MapleStory Bowmaster Skill Build Guide

Bowmaster is one of two Explorer Archer jobs that can be chosen from in MapleStory and are a part of the original classes added to MapleStory when it was first released. There is a third Explorer Archer called Pathfinder, but it must be created separately from the character creation menu, unlike Bowmaster which uses the Job Advancement system. Bowmasters use arrows to take down their enemies, with a flurry of useful skills to help them deal lots of damage to bosses and mobs.

• Bowmaster Overview
• Archer First Job Skill Build
• Hunter Second Job Skill Build
• Ranger Third Job Skill Build
• Bowmaster Fourth Job Skill Build
• Bowmaster Hyper Skill Build
• Bowmaster Fifth Job Skill Build
• Changelog

Bowmaster Overview

As an Explorer class, Bowmaster is an original class with a simple setup. It doesn't require complex mechanics to use and their skills aren't the most flashiest either (due to being so old!). The last update to Bowmaster came in the Red update, where they were revamped to try and bring them more in-line with other classes. That update was in 2013, and since then Bowmaster's could do with some tweaking to make them viable for 2020+.

When training with Bowmaster you get some useful skills that can help cover entire maps. The problem is that your main mobbing skill Arrow Stream has limited vertical range which makes it sometimes hard to clear maps. Arrow Platter is very good if you can one-shot mobs with it and in some small maps you barely have to move. When you move into 5th job, you get another cooldown skill called Arrow Rain that really helps with mobbing in larger maps.

As a bossing class, Bowmaster sits somewhere in the middle. They provide decent party buffs in Sharp Eyes, and can deal damage from range positions to keep out of harms way. They lack an i-frame, so dodging one-shot against bosses can prove difficult. Their DPS isn't the greatest, and sits pretty low on the all-time DPS charts, however they can continue to do damage when a boss moves out of range for melee classes, allowing them to do more consistent damage over time.

The other option for Archers is Marksman.

• Weapon: Bow
• Job: Archer
• Class: Explorer
• Shared Cash Shop Inventory: Explorer Jobs
• Legion Block: +DEX (10/20/40/80/100)
• Link Skill: Adventurer's Curiosity (+10% Critical Rate, +35% Chance to add monsters to your Monster Collection)
• Primary Stat: DEX
• Inner Ability: 20% Boss Damage

Archer First Job Skill Build

You can max all skills in first job. Follow this build:

• Arrow Bow (1), Double Jump (2)
• Double Jump (MAX)
• Arrow Bow (MAX)
• Archery Mastery (MAX)
• Critical Shot (MAX)

As an Archer you'll get lots of critical damage and critical rate. Your main mobbing skill in first job is Arrow Bow, which is pretty decent for a first job skill. Max double jump as soon as possible to help with mobility and training faster.

Skill Description & Overview

Hunter Second Job Skill Build

You can max all skills in second job. Follow this build:

• Arrow Bomb, Bow Mastery (2)
• Bow Mastery (5)
• Bow Booster (6)
• Bow Mastery (MAX)
• Arrow Bomb (MAX)
• Soul Arrow: Bow (MAX)
• Physical Training (MAX)
• Final Attack: Bow (MAX)
• Covering Fire (MAX)
• Bow Booster (MAX)

Arrow Bomb is your new mobbing skill. You'll rarely use Covering Fire, so max that last. You want to get your Bow Booster skill for faster attacks, so get the required Bow Mastery to 5 points to unlock the skill. You'll also get a skill called Quiver Cartridge which you can adjust to your needs. I recommend using the Magic Arrow mode for a 30% chance to deal an extra hit.

Skill Description & Overview

Ranger Third Job Skill Build

You can max all skills in third job. Follow this build:

• Flame Surge (1), Phoenix (1), Reckless Hunt: Bow (1),
• Arrow Blaster (1), Flame Surge (3)
• Flame Surge (MAX)
• Reckless Hunt: Bow (MAX)
• Arrow Blaster (MAX)
• Phoenix (MAX)
• Marksmanship (MAX)
• Evasion Boost (MAX)
• Hookshot (MAX)
• Mortal Blow (MAX)
• Focused Fury (MAX)

You get a new attacking skill in Arrow Blaster, which is unusual to most skills. You can actually place the Arrow Blaster using the NPC chat key so that it acts as a stationary turret to attack mobs for you. Combine Arrow Platter and Flame Surge and you're doing some decent mobbing damage. Phoenix is your summon- not the most useful of summons but it's extra damage. The rest of the skills will boost your damage passively.

Skill Description & Overview

Bowmaster Fourth Job Skill Build

You can max all skills in fourth job. Follow this build:

• Arrow Stream (1), Hurricane (1), Bow Expert (1)
• Arrow Stream (10)
• Bow Expert (10)
• Sharp Eyes (10)
• Maple Warrior (10)
• Advanced Final Attack (10)
• Armor Break (10)
• Arrow Stream (MAX)
• Bow Expert (MAX)
• Maple Warrior (MAX)
• Advanced Final Attack (MAX)
• Armor Break (MAX)
• Enchanted Quiver (MAX)
• Sharp Eyes (MAX)
• Hurricane (MAX)
• Illusion Step (MAX)
• Binding Shot (MAX)
• Hero's Will (MAX)

Arrow Stream is your mobbing skill, hitting up to 8 lines of damage on enemies. Hurricane is your single-target attacking skill, but you won't need it until you start facing bosses later down the line. Sharp Eyes and Maple Warrior are all good buffs to get early on, Enchanted Quiver will boost your Magic Arrows and not consume any for a short period. Binding Shot will increase the damage of your Arrow Platter, but the skill itself isn't very useful.

Skill Description & Overview

Bowmaster Hyper Skill Build

Hyper skills are available at level 140. You get Hyper Skill Points as you level towards 200, but not enough to max all the skills, so choose wisely. These skills mostly help increase the damage of your current skills.

• Arrow Stream - Reinforce
• Arrow Stream - Spread
• Arrow Stream - Extra Strike
• Hurricane - Reinforce
• Hurricane - Boss Rush
• Gritty Gust
• Epic Adventure
• Concentration

Bowmaster Fifth Job Skill Build

Upon reaching level 200, you will now have access to the V Matrix, which acts as your new fifth job skills. Each class gets their own skills to use, along with boosting nodes to increase the damage of existing skills. To obtain new skills, you open up items called Nodestones, which drop from every mob in Arcane River. You have limited number of slots in your V Matrix, so you want to obtain perfect nodes for maximize your character's damage.

Bowmaster's Nodes should include:

• Storm Of Arrows
• Inhuman Speed
• Quiver Barrage
• Silhouette Mirage
• Trinode: Arrow Stream, Hurricane, Final Attack Bow
• Trinode: Arrow Blaster, Quiver Cartridge, Phoenix

All 5th Job classes should try to also obtain these:

• Decent Holy Symbol
• Decent Sharp Eyes
• Decent Speed Infusion
• Erda Nova
• Rope Lift
• Vicious Shot
• Guided Arrow
• Fury Of The Wild

Skill Description & Overview

Changelog

26/03/2021 - Added new 5th Job Skill from the Awake update.

11/11/2020 - First update