This Dragon’s Dogma 2 Magick Archer Build is functionally an archer but deals elemental damage as well.  One of the great features of Magick Archer is its ability to swap between single and multi-target modes.  We will position in the back of the fight as the Magick Archer Vocation requires charge timers.  As the Magick Archer Vocation is a Hybrid Vocation, it requires a quest to unlock.  Starting with the Mage and Sorcerer Vocation will provide more effective offensive stats in magick damage later in the game.

For a full listing of all of the Magick Archer skills, please see the Dragon’s Dogma 2 Magick Archer Guide. If you want to unlock the Magick Archer check out our How to Unlock the Magick Archer Vocation in Dragon’s Dogma 2 guide.

Table of Contents:

Magick Archer Skills

Here, we will discuss the Skills used on the Dragon’s Dogma 2 Magick Archer Build.  The Magick Archer Build uses the following Skills:

Situational Skills

 

Hailstone Bolt – [ Arctic Bolt ]

This skill fires like a  short range mortar but has a heavy impact and is great against targets that are weak to ice.  It’s primary purpose is its powerful knockdown impact as well and can be used to flinch and knockdown large monsters a needed.  Particularly useful when looking to down dragons for a big burst window.

Sparkchain Stake – [ Boltchain Stake ]

Useful in steaking targets and also dealing lightning damage.  This is effective when firing multiple as the stakes will work together when shot close enough to deal more consistent damage and ability to debilitate.  Can be effectively placed on a larger target by targeting all of its target points, especially the head/weak point.

Sagittate Downpour – [ Sagittate Avalanche ]

A favorite for consistent damage and constant pressure.  On large targets, specifically focus weak points with Pinpoint Volley.  For larger groups, can be swapped to Rivet Shot and charged up between normal charged attacks.

Martyr’s Bolt

The Maister’s Teaching for the Magick Archer, this is one of the most powerful end game skills in Dragon’s Dogma 2.  The downside is this will drain your loss gauge and max health will be lowered until you rest or die.  This is useful for hunting down large difficult fights such as a dragon and then resting afterwards for no real downside.  Can be used in conjunction with wakestones as well.

Situational Skills

The only skill I wouldn’t ever replace, is Sagittate Downpour.  Martyr’s Bolt can be traded out if you don’t want to deal with losing health, but it is an effective ‘nuclear option’ for the Magick Archer in a very tough fight.  Otherwise, I’d trade out Sparkchain for Ricochet if you’re going indoors, or Hailstone if you don’t enjoy the long charge up time and aiming for knockdowns.

Ricochet Shot – [ Richochet Hunter ]

Your best tool anywhere indoors or clustered in tighter quarters.  This will make indoor combat in caves trivial for your archer as you cut through tighter spaces.  Damage will continue bouncing through targets and seek them out.  Useful to equip before diving through caves, such as the many encounters in Southern Battahl.

Flamefang Arrow – [ Blazefang Arrow ]

This is a heavy fire-elemental shot that will leave a residual burn effect on enemies hit.  Can be used at choke points for groups and will cause an explosion that will assist in knocking targets down.  Effectively destroys environmental objects in the area.  Useful to note this skill won’t harm you if shot point blank towards the ground.

Remedy Arrow – [ Recovery Arrow ]

A healing alternative option for pawns that will allow you remain far away from the fight as desired.  The bonus portion of this skill is it can resurrect your pawns at a distance and get them back in the fight, maintaining a constant front line.  An effective alternative to difficult encounters like dragons where you prefer not to get close to the AOE skills hitting the party.

Core Skills for the Magick Archer Build in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Here we will discuss the Core Skills (Passives) used on the Dragon’s Dogma 2 Magick Archer Build.  All Core skills can be learned and are passively applied.

Quick Fire – Our general bolt firing to be used between positioning and using whichever skill is necessary for the situation.

Conversion – Enables the toggle for targeting single or multiple targets.

Pinpoint Volley – Switches our vocational targeting system to single target.  This will allow you to charge quicker shots to maximum on focused fire for targets that are tightly condensed.  Use when targeting weak points on large creatures for best damage.

Rivet Shot – Switches our vocational targeting system to multiple targets.  Useful for large crowds in a more spread out environment.  Also can be useful for certain skills such as Sparkchain to lock on a larger group quickly.  For larger enemies, you can quickly lock a Sparkchain on every targetable spot quickly as well.

Climactic Arrow – This passive is a damage boost for timing shots.  Damage will increase if knocked arrows are released at the charge timer.

Scopic Sight – Extends our range for safer distancing in fights.

Tracker’s Sight – Increases Lock on targets and increases potential damage.

Protracting Arrow – Allows elemental damage last used to carry over to your light attacks for continued pressure.  Knowing elemental weaknesses of targets is very important is leveraging the Magick Archer

DD2 Magick Archer Build Vocation Class

Augments

Here we will discuss the Augments used on the Dragon’s Dogma 2 Magick Archer Build.  As we are elemental-focused, we will try to capitalize on the effects and debilitations.

  • Catalysis (Sorcerer Vocation) – Increases damage dealt when exploiting a hostile target’s elemental weakness
  • Asperity (Sorcerer Vocation) – Increases the likelihood of influcting debilitations with your attacks
  • Sagacity (Sorcerer Vocation) – Augments your Magick
  • Exaltation (Mage Vocation) – Augments your Stamina Recovery Speed
  • Endurance (Archer Vocation) – Improves your Max Stamina
  • Subtlety (Thief Vocation) – Decreases the likelihood of being targeted by foes

Optimal Party Setup for the DD2 Magick Archer Build

This Dragon’s Dogma 2 Magick Archer Build functions primarily as a ranged damage dealer that requires spacing to execute skills.  Thus we would benefit from the following pawn members:

  • Fighter or Warrior Vocation – Included for drawing aggression and acting as a front line for the party.  Warriors can assist in providing physical damage and heavy pressure to down targets for punishment.
  • Mage Vocation – This will support our group and front line healer and potential buffer with Celerity.  They will handle support roles and can take on an extra nuke without boon if you choose to add a Sorcerer after.
  • Sorcerer, Warrior or Thief – Additional damage which can fill whichever role you want in how you want to fight.  Specifically the best option to help punish at this point for larger enemies.

Equipment

This is a setup that you can work towards obtaining as you progress through the game – it is quite expensive especially if you plan to fully upgrade everything, but if you get everything then your character will be very powerful. This is not just a list of the “best items” in the game – there are some items that are stronger than those below but are unreasonably time-consuming to obtain for most players or are only available so late in your playthrough that you will barely get to use them.

Don’t worry if cannot obtain everything on the list right now – just equip the best you have for the time being and replace or upgrade later on when you can.

Item Slot Item Description Where to Find
Weapon Dragon’s Breath 350 Magick and 175 Knockdown Power. This is the strongest Magick Bow available before post-game. Purchase from Volcanic Island Armoury for 56,000G.
Head Confidant’s Hood Good all-round defensive attributes. Purchase from Volcanic Island Armoury for 35,500G.
Body Elegant Petticoat Balanced defence and some Blight Resistance. Purchase from Agamen Ruins Apothecary at the Excavation Site for 43,000G.
Legs Crimson Hosen Good defence and some extra elemental and debilitation resistances. Purchase from Volcanic Island Armoury for 32,000G.
Cloak Any Cloaks have a fairly minor impact on stats, so use your best one or the one you find the most visually appealing N/A
Left Ring Ring of Percipience Increases your Magick by 30. Purchase from Grisha’s Armoury for 5,000G, OR loot from a chest in Ancestral Chamber near Sacred Arbor, OR loot from Myrddin’s Home in Checkpoint Rest, OR loot from the skeleton-guarded cellar south of Checkpoint Rest.
Right Ring Ring of Quickening* Increases your Stamina Recovery Speed by 10%. Purchase from Volcanic Island Armoury for 10,000G.

*If you’re struggling to stay alive, you can replace the Ring of Quickening with a ring that gives you extra Health.

Please note that the purchasable items in the table above may not become available until you progress through the game to a certain point – if you are low level then you will only see fairly weak items in vendors.

When levelling up, the Magick Archer’s primary focus should be maintaining sufficient survival while boosting their damage through the Magick value on their weapon.

When collecting equipment for your build, you may struggle with your Carrying Capacity being too low, especially in the early game. Fortunately, this is something that can be increased in various ways. We have a guide that explains all of the ways to improve Carry Capacity.

Equipment Upgrades

We recommend upgrading your equipment with either the Elven Smithing Style for an increase in the Magick stat of your gear, buffing your damage output, or the Vermundian Style for a more balanced distribution (including a bit of extra Knockdown Power).

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