HE v SR v PR - which to pick?

I've been playing a bishop and its steadily getting closer and closer to 75 and I'm beginning to think about what class to sub. I've decided to play something that can actually kill someone/something, which narrowed it down to an archer or nuker. Since 90% of my server is subbed a nuker, I decided to go with an archer.

Here are basic pro's and con's of each that I have found:

SilverRanger
Pro's
- Fastest run-speed (high DEX and self-buff ww2)
- Entangle to kite
- Elemental Heal
- Spirit Barrier for high mdef versus nukers
Con's
- Lower CON
- Lower STR

PhantomRanger
Pro's
- High STR/DEX
- Lots of debuffs (hex/power break)
- Lots of DoT's
Con's
- Low CON

Hawkeye
Pro's
- Lots of CON to re-distribute to DEX/STR
- Hawkeye buff for extra damage/accuracy
Con's
- Slower run-speed

Now keep in mind, I want this class to be oriented for pvp, and looking at this, I'd be thinking SR would be the best. High mdef versus nukers, high run-speed to kite melee. The Hawkeye, however, seems to simply have better stats to deal out more DPS. A lot of people tell me HE is the best for pvp, but looking at the skills, it would seem otherwise. A break-down of my view of this, SR has better active skills, HE has better passive stats/skills.

So, can anyone give me any advice on how to make a good pvp archer - which class to choose and tattoo set-ups? I probably won't be able to afford a-grade armor or jewelry (have a soulbow already, but will likely be stuck in Doom Leather for eternity and my BO set my bishop's wearing).

EDIT: What SA should I go for? CS seems to be the standard, but what about QR? What exactly does that do?

HE is the Best Archer pvp class.

Hands down.

CS is the standerd SA for Lvling.

QR, however is the 2nd best SA for pvp on a bow, in my opinion. QR reduces the re-use time on your fireing. makes you more like a shotgun.

The best however, is Focus, but unless your at S-grade dont worry about that one.

For tats on an HE, +5 str -5 con would be what i do.

HE's are solid in both PVP and PVE, but they are, well, boring. If you like to play characters that have lots of active skills, go with the SR or the PR. I get the impression that you want to be more involved than what an HE has to offer.

As for your armor, long before you ever see Doom Light you should get your hands on a Plate Leather Set. The boots are pricey, but the top and bottom are easy to come by for under 1.5M adena. You can use Plate Leather well into A grade. It's not that I don't have a Doom Light set, but the +4 STR from the armor bonus is awesome. I use it more often than LAOD.

I do like options I have with being an SR/PR over the HE. Seems to me like with the HE you just stand still and shoot someone till they fall down. In PVP you could vary in stun shot and double-shot, but that's about all there is :(

With the SR/PR, there appears to be options for more customized gameplay with what you do, both for pvp and pve. But then again, what I'm looking for is a class that can beat the crap out of people. Sick of getting pushed around as the helpless healer.

As for the armor, I'm certainly going to use PL for C-grade (it looks just like the karmian robes though >.<). Would the +4 STR of PL be better than the +2.5% patk of Doom? I figured I'd move into Doom because the extra pdef would be nice in pvp. And with the +3 DEX SA I should, in theory, crit more often. I may stick with PL for pve and have doom for pvp.

And back to the SA - I'm wondering now if with QR, since I'll be shooting faster (that's the impression I'm under, that red re-use bar that slides by your head when shooting is shortened, aye?), I'll be using mana more. But, since I'm into a pvp build, that seems like the most logical choice.

I play a PR personally. I enjoy the dark elf debuffs and ability to drain life from opponents, I'd say the HE is the better archer in terms of straight damage in C5 though. Still, when a PR crits you can bet the enemy is going to feel it.

+1 str adds about 2% patk so plated leather gives a noticable damage increase over Doom. Doom does have the benefits of higher evasion, accuracy, running speed, and crit rate, not to mention defense. I'd take plated leather for PvE and Doom for PvP.

With the SA you'll want QR for PvP. As you thought it decreases the time you have to wait on that red bar. It can be pretty tough to level an archer without Cheapshot however, we burn through mp fast especially when soloing. You might want to consider using Cheapshot in earlier levels and moving on to QR once you've reached a PvP strength you're happy with.

I play a PR personally. I enjoy the dark elf debuffs and ability to drain life from opponents, I'd say the HE is the better archer in terms of straight damage in C5 though. Still, when a PR crits you can bet the enemy is going to feel it.

+1 str adds about 2% patk so plated leather gives a noticable damage increase over Doom. Doom does have the benefits of higher evasion, accuracy, running speed, and crit rate, not to mention defense. I'd take plated leather for PvE and Doom for PvP.

With the SA you'll want QR for PvP. As you thought it decreases the time you have to wait on that red bar. It can be pretty tough to level an archer without Cheapshot however, we burn through mp fast especially when soloing. You might want to consider using Cheapshot in earlier levels and moving on to QR once you've reached a PvP strength you're happy with.

Let me add my two cents.

I played a sagitious on the PTS (lvl 77), and rerolled to kain as a HE class, currently a rogue ATM.

The thing you have to know is whats good for PvE, and whats good for PvP... then you have to think about if you will be constenly buffed or not, (boss jwellery..ant ring adds crt dmg, Baium ring adds crt dmg and atk speed and cast speed)

when I played my sag. I at first did +5 dex (+3 dex -3 con, +2 dex - 2con, and +3 str.) that - 8 dex with mejestic light makes -10 con, Put me at DE's base con 32. that got me stuned alot...so I removed the +3 str. and used the +5 dex cause of crt, run, atk speed, eva, acc.

what I'm going to do on live is a tad different, cause I'm have a different set up for lvling.. I'm going to get doom light at 52 and use theca and a dagger till I hit 52. and a BoP highly enchanted with CS at 52++ even into A/g.

After I hit 62 ish I'm get a soul bow with QR. for PvP. but i'm going to stick to doom light for lvling....cause doom light adds: Breath Gauge increased, P. Atk. +2.7%, MP Regeneration +2.5%, STR -1, CON -2, DEX +3 and Poison Resistance +20%. I like that mp regen!!

As a HE; my set will be +4 str, +2 dex, -6 con...and doom light which will swich it to +5 dex +3 str, and - 8 con. -8 con is base SR con as 36.

The lower your con the more you will get stun shoted and it lands. I owned PR's every time cause of their low con.

As a sagitious you can enchant your skills, first thing I did was up "chance" for stun shot. it makes it land alot more. every thing else I did power to, and some I did time or cost.

Note that HE gets 3 new skills in C5. PR 2 (I think).

Read this forum it will help you some! (http://www.l2guru.com/forum/showthread.php?s=1a215a9124ccad43cde815ab97607ad5& t=35600)


And what I dislike about the HE is the lack of magic skills, I'd like a freezing strike or HP drain.

PS: I hope this makes since, and I didn't get you too confused...it's late here!

SilverRanger
Pro's
- Fastest run-speed (high DEX and self-buff ww2)
- Entangle to kite
- Elemental Heal
- Spirit Barrier for high mdef versus nukers
Con's
- Lower CON
- Lower STR

PhantomRanger
Pro's
- High STR/DEX
- Lots of debuffs (hex/power break)
- Lots of DoT's
Con's
- Low CON

Hawkeye
Pro's
- Lots of CON to re-distribute to DEX/STR
- Hawkeye buff for extra damage/accuracy
Con's
- Slower run-speed

Compare classes with their 3rd proff skills - HE/Sagitarius have speed debuff too (77 skill) and C5 skills.

C5 introduce new skills for healer classes - mana burn.
This skill will be very deadly for archers but HE and PR will have something like body-to-mind spell so realy only for SR healer can be dangerous.

IMHO if you like pure power and easy tactics - chose HE.
I was leveling BH 2 years and for me HE is great - use 2-4 keys in PvP same as dorf, high con, HP, CP - something like "archer tank".

PR need more PvP skills - for some ppls this can be more fun.

I cant recomend SR becouse no this body-to-mind spell in C5. This make SR not PvM friendly (only this archer will need SE-recharger) and in PvP healer=dead/unsless SR.
Also his high moving speed in PvP is overrated.
In mass PvP archer die fast if targeted so hes speed in PvP is usefull only in 1:1.

But then again, what I'm looking for is a class that can beat the crap out of people.

Then choose HE. I say this not just because I play it, but because I've seen firsthand the carnage that an HE can deal from other higher level HE's. The class in general does really well PVP. Every class is subject to RPS in C5, but from the looks of it, HE will still be in demand.

Would the +4 STR of PL be better than the +2.5% patk of Doom?

Yes, significantly more. But keep in mind my response was aimed at PVE-related situations. PVP you will want LAOD for the pdef, mana regen and other dexterity-based bonuses.

As far as weapon, something else to keep in mind: At least at C grade, you don't need a bow. You can still use your dagger skills with a Dark Screamer or Grace Dagger w/Focus. I suggest keeping one on you anyway, for those days when you get bored using the bow. Dagger + Vicious Stance + VR (if you have access to buffs) does make for a nice change of pace from the usual grind. You'll also want a dagger if you decide to go with QR over CS at lower levels. Mana is limited.

Ok, thanks a bunch guys. I think I know how I want to do things when the time comes :cool: