FAQ's and Answers About Bows

Q = What is the best bow to use?
A = In the end, Faith Grand Matron Bow

Q = What is the highest damage bow?
A = Windforce is the highest damage bow, however it's max IAS/fpa Breakpoints are terrible and impossible to achieve withought the use of TMC mod.
When it comes to damage per second, Faith Grand Matron at 7fpa will beat a Windforce, any day of the week

Q = What is the fastest bow?
A = All bows are capable of achieving the same top speed of 7fpa (frames per attack) but some bows achieve 7fpa much easier than others.
The answer is Faith Matriarchal Bow requiring only 45% IAS off gear to meet 7fpa

Q = Why do some people say Diamond is better than Grand Matron?
A = Easier to achieve IAS/fpa and Diamond Bows have much lower stat reqs than a Grand Matron Bow which:
allows you to add more points to VITA for more HP. Diamond Bows also have comparable average damage to a GMB.

Q = Why do some people say Shadow is better than Grand Matron?
A = Once again, east to achieve IAS/fpa and Shadow Bows have much lower stat reqs than a Grand Matron Bow which:
allows you to add more points to VITA for more HP. Shadow Bows also have comparable average damage to a GMB.

Q = Why do some people say Matriarchal Bows are the best?
A = Because they have no idea what they are talking about.
Matriarchal Bows have much lower average damage than GMBs and Diamonds/Shadows.
Matriarchal Bow is only a good choice if you lack proper gear but still want to achieve 7fpa.

Q = Can a Rare Bow be better than Faith Bows?
A= No, as much as I wish this were true it just isn't.
First of all, Rare Bows do not benefit from Fanatacism Aura, thus they use Natural Breakpoints and require WAY too much IAS to ever be practical in PvP or PvM for that matter.
Second of all, the Fanatacism Aura off of Faith counts for ALOT of hidden Enhanced Damage that most people don't take the time to add up in their head.
You know all those 3max/20ar SCs in your inventory? Yeah, Fanatacism effects this directly in addition to the weapon damage itself.
Third of all, when a Rare Bow has (5% chance to proc lv 1 Amplify Damage) this still does not account for the speed/damage loss in not having Fanatacism Aura.
5% chance to cast Amplify Damage is not reliable and even if it does land a proc, it's a lv 1 amp and only lasts about 4 seconds.
Level 1 Amplify Damage also has a very small radius of effect only capable of cursing the one thing it hits and maybe something standing directly on top of it.
If you want Amplify Damage, Learn how to use a Lacerator

Q = Why not make Faith into a Demon Crossbow?
A = Crossbows have absolutely screwed up IAS/fpa Breakpoints and are in no way even near as fast as normal bows.







Hints & Tips on misunderstood concepts

WSG = Weapon Switch Glitch
Switching quickly between both weapon swtiches creates WSG and what it does is this:
Weapon switch animation frames will reset your FHR and Dodge Lock animations. Meaning,
that you can escape FHR/Dodge Locks by rapidly switching between both weapon setups.
Remember this, it is very important on an Amazon.

Poison Damage SCs are weak damage per second
37x 451 Poison SCs is 17,414 poison damage over 12 seconds but after modifers it is much much lower.
First of all, subtract 75% poison resistance. This results in 4,354 poison damage over 12 seconds.
Now apply the PvP damage modifier which reduces all attacks 17% of their original damage. This results in 741 damage over 12 seconds,
Which is really only 62 extra damage per second. This isn't even considering someone wearing poison length reduction.
Upon this, you're sacrificing any and all + resistance, + run and + life off SCs to achieve this small amount of extra poison damage.
(Trust me when I say it isn't worth it, get yourself 3/xx/runs and 3/xx/20 lifers. You'll thank yourself in the end)

Do not use any 1-handed weapons other than Javelins in PvP
When you are carrying javelins in hand, your block speed is second only to a Paladin with Holy Shield.
When carrying other types of 1-hand weapons your block speed is worse than a naked Sorc wearing a Cracked Buckler.

Bowside to Lacerator Amp Damage Glitch
Put a Lacerator on your WS#2 (Lacerator gives 33% chance to cast Amplify Damage and 33% Open Wounds)
Fire 3-4 Guided Arrows and before they hit your target, switch over and hold the Lacerator out while the arrows hit.
When the arrows hit, they will proc the 33% Amplify Damage as well as the 33% Open Wounds.
Now switch back to your Faith and slam your opponent. (Works wonders vs BM Eshield)

Run/Walk 150%
It's always nice to have higher than 150% run if you can front it but you'll need at least 150% run in PvP for ZvA.
Escaping the attacks of a talented duelist becomes much more difficult when you start dropping bellow 150% run.

Amazon Fast Cast Rate Breakpoints
If you are playing GM and not using TMC Mod, abandon the use of Teleport in PvP entirely.
Amazons have THE WORST FCR BPs in the game, which = slow slow slow. You'll just make yourself vulnerable to namelock stomps trying to use Teleport.
Necromancers and Paladins reach 9 frame cast speed at 125% FCR. Sorceress and Barbarians reach 8 frame cast speed at 105% FCR and 7 frames at 200%.
Amazons would need 152% FCR to reach 11 frame casting and 99% FCR to reach even 12 frame casting.
You'll always be half the speed of other casters and won't be able to wear gear that grants practical damage. Tele-Zon Builds do not work in GM.
Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise has obviously never entered their *Tele-Bowa* into a JSP PvP Ladder.
There are strong reasons why you do not see Tele-Bowas competing in JSP PvP Ladders.

Matriarchal Javelins are the only option
Matriarchal Javelins have by far the best statistics out of any Javelin type.
They offer the most average damage between 1-handed and throwing
as well as grant up to +3 Javelin Skills. The are also the fastest Javelin.







ZvA PvP Tips & Pointers
You are only as good as your competition


Bowazon vs Zon

Understand immediately that Guided Arrow is > than Multi-Shot.
Multi-Shot has a very limited range and really should only be used in times of absolute desperation or team PvP.
Guided Arrow has almost twice the range that Multi-Shot has and this is how you kill at range in Bowazon vs Bowazon duels.
Multi-Shot will only burn precious mana and arrows.

Learn when to weapon switch between Bow-Side and Jav-Side.
75% Blocking with 70% avoid and 50% Damage Reduction is how you avoid dying when a volley of arrows comes your way.
Remember that while RUNNING you only have 1/3rd of your total block rate but while WALKING you have the full 75%.
Learn when to push R and walk so that you can benefit from full Max Block %

When another zon gets too close, always switch to Jav-Side so you can block.
This is when to use Lightning Fury as your primary attack source and god willing Jab if you can get close enough.
Jab is very powerful in Bowazon vs Bowazon because it attacks twice as fast as any other attack and deals damage quickly.
If you can get close to another Bowazon and catch her with her with bow-side out, Jab is certainly the way to gain the upper hand.
This tactic is especially important if you have a stronger set of Javelins than the other Bowazon.
In this case you can *Bully* the other zon by repeatedly charging in with jab and then namelocking with lightning fury.
When the other zon is forced to retreat you can then switch and namelock with Guided Arrows as they run. This = win.
However, Keep in mind that this requires a bit of expertise on when to run and when to walk.
Zigging and Zagging is also important and knowing how your opponent moves. This takes practice.

If you aren't firing your bow, always have your Jav-Side Shield up. This is how you don't get hit.

Against Charged Strikers:
Simple, if you have more fast/run than the CSer you win. If you have less fast run/walk than the CSer you lose.
If you find this simple equation to be wrong, then you are not playing your Bowazon correctly.

If the CSer is using Far Cast Mod it's even simpler. T-God, Wisp, Wisp, Fade, Cleglaws Pincers, Riphook = Shut The Cheater Down



Bowazon vs Sorceress

The only real threat of the Sorceress world is a Blizzard Sorc. Due to Bowazons NOT having teleport, Blizzard can be pretty nasty candy indeed.
You will need to learn when to pre-empatively move before the Blizzard is cast to begin with. DO NOT ever stop to fire until you see a fresh Blizzard cast.
This makes it so you will have the optimal amount of time to stand and fire before the Sorc's timer is ready to cast another Blizzard.

Try using Multi-Shot and even Strafe if the Sorc is hugging the outsides of your screen but remember to not fire until she casts a Blizzard
and you have moved out of the way to get open shots. There are exceptions to this tactic but keep this in mind as a rule of thumb.

Fire and Lightning Sorcs will provide little to no challenge if you have built your zon correctly and know how to use it.



Bowazon vs Necromancer

Considering the Necromancer is playing GM and is not using Bone Prisons and Decrep, this match-up is fairly balanced.
Learning how to duel as ZvN is difficult at first but here is how to make it easier.

Use Multi-Shots and Strafing while the Necro is on his approach towards you from offscreen. This helps you to drop his Clay Golem before he gets too close.
If Clay Golem lands a hit on you with it's Slow Target %, you gain heavy heavy disadvantage and probably won't win the match. It is crucially important that
you learn to avoid the Clay Golem vs good Necros. If a Necro seems to be good at getting his Clay Golem to hit you, try using your Jav-Side switch.
This will make it much more difficult for the Golem to hit you. Lightning Fury is harder to aim than Guided Arrow but with practice, you'll aim just fine.

Do not let Necromancers stay offscreen for very long. They can spam Invisible Bone Spirits and hit you from across the Blood Moor. your best bet
is actually to chase them and make sure you keep them in a pressured stance.

BM Necromancers... This is terrible vs Bowazons. If you are Bone Prisoned, your best bet is to use Multi-Shot to knock it down. If Bone Spirits are
comming at you while stuck in the Prison, just run around in little circles within the prison and you should be able to avoid them.
If you are Decrepified... There isn't much to do but to try and run to town. If the Necro jumps you while you are Decrepified Jab is actually your best bet
because it has very high IAS and might actually allow you to kill the nec if he gets close enough and you manage to land the first hit before he hits you.
If the nec is BMing with Summons, use Jab. Jab can target under the Summons HP bars and namelock the Necro directly. This tactic requires serious precision
and caution but can work if you mount a tricky enough of an attack.

Remember to use Slow Missles Slow Missles Slow Missles!



Bowazon vs Druid

You can duel a fair to good druid with your bow out the entire match but Great Druids are another story.
Against a Great Druid you will need to keep your Jav-Side up. This is so his Bear/Wolves cannot immediately swing and dodge lock you upon his first stomp.
You'lll need to drop his Bear/Wolves with Lightning Fury to expose him as the only target. When the Druid is exposed, switch back to Bow-Side and deal damage.

Having your Stormshield out provides the 50% DR and helps for tanking the Tornados/Summons but this is not enough.
You will need to develop a keen sense of how to interpret your opponents movements.
A bit of advice is to never run upward unless you know you have a breather to do so.
Running upward makes you vulnerable to dodge locks when the Druid stomps you.
Also, don't get yourself pinned against a wall. Avoid this at all costs. Frequent WSGing helps to escape sticky situations.



Bowazon vs Paladin

Against Blessed Hammer = Run and GA, Run and GA, Run and GA. Don't ever fire more than 1 arrow in a row.
*Shoot 1 - Move - Shoot 1 - Move* This helps vs stomping.
Once again, do not walk upward unless you know you have a clear moment to do so, otherwise your going to get dodge locked.

Against Desynching Hammerdins = Same strategy applies but add this rule of thumb,
*Do not stop to fire until AFTER the Hammerdin undesynchs and you know where he is*
Until you know exactly where he is, just keep moving so that he can't invisibly stomp you.
Desynching Hammerdins look like they are still Charging around but in reality, they are teleporting at you from off-screen.
With experience, you'll learn to avoid this tactic. Don't ever stop moving until you have a better idea of where the Paladin is.

Against FoH and Auras = The best you can do vs FoH is wear 1x wisp and hope you have decently stacked res.
Just stand still and fire GA's right back at him. When you are standing still you get full Avoid % and the FoHer will have a difficult time hitting you with FoH.
When they realize this, they usually resort to hybrid tactics involving Charging/Smiting (See below).
Vs Elemental Auras is pretty much the same idea. Try to namelock the Paladin with GA, if he is too fast on foot to hit, try spamming Multi-Shots that he cannot avoid.
Auradins have low defense rating.

Against Charging/Smiting = Keep your Jav-Side up. Throw Lightning Fury at them. When they get too close,
take a step back and do it again. Basically what you are trying to do is to stay out of his melee/smite range.
Never have your bow-side switch on while the Paladin is Charging/Smiting, this will result in you losing.

Against Good V/Ts and other Paladin Hybrids= Keep all of these fundamental techniques in mind and utilize them
but remember that the one *key* to beating a good Paladin Hybrid is this:
Pressure him, don't let him pressure you. If you let the Paladin lead your weapon switching, he will eventually figure out how to manipulate your movement.
You absolutely must learn how to lead the Paladin's techniques and his movements.
If you can force a Hammerdin to start charging, and force a Charger to start FoHing, you'll have the upper hand, always.



Bowazon vs Barbarian

Once the duel starts, you're going to have about 3 seconds to fire GAs out towards the Barbarian before he is up in your face,
forcing you to keep Jav-Side up. At this point, it's all about Lightning Fury. When a Barbarian begins his teleport animation,
run towards his positon. 9/10 times this results in not getting hit by the WW because you will be running 180 degrees away from where he lands
and the line he is WWing in. If he happens to land a good WW and begins hitting you, stand still and fire Furys at him until his WW passes
and you have a moment to run to a new position and regroup yourself.
If the Barb is good at performing tight WWs you are going to have to push R and walk to escape his WWing.
Now this sounds alot easier than it actually is. You'll learn that practicing your fancy footwork will becomes vitaly important in Zon vs Barb.

Having a high-powered set of Rare Ethereal Cruel Rep Quantity Matriarchal Javelins becomes incredibly important vs Barbarians.
You'll never beat the best Barbs withought them, Titans do not hit anywhere near hard enough to threaten a Great Barbarian.

Also, vs extremely tanked out Barbarians, Wear Gore Rider over War Traveler.
The 10% Open Wounds actually becomes important when a target takes 100x Direct Javelin throws to kill.

WSGing is very important to escape Stun Locking from Tight Leaping in Team Duels.



Bowazon vs Assassin

It's always the hardest GM duel for a Bowa when you're placed against a Great Trapper or Ghost. Trappers who excel at Mind Blasting and Chain Locking
force Amazons to retreat so they can line themselves back up with a good shot. This often results in running around the Blood Moor WSGing just to survive
but never being able to stop to fire withought being immediately re-locked in Mind Blasts.
Ghosts on the other hand, are very dangerous because the IAS on dual claw WWing is capable of getting consequative back-to-back hits faster than
your Amazon's block frames can block another hit. Thus, the Assassin's WWs go under block frames and always hit if they get 2x hits in a row.

Against Trappers = Spam Multis in the direction of the Assassin when it is offscreen, try to interpret where it is moving to and pre-spam that area.
This helps deal damage before the Assassin even gets within close range. It also helps drop the Shadow Master before she gets close.
Shadow Master is actually a significant portion of what makes an Assassin ridiculous to deal with. You want to drop the Shadow Master ASAP.
Depending on where the Assassin lands when she teleports onto your screen, depends on how to best handle the situation:
(A) lands on the outskirts of your screen -- Strafe her down with right click and as she is beginning to get knocked back off screen, left click namelock her with GA.
(B) lands mid-way between your screen's border and your character -- Quickly Click the ground with GAs or try for namelock,
to get a few cheap punches in before you are forced to WSG away.
(C) lands too close to you -- Jab Jab Jab, WSG up to her before too many traps are set and Gain control with Jab.
Jab has very fast IAS and this will 9/10 times result in the Assassin retreating.
*Just make sure to do this FAST before too many traps are set*

Make sure to keep your Valkyries and Decoys summoned whenever you get a chance to recast.
They play an absolutely vital role in distracting Lightning Sentrys and Shadow Masters.

Also, if you really want to get a cheap win on Trappers, carry a swappable pair of Cleglaw's Pincer's with you.
The 25% Slow Target ruins the Trapper's recast speed on her traps.
You'll have a much easier time winning vs the Trapper but I am sure she won't appreciate this ><

WSG your way out of Mind Blasting, it's the only way.

Against Ghosts = This here is the hardest pressure possible against a good Bowa.
Amazons have comparable durability to that of a 6k Barbarian due to high dodges/avoids.
Though this does not hold true vs Venom and Open Wounds. The 2k HP pre-BO on an Amazon,
just doesn't stand up well against Venom/Open Wounds like a Barbarian or Hammerdin with nearly 6k HP.
Not to mention that Ghosts are so fast that they easily go under the Amazon's block frames and always hit.

Vs fair to good Ghosts you'll be able to beat them the same way you would beat a Barbarian.A really Great Ghost is another story.
You'll have an opening of about 3 seconds once the duel starts to gain the upper hand. When the Ghost begins to teleport in for it's assault,
try to land as many hits with GA as you can before she forces you into your Jav-Side shield stance. Once in your Jav-Side stance,
understand now that the Assassin is going to beat you in the long-fight of tanking/blocking/out-damaging.
You'll have to WSG your way out and hope the Ghost partially fumbles a WW stomp and gives you a moment to land a few shots with Lightning Fury or GA.

Vs Ghost is all about how much run/walk you can front on your character. If you can carry Mav Belt swap and a row of 3/20/runs for extra run vs Ghosts, all the better.




Special Thanks to these specific characters for providing extra harsh PvP challenge during East Ladder Season 7
Forcing me to evolve the knowledge of these tactics and all of the above

~ lulu ~
~ Host ~
~ Outgun ~
~ Preach ~
~ Exort ~
~ Ignore ~
~ Dive ~
~ Kaldr ~
~ Tipy ~
~ Starscream ~
~ Hate ~
~ Gengar ~

R.I.P. East Ladder Season 7
Was Very Good Duels

=/=

zon is by far my fav class and this looks great

very impressive guide

good job bro

shitty guide once again

My goodness, all guides should be this good.

So professional, very impressed!

you do not achieve max ias bp on bow side with gmb. I can only count 70 ias from the gear and you need 95 as the picture shows. please explain why this build is better than a max ias gmb is?

notice the Jeweler's Archon Plate of The Whale in the stash ^^