Arrow Blow vs. Double Shot
Introduction
There will come a time very early in any Bowman's play time, when they will have to choose between Arrow Blow and Double Shot. This guide has info on each skill and should help you decide which skill to use.
Pros and Cons
Arrow Blow
Pros:
- Uses less MP
- Mastered sooner
- Uses only one arrow
- Normal enemy resistance
- More knockback
- Aesthetics
Cons:
- Chance to make a critical hit is lower
- Lower average damage
Double Shot
Pros:
- Better chance to make a critical hit
- Higher average damage
- Aesthetics after Soul Arrow
Cons:
- Lower knockback
- Uses more MP
- Requires more points to master
- Uses two arrows
- Double enemy resistance
Argument
Now, let's go through the pros and cons of Arrow Blow and Double Shot in depth.
When mastered, Arrow Blow fires one arrow at 260% damage, costing 14 MP while Double Shot costs 16 MP. At higher levels this may seem insignificant, but at lower levels, it can make a big difference.
Though many have overlooked this, enemies actually get double resistance when using Double Shot than Arrow Blow. Let's say a bowman does 200 damage normally, 520 with Arrow Blow, and two hits for 260 each with Double Shot. The bowman will have more chances to hit critcal with Double Shot, resulting ih a higher average damage. It is important to remember that Critical Shot adds 100% damage, rather than doubling it.
Though this is rather insignificant, you need 1 point in Arrow Blow to unlock Double Shot, thusly using up a point.
Arrow Blow uses up one arrow while Double Shot uses two arrows. The difference between the arrow costs of the two abilities, being as arrows are only 1 meso each, doesn't leave that much of an impact.
Conclusion
The matter is an argument of damage over knockback. It will not hurt you a bit in the long term if you choose one over the other.