Bowmaster is a staple of the Explorer class lineup in MapleStory Artale, offering high mobility, great utility, and impressive damage potential. Whether you're looking for an enjoyable grind, strong bossing capabilities, or a versatile playstyle, Bowmaster provides a balanced and straightforward experience. This guide breaks down why Bowmaster is a top-tier choice and provides insight into maximizing its potential.

Why Choose Bowmaster?

Bowmaster's appeal lies in its simplicity and efficiency. It's a ranged, utility-heavy class with a straightforward learning curve. If you're unsure about committing to Bowmaster, the best way to decide is by giving it a try! Leveling to 200 is a breeze with current events, and pushing to 260 during Hyper Burn events is even easier. Use this opportunity to test the class against bosses like Chaos Root Abyss, Chaos Zakum, or Normal Lotus, and experience its unique mechanics firsthand.

Pros and Cons of Bowmaster

Pros

Unparalleled HP Recovery

Bowmaster’s Blood Arrows (toggled via Magic Arrows) provide an insane 70% chance to recover 5% Max HP per hit. Given Bowmaster’s rapid attack rate, this is one of the best recovery mechanics in the game.

Strong Damage Output

While Bowmaster's Attack Speed differences slightly lower its ranking in GMS compared to KMS, its overall damage output remains competitive, making it a reliable DPS class.

Exceptional Mobility

Features left, right, upward, and downward flash jumps, as well as Blink Shot for teleportation with minimal cooldown. Additional hover and second-jump mechanics enhance mobility further.

Versatile GrindingArrow Blaster enables passive grinding by targeting platforms, and Arrow Stream offers excellent vertical mobbing.

Mobile Attacking

With Hurricane, you can move and jump at full speed without interruptions, maintaining consistent damage output.

Strong Summons

Skills like Arrow Blaster, Guided Arrow, Inhuman Speed, Quiver Barrage, and Storm of Arrows provide excellent summon-based utility and damage.

Built-In Buffs and Status Resistance

Focused Fury stacks 120 Status Resistance naturally, while Sharp Eyes and Decent Speed Infusion are built into the kit, saving node slots.

Simplistic 5th Job Nodes

Bowmaster has a straightforward set of nodes, making it easier to optimize compared to more complex classes.

Effective 6th Job Skills

Skills like HEXA Hurricane and HEXA Arrow Blaster/Arrow Stream enhance core gameplay while providing additional flexibility.

Cons

Heavy Skill Rotation

Maintaining buffs and summons is necessary for optimal performance, making the class less suitable for players seeking low-maintenance gameplay.

Limited Burst Damage

While effective over time, Bowmaster lacks concentrated burst damage and is better suited for sustained fights.

120-Second Burst Cycle

Bowmaster’s burst skills align on a 120-second cooldown, which may conflict with the Oz ring meta’s 15-second burst cycle.

Link Skills

Bowmaster’s Adventurer’s Curiosity grants +10% Critical Rate and a 35% chance to add monsters to your Monster Collection. This skill stacks up to Level 6 when shared between Explorer Bowman jobs.

Recommended Link Skills

For Bossing:

Demon Slayer (Lv. 3)

Demon Avenger (Lv. 3)

Luminous (Lv. 3)

Ark (Lv. 3)

Explorer Magicians (Lv. 6)

Angelic Buster (Lv. 3)

Cadena (Lv. 2)

Phantom (Lv. 3) – boosts Vicious Shot for burst.

For Grinding:

Mercedes (Lv. 3)

Evan (Lv. 3)

Aran (Lv. 3)

Kinesis (Lv. 2)

Hoyoung (Lv. 2)

Lara (Lv. 2)

Skill Rotation and Playstyle

Bowmaster thrives on efficiency and maintaining uptime on key abilities:

1.Setup Summons: Use Arrow Blaster to lock down platforms and activate Guided Arrow and Quiver Barrage for passive damage.

2.Utilize Hurricane: Keep Hurricane active during boss fights while repositioning as necessary.

3.Manage Buffs: Ensure Focused Fury and other cooldowns are active, cycling them appropriately.

Closing Thoughts

Bowmaster is a dynamic and versatile class perfect for players who value utility, mobility, and sustained damage. While it requires some upkeep with skill rotations, the rewards are immense, offering one of the most well-rounded experiences in MapleStory Artale. Whether you’re grinding mobs or challenging endgame bosses, Bowmaster delivers consistent results that make it a standout choice for both new and experienced players alike. Buy Maplestory Artale Mesos from MMOexp.com now to build the best Bowmaster.

Choose Bowmaster if you value a class that’s equal parts fun and efficient, and enjoy the journey of mastering its unique mechanics!

MMOexp MapleStory Artale Team