Bow Crossbow PVE Build Guide

Introduction

Welcome to our Bow Crossbow PVE build guide. In this guide, we’ll go over our recommended way to set-up the weapon combination for PVE group activities, such as the Dimensional Circle. This set-up is used to fill a DPS spot in a 6-player dungeon group. The weapon combination forms the “Scout” Class.

Skills

Below is our Skill set-up for PVE group dungeon runs:

This Skill set-up provides cleave burst for trash mobs between bosses, and a large focus on single-target boss damage and top tier utility in 6-player dungeons.

Skill Specializations

With 100 total points to play with once you hit Level 50, below is our recommended Specializations for the Bow Crossbow PVE build:

These particular Specializations focus around creating the highest single-target PVE damage in Throne and Liberty. See our Skill Specializations guide for more information.

Weapon Mastery

This guide assumes you are at least in the range of Level 13-16 Weapon Mastery. However, if you’re below this threshold, it’s not an issue. Simply spec into the mastery trees that provide the most damage first.

Stats

Stats once you reach Tier 1 Epic gear can vary frequently due to stats built into gear. As a result, try to push for at least 50 Dexterity and 50 Strength in standard gear. Below is our recommended baseline Stat allocation:

Dexterity – 9 Points
Wisdom – 18 Points
Strength – 15 Points
Perception – 7 Points

Gear & Equipment

The gear loadout largely, if not entirely, stays the same across all content once you reach Tier 1 Epic. Our Tier 1 Epic set assumes that most of the base content has been unlocked with the Milestones completed.

Early on, make use of your Rare gear you acquired through MSQ. It is totally fine and expected to be in Rare gear for quite a long time – so don’t worry too much! Gear between PVE and PVP usually doesn’t really change.

Obtaining Archboss weapons is a huge bonus, however, not a required one. As a result, do not worry too much about getting these weapons if you cannot find a strong guild or purchase one.

Runes are set-up to focus on Heavy Attack Chance, increased Max Health and increased healing or other defenses. In PVE, Hit Chance, for example, is not required. As a result, we can focus on better optimization routes. However, Hit Chance runes are preferred for PVP scenarios and will often be in your gear.

Guardian

Guardians are a unique transformation on a 10 minute Cooldown that gives powerful bonuses to you for 30 seconds. Some Guardians work as an additional “Active” Skill, while others provide buffs. We recommend the following Guardians for group play dungeons:

Shade Revenant Stheno – Stheno is the most offense-heavy choice in PVE. This Guardian dishes out consistent damage dealing projectiles to multiple targets.

How to Play The Bow Crossbow PVE Build

Our Bow Crossbow PVE build guide not only aims to teach you how to put it together, but also how to play it.

The main objective of using Bow Crossbow in a PVE dungeon is simple. You’re a ranged DPS that plays as far away as possible. Your Crossbow Skills provide incredible amounts of single-target damage. As for the Bow, you bring one of the strongest utility Skill in PVE to the table. That Skill is “Deadly Marker”. Deadly Marker once used on a Boss gives all players in your party more Critical Hit Chance AND immensely reduced Cooldowns. As a result, it is a must-bring for PVE and you’ll almost always be accepted.

Skill Rotations

As previously mentioned, to utilize your build and rotation effectively, use the following opener for bosses:

Deadly Marker
Selfless Diffusion
Nature’s Blessing
Detonation Mark
Wild Barrage
Blitz
Decisive Sniping
Quick Fire
Detonation Mark
Zephyr’s Nock
Strafing
Quick Fire
Zephyr’s Nock

You should be using Deadly Marker at the start of every encounter AND as soon as it’s off cooldown every other time. The standard Bow combo is to use all your Strafing procs and then consume your Gale stacks with Zephyr’s Nock to deal increased damage. A lot of your burst damage comes from the use of Detonation Mark, which requires you to pump as much damage into it as possible before it explodes. As a result, using Wild Barrage and following it up with Decisive Sniping is a fantastic moment of burst.

Skills such as Nature’s Blessing can be used in a pinch to keep yourself and other teammates topped up.

Typically, resetting Wild Barrage with Blitz is preferred as it lines up the Cooldown a little better with the insane amount of Cooldown Speed you’ll have through Deadly Marker.