Compiled from public guides and creator videos, not our own testing. Each card's “Based on” line says whether its source used the October demo or Early Access. Numbers may change with patches.
Quick pick by use
Only uses that a cited source names are filled in. A cell stays at Not reported yet until a source covers it.
| Use | Cited builds |
|---|---|
| Solo leveling | Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener) |
| Groups and dungeons | Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener) |
| PvP | Burn Longbow (fire) , Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener) |
| New players | Not reported yet |
All 4 cited Ranger builds
Longbow 2 cited
Burn Longbow (fire)Reported· Kybuza (YouTube)
Good for PvP
Based on: Kybuza's Ranger guide; the creator says it is based on demo testing.
- Agility = Talent
Stats Agility and Talent. A critical (physical) Longbow build goes Agility and Strength instead.
Rotation- Build around Fire Arrow.
- Rapid Fire with the Friction trait raises the burn gauge and restores HP on burning targets.
Traits Fire path with Friction.
Updated
Ember Arrow (fire and crit Longbow)Reported· RaidDex
Based on: RaidDex editorial build, marked checked for Early Access (Nov 4). One guide site, not our testing.
- Agility
- Constitution
- Talent
- Endurance
Stats Agility first, then Constitution and some Endurance. RaidDex's endgame spread: Agility 64, Constitution 22, Endurance 13, Talent 18 (its text also says Talent 35 at endgame for Thunder Dash).
Rotation- From midgame, open with Aimed Shot at Lv. 2 (three Fervor stacks), then Piercing Shot, Deft Hands and Scarlet Arrow (costs HP). A crit unlocks Fire Arrow.
- Core: Arrow Stab (W + heavy attack), Piercing Shot, Deft Hands, block for Abdominal Kick Combo, Flip Kick: three offensive Maneuvers, 5 Primed each.
- At 15 Primed, hold heavy attack for Rapid Fire, then Withdrawing Shot, Leaping Shot and, at 8 Kindled Arrow, Fire Arrow.
- Then Rapid Shot three times. Finish with Aimed Shot to renew Fervor.
- Hit during a Maneuver: block twice for Counterattack Maneuver, a third time for Crescent Kick. Hawk Talon heals.
Traits Longbow (maxed at 59 points): fire (Rapid Fire, Fire Arrow, Scarlet Arrow, Friction, Rapid Fire - Burst, Tahyang's Raging Flames), crits (Sniper, Enhanced Deterrence, Beastly Fervor II, Marksman) and defense (Hidden Blade, Hawk Talon, Acrobatic Momentum). Friction gives full SP when Rapid Fire triggers Burn. The other 41 points go into the Hatchets at endgame. Early Access regions hold 92 of the 100 Trait Points, so RaidDex says to leave out 8 points of perks for now.
Gear Starter: Royal Army Longbow with a Cultist set, which keeps the load at Medium. Midgame: Tarnished Ancient Longbow. Endgame: Thunder Dash and Gyldenlord's Cleaver.
Updated
Hatchets 2 cited
Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener)Reported· RaidDex
Good for Solo levelingGroups and dungeonsPvP
Based on: RaidDex Storm Hatchet build (marked checked for Early Access, Nov 4) and Kybuza's Ranger guide (based on demo testing).
- Agility = Talent
- Constitution = Endurance
Stats Agility and Talent for the lightning build: Agility for critical rating, Talent for elemental attack. RaidDex's Early Access check: Talent 20 in the midgame and 35 at endgame for Thunder Dash, the rest mostly Agility plus Constitution and Endurance.
Rotation- Open with the Longbow: Aimed Shot and Scarlet Arrow.
- Switch to Hatchets: Lunge, Shocking Kick and Thunder Slash, through to Stormsplitter.
- Endgame (RaidDex): with Overload, Lunge triggers Overcharge instantly, then Shocking Kick, Thunder Slash, Lightning Rush, Axe Flurry, Axe Storm and Stormsplitter.
- Enemy below 40% HP: Flurry, Windscreamer, Windcleaver and Gale Sever, which hits harder and heals. In a pinch: Axe Throw, then block for Battle Tonic.
Traits Lightning (thunder) Hatchet path. RaidDex's shock perks: Overcharge, Relentless Hunt, Overload, Shocking Kick, Thunder Slash, Lightning Rush; Trait Points split roughly evenly between Hatchets and Longbow.
Gear Endgame (RaidDex): Wrathful Tyrant's Claw and Thunder Dash, both with Thunder Dash Lunastone (Lightning ATK).
Updated
Thunder Hunt (melee Hatchets, no swap)Reported· RaidDex
Based on: RaidDex editorial build, marked checked for Early Access (Nov 4). One guide site, not our testing.
- Agility
- Constitution
- Endurance
- Talent
Stats Agility first, then Constitution and some Endurance; Talent only for the weapons. RaidDex's endgame spread: Agility 62, Constitution 28, Endurance 15, Talent 12 (its text also says Talent 29 for the endgame weapons).
Rotation- Open with Rapid Throw (hold R, no SP cost). The fifth throw combos into Axe Flurry, then Axe Storm and Stormsplitter.
- From midgame: Lunge triggers Overcharge via Overload, then Shocking Kick, Thunder Slash, Lightning Rush, Axe Flurry, Axe Storm and Stormsplitter.
- Then Flurry. If the enemy staggers: Windscreamer, Windcleaver and, at endgame, Gale Sever, which heals and hits harder below 40% HP.
- When the enemy attacks, parry with R: Counterattack - Windscreamer makes Windscreamer available instantly.
- In a pinch: Shadowcatch (W + Ctrl) dodges behind the enemy at no SP cost; Axe Throw, then block for Battle Tonic.
Traits The Hatchets carry all three stages and the rotation never needs a weapon swap. Effortless Flurry, Rapid Throw - Shock and Flurry of Axes Combo save SP; the shock chain from Overcharge to Lightning Rush comes at midgame, Gale Sever and Storm Chaser at endgame. Hatchets max out at 53 points; the other 47 go into the Longbow for ranged phases. Early Access regions hold 92 of the 100 Trait Points, so RaidDex says to leave out 8 points of perks for now.
Gear Starter: City Guard Hatchet. Midgame: Centurion's Hatchet. Endgame: Wrathful Tyrant's Claw with Thunder Dash Lunastone.
Updated
The six stats
| Stat | What it does | Per-build pick |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Raises physical attack | Burn Longbow (fire): Alternative (physical build) Reported |
| Agility | Boosts crit chance and some physical attack | Burn Longbow (fire): Priority (tied) Reported Ember Arrow (fire and crit Longbow): Priority 1 Reported Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener): Priority 1 (tied) Reported Thunder Hunt (melee Hatchets, no swap): Priority 1 Reported |
| Constitution | Increases HP and crit resistance | Ember Arrow (fire and crit Longbow): Priority 2 Reported Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener): Priority 2 (tied) Reported Thunder Hunt (melee Hatchets, no swap): Priority 2 Reported |
| Intelligence | Raises magic attack | Sealed |
| Talent | Supports magic attack, reduces equipment penalties | Burn Longbow (fire): Priority (tied) Reported Ember Arrow (fire and crit Longbow): Priority 3 Reported Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener): Priority 1 (tied) Reported Thunder Hunt (melee Hatchets, no swap): Priority 4 Reported |
| Endurance | Increases stamina and defense | Ember Arrow (fire and crit Longbow): Priority 4 Reported Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener): Priority 2 (tied) Reported Thunder Hunt (melee Hatchets, no swap): Priority 3 Reported |
Stat effects: Official· XLGAMES / Steam One point always buys one stat. Point spreads come from the cited build, not our testing. Burn Longbow (fire): Agility and Talent. A critical (physical) Longbow build goes Agility and Strength instead. Ember Arrow (fire and crit Longbow): Agility first, then Constitution and some Endurance. RaidDex's endgame spread: Agility 64, Constitution 22, Endurance 13, Talent 18 (its text also says Talent 35 at endgame for Thunder Dash). Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener): Agility and Talent for the lightning build: Agility for critical rating, Talent for elemental attack. RaidDex's Early Access check: Talent 20 in the midgame and 35 at endgame for Thunder Dash, the rest mostly Agility plus Constitution and Endurance. Thunder Hunt (melee Hatchets, no swap): Agility first, then Constitution and some Endurance; Talent only for the weapons. RaidDex's endgame spread: Agility 62, Constitution 28, Endurance 15, Talent 12 (its text also says Talent 29 for the endgame weapons).
What sources agree on
Taken from our Ranger class page and tier board, with the sources for each line. These are reported by the sources, not our testing.
- Hatchets: three creators call them the strongest PvP pick, and they sit at S on our PvP board. A creator tier list and Nerd Bird also call them the hardest weapon to master. (Sources: ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube) , Nerd Bird (YouTube) , Kybuza (YouTube) )
- Longbow: a creator tier list rates it B in both PvE and PvP: safe and simple, but arrows have travel time and can be blocked or parried. (Sources: ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube) )
- Leveling: RaidDex's leveling build levels on the Hatchets, which keep you alive in melee, and adds the Longbow later with the Coilstones of the Astron Plains. (Sources: RaidDex )
- PvP is still open: RaidDex says no class holds a proven edge yet. (Sources: RaidDex )
- Where the numbers disagree: RaidDex's Talent figures are not consistent between its builds, so check the Talent requirement on the weapon itself before committing points. (Sources: RaidDex , RaidDex , RaidDex )
Gear and dungeon setups
Gear is shown on each build card above where its source names it. Dungeon setups: Not reported yet; we add it once a guide site or patch note covers it.
Ranger build FAQ
What is the best Ranger build for PvP?
Cited Ranger builds tagged for PvP: Burn Longbow (fire) and Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener). Three creators call the Hatchets the strongest PvP pick, and they sit at S on our PvP board. These are reported picks, not our testing.
Reported· ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube)What is the best Ranger build for leveling?
Cited builds tagged for solo leveling: Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener). RaidDex's separate leveling build levels on the Hatchets, which keep you alive in melee, and adds the Longbow later with the Coilstones of the Astron Plains. It reaches Agility 57, Constitution 38, Endurance 19 and Talent 3 at level 40.
Reported· RaidDexWhat stats should a Ranger build use?
Each cited build lists its own stat order: Burn Longbow (fire): Agility = Talent; Ember Arrow (fire and crit Longbow): Agility > Constitution > Talent > Endurance; Storm Hatchet (lightning, with Longbow opener): Agility = Talent > Constitution = Endurance; Thunder Hunt (melee Hatchets, no swap): Agility > Constitution > Endurance > Talent. One point always buys one stat. Point spreads come from the cited build, not our testing.
Reported· Kybuza (YouTube)Which Ranger weapon should I start with?
A creator tier list rates the Hatchets S in both PvE and PvP and the Longbow B in both, and RaidDex's leveling build starts on the Hatchets. Our class page suggests the Longbow for distance and clean openings, and the Hatchets to stay in the fight and counter.
Reported· ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube)Sources
- Ember Arrow: Ranger with Longbow
- Storm Hatchet: Ranger with Hatchet and Longbow
- Thunder Hunt: Ranger with Hatchet
- ArcheAge Chronicles: How to Build the PERFECT Ranger (PvE & PvP)
- Don't Pick the WRONG WEAPON! ArcheAge Chronicles Tier List
- Do NOT Pick the Wrong Class in ArcheAge Chronicles!
- Leveling Build: Ranger with Hatchet and Longbow to Level 40
- Best Class in ArcheAge Chronicles: All 4 Classes Compared