[Phoenix~Lament]

As you guys all know, because of the skillcap lift archers can now utilize the faster aiming speeds of Rank 5 to Rank 1 Ranged Attack. This speed is so fast that.. well, I'm forced to develop different battle strategies to compensate because I aim simply too darn fast.

First of all, I use a composite bow and I have Rank 2 Ranged Attack. If I stand at the maximum range of my bow where I can still hit the monster, and nail them with a Ranged Attack, I can follow up into another Ranged Attack at 99% providing the enemy charges a skill. Doesn't matter what skill.

Next, since I obviously don't fight at my maximum range that often, I started experimenting and taking notes of closer range battles.

If I'm facing an aggressive monster that starts to run after me as soon as I shoot it with a ranged attack, the highest my meter can get up to is 80% (running cap). However, I reach this cap a few milliseconds after the monster gets up, depending on the distance.

Also, if I use Magnum and follow up with a ranged attack, the meter shoots to 99% [depending on distance, of course] before the monster gets up, or if the monster chooses to charge a skill, I get a guaranteed 99% shot [as listed above].

To the above, because Magnum forces the monster DOWN on the ground, if the enemy is shot in specific parts of the get-up animation, different things will happen. This is easiest to test on Ratmen, Skeletons, and other humanoid monsters.


If I shoot a ranged attack at it when it's down, one of two things will happen:
1) It'll take damage and immediately start running (cancel getup animation, the thing that gets people killed)

2) More interestingly, and infinitely more useful, the enemy will STAY down but take damage and sort of.. bounce up. However, the enemy is still down and is still forced to use the getup animation.


If I shoot a ranged attack at it when it's getting up in about this part of the animation, only one thing can happen:
The arrow will deal damage but cancel the rest of the getup animation. Not useful.


If I shoot a ranged attack at it when it's almost up, but not quite, only one thing can happen yet again:
The arrow will deal damage but the enemy will either slide back or flinch, which is useful because the meter is still capped at 99%.

Therefore, if you decide to combo a Magnum into a Ranged Attack, there are only two spots in the getup animation where you can shoot the monster, and one of them's tricky..

On making the enemy bounce when they're down, I find that I have to release the arrow significantly faster than usual, meaning I can't get a 99 on it. And even then, it's not guaranteed... this is basically the biggest mystery on AI behavior so far. For archers, that is. My guess so far is that it's simply by chance and there's nothing you can do to effectively utilize it..but, you never know.

One more note: Depending on the distance, Magnum->Ranged Attack that cancels getup animation)->Windmill->Support Shot->Zeroshot is a pretty nice combo.. if you don't miss.

[Zeke50100]

o.0

Zero Shot exists for this reason.

[Lan]

Just get arrow revolver...

[snowful]

Originally Posted by Lan

Just get arrow revolver...

LOL....He's pro without it.
R2 range is pretty sick. Now I want R1 = =

[Rikyu]

eh I can solo anything with range..
no arrow rev
and rank 4 o.o;
eh I hit 70~110 with my range

[snowful]

Originally Posted by Rikyu

eh I can solo anything with range..
no arrow rev
and rank 4 o.o;
eh I hit 70~110 with my range

70-110 range is not bad =P

[Esharp]

Originally Posted by Phoenix~Lament

And even then, it's not guaranteed... this is basically the biggest mystery on AI behavior so far. For archers, that is. My guess so far is that it's simply by chance and there's nothing you can do to effectively utilize it..but, you never know.

It's not by chance, but has more to do with timing. It's not exactly high ranked archer exclusive too, anyone can do it if they're using a non-knockback attack. The safest way to effectively use it would be to get a party with any kind of ranged attack and a monster that doesn't have passive defense to it and just spam your attacks. Sure it may get up sometimes, but it'll only get knocked back/knocked down when it gets hit again.

[Aubog007]

i guess after crit and WM (and 2 more rebirths) i guess i know what im doing

[Phoenix~Lament]

Originally Posted by Esharp

It's not by chance, but has more to do with timing. It's not exactly high ranked archer exclusive too, anyone can do it if they're using a non-knockback attack. The safest way to effectively use it would be to get a party with any kind of ranged attack and a monster that doesn't have passive defense to it and just spam your attacks. Sure it may get up sometimes, but it'll only get knocked back/knocked down when it gets hit again.

Then how do you take advantage of the physics in a solo situation? It still seems to be by chance to me. Or if it requires timing, perhaps the opportunity window lasts a few milliseconds.

I'll post up a video later.