Every
hero must choose their own path in Champions Online. To that end,
each hero has access to multiple power sets, concentrating their
abilities on one specific type of power. The power set they choose will
determine their play style and their role in any group. To that end,
we’ll examine the Archery power set in this article,
describing every power, and discussing some other power sets that are
complementary to it.



The Archery power set is extremely versatile. It relies primarily upon
ranged attacks based upon the hero’s incredible dexterity.
The archer hero is a magician with the bow, using many different types
of arrows to bring justice to evildoers everywhere. The various arrows
can stun, immobilize, or damage a foe, or even make the archer
themselves more efficient and deadly.



The two main stats associated with Archery are Dexterity and
Intelligence. Dexterity is insanely important in that it increases the
chance of a critical hit, which inflicts more damage. Dexterity also
increases a hero’s dodge and avoidance. On the flipside,
Intelligence reduces the cooldown time of powers and the energy cost of
powers. That means that you can get more shots off at the bad guys
without wearing yourself out. Combined with your awesome Dexterity,
this makes for a lethal combination. More shots, an increased
likelihood of crits, and reduced cooldown means that you’ll
be dropping the bad guys like flies.



Archery is one of the most versatile power sets in CO; however, there
are other power sets that can be useful used in conjunction with
Archery. First, you want  to pick up abilities from other
power sets that share the same stats as Archery (Dexterity and
Intelligence). Two useful powers are Lightning Reflexes and Bountiful
Chi Resurgence which are from the Martial Arts power set. The Munitions
power set has some useful powers, such as Lead Tempest or Breakaway
Shot, which can be deadly when mixed with Archery.



For the overview, we’ll list each power along with any
pertinent information. In addition, any advantages that can be
purchased for the power will be listed. The tier of the power will also
be listed. Newer players may be confused by the term
‘tier’ for the powers. What tier means is what
requirements are needed to take the power. The tier levels are
summarized below.


  • Starter – no
    requirement needed.
  • Tier 1 – requires
    one Archery power or two non energy building powers from any framework
  • Tier 2 – requires
    three Archery powers or five non energy building powers from any
    framework
  • Tier 3 – requires
    five Archery powers or eight non energy building powers from any
    framework

style="font-weight: bold;">Archery Power Set


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style="font-weight: bold;">Strafe

Tier: Starter

Type: Energy Builder

Description: Strafe fires off a series of arrows at your target.

Method: Maintain

  • Single target piercing damage
  • Generates energy

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have a chance to return a small
    amount of energy.
  • Aversion - Strafe has a
    chance to increase your Dodge ability.


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Sonic Arrow


Tier: Starter

Type: Ranged Attack

Description: Sonic Arrow fires a specialized arrow at your target
emitting a concentrated blast of noise when it strikes the target.

Method: Tap

  • Single target sonic damage

Method: Charge

  • Increases the damage Tap
    action.
  • Dazes target if fully
    charged.

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have a chance to return a small
    amount of energy.
  • Deadly Dissonance - Sonic
    Arrow deals AoE damage to enemies around your initial target and will
    daze all targets on a full charge. The damage dealt to the additional
    targets is less than the damage dealt to the primary target.
  • Crippling Challenge
  • Increases the threat
    caused by this attack, making enemies more likely to attack
    you. 
  • Places a 20% damage debuff
    on the target that persists for 15 seconds. If the affected enemy
    attacks the taunter, it will quickly reduce this debuff's strength.
    Conversely, damage the taunter inflicts on the taunted enemy restores
    the debuff's strength.
  • This advantage Taunts an
    AI controlled enemy, forcing them to attack you for 4 seconds. All
    taunts share a 10 second cooldown, and an enemy that has been taunted
    by any source cannot be taunted again for 10 seconds.
  • Crippling Challenge breaks
    through blocking and disables it for 10 seconds.


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Evasive Maneuvers


Tier: 1

Type: Buff Self

Description: Evasive Maneuvers causes you to lunge backwards to put
distance between you and your foe.

Method: Click

  • Lunges you away from the
    target 
  • Increases dodge chance for a
    short time 

Advantages:

  • Sleight of Mind - Evasive
    Maneuvers has a 50% chance to wipe all Threat from you and places you
    in Stealth for 3 seconds


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Taser Arrow


Tier: 1

Type: Ranged Attack

Description: Taser Arrow fits your arrow with an electrically charged
tip delivering a powerful jolt when it strikes your target.

Method: Tap

  • Single target electrical
    damage
  • Chance to apply hold to the
    target. This chance is determined by your target's current
    Energy 
  • Drains energy from the
    target.

Method: Charge

  • Increases damage of the Tap
    action.

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have a chance to return a small
    amount of energy.
  • Aftershock - For 12 seconds
    any additional electrical damage will trigger an energy draining effect
    on your target. This can occur up to two times before the debuff wears
    off.


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Quarry


Tier: 1

Type: Buff Self

Description: Nothing escapes your notice and once you target something,
running it down is only a matter of time.

Method: Slotted Passive

  • Can be slotted in an
    Offensive or Balanced passive power slot. 
  • Every time you hit an enemy
    you receive a stack (3 stacks max) of Quarry and refresh the duration
    of all stacks of Quarry on you. Quarry is a short duration buff which
    reduces the energy cost of all of your powers and increases your
    Intelligence by a percentage. 
  • Quarry cannot be triggered
    with energy builder or area effect attacks. 
  • Increasing the rank of
    Quarry increases the amount that the Quarry buff reduces the energy
    cost of all your powers by and the percentage gain of Intelligence.

Advantages:

  • Fair Game - When the target
    of your Quarry is defeated, you gain a small amount of health. The
    amount of health you gain scales with your Constitution.


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Storm of Arrows


Tier: 2

Type: Ranged Area Attack

Description: Storm of Arrows fires a continuous volley of arrows at
your target, striking them and any other targets around them.

Method: Maintain

  • Deals continuous piercing
    damage to targets near the primary target.

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have a chance to return a small
    amount of energy.
  • Achilles’ Heel -
    Storm of Arrows pins all enemies in the area under attack to the
    ground, rooting them in place.
  • Challenging Strikes
  • This advantage increases the
    threat caused by this attack against all affected targets, making them
    more likely to attack you.
  • If this advantage is applied
    to a power that has a recharge time, it will additionally add a
    moderate amount of threat over time to all affected targets, for the
    duration of the recharge. 
  • This advantage inflicts a 5%
    damage debuff against all affected targets. If an affected enemy
    attacks you, it will quickly reduce this debuff's strength. Conversely,
    any damage you inflict restores the debuff's strength.


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Torrent of Arrows


Tier: 2

Type: Close Area Attack

Description: Torrent of Arrows uses your archery skills to fire off
multiple arrows in a cone in front of you in a single shot.

Method: Tap

  • Deals piercing damage to
    targets in a cone in front of you.

Method: Charge

  • Increases damage of the tap
    action.

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have a chance to return a small
    amount of energy.
  • Relentless Recurve - Torrent
    of Arrows knocks back all opponents hit by it.
  • Challenging Strikes
  • This advantage increases the
    threat caused by this attack against all affected targets, making them
    more likely to attack you.
  • If this advantage is applied
    to a power that has a recharge time, it will additionally add a
    moderate amount of threat over time to all affected targets, for the
    duration of the recharge. 
  • This advantage inflicts a 5%
    damage debuff against all affected targets. If an affected enemy
    attacks you, it will quickly reduce this debuff's strength. Conversely,
    any damage you inflict restores the debuff's strength.


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Snap Shot


Tier: 2

Type: Ranged Attack

Description: A quick shot designed to take advantage of any opening
your target gives you.

Method: Tap

  • Single target piercing
    damage.

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have a chance to return a small
    amount of energy.
  • Finish Him - Your Snap Shot
    now does an additional 35% damage to targets below 25% health.
  • Crippling Challenge
  • Increases the threat
    caused by this attack, making enemies more likely to attack
    you. 
  • Places a 20% damage debuff
    on the target that persists for 15 seconds. If the affected enemy
    attacks the taunter, it will quickly reduce this debuff's strength.
    Conversely, damage the taunter inflicts on the taunted enemy restores
    the debuff's strength.
  • This advantage Taunts an
    AI controlled enemy, forcing them to attack you for 4 seconds. All
    taunts share a 10 second cooldown, and an enemy that has been taunted
    by any source cannot be taunted again for 10 seconds.
  • Crippling Challenge breaks
    through blocking and disables it for 10 seconds.


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Focused Shot


Tier: 3

Type: Ranged Attack

Description: Focused Shot allows you to carefully aim your next shot
and land your attack precisely where you intend.

Method: Charge

  • High single target piercing
    damage
  • Must be fully
    charged 
  • Any damage taken will
    interrupt the charge

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have
    a chance to return a small amount of energy.
  • Ballista Bolt - Focused Shot
    will pierce through enemies hitting
    any additional enemies in line with your initial target.


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Explosive Arrow


Tier: 3

Type: Ranged Area Attack

Description: Explosive Arrow fits one of your arrows with an explosive
tip, causing the arrow to explode when it strikes your target.

Method: Tap

  • Deals area effect fire
    damage to targets around your primary
    target.

Method: Charge

  • Increases the fire damage of
    the tap action.

Advantages:

  • Accelerated Metabolism -
    Every time you use this ability you have
    a chance to return a small amount of energy.
  • Where’s the
    Kaboom? - Explosive Arrow deals an initial
    amount of piercing damage and delays the explosive effect for three
    seconds.

Thus ends our overview of the Archery power set. It is designed to hit
hard, fast, and often! Adding some utility powers from other sets will
make bad guys quake in their flared boots when they hear the sound of
your arrows whizzing through the air!


To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Champions Online Game Page.

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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