Crossbowman (Iron Arrow) guide
Who it is for
For Bowmen who like heavy hits and long lines of mobs. Iron Arrow pierces up to 6 mobs in front of you, and crossbows need less STR than bows.
Good at
- Iron Arrow pierces 6 mobs in a line.
- Strong damage per MP.
- Crossbows have a bit more attack than bows and need 10 less STR.
- Soul Arrow lets you shoot without using arrows.
Watch out for
- Most crossbows are slow, even with Booster.
- Each mob Iron Arrow pierces takes 20% less than the one before.
- Needs long flat maps.
- Low HP and no movement skill.
Comes after: Bowman (Arrow Blow).
AP: stats by level
Main stat: DEX. Secondary: STR.
| Level | Where your AP goes |
|---|---|
| 30 | Start from the Bowman plan: about 20 STR, 142 DEX. |
| 31-38 | DEX +5. |
| 39-40 | STR up to 30 total for Heckler. The rest in DEX. |
| 41-48 | DEX +5. |
| 49-50 | STR +5 (40 for Rower). |
| 51-58 | DEX +5. |
| 59-60 | STR +5 (50 for Golden Crow). |
| 61-70 | DEX +5, then STR up to 60 for Gross Jaeger at 68-70. |
SP: skills by level
| Level | Skills by the end of it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Iron Arrow 1 | One point gives a 6-mob piercing shot. |
| 31-32 | Iron Arrow 1, Crossbow Mastery 5, Crossbow Booster 1 | Booster 1 already gives the full speed boost. |
| 33-42 | Iron Arrow 30, Crossbow Mastery 5, Crossbow Booster 1, Final Attack: Crossbow 1 | Max Iron Arrow. Final Attack 1 adds a big hit on single mobs. |
| 43-47 | Iron Arrow 30, Crossbow Mastery 20, Crossbow Booster 1, Final Attack: Crossbow 1 | Better low rolls and +20% critical damage. |
| 48-52 | Iron Arrow 30, Crossbow Mastery 20, Crossbow Booster 5, Soul Arrow: Crossbow 11, Final Attack: Crossbow 1 | Booster 5 opens Soul Arrow: fewer arrow trips. |
| 53-60 | Iron Arrow 30, Crossbow Mastery 20, Crossbow Booster 20, Soul Arrow: Crossbow 20, Final Attack: Crossbow 1 | Both buffs last 300 seconds. |
| 61-70 | Iron Arrow 30, Crossbow Mastery 20, Crossbow Booster 20, Soul Arrow: Crossbow 20, Final Attack: Crossbow 30, Amazon's Judgement 1 | Final Attack last: each level adds little. |
- Safer start: Crossbow Mastery 20 and Booster 5 before Iron Arrow, then max Iron Arrow by Lv 49. Stronger low rolls while Iron Arrow is weak.
- Other plan: Final Attack right after Mastery (maxed by about 57). Good if you fight single mobs a lot. Its 360% hit only ever hits one mob.
- Keep Arrow Blow 20 from first job for lone mobs. It beats Iron Arrow on one target.
Where to train
| Level | Maps | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 30-39 | Line 2 <Area 1>, Line 1 <Area 2>, The Swamp of Despair II | Subway lines are long and flat: Jr. Wraiths line up for Iron Arrow. |
| 40-49 | A Look-Out Shed Around the Beach, Monkey Forest II, The Tunnel That Lost Light I | Lorangs, Lupins and Cold Eyes on wide floors. |
| 50-59 | Line 2 <Area 2>, Lorang and Clang | Wraiths and Clangs in long rows. |
| 60-70 | Lorang and Clang, Golem's Temple III, Sleepy Dungeon V | Hard hitting mobs that pay well once your crossbow is strong. |
Every level range: where to train by level. MesoLens also ranks the maps for your own character, from your level and stats.
Gear by level
| Level | What to wear |
|---|---|
| 30-39 | Eagle Crow with the Lv 30 Hunter set from the Bowman guide, or a Blue Sauna Robe overall (Red Sauna Robe for female characters). |
| 40-44 | Heckler (59 attack, normal speed, one of the few fast crossbows). Brown Piette or Piettra top and bottom. |
| 45-49 | Silver Crow (67 attack), or keep the Heckler for its speed. Lv 46 Icarus capes add Accuracy. |
| 50-59 | Rower (72 attack). Green Maro, Blue Willow gloves, Brown Steel-Tip Boots, Green Napoleon cape. |
| 60-70 | Golden Crow (82 attack), then Gross Jaeger (92 attack) at 70. Green Patriot, Blue Eyes gloves, White Gaia Cape at 65. |
Before you buy, check what a piece really sells for: how to price-check the Free Market.
Quests and party quests
- Lv 30: Athena Pierce in Henesys starts the job change. Collect 30 Dark Marbles at the instructor's test, then choose Crossbowman.
- Lv 32: Mr. Wetbottom's chain in Sleepywood for a Sauna Robe with 10 slots.
- Lv 57: Henesys Citizen of Honor for the Henesys Earrings.
- Kerning City Party Quest stays open with no level cap, but EXP is better on your own maps after the early 30s.
Tips and common mistakes
Tips
- Face the line. Iron Arrow only hits mobs in front of you on the same floor.
- Iron Arrow damage drops along the line: 100%, 80%, 64% and so on. The first mobs matter most.
- Use Final Attack on single mobs. On a line of three or more, its slow animation costs you damage.
- Leave at least 65 px between you and the nearest mob, and use Power Knockback when one gets close.
- Carry arrow stacks until Soul Arrow lasts a full session.
Common mistakes
- Training on stacked platforms. Iron Arrow wastes most of its 6 targets there.
- Switching to a bow after spending Crossbowman SP. Your skills need a crossbow.
- Adding Hunter STR. Gross Jaeger needs only 60, so keep the rest in DEX.
- Reading 180% as the damage on every pierced mob.
- Scrolling gloves for critical rate. Attack still wins.
Written by the MesoLens team from the game data and community guides: NiaDB, Crossbowman guide, Lv 30-70 · NiaDB, Best grind maps for every level.
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