Archer Help

>.> the secret is the 4dex/1str
u will find in reality alot of the player dont browse the forum and therefor make up their own build. but the 4dex/1str build is what allows you to maximize what an archer is suppose to be/is.
but in the end its not the stats that makes the most difference, its the equipment, skill and the most important of all.....luck.
he who crits most winsXD

the secret must be to restat everything into dex on obtaining 8jun!

(leave enough for the bow tho, else epic phail)

Secret builds? hmm, second time i've heard this concept mentioned.
Lets look at the stat mechanics:

Magic: Increases your MP pool and regeneration, completely unnecessary for an archer, our MP usage is very manageable without any investment here, so points here just detract from more useful areas... I.E. DEX!!!!!!.

Strength: Only function for an archer is for equipping armor. The most effective armor choice for an archer is generally light. To equip Light Armor your level you need to allocate 1 Strength per level (oh wait, thats 'pure' allocation)

Vitality: Increases maximum HP, HP regeneration and defense, compared to later game equipment you get relatively low returns on this stat, and as archers are quite good at avoiding damage anyway... why not invest in DEX!!! (ohhh, like in the 'pure' build?)

Dexterity: Increases your ranged damage (thats you), and crit (thats you), also increases your evasion and accuracy (why not?). This is the stat that kills, why not put all available points in here and go PURE?!!


The stat system is very simple, there is no room at all for secrets. For someone to come up with a 'new' build would be literally impossible, people have already done everything and theres not that much room for playing around.

Any archer build will generally allocate 1 strength and 3 dexterity per level, this is a requisite for your equipment (ranged weapon and armor). That leaves only 1 point spare per level, and not much room to play around, lets look at your options for that remaining point:

Invest in Magic? not advisable, but its been done.
Invest in Vitality? that's your Hybrid build
Invest in Strength? There is the heavy armor* variant >.>
Invest in Dexterity? Ohhhhhh... PURE!!!

*Heavy armor variant is just a defense specialized archer with some, but very limited capacity for melee, its an 'unusual' build rather than a superior one. It is a different playstyle, but conventionally considered disadvantaged (in it's reduced damage output).

CONCLUSION: Simple mechanics, no secrets, simple conventional wisdom steals the prize.

This may be obvious but one problem with 4dex / 1 str EVERY level is that you are often wasting 1-2 points on str at any given time. This is because you dont get new armor at every level.

Later on you are going to be spending 1 or 2 weeks per level and being a dex or two short of your next crit point is killer. Something I recommend doing at 70+ is to look ahead at your future strength requirements. For levels where you don't get new armor you can go 5 dex instead of 4/1 as long as you are prepared to pay back the Str debt later with a 3/2 allocation. Furthermore if you are getting str from equipment you are going to be wearing for a while you can also go 5 dex or even restat your existing STR into more dex.

Being smart and frugal with your str is an easy way to get a few extra dex for free.