Last updated: 16th May 2019
INTRODUCTION
Remember that class guides are a rough explanation of the class, designed to give you an idea of the class and what you should be aiming for. You should really adapt the guide and follow your own instincts to match your play-style!
The Archer class uses a crossbow as their primary weapon and a Ra’ghon as their secondary weapon, which is an arm guard. Unlike other classes, Archer starts with their awakening weapon, which is a Greatbow and can also unlock awakening skills before level 56. However, you will still need to complete the Awakening questline to unlock the use of the Dandelion awakening weapon. The Archer class has lots of movement and dexterity, allowing you to kite your target and deal damage at long range distances. They have high attack damage but very low defenses and are considered a glass cannon class that must rely on kiting and keeping their distance until the right moment.
DIFFICULTY
PVP
PVE
SIEGE
Archer is toptier in PvE with fast clear speed since he can easily blow up entire packs with a single ability at high range. In high end PVE spots, such as Mirumok, Gyfin and Hystria, Archer can clear well and doesn’t have any issues. He is particularly good in Aakman because he can knock down packs and inflict down attacks. Archer also doesn’t have any issues with mana or HP because he has multiple skills to regenerate these. He does have some issues with stamina however and you may find it hard to manage your stamina at first.
In small scale PvP, an Archer can be good as long as you know what you are doing and play well. You will have the most trouble against people who have 100% knock down resistance, and some other classes such as Valks/Warriors, or duelist classes like Ninja who excell in 1v1s. Large scale is where an Archer really shines though, with proper positioning you can deal a lot of damage and make a huge impact in a node war with your high target and high range knock downs. You also have a heal which can aid your allies in the middle of a battle. You just need to be careful of Ninjas/Kunos/Tamers who try to get on the backline and disrupt you, because you are an easy target for them.
Check out the videos below to see some examples of the Archer in action.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcO-TjLkDNzvYrlPkOHgnfA
PROS
- Lots of protected mobility
- Highest range class
- High DPS and burst skills
- Easy PvE grinding
- Fun to play
- Good HP regen and AoE heal
- Easy to learn
CONS
- Very squishy class
- Requires protection in node wars
- Doesn’t have a grab
- Weaker in 1v1 situations
- Stamina issues/management
- PVE can become repetitive
SKILLS
Unlike all other classes, Archer starts with their awakening weapon and skills at level 1. The level 56 awakening quest line is required to unlock the use of the Dandelion weapon and yellow grade awakening weapon.
Low-Tier skill build – Level 56 (545 skill points): https://bdocodex.com/us/skillcalc/87800
Mid-Tier skill build – Level 60+ (1378 skill points): https://bdocodex.com/us/skillcalc/82177/
Core skill build – Level 60+ (1704 skill points): https://bdocodex.com/us/skillcalc/82178/
Always prioritize Awakening skills before leveling your Absolute Skills.
- Keys in square brackets [] mean that you tap the key. For example, [Q] means you tap Q once.
- Keys in round brackets () mean that you hold the key. For example, (HOLD Q) means you hold Q until the next step. (PERMAHOLD Q) means you hold Q throughout the combo.
- Keys separated by a “+” symbol should be used at the same time. For example, [Q] + [LMB] means you tap Q and LMB at the same time.
- Keys separated by a “>” symbol show the order you should follow out the steps. For example, [Q] + [LMB] > [F] means you tap Q and LMB at the same time, then tap F
- [LMB] refers to left-clicking with your mouse, [RMB] refers to right-clicking with your mouse.
- Red skill names are optional.
- Blue skill names are awakening skills (level 56+).
Spirit Arrow
[LMB]
This skill is your automatically skilled into and is your auto attack. It is a low damage skill used for regenerating your mana or gathering up monsters. You can also use the skill with [W] + [LMB]
Piercing Cry
[LMB] after certain skills
This skill can be used by pressing LMB after skills such as Glide. It is mostly used as a defensive skill if your opponent gets too close because it has super armor when moving and can be useful to evade CC.
Ra’Ghon’s Spirit
[RMB] + [A] OR [D]
This skill is a mediocre skill with low damage. It has no protection or CC and is general quite useless. It can be used to cancel some skills but I would actually recommend locking this skill to avoid conflicts with other combos.
Breath of the Spirit
Quickslot
This skill doesn’t actually do anything, but is used to select which buff effects you want to use with Exhale (more information below). You will need to add this skill to your hotbar, then press a direction key (A/D/S) to select the effect. For example, if you want to use the Recover effect, you will use this skill on your hotbar, then press [A] to select it. This effect will be applied to Exhale when you use the skill, until it is changed.
Exhale
[E]
This skill applies the effect of whichever buff you have chosen using Breath of the Spirit (effects listed below). You can use this skill by pressing [E], or you can use [E] + [A] OR [D]
Breath: Recover
[A] after Breath of the Spirit
If selected, this effect will regen MP and HP for you and your allies within your range. This can be very useful in node wars or other large scale PVP, as well as being a good source of sustain in PvE.
Breath: Stun
[S] after Breath of the Spirit
If selected, this effect will give you a higher chance of stunning targets. It is especially useful in 1v1 to iniciate or if you want to CC targets in large scale PVP.
Breath: Deceleration
[D] after Breath of the Spirit
If selected, this effect has higher damage and will also debuff enemies with a 20% attack/cast speed debuff. This effect is most useful in large scale PVP, as well as giving you an advantage in 1v1 situations.
Grace of Sylvia
Passive
This skill is your passive and it increases your Critical Hit Rate and Ranged AP. At max rank you can gain a total of +10% Critical Hit Rate and +10 Ranged AP. It is definately worth leveling up when you have enough skill points for it.
Greatbow of Light
[C]
This skill allows you to swap between your main hand and awakening weapon. You shouldn’t really need to use this skill to swap between stances because there are lots of other skills that allow you to switch during them. Unlike other classes (such as Ranger), the C swap doesn’t have a block on it when used.
Watcher
[Q]
This skill is your classes “E buff” skill. It has super armor when using the skill and will give you a Down Attack Damage, Back Attack Damage and Critical Hit Damage +15% buff, as well as Critical Hit Rate +100% for 30 seconds. The skill has a 3 minute cooldown just like the other class awakening buffs. Another important thing to note, is that this skill allows you to use Luthraghon’s Call and Piercing Light without having to charge the skills first.
Righteous Fire
Passive
This skill is a passive skill which adds extra damage as well as a -10% movement speed debuff to the following skills: Radiant Explosion, Luthraghon’s Call, Piercing Light, Tactical Strike, Ultimate: Zephyr Leap, Light’s Path, Glissade, Flow: Light’s Trail, Uproot (consecutive attacks), and Winged Strike.
Greatbow Training
[LMB]
This skill is your awakening auto attack and is automatically leveled up for free, apart from the last rank which costs 10 skill points.
Light’s Path
[RMB]
This skill offers decent damage and is your “snipe” skill. You simply hold RMB and will begin firing arrows. The arrows can hit a maximum of 10 targets and will inflict a -15% movement speed debuff on good hits. The skill also gives you a +10 AP buff and can sometimes be useful to quickly buff before a fight, or to “snipe” targets in large scale from a safe distance. The skill can also be cancelled using a variety of other skills, such as Glide, Meteor Dive, Luthragon’s Call, Righteous Smite or Zephyr Leap. Cancelling the skill early can be useful if you just want to AP +10 buff at the beginning.
Evasion
[SHIFT] + [A] OR [S] OR [D]
This skill is your strafe. You can strafe to the sides or backwards by using [SHIFT]. You can also use this skill by double tapping any direction key. I would recommend locking this skill to avoid any conflicts with other skills.
Glide
[SHIFT] + [A] OR [S] OR [W]
This skill is your slide and can go forwards or sideways. The skill has super armor and can also be used when in awakening stance. It is a quick mobility skill with a movement +10% buff and is also an important skill for combos and cancelling long skill animations.
Meteor Dive
[SPACE] in certain situations
This skill can be used after most skills and will somersault you forwards towards your enemy. The skill can be used as a gapcloser or to engage, because it has super armor whilst in the air and will inflict stiffness on good hits. You can also use this skill to somersault backwards and keep your distance, using [S] and [SPACE]. The skill is also useful in PVE because it regens a large amount of your mana on hit and will help if you have any mana issues. The skill is also important for combos and cancelling long skill animations.
Zephyr Leap
[SHIFT] + [S]
This skill will launch you backwards and throw damage out in front of you. The skill has forward guard on it and can also inflict stiffness on good hits. It can be used as a means of escape, or to gap close. The skill is also important for combos and cancelling long skill animations.
Ultimate: Zephyr Leap
[SHIFT] + [S]
This skill has more damage than Zephyr Leap and is otherwise basically the same as Zephyr Leap. The skill is also your 25% Black Spirit Rage Skill, which adds floating to the skill and also makes you invincible when you disappear during the animation.
Earth Kick
[F]
Earth kick is one of your kick skills. It offers no protection on it and has average damage. The skill can be somewhat useful if used inbetween combos but I would recommend just locking it.
Volant Kick
[W] + [F]
Volant Kick offers very little damage with a forward guard. It does have a knockback CC but it is not considered an effective skill or form of CC. I would recommend just locking this skill to avoid conflicts with other skills in PVP.Ascending Spirit
[S] + [F]
Ascending Spirit has average damage with a knockdown CC, however the skill doesn’t have any protection on it and is considered too dangerous to use. I would recommend just locking this skill to avoid conflicts with other skills in PVP.
Vine Cutter
[F] after Ascending Spirit
Vine Cutter can be used after Ascending Spirit to deal extra damage. The skill has a down smash and also gives you forward guard when using it. I would recommend just locking this skill to avoid conflicts with other skills in PVP.
Low Sweep
[F]
This skill has average damage and can inflict bound or down smash CC. The skill is most effective in the middle of a combo on a target which is already CC’d and is often used in combos to cancel longer skill animations.
Purging Shot
[F] after Volant Kick, Earth Kick, or Vine Cutter
Purging Shot has no protection and is an average damage skill. It has bound on it as well as down smash, but is too risky to use and I would actually recommend just locking the skill.
Gaping Darkness (Optional)
[RMB]
Gaping Darkness has average damage and I would only recommend maxing this skill if you already have your core build. You can also use the skill by pressing [W] and [RMB]. The skill has stiffness on it and will also recover MP on hit, as well as giving you forward guard when using the skill. Due to its low damage, the skill is mostly used as an extra block when needed, but most Archer players choose to lock this skill.
Flow: Shadow Hack
[RMB] after Gaping Darkness
This skill does not have any protection or CC and I would recommend just locking the skill.
Flow: Verdure Clout
[S] + [RMB]
This skill has decent damage and a floating CC. The skill has forward guard and you can also turn your camera to block damage from different directions whilst in the animation. The skill can be used after Gaping Darkness by holding [RMB], but I would recommend just using the skill on its own, which can be done using [S] and [RMB].
Ensnare
Quickslot
This skill gives you a +20% crit rate buff when used and can also be used to debuff targets with a movement speed, attack/casting speed -10% debuff. The skill has super armor on it as well and is often used to quickly buff up before engaging in PVP, or during your rotation in high end PVE.
Covering Fire
[F] + [A] OR [ D]
This skill has average damage and is completely unprotected. It can be used with other skills as extra damage but is usually locked by most Archer players.
Storm of Light (Optional)
[S] + [E]
This skill seems to do decent damage and also has a 100% crit rate, as well as bleed damage and movement speed debuffs. The skill also has stiffness and a knockdown if you land the last hit. However, the skill requires you to stand on the spot for a long time and you are left completely vulnerable. This skill may be useful in some situations but is too risky to use most of the time. It’s also important to note that you can spam this skill, and if can also cancel the skill by pressing [S] + [RMB].
Winged Strike
[LMB] + [A] OR [D]
This skill is often used to start an engage and is featured in most combos. It has a low cooldown and decent damage, but it is the knockdown that is most useful. The skill can knockdown a maxium of 7 targets and can be spammed, however I do not recommend spamming the skill because it will quickly drain your stamina and leave you vulnerable. The skill can be used in both awakening and preawakening and can also be used to switch between the two using [C] or [Q] after each shot. 
Wrath of Nature (Optional)
[SHIFT] + [Q]
This skill has high damage a ranged AP +4 buff and down smash. However, the skill is often locked because it is too risky to use as it does not have any protection on it. The skill can sometimes be useful in certain situations, such as the middle of a combo when the target is already CC’d. It also has some potention in large scale since it can hit up to 7 targets, but I would only recommend taking this skill and experimenting with it if you already have your core skill build.
Earth Shatter
[SHIFT] + [E]
Earth Shatter has high damage and a knockdown (PVE only) as well as a knockback (PVP only) and a down smash. The skill is can be useful during a combo as additional CC due to its high damage, but it is completely unprotected and you should look for the right opportunity to use it, if at all. The skill also chains well with other skills in a combo, such as Flow: Verdure Clout. The skill charge animation can also be skipped by using another skill before it (such as Glide or Ascending Spirit) then using Earth Shatter and firing the first shot. You can also cancel the skill after the first shot only by using Glide. Earth Shatter is also your 200% Black Spirit’s Rage skill which gives extra damage and super armor when using the skill as well as invincible when your character disappears.
Bolt of Radiance
[SHIFT] + [RMB]
Bolt of Radiance is a high damage skill with knockback CC. The skill can deal high damage in PVE and can be used to quickly clear packs of mobs from a distance. However, the skill has no protection and is too risky to use in PVP. Bolt of Radiance is also your 100% Black Spirit’s Rage skill which gives extra damage and super armor when using the skill.
Arrow Explosion
[SHIFT] + [F]
Arrow Explosion deals high damage and can be used in PVE to quickly clear packs of mobs. But in PVP the skill lacks CC and does not have any protection. It can be good to use in some situations, such as when the enemy is already on the floor.
Radiant Explosion
[SHIFT] + [LMB]
This skill has decent damage and will put a DP -15 debuff on up to 10 targets for 10 seconds, as well as having super armor. The skill can be used in both awakening and preawakening and can also be used by pressing [F] after Low Sweep. Radiant Explosion is also your 100% Black Spirit’s Rage skill which gives extra damage.
Full Bloom
[SHIFT] + [E]
This skill has high damage and a movement speed debuff as well as a knockdown. The skill is often used in the middle of a combo when the target is already on the floor, to deal high damage. You need to be quite close range for this skill however to hit them with all the arrows and deal the most damage. The skill can also be used in the same way to clear packs of mobs quickly. You can also cancel the skill after the first hit by using Glide, Zephyr Leap, Tactical Strike, Uproot, Glissade or Meteor Dive. Cancelling the skill animation is useful if you quickly need to evade CC or you can cancel it right after firing the 2nd shot with the knockdown CC. Full Bloom is also your 200% Black Spirit’s Rage skill which gives extra damage.
Flow: Light’s Trail
[LMB] after Radiant Explosion or the 2nd hit of Glissade
This skill has good damage and can hit up to 1- targets as well as applying a knockdown and down smash. The skill recovers a large amount of mana when used and can flow from various skills. You can either use the skill after Radiant Explosion or Glissade by pressing [LMB], or you can press [RMB] or [LMB] or [F] after Upfoot, Low Sweep, Glissade 3rd hit, Zephyr Leap, Ultimate: Zephyr Leap, Luthraghon’s Call. As well, you can press [W] + [E] after Ravenous Talon to active this skill.
Righteous Smite
Quickslot
This skill can be used from the quickslot or by pressing [RMB] OR [LMB] OR [F] after Light’s Trail. The skill does a high amount of damage and can hit up to 10 targets. The skill doesn’t have any protection however and should only be used if the target is already on the floor in 1v1 fights. Righteous Smite is also your 50% Black Spirit’s Rage skill which gives extra damage and super armor while using the skill.
Light’s Mark (Optional)
Quickslot
This skill is probably the last skill you should get when completing your core skill build. The skill can be useful in some situations because it can expose hidden names and prevent stealthers around you as well as putting an evasion debuff on them. The skill can be quite unreliable however and has no protection or CC as well as lacking damage.
Tactical Strike
[RMB] + [A] OR [D]
Tactical Strike is an average damage skill because it requires you to fire out multiply shots to do high damage. During this time it is completely unprotected and your character also has to stand still in one place. However, when the skill is first used, there is a short i-frame at the beginning which is very important and is often used to evade incoming CC or damage. The first arrow which fires can also knockdown your target so it is a great defense skill to use with a quick knockdown CC that can hit up to 10 targets. You can also use this skill straight from your crossbow by pressing [RMB] + [Q] + [A] OR [D] and the skill can be spammed, but will not have the i-frame or knockdown if used on cooldown.
Glissade
[RMB] + [W]
This skill has high damge and and forward guard whilst using the skill. On the 3rd shot fired, there is a knockdown CC which can hit up to 10 targets at once. Glissade is used in many combos for PVP and can also be useful in PVE due to its HP regen. In a 1v1 mirror matchup against another Archer, if you see them use this skill, you should wait a second for their first shot to fre and then use Glissade yourself. If timed well, the skill will end and fire a knockdown just as your opponent comes out of forward guard.
Ravenous Talon
[E] + [W]
Ravenous Talon is a counter attack used in melee range. The skill has a stun on good hits and will recover some HP. It deals decent damage but can be very risky to use in PVP because it doesn’t have any protection on it and will leave you vulnerable to incoming damage/CC.
Spear of Sylvia
[SHIFT] + [Q]
Spear of Slyvia is a high damage skill with Super Armor and also inflicts Bound on good hits, as well as giving an Evasion debuff to the target. The skill has a long animation and can be useful for trading due to its Super Armor, but it is more of a luxury/flashy skill that I would not focus on leveling up straight away. It may be useful to just take the first rank early on for the Super Armor and use it as a defense skill until you have extra skill points to level it up higher. It’s also possible to cancel the skill animation with Glide, Zephyr Leap, Tactical Strike, Uproot, Glissade or Meteor Dive. Doing this will only inflict the evasion debuff but greatly shorten the long animation of the skill.
Uproot
[S] + [F]
This skill is a high damage skill with floating CC on the first hit. It doesn’t have any protection on it however and can be risky to use in PVP.
Luthraghorn’s Call
[SHIFT] + [RMB]
This skill has high damage and 100% Critical Hit Rate as well as HP recovery on hit. The skill has forward guard when it is being charged (hold RMB to charge) and has a knockback CC when the arrow hits. The charge animation is quite long and the longer you charge it the higher the range will go. The charge can also be skipped by using this skill after some other skills (such as Glide, Low Sweep and Uproot). The skill is overall quite effective in both PVP and PVE, because it is versitle and can be used to either deal a quick burst of damage, long ranged attacks, or to block incoming damage. It is also your 200% Black Spirit Rage skill and has super armor when used as well as adding a knockdown CC on its last good hit.
Piercing Light
[E] + [S]
This skill is a high damaging skill with Super Armor and a knockdown or stun, depending on how long you charge the skill for. Press [E] and [S] to begin charging, then [LMB] to fire the arrow. The range of the skill also increases the longer you charge it and it is one of your longest ranged skills. The skill is quite versitile due to its Super Armor and knockdown CC. It can be used in a combo in 1v1 situations or used as a large AoE attack in large scale. The skill does have less damage when attacking more than 2 targets at once, but can still deal decent damage and be a useful skill in large scale PVP.
SKILL COMBOS
The following skill combos are basic combos and some additional tips/tricks for your class. I recommend using video guides to learn more complex skill combos, because it is much easier to see exactly what you should be doing, rather than reading it and trying to wrap your head around it all. There are some recommended skill combo videos in the Useful Links section and the end of the guide!
- Keys in square brackets [] mean that you tap the key. For example, [Q] means you tap Q once.
- Keys in round brackets () mean that you hold the key. For example, (HOLD Q) means you hold Q until the next step. (PERMAHOLD Q) means you hold Q throughout the combo.
- Keys separated by a “+” symbol should be used at the same time. For example, [Q] + [LMB] means you tap Q and LMB at the same time.
- Keys separated by a “>” symbol show the order you should follow out the steps. For example, [Q] + [LMB] > [F] means you tap Q and LMB at the same time, then tap F
- [LMB] refers to left-clicking with your mouse, [RMB] refers to right-clicking with your mouse.
Required skills: Glide, Zephyr Leap, Piercing Cry, Verdure Clout, Meteor Dive
[SHIFT] + [A] > [SHIFT] + [S] > [LMB] > [S] + [RMB] > [S] + [SPACE]
This combo is a basic movement combo which can be repeated in a loop as long as you have the stamina, but it will quickly consume it. The combo is mostly used if you are caught out with your positioning and you need to create distance between yourself and the enemy. It is useful because of its high mobility and is also fully protected with Super Armor or Forward Guards. You can also use Zephyr Leap and Piercing Cry in the oppositive order, and Verdure Clout is completely optional depending on whether or not you need the extra proction and mobility. You will also need to do a camera flip during these skills to move in the desired direction.
Required skills: Tactical Strike, Luthraghon’s Call, Arrow Explosion, Bolt of Radiance
[A] + [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [F] > [SHIFT] + [RMB]
This combo is a basic PVP combo designed to knock down the target and then deal heavy burst at a long range. Make sure to cancel Luthraghon’s Call with Arrow Explosion.
Required skills: Radiant Explosion, Meteor Dive, Low Sweep, Luthraghon’s Call, Flow: Light’s Trail, Arrow Explosion.
[SHIFT] + [LMB] > [S] + [SPACE] > (Quickslot: Low Sweep)> [SHIFT] + [RMB] > [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [F]
This combo is a basic PVP combo designed to knock down and deal high damage to the target. You will need to cancel Meteor Dive immediately as you land, by using Low Sweep from your hotbar. Luthraghon’s Call is also cancelled using Flow: Light’s Trail. It can be harder to pull off but is a good combo to use when the enemy is trying to engage on you and you need to kite them.
Required skills: Glide, Luthraghon’s Call, Flow: Light’s Trail, Glissade, Low Sweep, Uproot, Radiant Explosion
[SHIFT] + [A] > [SHIFT] + [RMB] > [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [A] > [W] + [RMB] > [F] > [S] + [F] > [SHIFT] + [LMB]
This combo is a basic PVP combo designed to knock down the target and then deal heavy burst in melee range. Make sure to cancel Luthraghon’s Call and also cancel Glissade with Low Sweep straight after the first arrow is fired.
RABAM SKILLS
Level 56:
- Radiant Storm (requires Arrow Explosion VI + Storm of Light V)
- 14s cooldown
- movement speed debuff on target
- bleeding damage
- Stiffness CC
- Deadly Explosion (requires Arrow Explosion VI + Covering Fire V)
- 19s cooldown
- Knockdown CC
The skill has decent damage and a large AoE knockdown CC which is far more useful to an Archer. The skill is especially useful in large scale PVP beccause you can use it to CC multiple targets on an engage, but can be somewhat tricky to pull off in 1v1 situations.
Level 57:
- Ultimate: Verdure Clout (requires Flow: Verdure Clot II + Wrath of Nature V)
- 13s cooldown
- Floating CC
- Super Armor
- Ranged AP +10 for 10 sec
- Radiant Ensnare (requires Flow: Verdure Clot II + Ensnare III)
- 12s cooldown
- Floating CC
- Forward Guard
The skill has good damage and has forward guard when being used but overall is not really used much in PVP. It may be useful if your enemy is already on the floor or can be used as an extra forward guard to block incoming damage, without wasting some of your better skills.
LOCKED SKILLS
These are the skills I recommend locking to help prevent messing up combos during PVP. 
To lock a skill, press the lock icon on the top of each skill icon in the skill window (K).
SKILL ADD-ONS
Below are some examples of viable skill add-ons you can take. I recommend experimenting with your add-ons and figuring out what is best for you, because it really depends on your personal preference and how you play your class. If you’re simply not sure what to take then you can blindly follow the examples below and they will still be effective.
[Level 50] Arrow Explosion
20% chance of Down Smash for target
PVP Attack +15 for 5 sec. for self
[Level 52] Winged Strike
PVP Attack +5 for 5 sec. for self
Movement Speed -7% for 7 sec. for target
[Level 54] Flow: Verdure Clout
PVP Attack +5 for 5 sec. for self
Inflicts 50 Bleeding Damge per 3 sec. for 15 sec. for target
[Level 56] Glissade
PVP Attack +5 for 5 sec. for self
Attack Speed +4% for 5 sec. for self
[Level 58] Luthraghon’s Call
PVP Attack +10 for 5 sec. for self
All Accuracy +4% for 12 sec. for self
[Level 60] Spear of Sylvia
PVP Attack +10 for 5 sec. for self
Inflicts 54 Pain Damage per 3 sec for 12 sec. for target
PVE Skill Add-ons
[Level 50] Arrow Explosion
Instantly Recovers 30 HP per hit
Instantly Recovers 30 MP/EP/WP/SP per hit
[Level 52] Gaping Darkness
All Accuracy +4% for 12 sec. for self
Attack Speed +4% for 5 sec. for self
[Level 54] Winged Strike
All Accuracy +3% for 12 sec. for self
Attack against monsters +20 for 8 sec. for self
[Level 56] Radiant Explosion
Attack against monsters +25 for 8 sec. for self
Instantly Recovers 30 HP per hit
[Level 58] Glissade
Attack Speed +4% for 5 sec. for self
Attack against monsters +20 for 8 sec. for self
[Level 60] Luthraghon’s Call
All Accuracy +4% for 12 sec. for self
Attack against monsters +25 for 8 sec. for self
WEAPONS/ARMOR
The best weapons in the game are currently dropped from World Bosses.
For more information on this click here to view our World Bosses guide.
Primary Weapons:
Rosar Crossbow
Rosar (or Yuria if unavailable) is what you should be aiming for to level your character. You should enhance it to at least +7 for leveling and then PRI or higher as soon as possible if you don’t have Liverto/Kzarka. I would get it to DUO at the highest then aim for Liverto/Kzarka. Aim to buy a +15 Rosar if you can to save your enhancing resources. Ideally you will want to buy or make it ultimate (yellow) to close the AP difference. Make sure you also make use of the gem slots to get your Attack Speed and Critical Hit up to 5. 
Liverto Crossbow
Liverto is the third strongest mainhand and much easier to obtain and enhance than Kzarka. If you have enough silver to buy it at +15 or higher then you should to save enhancing materials. You will want to upgrade it to PRI or higher as soon as possible. I would recommend getting it to TRI at most and then you really want to switch to Kzarka. The liverto has slightly more AP than Rosar, but it also has a Critical Hit Rate +3 item effect. 
Kzarka Crossbow
Kzarka is the main weapon you will be using. It has the same AP as Liverto but more accuracy and an Attack Speed +3 item effect.
Offin Tett’s Radiant Crossbow
Offin Tett weapons are usually not worth investing in because of the loss in accuracy. It can help you push to the next AP bracket but at higher AP brackets the extra AP you get is smaller and you’ll be losing hit chance % at the same time on both your preawakening and your awakening. So really you’re actually losing damage overall since you won’t be hitting the enemy as much (unless they are full DR). Offin Tett can be good when you reach certain AP brackets and if your class doesn’t depend on accuracy as much as others, but if you’re unsure whether you should be using this weapon or not, it’s much safer to just use Kzarka.
Offhand Weapons:
Ganatte Ra’ghon
Ganatte Ra’ghon is your AP offhand and is the best offhand to go with if you are a beginner. You can also use the Roaring Magical Ra’ghorn as a placeholder offhand, which is obtained from your Black Spirit as a reward for completing the questline Magic Ra’ghon Exchange IV
Kutum Ra’ghon
This offhand gives a mixture of AP and DP with added monster damage and accuracy. The Kutum weapons also have a 10% ignore resistance. The higher AP makes this weapon a best in slot for PVE until you reach 261+ AP with Nouver. It also has 2 crystal slots. The Kutum can also be modified using an Inverted Hearth of Garmoth to give extra stats (Max HP +150, Max Stamina +100, Special Attack Evasion Rate +10%).
Nouver Ra’ghon
Nouver is currently considered the best in slot choice for PVP. You should aim to have TRI gear before switching to this offhand. The Nouver gives pure AP and an all resistance +10% item effect and can be modified using an Inverted Hearth of Garmoth to give extra stats (Max HP +150, Max Stamina +100, Special Attack Evasion Rate +10%).
Awakening Weapons: 
Cadhoit Greatbow
This is a green grade bow which is sold by some Blacksmith/Arms dealers. This bow has lower AP than the other options but it is still viable for PvE due to it’s Damage Against Every Species +5 item effect. It’s also much cheaper to enhance and repair max durability than the other options so if you don’t have a lot of money or participate in a lot of PvP, then this weapon is a good alternative until you get Dandelion.
Saiphir Greatbow
This weapon is a blue grade bow which is given to you when you complete the awakening quests. The only ways to obtain this bow is through the quest or night vendor. This makes is hard to obtain and it can be more expensive to repair. The bow is good for PvP and has higher AP than the Cadhoit Greatbow, and it has a Damage Against Human +7 item effect. You should also ultimate this weapon to close the AP difference to Dandelion until you are able to upgrade to the Dandelion Greatbow.
Dragon Slayer Greatbow
Dragon Slayer weapons are very comparable to the Dandelion weapons with their stats. They have slightly less AP but are much cheaper to repair and much less hassle. However, the Dragon Slayer weapons cannot be placed on the marketplace and must be crafted by the player themselves.
Dandelion Greatbow
Dandelion weapons are the BiS awakening weapon. It has much higher AP but it is only obtainable from a Dandelion Weapon Box (Karanda world boss loot) or from the night vendor.
Armor:
The best armor in the game is currently dropped from Bosses. You will want to aim to get the boots and gloves first.
Griffon’s Helmet (helmet) – dropped from Griffons in Kamaslyvia. 
Dim Tree Spirit’s Armor (chest) – dropped from Dim Tree Spirit.
Bheg’s Gloves (gloves) – dropped from Bheg.
Urugon’s Shoes (shoes) – dropped from Urugon (Gaifinrasia Raid Captain Scroll).
Giath’s Helmet (helmet) alternative choice – dropped from Giath.
Muskan’s Shoes (shoes) alternative choice– dropped from Monastery Leader.
The best in slot armor is Griffon’s Helmet, Dim Tree Spirit’s Armor, Bheg’s Gloves and Urugon’s Shoes.
The full set will give you Maximum MP/WP/SP +100, Maximum HP +200, Max Stamina +200, Attack Speed +1, Casting Speed +1, Movement Speed +1 and All Resistances 5%. You will also get higher Accuracy, Evasion and Damage Reduction from these pieces.
In the mean time you should be using one of the following armor sets:
A popular armor choice for Mystic is to go full 
Grunil set because it increases your maximum HP and will give you 2 socket slots on each piece, along with extra AP +7 set bonus. Another advantage of using this set is that it is viable on any class, allowing you to swap to another class easily.
Full Heve set is also a very popular choice because it has an easier transition to boss gear whilst. As soon as you get one boss item with Grunil, you lose the set bonuses which Grunil weaker.
Another alternative is to use is the Akum set. It has comparable stats to boss armor and also a very useful set effect that gives Damage Reduction and Hidden AP. If you are unable to get boss armor, then the Akum set is a good cheap alternative that will be good for both PVP and PV. Investing in this set may slow you down in your progression towards softcap, but is much cheaper once you factor in repairing and enhancing.
ACCESSORIES
There are a lot of choices available when it comes to accessories and it really depends on what you can get your hands on.
Earrings:
You want to aim for DUO/TRI Witch’s Earrings (9 AP/11 AP) before swapping to a DUO Tungrad Earrings (11 AP) because of the huge difference in cost. Tungrad Earrings are BiS earrings.
Red Coral Earrings are also very good because they give accuracy and also have a bit of AP. I would only recommend using Red Coral Earrings if the earring is DUO or higher though or you will miss out on too much AP.
The Capotia Earring is also worth mentioning. It is available at level 62+ only but is a very good earring because of it’s high AP. It makes a perfect backup for enhancing and is essentially a free TRI Tungrad Earring.
| Item Name | Base Stats | Enhance Increase | |||
 | Bares Earring | 2 AP | 1 AP | |||
 | Jarette’s Earring (Jarette Set) | 4 AP 4-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +5 6-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +10 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Asula’s Crimon Eye Earring (Asula Set) | 7 AP 3-Piece Set Bonus: Health +300 5-Piece Set Bonus: Acurracy +20 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Blue Coral Earring | 4 AP Max MP/WP/SP +25 | 2 AP | |||
 | Red Coral Earring | 2 AP Accuracy 14 Max Stamina +50 | 2 AP Accuracy +4 | |||
 | Witch’s Earring | 5 AP | 2 AP | |||
 | Blue Whale Molar Earring | 5 AP Max HP +100 | 2 AP | |||
 | Fugitive Khalik’s Earring | 5 AP Max Stamina +50 Max MP/WP/SP +50 | 2 AP Max Stamina +20 Max MP/WP/SP +20 | |||
 | Tungrade Earring | 7 AP Black Spirit Rage +10% | 2 AP | |||
 | Capotia Earring | 13 AP | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
Rings:
If available I recommend using the Asula’s Crimon Eye Ring (Asula Set) if you are new to the game, this gives you 7 AP and 2 DP as well as damage reduction and strong set bonuses. Otherwise use Bares rings for 2 AP and switch to Mark of Shadow as soon as possible for the 5 AP.
Sahazad’s Ring of Monarch is also available through the Valencia part I and II quests. It can’t be enhanced but it is a good alternative until you can get Ring of Crescent Guardian or Mark of Shadow to PRI/DUO.
The current best in slot, is a Ring of Crescent Guardian, or Eye of the Ruins Ring.
The Capotia Ring is also worth mentioning. It is available at level 61+ only but is a very good ring because of it’s high AP. It makes a perfect backup for enhancing and is essentially a free TRI Ring of Crescent Guardian.
| Item Name | Base stats | Enhance Increase | |||
 | Bares Ring | 2 AP | 1 AP | |||
 | Jarette’s Ring (Jarette Set) | 4 AP 4-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +5 6-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +10 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Asula’s Crimson Eye Ring (Asula Set) | 7 AP 3-Piece Set Bonus: Health +300 5-Piece Set Bonus: Acurracy +20 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Blue Coral Ring | 5 AP Max MP/WP/SP +25 | 1 AP | |||
 | Mark of Shadow | 5 AP | 2 AP | |||
 | Sahazad’s Ring of Monarch | 7 AP Max HP +25 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
  | Ring of Crescent Guardian | 5 AP | 3 AP | |||
 | Capotia Ring | 14 AP | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
Necklace:
If available I recommend using the Asula’s Crimon Eye Necklace (Asula Set) if you are new to the game, this gives you 11 AP and 3 DP as well as damage reduction and an amazing set bonus. Otherwise use Bares Necklace for 4 AP and enhance this to DUO/TRI for 8 AP/10 AP. Enhancing a Bares Necklace is much cheaper than using an un-enhanced BiS necklace. You then want to swap to a DUO Serap’s or PRI Ogre/Tungrad.
The Manos Necklaces are also an alternative for PvP, if you don’t have a DUO Seraps already, due to their item effects. I personally wouldn’t bother with them though because you will want as much AP as possible.
| Item Name | Base Stats | Enhance Increase | |||
 | Bares Necklace | 4 AP | 2 AP | |||
 | Jarette’s Necklace (Jarette Set) | 7 AP 4-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +5 6-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +10 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Asula’s Crimson Eye Necklace (Asula Set) | 11 AP 3-Piece Set Bonus: Health +300 5-Piece Set Bonus: Acurracy +20 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Ancient Guardian Seal (Ancient Weapon Core Set) | 6 AP 3 DP Set Effect: Accuracy +20 | 2 AP 1 DP | |||
 | Manos Necklace – Topaz | 6 AP Knockdown/ Bound Resistance +30% | 3 AP Knockdown/ Bound Resistance +2% | |||
 | Manos Necklace – Ruby | 6 AP Grapple Resistance +30%Accuracy 4 | 3 AP Grapple Resistance +2%Accuracy 4 | |||
 | Manos Necklace – Emerald | 6 AP Stun/Stiffness/ Freezing Resistance +30%Accuracy 4 | 3 AP Stun/Stiffness/ Freezing Resistance +2%Accuracy 4 | |||
 | Manos Necklace – Diamond | 6 AP Accuracy 4
| 3 AP Accuracy 4
| |||
 | Manos Necklace – Sapphire | 6 AP Knockback/ Floating Resistance +30% | 3 AP Knockback/ Floating Resistance +2% | |||
 | Sicil’s Necklace | 7 AP 3 DP | 3 AP 2 DP | |||
 | Serap’s Necklace | 8 AP Max HP +50 | 4 AP | |||
  | Ogre Ring | 10 AP | 5 AP | |||
 | Tungrad Necklace | 10 AP Black Spirit Rage +20% | 5 AP Accuracy 4 | |||
Belt:
If available I recommend using the Asula’s Crimon Eye Belt (Asula Set) if you are new to the game, this gives you 6 AP and has amazing set bonuses. Otherwise use Bares Belt for 2 AP and swap to Tree Spirit Belt as soon as possible for more AP and high accuracy.
You want to aim for a PRI/DUO Tree Spirit Belt before swapping to DUO Basilisk’s because it is much cheaper and easier to get hold of. Basilisk’s Belt and Valtarra are very good belts but Tungrade is currently the best in slot.
| Item Name | Base Stats | Enhance Increase | |||
 | Bares Belt | 2 AP Weight Limit +40 | 1 AP | |||
 | Jarette’s Belt (Jarette Set) | 4 AP Accuracy 2 Hidden Evasion 1
4-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +5 6-Piece Set Bonus: Attack +10 | Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Asula’s Crimson Eye Belt | 6 AP Weight Limit +100 LT 3-Piece Set Bonus: Health +300 5-Piece Set Bonus: Acurracy +20
| Cannot be Enhanced | |||
 | Ancient Weapon Core (Ancient Guardian Seal Set) | 4 AP 4 DP Weight Limit +60 LT
Set Effect: Accuracy +20 | 1 AP 1 DP Weight Limit +10 LT | |||
 | Tree Spirit Belt | 5 AP Accuracy +6 Weight Limit +80 LT | 2 AP Accuracy +10 | |||
 | Basilisk’s Belt | 5 AP Weight Limit +80 LT | 3 AP | |||
 | Valtarra Eclipsed Belt | 5 AP Health 0 Weight Limit 80LT Accuracy 2 | 3 AP | |||
 | Tungrad Belt | 6 AP Black Spirit’s Rage 20% Weight Limit 80LT Accuracy 2 | 3 AP | |||
SOCKETS (CRYSTALS)
Black Magic Crystal – Precision x2
(weapon)
Accuracy 8, Ignore All Resistance 10%
Magic Crystal of Infinity – Critical Hit x2
(sub-weapon)
Critical Hit Damage +10%
HAN Magic Crystal – Macalod/Hoom x2
(helmet)
Macalod 4 set – 10 AP, 280 Stamina, 7% Ignore Resistance
Hoom 4 set – All Damage Reduction +5, Max HP +150, All Evasion +4, All Accuracy +8, All Resistance +3%
HAN Magic Crystal – Maacalod/Hoom x2
(chest)
Macalod 4 set – 10 AP, 280 Stamina, 7% Ignore Resistance
Hoom 4 set – All Damage Reduction +5, Max HP +150, All Evasion +4, All Accuracy +8, All Resistance +3%
JIN Black Magic Crystal – Viper x2
(gloves)
Attack Speed +1, Casting Speed +1, Accuracy 20
WON Magic Crystal – Hystria OR Red Battlefield Crystal – Adamantine x2
(shoes)
WON Hystria: Weight Limit +20 LT, Movement Speed +2, Max Stamina +150
RBF Adamantine: Knockdown/Bound Resistance +25%, Stun/Stiffness/Freezing Resistance +5%
Magic Crystal of Infinity – Extraction x2
(weapon)
MP/WP/SP Recovery +1 on Attack
Magic Crystal of Infinity – Critical x2
(sub-weapon)
Additional Critical Hit Damage +10%
Ancient Magic Crystal – Harphia x2
(helmet)
Max HP +50 & HP Recovery +5
Black Magic Crystal – Cobelinus x2
(chest)
Max HP +100 & Weight Limit +20LT & All Damage Reduction +2
Magic Crystal of Infiity – Assault x1
(gloves)
Attack Speed +2
Magic Crystal of Infiity – Valor x1
(gloves)
Critical Hit +2
Black Magic Crystal – Hystria x2
(shoes)
Weight Limit +20LT & Movement Speed +1 & Max Stamina +150
EXAMPLE GEAR BUILDS
I highly recommend using BDOPLANNER.COM to help you plan your build and track your progression.
The build you choose completely depends on your playstyle and what role you want to play in PVP. Below are some example builds to help you decide what is best for you.
Leveling build – [LINK]
Here is what to aim for when leveling and before you get your boss gear. You should focus on enhancing your weapons first and then your armor. Try to also ultimate all your pieces as soon as possible, especially your armor because it will give quite a big DP boost.
Click image to view larger
Low-Tier build – [LINK]
Here is a low-tier build to use if you are looking to improve your gear before you get boss gear. You may want to use Red Coral Earrings or Witch’s Earrings instead of Asula Earrings but they can be quite expensive compared to the rest of the gear.
Click image to view larger
Mid-Tier build – [LINK]
Here is a mid-tier build to use once you have boss gear. You want to aim to get TRI as soon as possible and then work on your accessories. If possible use a TRI Red Coral Earring and you can then swap your offhand for Nouver in most cases as long as you have a minimum of 300 accuracy when using Nouver. You can also use a TET heve and TRI Muskan’s shoes instead but Griffon’s and Urugon’s shoes are currently considered best in slot in the gear meta.
Click image to view larger
Softcap build – [LINK]
It takes a long time to get to this stage, and there are lots of small improvements and other accessories you will use along the way, but this is ideally your end game build for PVP.
For PVE, you want to be using a TET Kutum with Critical Hit crystals. Once you reach 261 AP with Nouver, you will want to stop using Kutum for PVE however, until you reach 265 AP with Kutum. After many tests, it is confirmed that Nouver performs better than Kutum in these brackets.
You may also want to consider starting to put Caphras stones into your gear for bonus stats to help you get to the next AP bracket. Begin by getting level 4 in your main hand for the extra 4 AP. Then you will want to move on to putting level 2 into each armor piece before getting them all up to level 4 as well.
In the example below I have used HAN Macalod and the WON Hystria crystals, but you can also use HAN Hoom and the RBF Adamantine crystals instead. It is totally personal preference and heavily debated across Archer players as to which is best to use. If you grind at Aakman, I would recommend using the Hoom and RBF crystals because these will give you knockdown resistance and make grinding there much safer and easier.
Click image to view larger
End-Game build – [LINK]
Here is what to eventually aim for. It takes a long time to get to this stage, and there are lots of small improvements and other accessories you will use along the way, but this is ideally your end game build for PVP. Make sure to put Caphras stones into your equipment for extra stats and turn your Nouver into a Fiery Nouver.
For PVE, you want to be using a Kutum with Critical Hit crystals. Once you reach 261 AP with Nouver, you will want to stop using Kutum for PVE however, until you reach 265 AP with Kutum. After many tests, it is confirmed that Nouver performs better than Kutum in these brackets.
In the example below I have used HAN Macalod and the WON Hystria crystals, but you can also use HAN Hoom and the RBF Adamantine crystals instead. It is totally personal preference and heavily debated across Archer players as to which is best to use. If you grind at Aakman, I would recommend using the Hoom and RBF crystals because these will give you knockdown resistance and make grinding there much safer and easier.
Click image to view larger
CONSUMABLES
When grinding, use EXP Elixirs and Milk Tea with a food rotation (Special Valencia Meal, Jumbo King of Jungle Hamburg and Special Kamaylvia Meal) or you can just use the Simple Cron Meal and Beast’s Draught.
For your food rotation in PVP (node wars/siege), I would recommend using King of Jungle Hamburger, Special Kamaslyvia Meal, Special Valencia Special and Special Serendia Meal in that order. This requires a 2 hour preperation. If you are late or lazy, you can use Exquisite Cron Meal. I would also recommend using the Giant’s Draught or party elixirs.
The recipes for these are:
| ICON | RESULT | INGREDIENTS | USE |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
King of Jungle Hamburger | Teff Bread x4, Pickled Vegetables x2, Lion Meat x4, Nutmeg x3 |
Ignores All Resistance +3%, Critical Hit Damage +5% for 110 minutes |
 |
Kamaslyvia Meal | Rainbow Button Mushroom Sandwich x1, Coconut Pasta x1, Fig Pie x1, Fruit Wine x2, Rainbow Button Mushroom Cheese Melt x1 | Max HP +150, Max Stamina +200, Back Attack Damage +5% for 110 minutes |
 |
Valencia Meal | Teff Sandwich x1, King of Jungle Hamburger x1, Couscous x1, Fig Pie x2, Date Palm Wine x2 | Nullifying all Resistances +4%, Resistance against all Debuffs +4%, All Evasion +10, Decrease of damages from Monsters -6% for 110 minutes |
 |
Serendia Meal | Ham Sandwich x1, Meat Pie x1, Honeycomb Cookie x1, Boiled Bird Eggs x2, Fruit Wine x2 | All AP +5, All Accuracy +10, Critical Hit +1 for 110 minutes |
In addition, you may want to use Perfume of Courage (buff lost on death) and Tough Whale Tendon Elixirs. Usually these are not required for node wars.
Other buffs you may want to collect can be found here: [link]
Useful Links
- https://discord.gg/TbTZvP3 – Archer Discord
- https://community.blackdesertonline.com/index.php?forums/archer.391/ – Official Archer Forums
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9uWoj3RRds – Basic skill combos
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyQGAZkXGvM – Advanced cancels/combos Part 1
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MSas4N8ekQ&feature=youtu.be – Advanced cancels/combos Part 2
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMwSGJv1TbY – Aakman PVE grinding
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqeVjDTxbTQ – Red Battlefield PVP
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vutZsLzAwDI&feature=youtu.be – Uncut Siege War PVP
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y-_hSCQ-Dg – Small Scale PVP
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ8i3OkMt_4 – 1v1 Duels
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Exn3JBiBns – Uncut 1v1 Duels
Change Log
- 05/05/2019 – Published the first version of the guide
- 06/05/2019 – Updated skill add-ons section
- 08/05/2019 – Fixed typos
- 16/05/2019 – Added Dragon Slayer weapon and updated armor info
