Bowman Class
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Bowmen handle bows and crossbows very well, and can also use a light sword, blunt weapon, or an axe on occasion. They are adept at avoiding the enemy, and prefer armors that are light enough to maximize dexterity.
The job order for the Bowman reveal a 2-way job route. In order to advance as one of these job, various requirements need to be fulfilled. You should take time deciding what kind of a Bowman you want to become down the road before committing to a route. ~MapleGlobal
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Introduction
This guide was constructed and compiled by MDZealot of MapleTip (Typed and modified into MapleWiki viewable form by ShaQ. Not that MDZ appreciates his guide being edited and what not). It is not to be distributed to other websites without asking for my permission. You may not use parts of my guide.
I would also like to point out that this is only a guide. Use this to help you along your journey of being an Bowman. If you don't want to do something my guide suggests, don't. It is only here to help you, not tell you what you have to do.
Why Become A Bowman?
Being a Bowman makes you able to make high demage due to Critical Shot (CS). When Critical Shot is maxed, it adds an extra 100% damage at a 40% success rate. However, Bowmen have very unstable damage in lower levels until they max Bow Mastery (which is a 2nd job skill) or leave it at level 19. After it is maxed, Bowmen will become much more stable. Bowmen can kill mobs with a second job advancement skill called Arrow Bomb (for Hunters) or iron arrow. (for Crossbowmen) After level 50, Bowmen become one of the most powerful classes.
The Bowman
Bowmen are generally a ranged, physical damage-dealing class. Of course, this allows them to be compared to claw thieves. Unlike claw thieves, Bowmen acquire a larger range of attack abilities in later advancements, than the job advancements of claw thieves. Bowmen attack slower than Claw thieves, but have less varied damage, greater range, and can even deal a significant amount of elemental damage with it, in the Third and Fourth job advancements.
The Dice Roll
Ah, yes. The dice roll. Possibly one of the most aggravating things in this game is the dice roll process.
For Bowmen, the best possible stats to get are x STR // x DEX // 4 INT // 4 LUK (x meaning it could be any number). The reason you want to get this is because Bowmen will not need to have points into INT and LUK, so having the lowest possible INT and LUK may result in more damage for you and your Bowman.
However, there IS a set amount of Strength you can get. Why strength and not dexterity, you ask? It has been some-what proven that the more strength you have increases the amount of HP you get per level up. So, you could get 13 STR // 4 DEX // 4 INT // 4 LUK, resulting in more HP.
I really don't suggest wasting the time to get these stats. The HP increase you will get isn't worth the time. A simple 4 INT // 4 LUK is good enough.
If you're too lazy to get 4 INT // 4 LUK, you could settle for either 4 INT // 5 LUK or 5 INT // 4 LUK.
The First Job Advancement
Once you have reached level ten, exit Maple Island by going to Southperry and asking Shanks to go to Victoria Island for 150 mesos. You will then be teleported to Lith Harbor. When you arrive, go down from the boat and find the Ticket Booth to the right of the boat. Double-click the NPC be hind the booth and elect to go to Henesys for 80 mesos. (This would be the 90% Beginner's discount) At Henesys, go to Mushroom park and go right until you see a house, enter it. Talk to Athena Pierce (Known as Helena on versions other than Global MapleStory) and she will instruct you on how to become a bowman. This is where your journey begins. You have just become an Bowman, one of the best classes in the game. You'll need to work hard to level up to be the best that you can.
Stat Distribution
The stat distribution is quite simple. Although, since there are two different types of Bowmen, there are two different ways of doing this.
For people planning on going Hunter (Using regular bows), you need to keep your STR +5 your level to be able to use your bows. So, if you're level 50, you MUST have 55 STR. Every other point should be put into DEX and nothing else. Simplier, you should have 5 STR above your level and averything else into DEX! So that means that every 5 levels you add 5 STR.
Level 10 -- 15 Strength, 47 Dex.
Level 15 -- 20 Strength, 67 Dex.
Level 20 -- 25 Strength, 87 Dex.
Level 25 -- 30 Strength, 107 Dex
Level 30 -- 35 Strength, 127 Dex.
See the pattern?
Crossbowmen utilize the same build except that you need strength EQUAL to your level after level 30.
Training Areas
These are my suggestions as to where to level up while being an Bowman:
Level 1-10
Maple Island is pretty much the best place to train at. Bash away at the huge supply of snails there until you are level 10.
Right Around Lith Harbor also has a nice Snail spawn. However, there is the ocasional Slime that may mess you up every once in a while, and stronger people might KS (kill steal) you.
Level 10-15
Henesys Hunting Ground I is a good place to train. Use a melee weapon and bash on the fast Snail spawn on the bottom.
The infamous Slime Tree is also a good choice. You might have a harder time killing these than you would Snails, which could result in less EXP.
The Tree That Grew 1 is also good. Like the Slime Tree, it spawns only Slimes. If you get one person on each level of this map, the spawn is great!
Another great spot is Hidden Street: Mushroom Garden. Here, you can sacrifice not having a bow by using melee weapons to kill Orange Mushrooms, Shrooms, and Red Snails.
Level 15-18
The Slime Tree is now probably the best place for EXP. You should now equip a bow (or a crossbow) and kill some Slimes with them.
The Tree That Grew 1 is also good. Like the Slime Tree, it spawns only Slimes. If you get one person on each level of this map, the spawn is great!
Henesys Hunting Ground 1 on the second level. There's a nice Slime spawn here, and you can stand on the hay stacks and snipe them down with great ease!
Henesys Hunting Grounds 2 and 3 also have nice spawns of Slimes, Snails, Orange and Green Mushrooms, and Stumps. There are steps here on the sides of the screen that can be used to snipe at the monsters.
Hidden Street: Mushroom Garden is still a good spot to train if you prefer not to buy a bow. you can usually have the whole map to yourself, allowing you to control the spawn rate better. Very few potions should be needed.
Note: The Tree that Grew 1 is not the best with the ranged weapon. The spawn is too fast and you have no room to shoot arrows. This is better suited for people with melee weapons.
Level 18-20
Kerning City Construction Site has a great Orange Mushroom spawn. Travel around this map killing the mushrooms as you go. If you get a few people on the map, the spawn will be great.
The Slime Tree is still nice EXP. By now, you should be using your new bow/crossbow and be killing the Slimes within 1-2 hits.
The Tree That Grew 1-3 is also good. Like the Slime Tree, it spawns only Slimes. If you get one person on each level of this map, the spawn is great!
Henesys Hunting Grounds 2 and 3 are still very good choices. This place has nice spawns of Slimes, Snails, Orange and Green Mushrooms, and Stumps. There are steps here on the sides of the screen that can be used to snipe at the monsters.
Hidden Street: Mushroom Garden is still a great spot to train if you prefer not to buy a bow.
Level 20-25
Pig Beach is now the place to be. With your new weapon equipped and your new armor, you should be able to take down pigs with ease.
Kerning City Construction Site has a nice Octopus spawn on the top of the map. You can stand on the platform going up to it and snipe them down without getting hit. This is pretty nice EXP.
Hidden Street: Over The Wall (Perion) is a good option. The EXP might not be the greatest, but you have a chance at finding your level 35 equips here. There's also quite a few snipe-platforms on this map. Bring a friend to have this map spawn at it's greatest potential.
Victoria Road: Dungeon, Southern Forest II is a good option for fighting Green Mushrooms and Slimes. There are quite a few nice sniping spots.
Ant Tunnel: This map is reccomended if you can consistently hit for high damage. The Zombie Mushrooms found in this area give great drops, but you might want to go to Blue Mushroom Forest (Hidden Street) if you choose to. However, Horny Mushrooms still give good drops, such as 40-60 Mesos per drop.
Level 25-30
Party Questing in Kerning City is a good option now that you're level 25. You just got your new items and you're ready to roll! If you have a good leader that gets into the Party Quest a lot of the time, this is a must. During your 15-20 minute wait (if you miss) you can go to near-by maps and kill monsters to gain EXP constantly.
Ant Tunnel 1 has a nice Horny Mushroom spawn at the top of the map. I don't suggest trying to take on undead mushrooms yet, since you have little chance of OHKOing them.
- Note from a player: Since Ant Tunnel 1 will usually be crowded due to popularity, Ant Tunnel 4 is a great alternative. It is almost identical in map build to Ant Tunnel 1, but is usually empty. The spawn is a little bit slower, though.
Kerning City Construction Site is still a nice option. The EXP is still good as long as the spawn is nice. You can also still snipe and you won't have to use many potions!
Over The Wall is also still a good option. The EXP might not be the greatest, but you have a chance at finding your level 35 equips here. There's also quite a few snipe-platforms on this map. Bring a friend to have this map spawn at it's greatest potential.
Orbis Tower is also a very good place to train. The Jr Sentinels there drop good drops, and money. Be sure to buy a few MP potions and HP potions before coming!
Southern Forest II may also still be a good option as by now you should be able to kill the Green Mushrooms quite efficiently.
First Job Skills
- Main article: Category:Archer Skills
Leveling skills are pretty free; Max critical and level Eye of the Amazon. (6-8 should be good.) For other skills, max Double Shot if you're going to be a Hunter, or Arrow Blow if you're going to be a Crossbowman. Make sure to put some SP into Focus OR Blessing of the Amazon, too.
Arrow blow is good for people with little MP, but it is weaker. Double shot does more damage than Arrow Blow, but costs more MP and uses two arrows.
Skill Distribution
- Main article: Category:Bowman Skill Guides
Equipment Tips
A lot of the time, there is confusion on which items to get. I'm going to help you decide what items are worth getting!
In the early levels, you won't need to have that much armor. It's best to just stick with low level gear that you find while training. You don't need to buy new armor and stuff till about level 20.
- Note from a Player: You could buy the hat/bottom wear for good measure.
Once you get to level 20, buy the equipment that you think looks the best on you. The +Dex on these items is minimal, so don't expect to get a big damage boost out of it.
Once you hit 25, my suggestion is to not buy any items (if you're low on cash) unless it gives that extra DEX. The defence you get doesn't do much.
- Note from a Player: If your computer is laggy, do try to use sniping areas if you don't have any 'big' def armor.
Hunter Versus Crossbowman: The Second Job Advancement
This is a crucial time for your character. Choosing your second job advancement will determine of the general path that your character will follow for the rest of its journey. Please take a look at the Pros and Cons of each advancement, the Hunter and the Crossbowman, as they will help you with this staggering decision. Remember to choose wisely!
Hunter
- Main article: Hunter
Crossbowmen
- Main article: Crossbowman
Now that you've looked at the Pros and Cons, it's time to pick your class, and it's time to continue on your quest through MapleStory as a Bowman.
Second Job Skills
Hunter Skills
See Hunter Skills