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In classic MapleStory before the big Bang, players could choose to play as an Archer who can then go on to job advance as a Ranger and finally to Bowmaster. This class has some vital 4th job skills that benefit bossing parties, as well as having great mobbing skills during 3rd job.
In the early days of MapleStory, Rangers were known for their wide area-of-attack mobbing skills but they soon became vital to bossing parties due to the support damage skill Sharp Eyes. They also excel in second job, with high damage mobbing skills.
- Archer, Hunter, Ranger, Bowmaster Highlights
- Overview
- Assigning AP
- Archer - First Job Skill Build Guide
- Hunter - Second Job Skill Build Guide
- Ranger - Third Job Skill Build Guide
- Bowmaster - Fourth Job Skill Build Guide
With the introduction of MapleStory Worlds, old-school MapleStory is now available with different servers like Artale.
If you're looking for the modern MapleStory class, check out our Bowmaster Skill Build Guide.
Archer, Hunter, Ranger, Bowmaster Highlights
Bowman were never the most popular class in MapleStory, often being overlooked for Hermits in 3rd Job due to their better DPS. But that changed in 4th job when Sharp Eyes became a must-have skill for bossing.
Here are some highlights of choosing a Ranger / Bowmaster:
- Second Job Mobbing - With the use of Arrow Bomb, this class had a decent mobbing skill even during the time when only Victoria Island was available
- Large Area of Attack - Ranger's use of Arrow Rain allows them to be a great mobber going into 3rd job
- Decent DPS - not the strongest attackers in MapleStory, but they do not need Summoning Rocks to use their main attacking skill (like Hermits / Night Lords)
- Sharp Eyes - one of the best party-buff skills for bossing parties, adding significant damage to all who have it
- Long Range - Like thieves, Bowman can stay out of harms way to deal damage
These are the disadvantages to playing Ranger:
- Low mobility - They have no flash jump or haste skill to help with traversing the world
- Low HP - They have the same HP as Thieves
- Arrow Management - Arrows are one-use and you need to buy them from Potion shops in order to attack in first job. Second job gives you a skill to ignore this.
Overview
Main Stat: DEX
Secondary Stat: STR
Weapon: Bow
Job Branch:
- Archer (Level 10)
- Hunter (Level 30)
- Ranger (Level 70)
- Bowmaster (Level 120)
Assigning AP
A Bowman's main stat is DEX that boosts damage. But you'll also need STR for wearing equipment.
When rolling your stats for character creation, you want to aim for:
- STR: 4
- DEX: 13
- LUK: 4
- INT: 4
You get 5 AP per level in MapleStory. A regular AP build for Bowman is:
- +4 DEX every Level
- +1 STR every Level
You need at least 25 DEX in order to job advance as a Bowman.
You'll want to cap your STR at around 50 and then gain STR from Equipments in order to equip high-level equipment.
Archer - First Job Skill Build Guide
When you reach Level 10, you can job advance to an Archer by speaking to Athena in Henesys. You can choose between Bow and Crossbow as your weapon type, but Bows are more suited for the Ranger/Bowmaster job branch.
Each level up gives you 3 SP and your Job Advancement gives +1 SP.
- Level 10: Arrow Blow +1
- Level 11: Double Shot +1, Blessing of Amazon +2
- Level 12: Blessing of Amazon +1, Eye of Amazon +2
- Level 13: Eye of Amazon +3
- Level 14: Eye of Amazon +3
- Level 15: Double Shot +3
- Level 16: Double Shot +3
- Level 17: Double Shot +3
- Level 18: Double Shot +3
- Level 19: Double Shot +3
- Level 20: Double Shot +3
- Level 21: Double Shot +1, Critical Shot +2
- Level 22: Critical Shot +3
- Level 23: Critical Shot +3
- Level 24: Critical Shot +3
- Level 25: Critical Shot +3
- Level 26: Critical Shot +3
- Level 27: Critical Shot +3
- Level 28: Focus +3
- Level 29: Focus +3
- Level 30: Focus +3
Your main attacking skill as an Archer is Double Shot, which out performs Arrow Blow. You need to add 1 point into Arrow Blow to unlock Double Shot.
Then you should increase your range with Eye of Amazon in order to hit enemies further away.
Once you max Double Shot, then max Critical Shot to increase your Critical Hit Chance.
The last 9 SP can be put into either Focus or Blessing of Amazon; neither skills offer much benefit to Archers going forward.
Hunter - Second Job Skill Build Guide
At Level 30, you can do the second job advancement. You have the choice between either Hunter or Crossbowman. For this build choose Hunter.
Follow this skill build:
- Level 30: Arrow Bomb +1
- Level 31: Bow Mastery +3
- Level 32: Bow Mastery +2, Bow Booster +1
- Level 33: Bow Booster +3
- Level 34: Bow Booster +3
- Level 35: Bow Mastery +3
- Level 36: Bow Mastery +3
- Level 37: Bow Mastery +3
- Level 38: Bow Mastery +3
- Level 39: Bow Mastery +3
- Level 40: Soul Arrow +3
- Level 41: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 42: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 43: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 44: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 45: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 46: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 47: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 48: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 49: Arrow Bomb +3
- Level 50: Arrow Bomb +2, Bow Booster +1
- Level 51: Bow Booster +3
- Level 52: Bow Booster +3
- Level 53: Bow Booster +3
- Level 54: Bow Booster +3
- Level 55: Power Knockback +3
- Level 56: Power Knockback +3
- Level 57: Power Knockback +3
- Level 58: Power Knockback +3
- Level 59: Power Knockback +3
- Level 60: Power Knockback +3
- Level 61: Power Knockback +2, Soul Arrow +1
- Level 62: Soul Arrow +3
- Level 63: Soul Arrow +3
- Level 64: Soul Arrow +3
- Level 65: Soul Arrow +3
- Level 66: Soul Arrow +3
- Level 67: Soul Arrow +2, Focus +1
- Level 68: Focus +3
- Level 69: Focus +3
- Level 70: Focus +3
In second job, Hunters get access to Arrow Bomb, which is one of the best second-job mobbing skills available. Once you get enough damage, you're able to train very efficiently using it. Until then, you'll want to use Double Shot.
Bow Booster will increase your attack speed, so we add points into that early on. Power Knockback allows you to push monsters away from you if they get too close to do range attacks.
Soul Arrow allows you to use Arrow attacks without needing Arrows in your Inventory.
We ignore Final Attack: Bow due to it being useless.
Ranger - Third Job Skill Build Guide
At Level 70, you can complete the third job advancement quest and become a Ranger.
Follow this build:
- Level 70: Strafe +1
- Level 71: Strafe +3
- Level 72: Strafe +3
- Level 73: Strafe +3
- Level 74: Strafe +3
- Level 75: Strafe +3
- Level 76: Strafe +3
- Level 77: Strafe +3
- Level 78: Strafe +3
- Level 79: Strafe +3
- Level 80: Strafe +2, Mortal Blow +1
- Level 81: Mortal Blow +3
- Level 82: Mortal Blow +1, Arrow Rain +2
- Level 83: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 84: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 85: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 86: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 87: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 88: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 89: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 90: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 91: Arrow Rain +3
- Level 92: Arrow Rain +1, Puppet +2
- Level 93: Puppet +3
- Level 94: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 95: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 96: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 97: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 98: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 99: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 100: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 101: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 102: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 103: Silver Hawk +3
- Level 104: Puppet +3
- Level 105: Puppet +3
- Level 106: Puppet +3
- Level 107: Puppet +3
- Level 108: Puppet +3
- Level 109: Thrust +3
- Level 110: Thrust +3
- Level 111: Thrust +3
- Level 112: Thrust +3
- Level 113: Thrust +3
- Level 114: Thrust +3
- Level 115: Thrust +2
- Level 116: Mortal Blow +3
- Level 117: Mortal Blow +3
- Level 118: Mortal Blow +3
- Level 119: Mortal Blow +3
- Level 120: Mortal Blow +3
Your main attacking skill is Strafe, which out damages Double Shot even with just 1 point put into the skill.
Then you'll want to get your main mobbing skill, which is Arrow Rain. This skill doesn't require you to be a certain distant from enemies either, so it's perfect for damaging multiple enemies at once with a large area of effect.
Silver Hawk is your summon that does some extra damage once in a while. Puppet can be used to keep enemies away from you.
Thrust adds some extra speed and Mortal Blow is fairly useless but you have left over SP so add the rest into it.
Bowmaster - Fourth Job Skill Build Guide
At Level 120, you can make the fourth job advancement and become a Bowmaster!
Fourth job is slightly different to other jobs in that you need to obtain Skill Books to increase the max level of a skill and also take on a few quests to unlock others. This guide assumes you have everything maxed out, but whilst waiting for skill books you can improve other skills.
Follow this skill build:
- Level 120: Hurricane +1
- Level 121: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 122: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 123: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 124: Sharp Eyes +1, Hurricane +2
- Level 125: Hurricane +3
- Level 126: Hurricane +3
- Level 127: Hurricane +1, Maple Warrior +2
- Level 128: Maple Warrior +3
- Level 129: Maple Warrior +3
- Level 130: Maple Warrior +2, Bow Expert +1
- Level 131: Bow Expert +3
- Level 132: Bow Expert +3
- Level 133: Bow Expert +3
- Level 134: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 135: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 136: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 137: Sharp Eyes +1, Hurricane +2
- Level 138: Hurricane +3
- Level 139: Hurricane +3
- Level 140: Hurricane +2, Bow Expert +1
- Level 141: Bow Expert +3
- Level 142: Bow Expert +3
- Level 143: Bow Expert +3
- Level 144: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 145: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 146: Sharp Eyes +3
- Level 147: Sharp Eyes +1, Hurricane +2
- Level 148: Hurricane +3
- Level 149: Hurricane +3
- Level 150: Hurricane +2, Bow Expert +1
- Level 151: Bow Expert +3
- Level 152: Bow Expert +3
- Level 153: Bow Expert +3
- Level 154: Maple Warrior +3
- Level 155: Maple Warrior +3
- Level 156: Maple Warrior +3
- Level 157: Maple Warrior +1, Concentrate +2
- Level 158: Concentrate +3
- Level 159: Concentrate +3
- Level 160: Concentrate +3
- Level 161: Concentrate +3
- Level 162: Concentrate +3
- Level 163: Concentrate +3
- Level 164: Concentrate +3
- Level 165: Concentrate +3
- Level 166: Concentrate +3
- Level 167: Concentrate +1, Phoenix +2
- Level 168: Phoenix +3
- Level 169: Phoenix +3
- Level 170: Phoenix +3
- Level 171: Phoenix +3
- Level 172: Phoenix +3
- Level 173: Phoenix +3
- Level 174: Phoenix +3
- Level 175: Phoenix +3
- Level 176: Phoenix +3
- Level 177: Phoenix +1, Maple Warrior +2
- Level 178: Maple Warrior +3
- Level 179: Maple Warrior +3
- Level 180: Maple Warrior +2, Dragon's Breath +1
- Level 181: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 182: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 183: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 184: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 185: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 186: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 187: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 188: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 189: Dragon's Breath +3
- Level 190: Dragon's Breath +2, Hamstring +1
- Level 191: Hamstring +3
- Level 192: Hamstring +3
- Level 193: Hamstring +3
- Level 194: Hamstring +3
- Level 195: Hamstring +3
- Level 196: Hamstring +3
- Level 197: Hamstring +3
- Level 198: Hamstring +3
- Level 199: Hamstring +3
- Level 200: Hamstring +2, Hero's Will +1
As a Bowmaster, you main attacking skill is Hurricane. You'll be invited to parties all the time when you have Sharp Eyes due to it adding extra Critical Rate and Critical Damage to all party members.
Maple Warrior should come next, but you might have difficulty getting hold of these skill books due to their demand. Bow Expert should be prioritized also for adding more damage to your attacks.
Phoenix is an upgraded summon, and Concentrate increases your attack and saves you mana potions when attacking.
Dragon's Breath and Hamstring are not very viable apart from specific situations, so you can add them last (or put 1 or two points into them and leave them for when you need them).
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