a handful of other "dormant" companions.
I also plan to get Air and Fire Archons (and swap out two others, probably the Manticore and Thief).
The Netherese Arcanist provide a damage boost if standing behind an enemy, so obviously very situational and not ideal for some, but the fact that you can always stand at maximum distance and thus get the maximum distance damage bonuses makes up for this in my opinion. The Netherese also has three offense slots, so you get max power from your bondings.
In any case, if my foes ran to me (as they always do when I'm solo), once they got closer she'd eventually engage, of course.
This seems to be the same behavior I noticed when I originally played with her.
@clericalist - Try the Netherese Arcanist, eh? Huh. Ok.
Any one else got any other ranged-companion suggestions?
You can hoover over over their skills to see the range of attack, just as you see their cooldowns. The Dwarven Battleranger does leap forwards as well and is free to get. (2 offensive slots and 3 rings - not the worst choice, and underrated if you ask me). Quickling has a sprint (?), don't know the range and have never tested it myself though.
To a certain degree this should work with teleporting companions as well, like Xuna, Mercenary, Lightfoot Thief, Shadow Demon, Phase Spider or Blink Dog - be aware however that due to their teleporting behind an enemy they are prone to fall of cliffs (Tiamat, Dragon Turtle, Spellplague Caverns ...)
And generally you want to aim for a striker type companion with as many as possible (3) offensive runestone slots. From personal experience I can not recommend ranged companions if you want to stay at far range - as they will run after you, and thus stay behind you, hence being out of range.
IMO the best option for an archer who actually wants to attack from as far as possible is an augment. It's not the best choice but archer isn't either anyway.
I do find it funny when soloing.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=NFtZRFmLFGQ&feature=youtu.be
https://youtube.com/watch?v=BBWHN9lu5Xk&feature=youtu.be
Is it perhaps not working because your companion has not unlocked the vampires embrace encounter, I am guessing that is what makes it work from a distance.
She only attacks if she's standing at least as close to the enemy as you. If she was behind you when you attack, she won't move.
On your second video you can see that she doesn't attack at the beginning but only does once the target comes closer.
I am more than willing to go for an alternative if there is a better one, I have already mentioned in these forums that I have not done an exhaustive search for all the companions, if there is a companion with a better active and does the proccing, then I would switch (even though I went to orange with my arcanist). This distance problem (and the dps being a bit too low) was supposed to be addressed by a developer, but he left and its safe to say that the archer will not be high on the priority list, so we have to do the best with what we got or just play the other HR paths.
The idea is to take advantage of the increased % chance of rooting/knocking down target npcs, and gaining an increased damage bonus against those rooted/knocked down tartget npcs. (Equipping the Loamweave Enchantment, Lightning Enchantment [for chaining], and having the full Lostmauth Artifact set equipped also helps.)
I'll usually find a remote spot with the best vantage point and open with Split the Sky, and spam Split-shot/Electric Shot.
In a situation where there are many npcs like in the Illusionist's Gambit skirmish, rooting those npcs not only keeps them away from you but helps your team-mates survive... especilly in the swarming stages. Curse those pinatas!
My wish list is Air Archon, Fire Archon, Earth Archon, Hunting Hawk, Cambion Magus and Erinyes of Belial
The combination of Archon are quite interesting for me. The Earth Archon is quite fit with long range attack where you have rarely lose your HP.
Hunting Hawk is on doubt because I read somewhere in the forum that it seem not proc properly. If it proc properly, this should not be missed. I just got one during winter festival event and currently upgrade to purple and on test.
If affordable, increasing of Cri Ser is always interesting for me. Cambion Magus and Erinyes of Belial are very good choice. Dancing Blade also nice for cheaper version
Anyhow, I am curious at the moment what's kind of sommon pet is good for HR-Archery who play at the far side.
Normal pet + Bonding vs Augment pet + Eldrich ?
With current pet I have, I have to limit the range of mine to ensure the pet will do combat and proc bonding. It get the better stat for bonding but it is quite annoying when need to check pet. Sometime, it just run in and out that is a loss for my dps. Anyhow, most contents, the max range could not be apply. Mostly, it is limited and only some area like Tiamat, SVA that could stand at max range. For, solo content, it is much better for bonding than Augment_Eldrich because it is always be rushed in by foe.
If I use Augment pet with the Eldrich, I have no need to check weather pet is fight. I can keep farest range with constant stat and also could get some more benefit from Active Hunting Hawk (1-3% more I guess).
Anyone has an idea on that?
Else i have a boar + bondings mainly because i really like the boar. I have yet to check if it attacks when in max range.
In theory a defender should work best but it must be able to draw enough agro, so yeti or maybe mimic should be fine.