Arcane Archer (RNG/WIZ/SHM)
This build focuses on leveraging the power of the ranger's bow auto attacks and weaving in Wizard Rain spells and nukes, while having the Shaman back up for haste, slows, dots, Malo, & group healing. Thanks to Wizard's Harvest and Shaman's Cannibalization AA, you can Manaburn and then get some back.
Overview
This build focuses on being a top-tier damage build that offers a secondary role as group healer, support, and debuffer, all from Range.
While I didn't level this to cap, the build focuses on addressing the Wizard's mana consumption issues by augmenting its nukes with the very solid Dots of Shaman and the consistent dps of Ranger's bow, and can be played fully from range in a group if needed.
Synergies: Malo Resist Debuff + Wizard nuke's getting lower resists per spell level should make it nearly impossible to get resists. Cannibalization + Harvest are good for mana sustain, especially if grouped with a Bard or Enchanter, to pretty much negate the Wizard's mana issues.
If mana starts to become a concern, stopping the single-target nukes and switching to only using Wizard Rain spells and Shaman's Dots would be a net positive mana gain over time. Ranger provides practical party support through Track and can off-tank as needed with Taunt, and provides ranged "dot" from the bow.
Stances & Invocations
Stance
Ranged
Ranged attacks have no minimum distance, +25% accuracy, and can double and triple attack. Every point of damage consumes endurance (Strategy-reduced).
Ranger, Monk, Rogue, Berserker
Invocation
Empowering
Damage effects +20% (+10% per additional non-hybrid casting class) for 20% more mana. Healing effects +10% (+5% per class) for 10% more mana.
Cleric, Druid, Shaman, Necromancer, Wizard, Magician, Enchanter
Key Abilities
Ranger
| # | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track ABILITY |
Playstyle Notes
Recommended invocations/stances are Empowered (+30% damage, swapping to Divine if a healing-intensive situation happens) + Ranged stance (Evasion when Off-Tanking).
Spell List would look something like:
- Wizard Rain
- Wizard Nuke
- Shaman Dot
- Shaman Dot 2
- Shaman Slow
- Shaman Debuff
- Shaman Puma Buff (assuming you're with a melee in group)
- Shaman Heal over Time
- Shaman Heal
- Wizard Harvest
- Anything beyond here is quality-of-life filler. Snare if runners? Root CC? Evacuation for Wiz? Shaman commonly applied buffs? Shaman Cannibalize Spell?
This makes you a top-tier DPS while still having great support and off-tanking flexibility if a Tank or Healer happens to go down or out of mana. You can also fit comfortably into an AOE group for AA farming as well, especially if supported by an Enchanter. Also, deleting stuff with Mana Burn is just fun, especially since you can immediately recover from it with Canni and Harvest.
Pros & Cons
- Very strong single target sustainable DPS from Range
- Able to Role-Flex to Healer or Tank as needed
- Group Porter
- No "true tank" to make Soloing easier, though mitigated with Shaman Slow
- Requires mana management knowledge
- Damage significantly drops when forced to Off-Tank in Evasive stance