Build Guide: Archer `Katniss Everdeen` 3.0
Play Style: Human | V.A.T.S. | Criticals | Crippling | Bows | Sneak
Once again, it's time for a new version of the Nuka Knights Archer build. The recent perk changes have made bows and crossbows very interesting again, offering significant advantages when facing multiple enemies, for example, in events. Using the Hattrick Park card, an archer now has better crowd control than most riflemen. Damage has also received further buffs thanks to new sneak bonuses, such as the revamped Ninja perk card, allowing an archer to easily deal 5.25x damage to a sneak attack.
And we can squeeze out even more bonuses. This isn't necessary against smaller enemies, but against bosses, we can significantly increase our damage output. We utilize various damage types: fire, poison, and cryo. And of course, we also use the Cripple perks.
All of this combined makes this build a truly practical setup that can handle any situation.
In this guide, I`ll show this build to you bloodied but also in a full life variant.
Important: How to play bows
Dealing with VATS:
- Draw the bow (hold the trigger)
- Activate VATS
- Fire the shot (release trigger)
When VATS is active, you can continue shooting. VATS works fine with bows nowadays. Manual aiming works too, but its harder to hit and you can't get critical hits.
Range: Bows have a theoretical range of 300, but this is hardly usable in practice, as the arrows fall very quickly and land on the bow. This makes it very difficult to hit with the bow from a distance. It's not a problem in VATS, where the flight path is automatically calculated and you hit very well.
The firerate seems slower in the first-person view than in the third-person view. Try it yourself, for me the third-person perspective is the optimal choice for the bow. This way you can shoot quickly one after the other.
Tip: If enemies are nearby, or in events, always draw the bow again after shooting. Then you can immediately activate VATS again and fire as soon as an enemy appears.
Equipment
Weapons
The build does not use the normal bow, but the compound bow. The compound bow is significantly stronger than the normal one and is tradable. The plan, however, is not tradable and can only be obtained with maximum reputation from the settlers or raiders for caps. However, you can also buy a legendary compound bow from other players without the plan.
This build uses 5 bows:
- 2 of them as primary weapons
- one as a damage bonus for bosses
- one with explosive arrows for events
- one faster crippling if the situation requires it
1. Compound Bow with Ultracite Arrows
- Bloodied or Furious (Full Life)
- Vital
- Lucky Hit
- Bully`s
Alternatively to ultracite arrows you can also use plasma arrows and buff these with the "Science!" perk card (in INT).
2. Compound Bow with Flaming Arrows (Fire)
- Bloodied or Furious (Full Life)
- Vital
- Intelligence (for more fire damage)
- Bully`s
Piercing Love (Mini Season: Love Hurts)
The legendary perks on this bow are not changeable, but it does inflict poison damage. We're changing the arrows to cryo and adding two further status effects (poison and cryo) against boss enemies, each granting a +10% damage bonus.
Bow with Explosive Arrows
- Bloodied or Furious (Full Life)
- Vital
- Perception (for better hit chance) or Lucky Hit (for more criticals)
- Bully`s
Bow with Limb Damage
I rarely use this bow, and only in specific situations, such as challenges where you need to cripple small enemies like scorched or robots. While all other bows also cripple due to the perk cards, the high damage of this bow usually kills small enemies instantly without crippling them, which doesn't count towards the challenges.
A bow with limb damage is also suitable for forcing scorchbeasts to land by crippling their wings. The legendary mods, except for the 2-star one, aren't very important here, as this build switches back to the other bows after crippling.
Armor
The armor is a Secret Service armor with a jetpack mod on the chest piece. The build should have the following additional effects on the armor:
- 5x Unyielding (Bloodied) or 5x Aristocrats (Full Life with 35k+ Caps)
- 3x 2* Powered
- 2x 2* Intelligence (to buff fire and cryo damage)
- 5x 3* Thu Hikers
- The first mod should be "Buttressed" on all parts
- The 2nd mod for the body parts "ultralight".
- The 4th legendary mod can be, for example, Ranger's or a combination of Ranger and Limitbreaking, if you have those mods. This further improves ranged damage and increases the number of critical hits. However, I'm not using a fourth-star mod in this guide.
The Secret Service armor is best armor (not power armor) in the game (taking into account availability and possibilities, as well as resistances) that you can buy in Vault 79 for gold from Regs (Secret Service).
Underarmor
This build uses Vault 33 underarmor with shielded lining and a Vault Style with +2 END, +5 INT, and +3 LCK. The lining isn't crucial, but the style is.
(You can purchase the Vault Style underarmor from Samuel in Foundation for 200 gold.)
Backpack
The backpack this build uses is modded with the large backpack mod to get more carry weight. The used backpack quiver skin was a season 17 rewards and is currently now available, maybe we`re lucky and it pops up in the atomic shop some time.
Perk Cards (Bloodied)
|
S
Strength
7 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 3* Easy Target | +75% ranged damage to crippled targets. |
| 2* Scattershot | 20% of the damage dealt to a limb is applied to all limbs on your target. |
| 2* Bandolier | Ballistic weapon ammo weighs 90% less. |
|
P
Perception
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Bow Before Me | Your bows and crossbows ignore 40% armor and have a 10% chance to stagger. |
| 2* Deal Sealer |
Deal +10% damage for each impairment your target has.
Datamining:
Impairments are: crippling, fire, cryo, poison and bleeding. Each 10% bonus = max. 50% bonus |
| 3* Hat Trick | Arrows and throwing weapons bounce towards three additional targets dealing 70% damage. |
| 3* Down Ranger |
You do +20% ranged damage to far enemies.
Datamining:
"Far enemies" can be measured in camp foundations. More than 3.9 foundations counts as "far". |
| 3* Number Cruncher | Your weapons have 2% increased damage per AP cost. |
| 2* Tormentor |
You deal 20% more damage per crippled limb your target has.
Datamining:
Since all body parts are "limbs" (head, arms, legs, torso) this is a buff of about 120% in average on a crippled enemy. |
|
E
Endurance
9 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 1* Natural Resistance | Increased Elemental Resistances based on END while not diseased. |
| 1* Thirst Quencher | Increased Max AP based on END while not diseased. |
| 3* Hardy | Take 45% less damage from explosions. |
| 1* Radicool | The greater your Rads, the greater your Strength (max +5 STR)! |
| 1* Starched Genes | You will never mutate from rads and RadAway will never cure mutations. |
| 2* Chem Fiend | Any chems you take last 100% longer. |
|
C
Charisma
4 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 1* Inspirational | Gain more XP while on a team based on your CHA. |
| 1* Strange In Numbers |
Positive mutation effects are +25% stronger if teammates are mutated too.
Datamining:
You should always play on a public team. |
| 2* Tenderizer |
Each attack makes your target take increased damage.
Datamining:
Each hit increases the damage to an enemy by 0.1%, reaching a maximum of 100% after 1000 hits. This stacks with all other players who have this card equipped and are fighting the same enemy. It also stacks with the legendary perk "Taking one for the team." It's very effective in boss fights. |
|
I
Intelligence
6 + 5 legendary = 11 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Nerd Rage! |
While your Health is low, gain increased damage and AP regen.
Datamining:
The damage buff and AP regen scales between 80% and 5% HP, the lower the better. |
| 3* Demolition Expert | Your explosives do +60% damage. |
| 2* Pyro-Technician | Increase fire damage based on your INT. |
| 2* Good With Salt | Food in your inventory will spoil 90% slower. |
| 2* Cryologist | Increase cryo damage based on your INT. |
|
A
Agility
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Adrenaline |
Gain +10% damage per kill while on a Kill Streak (Max 10).
Datamining:
This grants a bonus of +100% after 10 kills. |
| 1* Escape Artist |
Sneak to lose enemies, and running no longer affects stealth.
Datamining:
Sneak to loose enemies, and running no longer affects stealth. Means your steps don't cause noise anymore. When you crouch enemies will loose track. This effect can be triggered every 3 seconds. |
| 3* Gunslinger | Your ranged weapons do +12% weak spot damage. |
| 2* Ninja | Bows, throwing, and melee weapons do +100% sneak attack damage. |
| 2* Gun Fu | V.A.T.S. swaps targets on kill with +60% damage up to 2 targets. |
| 2* Mister Sandman |
Your silenced weapons do an additional 100% sneak attack damage. Note: Bow and Crossbow are silenced weapons
|
| 3* Covert Operative | Your ranged attacks do an additional 50% sneak attack damage. |
|
L
Luck
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 1* Serendipity | While below 30% health, gain a chance to Evade based on LCK. (No Power Armor) |
| 3* Critical Savvy |
Critical Hits now only consume 55% of your critical meter.
Datamining:
Critical hits are only applied when the meter is full. The faster the meter is charged, the more critical hits can be dealed in shorter time. |
| 3* Better Criticals | V.A.T.S. criticals now do +100% damage. |
| 3* Class Freak | The negative effects of your mutations are reduced by 75%. |
| 1* Ricochet | Gain a chance to Deflect ranged attacks based on LCK. |
| 1* Four Leaf Clover | Misses in V.A.T.S. now contribute to the Critical Meter based on your LCK. |
| 2* Grim Reaper's Sprint | Any kill in V.A.T.S. restores Action Points, based on your LCK. |
| 1* Junk Shield | Gain Resistances based on your LCK and amount of junk held. |
Perk Set
Click the perk cards to enlarge
Legendary Perks
Mutations
| Eagle Eyes |
Positive effects:
Critical Damage +50%, PER +4 Negative effects: STR -4 |
| Adrenal Reaction |
Positive effects:
+5% DMG per kill while on a Kill Streak; Max 10 stacks. On bottom right the bonus is display with a skull icon and number. Negative effects: Max HP -50 |
| Marsupial |
Positive effects:
Carry Weight +20, +jump height Negative effects: INT -4 |
| Egg Head |
Positive effects:
INT +6 Negative effects: STR -3, END -3 |
| Herd Mentality |
Positive effects:
All SPECIAL stats +2 when grouped (Alone in a public team is fine) Negative effects: All SPECIAL stats -2 when solo |
| Herbivore |
Positive effects:
Eating plant-based food provides double the hunger satisfaction, HP restoration, and consumable buffs, with no disease chance Negative effects: Eating meat does not satisfy hunger, restore HP, or apply buffs |
| Speed Demon |
Positive effects:
Movement speed +20%, faster reload +20% Negative effects: +50% drain on hunger and thirst while moving |
| Bird Bones |
Positive effects:
-65% falling speed, +5 AGI Negative effects: STR -4, take extra limb damage |
Perk Cards (Full Life)
|
S
Strength
7 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 3* Easy Target | +75% ranged damage to crippled targets. |
| 2* Scattershot | 20% of the damage dealt to a limb is applied to all limbs on your target. |
| 2* Bandolier | Ballistic weapon ammo weighs 90% less. |
|
P
Perception
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Bow Before Me | Your bows and crossbows ignore 40% armor and have a 10% chance to stagger. |
| 2* Deal Sealer |
Deal +10% damage for each impairment your target has.
Datamining:
Impairments are: crippling, fire, cryo, poison and bleeding. Each 10% bonus = max. 50% bonus |
| 3* Hat Trick | Arrows and throwing weapons bounce towards three additional targets dealing 70% damage. |
| 3* Down Ranger |
You do +20% ranged damage to far enemies.
Datamining:
"Far enemies" can be measured in camp foundations. More than 3.9 foundations counts as "far". |
| 3* Number Cruncher | Your weapons have 2% increased damage per AP cost. |
| 2* Tormentor |
You deal 20% more damage per crippled limb your target has.
Datamining:
Since all body parts are "limbs" (head, arms, legs, torso) this is a buff of about 120% in average on a crippled enemy. |
|
E
Endurance
9 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 1* Natural Resistance | Increased Elemental Resistances based on END while not diseased. |
| 1* Thirst Quencher | Increased Max AP based on END while not diseased. |
| 3* Hardy | Take 45% less damage from explosions. |
| 1* Radicool | The greater your Rads, the greater your Strength (max +5 STR)! |
| 1* Starched Genes | You will never mutate from rads and RadAway will never cure mutations. |
| 2* Chem Fiend | Any chems you take last 100% longer. |
|
C
Charisma
4 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 1* Inspirational | Gain more XP while on a team based on your CHA. |
| 1* Strange In Numbers |
Positive mutation effects are +25% stronger if teammates are mutated too.
Datamining:
You should always play on a public team. |
| 2* Tenderizer |
Each attack makes your target take increased damage.
Datamining:
Each hit increases the damage to an enemy by 0.1%, reaching a maximum of 100% after 1000 hits. This stacks with all other players who have this card equipped and are fighting the same enemy. It also stacks with the legendary perk "Taking one for the team." It's very effective in boss fights. |
|
I
Intelligence
6 + 5 legendary = 11 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Gunsmith |
Guns break 35% slower. Note: Alternatively: Science! if you use plasma arrows
|
| 3* Demolition Expert | Your explosives do +60% damage. |
| 2* Pyro-Technician | Increase fire damage based on your INT. |
| 2* Good With Salt | Food in your inventory will spoil 90% slower. |
| 2* Cryologist | Increase cryo damage based on your INT. |
|
A
Agility
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 3* Guerrilla Master | +5% ranged damage to close enemies per Onslaught stack, +5 max stacks. |
| 2* Guerrilla Expert | +1% reload speed per Onslaught stack, +3 max stacks. |
| 3* Gunslinger Master | Gain Onslaught stacks over time and spend them on attacks, +10 max stacks. |
| 2* Ninja | Bows, throwing, and melee weapons do +100% sneak attack damage. |
| 1* Escape Artist |
Sneak to lose enemies, and running no longer affects stealth.
Datamining:
Sneak to loose enemies, and running no longer affects stealth. Means your steps don't cause noise anymore. When you crouch enemies will loose track. This effect can be triggered every 3 seconds. |
| 2* Mister Sandman |
Your silenced weapons do an additional 100% sneak attack damage. Note: Bows and Crossbows are silenced weapons
|
| 2* Gunslinger Expert | +1% ranged weak spot damage per Onslaught stack, +3 max stacks. |
|
L
Luck
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 1* Serendipity | While below 30% health, gain a chance to Evade based on LCK. (No Power Armor) |
| 3* Critical Savvy |
Critical Hits now only consume 55% of your critical meter.
Datamining:
Critical hits are only applied when the meter is full. The faster the meter is charged, the more critical hits can be dealed in shorter time. |
| 3* Better Criticals | V.A.T.S. criticals now do +100% damage. |
| 3* Class Freak | The negative effects of your mutations are reduced by 75%. |
| 1* Ricochet | Gain a chance to Deflect ranged attacks based on LCK. |
| 1* Four Leaf Clover | Misses in V.A.T.S. now contribute to the Critical Meter based on your LCK. |
| 2* Grim Reaper's Sprint | Any kill in V.A.T.S. restores Action Points, based on your LCK. |
| 1* Junk Shield | Gain Resistances based on your LCK and amount of junk held. |
Perk Set
Click the perk cards to enlarge
Legendary Perks
Mutations
| Eagle Eyes |
Positive effects:
Critical Damage +50%, PER +4 Negative effects: STR -4 |
| Adrenal Reaction |
Positive effects:
+5% DMG per kill while on a Kill Streak; Max 10 stacks. On bottom right the bonus is display with a skull icon and number. Negative effects: Max HP -50 |
| Marsupial |
Positive effects:
Carry Weight +20, +jump height Negative effects: INT -4 |
| Egg Head |
Positive effects:
INT +6 Negative effects: STR -3, END -3 |
| Herd Mentality |
Positive effects:
All SPECIAL stats +2 when grouped (Alone in a public team is fine) Negative effects: All SPECIAL stats -2 when solo |
| Herbivore |
Positive effects:
Eating plant-based food provides double the hunger satisfaction, HP restoration, and consumable buffs, with no disease chance Negative effects: Eating meat does not satisfy hunger, restore HP, or apply buffs |
| Speed Demon |
Positive effects:
Movement speed +20%, faster reload +20% Negative effects: +50% drain on hunger and thirst while moving |
| Bird Bones |
Positive effects:
-65% falling speed, +5 AGI Negative effects: STR -4, take extra limb damage |
Gameplay
Ultracite, Flaming and Cryo Arrows
Explosive Arrows
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