Sniper (Guide)

This is an article on training your Sniper. For a guide on how to train your Archer, see Bowman.

This is an article on training your Sniper. For a guide on how to train your Crossbowman, see crossbowman.

Second Job Analysis

The Sniper is one of stronger characters in maple story in terms of damage dealt to a single monster but is also the character that dies the easiest, and loses the most amount of exp per death.

Pros

• Very high damage to single monsters(strafe 800% dmg max.)

• Arrow Eruption does 6x 255% dmg = 1530%

• Blizzard + 99% stun eagle means Snipers can always debilitate any monster.

• Puppet can be used to control monster's movements and mob them easier.

• As one of the least common classes, their equipment and scrolls are very inexpensive

• They require 5 less STR than Hunters to equip their weapons, resulting in slightly higher dexterity, which contributes to damage and accuracy

Cons

• Has a passive skill that increases your walking speed to 130% but no one ever adds to it.

• Arrow Eruption requires the character to be standing in the middle of a mob to be most effective, this results in you needing to heal almost every second

• Has the least amount of HP out of any job and no defensive skills, so is the most prone to dieing. Also has the least amount of luck so also loses the most amount of exp.

Sniper Skills

Main article: Category:Sniper Skills

These are the six skills acquired upon making your job advancement. There are suggested builds on this article, although you can distribute your Skill Points the way you want.

File:Crossbowmastery.gif Crossbow Mastery

Increases the crossbow mastery and accuracy. It only applies when a crossbow is in hand.
Master Level 20: +60% crossbow mastery, +20 accuracy.

File:Final Attack Icon.gif Final Attack: Crossbow

With a certain success rate, another attack follows after performing an attacking skill. Only works with a crossbow in hand. Requires level 3 Crossbow Mastery.
Master Level 30: 60% success rate, final attack damage 250%.

Crossbow Booster

Uses HP and MP to temporarily boost up the attacking speed of the crossbow. It only works with a crossbow in hand. Requires level 5 Crossbow Mastery.
Master Level 20: HP -10, MP -10. Increases crossbow attacking speed for 200 seconds.

Power Knock Back

Improves the success rate of knocking back the enemies far when swinging the crossbow. The higher the level, the higher the number of enemies the character can knock down.
Master Level 20: MP -16. Knock-back +40%, damage 200%, knock-back 6 enemies.

Soul Arrow: Crossbow

Temporarily allows the character to fire crossbow arrows without using up the arrows. Only works with a crossbow in hand. Requires level 5 Crossbow Booster.
Master Level 20: MP -20. Enables you to attack for 600 seconds without using arrows.

Iron Arrow

The arrow that's fired goes through the enemy and damages the ones behind it. The damage decreases for every enemy it goes through, and it can't damage more than 6 at once. Only works with a crossbow in hand.
Master Level 30: MP -28. Damage 180%.

Job Advancement Procedure

You have reached level 30, yippee! Time for the second job advancement! To make the second job advancement, talk to Athena Pierce in Henesys and she will give you a letter for the Bowman Job Instructor. She can be found at the Henesys Dungeon Entrance. Before going there, stock up at least 60-70 Orange Potions, as you will have to pass a test. After talking to the job instructor, you will be teleported to a place like the Ant Tunnel. There are two types of monsters inside: Zombie Mushrooms and Evil Eyes with different characteristics. They hit about 70+ damage on you. Collect 30 Dark Marbles by defeating these monsters. The drop is about 1 in 3 monsters. After that, talk to the job instructor and you will be awarded a 'Proof of a Hero'. Go back to Henesys and talk to Athena Pierce. Choose the Crossbowman and then confirm your choice. Congratulations! You are now a Crossbowman, and have just proceeded into your second job advancement!

Armour

At level 35 and 40 is where you get the fancy Legoliers and Piettes. These items should be bought because they give you a nice bonus to DEX, as well as good defence and good looks.

And now, this is when the things get somewhat complicated.

At level 50, there is a Red (+Strength) and a Blue (+Dexterity) overall. Some of you may think that because the Blue one gives +DEX, you have to get it. This is 100% WRONG. If you like the looks of the red one, get it. The reason is that you can take the amount of Strength you get from your +Strength overall and add it to your DEX. This is the same as having a +DEX equipment, it may also result in better looks (opinions may vary). This goes for every level 50+ overall, and I guess any of the items you get. It is not suggested that you do this until around level 50.

I also suggest applying 10% scrolls onto your robes until you get at least three of the ten 10% scrolls to work. This gives a nice DEX bonus, resulting in more damage. If you do not have too many mesos, save up and get a robe and scroll with 2 10%/30% scrolls. It is better to have a DEX robe than a robe with high Defence. If you're really low on mesos, just scroll an overall with 100%s (350k mesos in total, not counting the overall), since this will give you +10 dex.

The Crossbowman Build

Now, for Crossbowmen, you don't need to have Strength +5 your level like Hunters do. All you have to do is have your strength equal to your level to use your crossbows. So, if you're level 50, you must have 50 strength.

Level 30 -- 30 Strength, 130 Dex.

Level 35 -- 35 Strength, 150 Dex.

Level 40 -- 40 Strength, 170 Dex.

Level 45 -- 45 Strength, 190 Dex.

Level 50 -- 50 Strength, 210 Dex.

Level 55 -- 55 Strength, 230 Dex.

Level 60 -- 60 Strength, 250 Dex.

Level 65 -- 65 Strength, 270 Dex.

Level 70 -- 70 Strength, 290 Dex.

Skill Distribution

Main article: Category:Crossbowman Skill Guides

Don't know what you're doing? Maybe this will help.

Passive Skill and Area Attack Build

Level 30: +1 Iron Arrow

Levels 31-36: +3 Crossbow Mastery per level

Level 37: +2 Crossbow Mastery, +1 Crossbow Booster

Levels 38-43: +3 Crossbow Booster per level

Levels 44-53: +3 Iron Arrow per level

Levels 54-63: +3 Final Attack: Crossbow per level

Levels 64-69: +3 Soul Arrow: Crossbow per level

Level 70: +2 Soul Arrow: Crossbow, +1 Crossbow Boster

End Results

• 20 Crossbow Mastery
• 20 Crossbow Booster
• 30 Iron Arrow
• 30 Final Attack: Crossbow
• 20 Soul Arrow: Crossbow

Crossbowman Build Without FA

Level 30: +1 Iron Arrow

Levels 31-36: +3 Crossbow Mastery per level

Level 37: +1 Crossbow Mastery, +2 Crossbow Booster

Level 38: +3 Crossbow Booster

Level 39: +1 Crossbow Booster, +2 Soul Arrow

Levels 40-48: +3 Iron Arrow per level

Level 49: +2 Iron Arrow, +1 Power Knock-Back

Levels 50-55: +3 Power Knock-Back per level

Level 56: +1 Power Knock-Back

Levels 57-59: +3 Focus per level

Level 60: +2 Focus, +2 Crossbow Booster

Level 61: +2 Crossbow Booster, +1 Soul Arrow

Level 62: +2 Crossbow Booster, +1 Soul Arrow

Level 63: +3 Crossbow Booster

Level 64: +2 Crossbow Booster, +1 Soul Arrow

Level 65: +3 Crossbow Booster

Levels 66-70: +3 Soul Arrow per level

End Results

• 30 Iron Arrow
• 20 Crossbow Mastery
• 20 Crossbow Booster
• 20 Soul Arrow
• 20 Power Knock-Back
• 11 Focus

Suggestion

For Crossbowman, it is mainly better to go FAless, the reasoning behind this is that Iron Arrow does not stun, and therefore when FA kicks in when your mobbing, youll get mobbed instead.

Places to Train

Below there are some recommended places where you should train, and monsters of which you should train off.

Level 30-35

Land of Wild Boar & Land of Wild Boar II are the most popular options around this level. With the fast spawn and the nice EXP you can get from these monsters, you will gain EXP very fast. Beware, though, that the spawn may be too fast because it is a very populated area. Bring many potions.

• Note from a player: As an alternative to Land of the Wild Boar, you can level at West Rocky Mountain IV; although the spawn is slower. Because it is less popular, it is easy to keep the spawn pretty high by clearing out one area after another. However, you will have to watch out for the occasional Lupin.

• Note from a player: If you are low on mesos, Jr. Sentinels in Orbis Tower are a really good source of money, but give less EXP then other monsters, and the leveling is slower.

Ant Tunnels are a great option. By now you should OHKO (One-hit Knock-out) Zombie Mushrooms and Horny Mushrooms quite often. There's also a snipe platform at the bottom right of Ant Tunnel 1.

Orbis Tower is also a very good place to train. Jr. Sentinels in there drop good drops and money. Be sure to buy a few MP potions and HP potions before going!

Level 35-40

Land of the Wild Boar I & II are still the most popular options around this level. With the fast spawn and the nice EXP of these monsters, you will gain EXP very fast.

• Note from a player: As an alternative to Land of the Wild Boar, you can level at West Rocky Mountain IV; although the spawn is slower, because it is less popular, it is easy to keep the spawn pretty high by clearing out one area after another. However, you will have to watch out for the occasional Lupin.

Ant Tunnels are still a great option. You should OHKO Zombie Mushrooms and Horny Mushrooms all the time. There's also a snipe platform at the bottom right of Ant Tunnel 1.

The Garden of Three Colors/Green/etc are still nice options. Jr. Grupins, Jr. Cellions and Jr. Lioners give more EXP than Fire Boars and don't have that much more HP. Jr. Lioners also have a chance of dropping a 60% Scroll for Crossbow for Attack, which you will be using in the future. Also, these maps usually are very crowded, so be warned: finding a decent spot may be difficult.

There is also a variety of monsters that you may train on in Ludibrium. Due to the fact that Bowmen have a stronger attack force than many other classes, you can try things such as Brown Teddies or Drum Bunnies, though monsters around Bunnies might cause problems.

Finally, there is the Ludibrium Party Quest. Some people say that it might not be as good as training normally, but it depends on the party you go with as well. It also provides you with neat prizes.

The Masked Fish, in Aqua Road, provide an awesome experience consider going there at lvl 37, The fish have good spawn. And you usually just have to stand there and DS them. They also carry with them a good handfull of drops. And because the training area is just one map outside of town, repotting is a breeze.

Level 40-45

The Burnt Land I, II & III are great options (filled with Fire Boars, some Dark Axe Stumps and the occasional Lupins). The spawn is fast, the drops are pretty nice and the EXP is good. This place will level you up fast. However, beware of Ice Wizards at this popular area.

The Garden of Three Colors/Green/etc are still nice options. Jr. Grupins, Jr. Cellions and Jr. Lioners give more EXP than Fire Boars and don't have that much more HP. Jr. Lioners also have a chance at dropping a 60% Scroll for Bow for Attack, which you will be using in the future.

The fifth, fourth and third floors of Orbis Tower are good options. Leatties and Dark Leatties give nice EXP and drops. You also have a chance at finding your level 40 earrings (Blue Moon) from a Dark Leatty.

You can try Chronos or or Platoon Chronos as well, though they might be crowded due to the fact people are trying to find magician shields.

Ludibrium Party Quest does really nicely now, especially if you can get a party of all level 40 and higher. People will want Bowmen as they can be used for many parts of the quest, and they also do pretty good damage against the boss.

At this level, Masked Fish are still a very decent choice if you choose not to PQ. This is because they are slower and there drop rates are higher than Fire Boars. They also provide a decent 65 EXP.

Helios Tower can also provide very good experience. Floor 100 is better for Crossbowmen, as there are many flat platforms to IA on.

Level 45-50

Dangerous Valley I has got a nice spawn of Copper Drakes and Fire Boars. The EXP here is quite good.

Gollem Temples are quite good for these levels. Nice spawn, huge EXP and slow monsters. Perfect for range. (Make sure you have a scrolled Crossbow or it will take too many shots.)

Monkey Forests (filled with Zombie Lupins) are also a good place to level, as long there's no Cleric kill-stealing you.

Master Chronos' places are a great source of exp along with its great drops.

Now it might be better for training purposes to skip the Ludibrium PQ and just train normally. However, if you can scrounge up a couple level 47-49 people, then wish for luck and try it (hoping that stage 8 doesn't take too long).

Level 50-60

Dangerous Valley II is a great place for these levels. Fire Drakes give great exp and great drops. You also have a chance to find the ever-so-pricey Steelies. This would boost your treasure by quite a bit.

Cloud Park V and VI are also good places to train. There is an excellent spawn for Luster Pixies and Lunar Pixies.

Zombies (Coolie Zombies and Minor Zombies) are probably the most populated high level area. You shouldn't go here until you're in your late 60's.

Gollem Temples are still a good place to level. It's fairly easy to find an empty map so you can control the spawn.

Jr. Yeti Will now to very, VERY, Nicely. Along with there good drop rate and decent spawn, they also drop the 60% Glove for Attack scroll, a decent boost to your treasury. The only drawback is that Watch Out For Icy Path I is a big target for hackers and for events. (Such as the easter event.)

Level 60-70

Zombies are now great EXP for you. You should probably camp a spawn here for a while and gain massive EXP.

With maxed PKB and IA, the forest of Golem is also a nice area to train on, especially if you have a party. The spawn is very concentrated, but if you can PKB them easily, you can also mob them easily for very quick exp.

Luster Pixies and Hectors are still decent exp, and they yield great profits.

Sanctuary Entrance I and II are becoming better for you. Party up with a cleric or someone to tank the Taurospears and shoot away!

Level 70+

This is about the time where you go off and hunt anything that gives lots of EXP.

Dark Yetis, Dark Yeti & Pepe, Yeti & Pepe, etc, will probably be what you will be hunting by this point.

Another Option is to stick at Zombies, because there EXP is not yet too crude and there drop rates are fantastic.