Archer
Winged Elf · Ranged DD · Complete Guide
Class Overview
What is the Archer?
The Archer is the classic ranged fighter in PWI – a pure DD (Damage Dealer) with one of the highest Crit rates in the game. Thanks to DEX scaling, the Archer also has the highest physical ranged damage, high accuracy and good evasion. They wear Light Armor (LA) and specialize in Bow, Crossbow or Slingshot.
Core Mechanic: Every 20 DEX = +1% Crit. An Archer with 200 DEX has ~10% base Crit – before buffs. Crit doubles damage. DEX is by far the most important stat!
| Stat | Effect for Archer | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| DEX | Phys. ranged damage, Crit +1%/20DEX, Accuracy, Evasion | ★★★★★ Max it! |
| STR | Only needed to equip LA & Bow | ★★ Keep at minimum |
| VIT | +13 HP/pt – more than Wizard, but barely relevant | ★ Beginner option only |
| MAG | Magic damage & MP – both irrelevant for Archer | Never! |
Never MAG! MAG increases magic damage – Archer uses physical attacks. Every MAG point is completely wasted. Never invest in MAG!
Stat Scaling per Point
These are the base values you gain per attribute point. Use them for concrete calculations — e.g. +10 VIT = +130 HP.
| Stat | Pro Punkt | Hinweis |
|---|---|---|
| VIT | +13 HP | e.g. +10 VIT = +130 HP |
| STR | Req. only | Weapon/armor req. only — no ATK bonus |
| DEX | Phys. ATK ↑ · +1 % Crit / 20 DEX | Damage scales with DEX! + Accuracy + Evasion |
| MAG | +MP | No magic attacks — useless for this class |
PvE Builds Compared
Pure DEX Build
- Maximum damage & Crit
- Best PvE & PvP potential
- Absolute standard on all servers
- +1% Crit every 5 levels!
- Low HP – aggro instantly lethal
- Requires aggro management
Hybrid (VIT) Build
- More HP – mistakes more forgiving
- Beginner-friendly up to Lv50
- Less Crit & damage
- Restat to Pure DEX recommended
Fist/Bow Hybrid
- Very high DPS with -Interval Gear
- Fists for melee, Bow for range
- Extremely expensive (top gear required)
- No early PvE advantage
- Only worthwhile for endgame Whales
★ Consensus of all guides: Pure DEX is the only truly recommended build for Archer. Even beginners should add at most 25–30 VIT and then restat to Pure DEX. Investing more VIT costs significantly more damage than the HP gain is worth.
Stat Progression Table
Cumulative stats per level – Pure DEX Build
STR formula for LA & Bow: STR = Level + 4 | Crit: +1% per 20 DEX, i.e. every 5 levels a new %
| Level | Min. STR | DEX (Pure) | Crit % (Base) | DEX (Hybrid ~30VIT) | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 | 0% | 5 | Start |
| 10 | 14 | 41 | 2% | 37 | – |
| 20 | 24 | 81 | 4% | 71 | – |
| 30 | 34 | 121 | 6% | 106 | – |
| 39 | 43 | 157 | 7% | 137 | ★ Knockback Arrow – no more kiting! |
| 40 | 44 | 161 | 8% | 141 | Melee range no longer a problem |
| 50 | 54 | 201 | 10% | 176 | Restat timing (Hybrid → Pure DEX) |
| 60 | 64 | 241 | 12% | 211 | – |
| 69 | 73 | 277 | 13% | 242 | ★ Barrage of Arrows – strongest AoE! |
| 70 | 74 | 281 | 14% | 246 | BH70, FC accessible |
| 80 | 84 | 321 | 16% | 281 | – |
| 89 | 93 | 357 | 17% | 312 | ★ Triple Spark + Morai |
| 100 | 104 | 401 | 20% | 351 | Endgame – 20% base Crit! |
| 105 | 109 | 421 | 21% | 369 | Max Level |
Crit milestones: Every 5th level (5, 10, 15, 20 …) the base Crit increases by 1%. If you're just below a multiple of 20 DEX, it's worth filling up DEX first before adding STR – the Crit jump matters more than 1–2 STR points.
Why STR = Level + 4? LA Helm: Lv+4 STR. LA Chest: Lv+4 STR. Bow/Crossbow: Lv+4 STR. If you always invest 1 STR/lvl, from Level 1 you'll have exactly enough STR for your armor and weapon at current level.
Weapon Types
Bow vs. Crossbow vs. Slingshot
| Weapon | Description | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bow | Balanced range & damage. Good choice for beginners and leveling. Standard weapon in most situations. | PvE: Good | PvP: Good | Range: Medium |
| Crossbow | Highest damage range (min–max), slightly slower. Popular for PvP and spike damage. Good single-target DPS. | PvE: Good | PvP: ★ Best | Range: Medium |
| Slingshot | Fastest attack speed, consistent damage. Best choice for PvE grinding & instances. Recommended from Lv50+. | PvE: ★ Best | PvP: Ok | Range: Short |
PvE Recommendation: Slingshot from Lv50+ for grinding & instances (highest APS = more Crit procs = more DPS). For boss fights & PvP: Crossbow for spike damage. Until Lv50: Bow is the simplest and cheapest option.
Important Skills (Priority)
Skill Priority PvE
| Skill | Type | Purpose? | Prio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take Aim | Active | Strongest single hit – always max! | ★★★★★ |
| Quickshot | Active | Fastest attack, basic filler – always max | ★★★★★ |
| Stunning Arrow | Active | Stun – vital when mob gets too close | ★★★★★ |
| Knockback Arrow (Lv39) | Active | Knocks mob back – ends kiting phase! | ★★★★★ |
| Barrage of Arrows (Lv69) | Active AoE | Strongest AoE – essential for grinding | ★★★★★ |
| Aim Low | Active | Slow + damage – keeps mobs at range | ★★★★ |
| Blazing Arrow | Active | Fire damage + DoT – good against single mobs | ★★★★ |
| Lightning Strike | Active | Lightning damage, instant-cast – always useful | ★★★ |
| Wings of Grace (Passive) | Passive | Increases evasion – levels itself basically | ★★★ |
| Sharpened Tooth Arrow | Active | Phys. Def. debuff on target – perfect for squad | ★★★★ |
| Frost Arrow | Active | Slow + Chill, good for range control | ★★★ |
Combo tip (Lv39+): Take Aim (opener, high damage) → Quickshot → Blazing Arrow → Stunning Arrow (if mob is close) → Knockback Arrow → Quickshot → Repeat. Most mobs are dead after 3–4 hits.
Aggro warning: Archer deals massive damage – in squads and instances ALWAYS wait until the tank (Barbarian) has aggro secured before going full DPS. Otherwise you die instantly!
Restat & Reskill Guide
When & why redistribute?
| Situation | From | To | Timing | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid → Pure DEX | VIT Hybrid | Pure DEX | Lv 50–70 | HP Shards & refines fully replace VIT |
| LA → HA (Niche) | Pure DEX / LA | +lots of STR | Endgame | Only worthwhile for Fist/Bow hybrid with -Interval Gear |
| Endgame R9 Upgrade | Any | Pure DEX | On gear change | R9 provides enough HP through refines – no VIT needed |
| Fist/Bow Hybrid | Pure DEX | +STRfor Fists | Lv100+ with -Interval Gear | Maximum APS-DPS – extremely expensive & niche |
Restat costs: Requires Mirage Celestones or Tokens of Best Luck. Order: First get new gear → then restat → then equip gear. Never the other way around!
Rule of thumb: The hybrid restat is worthwhile at Lv70 at the latest, when you start inserting Citrin Shards into your armor. From then on, every VIT point is replaceable by HP Shards – and DEX gives you much more in return.
Equipment Priorities
Gear stats for PvE (importance)
| Stat | Why important? | Prio |
|---|---|---|
| +DEX on gear | More damage + more Crit – best stat | ★★★★★ |
| +Phys. Atk. on weapon | Directly higher base damage of all skills | ★★★★★ |
| −Interval (weapon) | Reduces time between attacks = more APS = more DPS | ★★★★ |
| +HP / Citrin Shards | Compensates for missing VIT – no real VIT needed | ★★★★ |
| Phys. Def. Adorns | LA has medium phys. def. – small boost useful | ★★★ |
| Garnet (Weapon) | +Phys. Atk. – best weapon shard for Archer | ★★★★ |
−Interval explained: Every weapon has an attack speed (e.g. 1.43 APS). With −0.05 Interval gear the APS rises to 1.50+. The more APS, the more Crit procs per second, the more DPS. Very expensive but powerful!
Gem Guide (Beginner vs. Pro)
Which gems for which budget?
Beginner (few coins)
| Slot | Gem | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Armor | Citrin Shard Lv1–3 | +HP – essential, fully replaces VIT |
| Armor Alt. | Garnet Shard Lv1–3 | +Phys. Def. – cheap, farmable |
| Weapon | Garnet Shard Lv1–3 | +Phys. Atk. – directly more damage |
| Jewelry | Citrin Lv1–2 | +HP – cheapest survival option |
Tip: Citrins in armor are more important for Archer than for any other DEX class. You have no VIT – so all HP comes from shards & refines. Lv1–3 Citrins are very cheap!
Pro / Whale (many coins)
| Slot | Gem | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Armor | Citrin Shard Lv8–9 | +2000–3000 HP per slot! |
| Armor Alt. | Garnet Shard Lv7–8 | +massive Phys. Def. bonus |
| Weapon | Garnet Shard Lv8–9 | +enormous Phys. Atk. boost |
| Jewelry | JOSD / DoT | Diamond of Tiger (+Atk.Lv) or JOSD |
Diamond of Tiger: Gives +1 Attack Level – massively increases damage against higher defense values. Costs millions, but best weapon gem in endgame.
| Lv | Cost | Garnet (+P.Atk) | Citrin (+HP) | Garnet (+P.Def) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free/Drop | +5 P.Atk | +30 HP | +50 P.Def |
| 2 | Very cheap | +10 P.Atk | +65 HP | +100 P.Def |
| 3 | Cheap | +18 P.Atk | +110 HP | +160 P.Def |
| 4 | Medium | +28 P.Atk | +160 HP | +230 P.Def |
| 5 | Expensive | +40 P.Atk | +225 HP | +310 P.Def |
| 6 | Very expensive | +55 P.Atk | +300 HP | +400 P.Def |
| 7 | Extremely expensive | +72 P.Atk | +385 HP | +500 P.Def |
| 8 | Millions | +92 P.Atk | +480 HP | +610 P.Def |
| 9 | Whale | +114 P.Atk | +585 HP | +730 P.Def |
Demon · Sage · Glyph System
Cultivation – Demon or Sage?
From Level 89 you choose between Demon and Sage. For Archer the choice is classically contested – both are good, but with different focus. Does not affect stat distribution.
| Skill | Demon | Sage | PvE winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take Aim | +Crit Rate | +Base damage | Sage (DPS) |
| Barrage of Arrows | Faster cast | Massively more damage | Sage |
| Sharpened Tooth Arrow | +10% Crit Rate for 15s | −20% max HP for 15s (!!!) | Sage (PvE Boss!) |
| Bow Mastery (Passive) | +1% Crit | +15% damage permanent | Sage |
| Stunning Arrow | Longer Stun | Shorter Cooldown | Demon (PvP) |
PvE recommendation: Sage Archer (Bow) – Permanent +15% damage through Bow Mastery, stronger AoE, better HP debuff on bosses. Demon is only worthwhile if you're going for the 5-APS-Fist build or playing PvP-focused.(PvP: Demon for APS advantage and longer Stun.)
Ab Chaotic Soul Cultivation (Reawakening II + Lv100+) turns skills into Sanctified Skills – basis for the Glyph system. Existing skills are retained. → Reawakening Guide
Unlocking: 6 Glyph slots via quests (Glyph Masters, City Hall Neverfall). Free via quest or buy for 10M Coins. Slot 1 available from Level 1!
- Golden — +Damage / +Crit
- Verdant — +Chi / +Effect duration
- Ethereal — −Channeling / +Range
- Sanguine — +CC / +Burst
- Argent — Instant-Cast / −Cooldown
- Verdant — +Chi / +Effect duration
- Ethereal — −Channeling / +Range
- Sanguine — +CC / +Burst
- Argent — Instant-Cast / −Cooldown
| Glyph Lv | Bonus Stats (Archer, approx.) | Farm via |
|---|---|---|
| Lv 1–4 | Skill effects only | Dawnlight Halls, Glyph Master Quests |
| Lv 5 | +HP, +Phys.Res., +Mag.Res., +P.Atk | Combine 4× Lv4 |
| Lv 8 | +Spirit, +Def Level | Icebound Underworld / expensive |
| Lv 10 | +4 Atk Lv, +4 Def Lv, +50 Spirit | Endgame / very rare & expensive |
Archer Glyph recommendation PvE: Golden on Take Aim (+Crit/Damage). Golden or Sanguine on Barrage of Arrows (+AoE damage). Verdant on Quickshot (+Chi for more Sparks). Lv10 Glyphs give +4 Atk Level – extremely strong regardless of class!
Important Tips
- Cultivation Timing Demon/Sage at Level 89. For PvE Bow → Sage (Bow Mastery +15%!). For 5-APS-Fist / PvP → Demon (APS advantage). Switching later is possible but expensive.
- Kiting until Lv39 Until Knockback Arrow: shoot → run backwards → shoot. From Lv39 use Knockback to keep mobs at range. From Lv39 the Archer plays much more comfortably!
- Watch out for the 5m penalty! Archer only deals 50% damage when the enemy is closer than 5 meters. ALWAYS keep distance! Use Stun, Slow, Knockback. Melee range is your biggest enemy.
- Don't forget ammunition! For PvE grinding: Lv1 ammo is perfectly sufficient. For PvP or bosses: buy better ammo (+damage). Ammo is purchased from any Blacksmith in town.
- Refine your armor! +3 on all armor pieces gives massive HP – that's your replacement for VIT in the Pure DEX build. Goal for beginners: armor to +3. Endgame: +5 to +10 with Luck Stones.
- Kiting until Lv39 Until Knockback Arrow: shoot → run backwards → shoot. From Lv39 use Knockback to keep mobs at range. From Lv39 the Archer plays much more comfortably!
- Watch out for the 5m penalty! Archer only deals 50% damage when the enemy is closer than 5 meters. ALWAYS keep distance! Use Stun, Slow, Knockback. Melee range is your biggest enemy.
- Don't forget ammunition! For PvE grinding: Lv1 ammo is perfectly sufficient. For PvP or bosses: buy better ammo (+damage). Ammo is purchased from any Blacksmith in town.
- Refine your armor! +3 on all armor pieces gives massive HP – that's your replacement for VIT in the Pure DEX build. Goal for beginners: armor to +3. Endgame: +5 to +10 with Luck Stones.
Summary
Pure DEX – The One True Archer Build
Golden rule: DEX is everything for the Archer. DEX = Damage + Crit + Accuracy + Evasion. 1 DEX point gives more than any VIT, STR or MAG point. HP comes from Citrin Shards and armor refines – not from VIT. More DEX = mobs die faster = you die less.
Genie Guide
Genie basics & universal PvE skills
Genies are companion spirits from Level 1 (Watcher of the Earth, Heroes' Terrace). Their skills cost Energy (regenerates automatically) and Stamina (only rechargeable with Chi/Perfect Stones). For the Archer – who often fights alone and needs distance – certain Genie skills are absolutely essential.
| Skill | Effect | Rec. Lv | Prio PvE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Path | Movement speed to maximum (15 m/s) – kiting, fleeing, squad pace | Lv 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Absolute Domain (AD) | 5 sec. damage immunity + 2 sec. anti-stun – when a mob does get close | Lv 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Cloud Eruption | Instantly +1 Spark (300 Chi) + extra Chi – for Triple Spark Combo | Lv 1 (!) | ★★★★★ |
| Tangling Mire | Reduces Phys. Def. −35% + sets accuracy to 100% – ideal for Archer! | Lv 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Second Wind | Instant heal 800 HP + 2% per Genie STR | Lv 10 | ★★★★ |
| Tree of Protection | HP buffer + HoT – better than Second Wind at endgame | Lv 10 | ★★★★ |
| Extreme Poison | Target takes +20% damage - entire squad benefits! | Lv 10 | ★★★★ |
| Earthquake | AoE Knockback + 100% skill interrupt (Lv10) – keeps mobs at distance | Lv 10 | ★★★ |
| Earthflame (Zeal only) | Mob lure from a distance – perfect for AoE pulls without melee risk | Lv 1 | ★★★★ (PvE) |
Keep Cloud Eruption at Lv1! Lv1 costs ~130 energy and gives 1 Spark (300 Chi). Higher levels cost exponentially more energy – not a good cost-benefit ratio for the Spark alone.?
Archer-specific Genie recommendation (PvE)
| Skill | Why especially for Archer? | Prio |
|---|---|---|
| Tangling Mire | Archer depends on range – TM reduces Phys. Def. AND sets Acc. to 100%: double PvE value. Scales strongly with Genie STR! | ★★★★★ |
| Holy Path | Kiting until Lv39, then maintaining squad pace & quick mob repositioning | ★★★★★ |
| Cloud Eruption | Instant Spark for Take Aim + Barrage of Arrows Combo – maximum burst | ★★★★★ |
| Absolute Domain | When a mob gets under 5m (= 50% damage penalty) → AD buys time to escape | ★★★★★ |
| Second Wind / ToP | Emergency self-heal – Archer has no VIT, every HP counts | ★★★★ |
| Extreme Poison | +20% damage on target – perfect for boss raids when no Sin in squad | ★★★★ |
Recommended Archer Genie: Infliction (red) or Zeal (orange) – Infliction starts with Tangling Mire (essential skill for Archer!). Zeal for Earthflame lure. Stats: STR-heavy for stronger Tangling Mire + Second Wind. Alternatively: MAG for more frequent AD casting.