Archer Strategy

Archers are masters of ranged combat and can kill anyone from a distance without getting the teensiest bit bloody! In melee, however... Archers should generally avoid melee.

General Strategy

• Keep your distance, the longbow is good enough at range to permit this.
• Team up with a Heavy Knight, and let him fight the fight.
• Run over missed arrows to collect them.
• Avoid melee fights unless your opponents are low on health.
• Avoid sitting around like a duck. You are not the only one with ranged weapons.
• Reposition to surprise your enemies.
• Avoid shooting your teammates. They will notice and they will not appreciate it.

Weapon Specific Strategy

Longbow

The only extra long-ranged weapon with a reasonable shooting speed.

• Arrows arc downwards while flying, and need some time to reach their target, so lead your shot a little.
• Charging increases distance and damage, but slows you down a touch.
• You cannot draw an arrow while jumping, but you can jump while drawing an arrow.
• Three fully-charged hits will fill your special meter, or two fully-charged hits and a sneeze dealing five damage.
• Arrows cannot penetrate a shield, but will deal some of the most consistent damage out of every other weapon in the game to them instead.
• Shoot enemy Parrots for your teammates. Or the Captain. Yeah, shoot the Captain.
• The Longbow deals less damage in melee range. Avoid melee range.

Special: Flaming Arrows

Although a little awkward to land, its effective range is unmatched.

• Three arrows are lossed, and each one will only hit, damage, and knock back one target each.
• Most effective against small groups, specifically, small groups of weakened enemies holding shields in your way.
• The arrows travel quickly, but they still arc downward like regular arrows.
• It is quite difficult for opponents to dodge the arrows at medium range, but they can still predict when and how you might shoot.
• The arrows spread out dramatically past close range, meaning an opponent might have two arrows whizz past them harmlessly if you're lackadaisical about aiming.
• Despite appearing to be arrows, these ones pierce shields completely.
• It is not unusual for enemies to jump over these arrows. Wait for them to jump, and fire at their landing zone.

Crossbow

Like an on-demand version of the Longbow, only more concentrated.

• Always aim it for increased damage and accuracy. Hip-shots are significantly less effective.
• Knocks enemies back.
• Can damage enemies through shields, though the damage is reduced.
• The perfect weapon to snipe far enemies.
• Reloading takes three seconds. Cancel the reload by switching weapon.
• If you are in a melee fight, most players will expect you to fire it immediately. Finish them off with a deadly shot after a bit of swordplay.
• This weapon can score headshots. They're easier to land when your target is facing you, but less likely to be dodged when they're not.

Shortsword

Good for spreading butter.

• Weakest sword there is. (The Fancy Dagger is not a sword.)
• Still your weapon of choice if an enemy gets into melee range.
• Think of it as your best defense against melee strikes, and parry as many as you can while as you retreat to teammates/bravely fight back and die.
• If you can't shoot an incoming Parrot out of the sky with one shot, use this instead.
• Fourth best humiliating weapon (after Punch, Hook, and Fancy Dagger).

See Also

Archer

Tactics

Combat