Archer

Master the Archer class in Dragon Age: Inquisition! Learn the best abilities, passives, weapons, and strategies to become a top-tier damage dealer.

Alright, let's talk about the Archer in Dragon Age: Inquisition. This guy is your back-line damage dealer, and honestly, he's got the highest DPS we've seen so far. Compared to some other characters, he might feel a little less flashy, but he gets the job done. Think of him as your reliable sniper.

The Archer's backstory is pretty interesting. He's a survivor from the Wilds, trained by a Dalish hunter after a bandit raid. But, being human, he wasn't exactly welcomed into the clan and eventually had to leave. He wandered for years until a mysterious beam of light appeared in the sky, drawing him in. He felt a pull, a sense that disaster was coming and that he was needed.

So, how does the Archer stack up?

Damage (AoE)	3/5
Damage (Single Target)	6/5!
Durability	1/5
Buffs & Debuffs	2.5/5
Taunts / Aggro	1/5
Fun Factor	2/5

Unlocking Abilities: The Smart Way

When you're building your Archer, prioritize getting Leaping Shot and Long Shot upgraded first, aiming for level 5 on both. After that, immediately focus on Full Draw, then Mark of Death at level 11. Next up is Dance of Death at level 14, followed by Pincushion. After that, you can fill out the rest of your skill tree however you like. We personally like to upgrade Mark of Death, but we skip the Full Draw upgrade.

Mastering the Archer's Strategy

Here's how to really make the Archer shine in combat:

• Opening Moves: Start the fight by using Full Draw on the highest threat target. This could be dual-wielding rogues, a Fear Demon, Brutes, or Templar Knights. After that, switch to Long Shot to pick off any ranged enemies.
• Dealing with Melee: If enemies get too close, don't sweat it. Just pop a Leaping Shot to knock them back and follow up with another shot. Leaping Shot is also super effective against Shield Bearers and Demons because they can't block it. It's also your go-to when Long Shot is on cooldown.
• Fear Demon Tactics: When a Demon Commander uses its Fear attack, Leaping Shot is your escape. It'll clear you right out of that nasty radius.
• Long Shot's Power: Remember that Long Shot can ricochet! For it to hit multiple enemies, the second target doesn't have to be directly behind the first. Long Shot actually deals more damage with each subsequent enemy hit, meaning you can take down a whole group with just one well-aimed shot.
• Taking Down Big Threats: For tougher enemies like Pride Demons, Behemoths, Guardians, and Bosses, Mark of Death is your best friend. Start the fight with it, then follow up with Full Draw and some auto-attacks. Once the boss is below 50% health, activate Mark of Death again. If it's a regular boss, just let it run its course – you won't kill them in one go, but you'll deal massive damage.

Key Abilities to Focus On:

Leaping Shot	Evade Ability. 12 Projectiles at 50% weapon damage each. 12s cooldown. 35 Stamina cost. Upgrade gives your next shot a 200% damage bonus and knocks the target down
Long Shot	200% weapon damage with +600% at 15+ meters. 8s cooldown. 50 stamina cost. Detonates incapacitated foes. Upgrade lets you hit multiple targets with bonus damage that are behind your first)
Full Draw	(800% weapon damage + 800% if target is at full health. 24s cooldown, 65 Stamina cost. Upgrade puts target to sleep for 20s)
Mark of Death	(Stores 100% damage while active, then deals it when activated again (effectively doubling all damage for 8s). 32s cooldown, 10 stamina cost. Upgrade grants 20% armor reduction.)

Essential Passive Abilities:

First Blood	15% damage to enemies with more than 80% of their health remaining. +3 dexterity
Cheap Shot	Critical hits sunder armor for 6s. +3 cunning
Bloodied Prey	10% damage bonus to all enemies who have less health than you. +3 cunning
Strafing Shots	100% Speed Bonus when firing. +3 Dexterity
Pincusion	Each consecutive hit on a target does 5% more damage each time for 10s. +3 dexterity
Gaps in the Armor	25% Armor Penetration. +3 dexterity
Fury of the Storm	10% damage bonus when under 50% stamina. +3 constitution
Cripple	slows enemies hit from behind by 50% for 3s. +3 dexterity
Dance of Death	+50 stamina on kill. +3 dexterity

Top Weapon Recommendations:

#	Best Weapons	Type	Rarity	Item Level	DPS	Damage
1	Punched by the Maker	Bow	Unique	21	171	151
2	Longbow of the Griffon	Bow	Unique	21	167	148
3	Bow of Cruel Redemption	Bow	Rare	22	162	143
4	Elusive Icebow	Bow	Rare	21	155	137
5	Soul Sucker	Bow	Rare	22	153	140