BOOM! HEADSHOT!!! (a hunter guide)

I was bored so I thought I might as well make a guide on my 2nd favorite class in the game, hunters.
THE Q AND A
Q: What is a hunter?
A: A hunter is the Fury side of an archer.
Q: Why should I play a hunter?
A: Hunters are a ranged class. They K.O. things without being touched (at higher lvls)
Q: Isn't the pagon the best ranged class?
A: IMO not really. Hunters can actually kill and take some damage as well. Pagons (with the wrong build) can easily die in under a minute fighting high lvl mobs or lighty.
Q: Do hunters have AOE skills?
A: Yes, but only a few. Hunters are mainly a solo class just like a sin.

Onto the real info
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
Ask yourself this:
Do I have time?
Do I like to solo?
Can I kite properly?
Do I want to be badass?
If you answered yes to all those questions then a hunter is perfect for you.

Hunters, as I said above, are a solo class. Yes they might have some aoe skills, but that doesn't mean you should tank 10+ mobs. Let the guards and warriors handle that. Lvling a hunter takes time because you are killing 1 at a time. Be patient. Alot of the hunter skills can kill something easily, but I'll get to that later.

MODE
So what mode should you choose? Well I really don't recommend playing in NM because there's not alot of room for experimenting. So I suggest HM or UM.
NM: 5 Stat points
HM: 7 Stat points
UM: 9 Stat points (NOTE DELETION UPON DEATH, SO DON"T DIE)

STATS
Here are the basic stats in Shaiya
STR: Basically how hard you hit
REC: How much of a beating you can take
WIS: How much of a magical beating you can take, also how much Mana you get
DEX: Rate of evasion and hits
INT: How strong your magic hits are (note: you have none)
LUC: All around stat, increase evasion, hit rate, damage, and critical hit rate

Now which stats are important to a hunter? Depends on your build.

BUILDS
Here are some common hunter builds:
STR/DEX build
REC build
LUC build

STR/DEX build: obviously the most used build for a hunter. Good damage, good hit rates, able to take a beating. Go with 5/2 STR/DEX for damage or the other way around for evasions and better hits.
REC build: I've never tried this 1 before, but I've heard about it. Mainly its using the few aoe skills you get and all the REC and/or DEX to tank mobs while you pair up with a nuker. This is used so you lvl pretty faster since your with a nuker then restating once you reached a desired lvl. Go with 4/3 REC/DEX for hp, defense, evasions, and being able to hit with your aoes.
LUC build: This build by far IMO is the best for a hunter, BUT it takes time and practice to master it. Many people say you don't need DEX for this build, but they are wrong. You need DEX to hit. If your a lvl 40-50 pure LUC hunter with no DEX then you won't be hitting 2000-4000 crits like the same lvl 40-50 pure LUC hunter with considerable DEX. I'm currently doing a 5/2 LUC/DEX build but you can freestyle it as you go. My plan is to get at least 180-240 DEX around 400-480 LUC then the rest into STR. I've seen people follow this common stat placement and they crit like CRAZY.

Next up is the skills
SKILLS
A hunter has many skills, yes, but they all contribute to 1 thing, killing your target from a distance.
Here's a list I've composed of.
PASSIVE:

Body Training

Level 1 - Raises basic physical defense power by 9 (available at lvl 5 ) costs 2 skill points
Level 2 - Raises basic physical defense power by 18 (available at lvl 28 ) costs 3 skill points
Level 3 - Raises basic physical defense power by 27 (available at lvl 49 ) costs 4 skill points

You don't really need this, but if your scared of death then go ahead.

Bow Power Up

Level 1 - Raises attack power by 05 when a Bow is equipped (available at lvl 5 ) costs 2 skill points
Level 2 - Raises attack power by 12 when a Bow is equipped (available at lvl 16 ) costs 3 skill points
Level 3 - Raises attack power by 20 when a Bow is equipped (available at lvl 25 ) costs 4skill points

Depends if you will use a bow or a javlien. Max to lvl 3.

Projectile Power Up

Level 1 - Raises the attack power by 5 when a Javlien or is equipped (available at lvl 5 ) costs 2 skill points
Level 2 - Raises the attack power by 12 when a Javlien or is equipped (available at lvl 16 ) costs 3 skill points
Level 3 - Raises the attack power by 20 when a Javlien or is equipped (available at lvl 25 ) costs 4 skill points

Depends if you will use a javlien or a bow. Max to lvl 3.

Relax Body

Level 1 - Regenerates HP, MP, and SP by 4% each for 3 seconds during break (available at lvl 6 ) costs 1 skill point
Level 2 - Regenerates HP, MP, and SP by 6% each for 3 seconds during break (available at lvl 15 ) costs 2 skill points
Level 3 - Regenerates HP, MP, and SP by 8% each for 3 seconds during break (available at lvl ?? ) costs 2 skill points

Max to lvl 3. Faster healing = more kills.

Backpack Upgrade

Level 1 - Allows you to have 3 tabs in your inventory (available at lvl 12 ) costs 1 skill point
Level 2 - Allows you to have 4 tabs in your inventory (available at lvl 26 ) costs 2 skill points
Level 3 - Allows you to have 5 tabs in your inventory (available at lvl 46 ) costs 2 skill points

Saves time of taking trips over and over. Max to lvl 3.

Interpretation

Level 1 - Allows you to understand 30% of what the furies say in PvP (available at lvl 13 ) costs 1 skill point
Level 2 - Allows you to understand 60% of what the furies say in PvP (available at lvl 22 ) costs 2 skill points
Level 3 - Allows you to understand all of what the furies say in PvP (available at lvl 51 ) costs 2 skill points

If you plan to PvP I would max this skill to lvl 3. If you don't plan on PvPing then there is no point in getting this skill.

Bow Mastery

Level 1 - Ability that increases the player's attacking speed by one level when a bow is equipped (available at lvl 14) costs 3 skill points
Level 2 - Ability that increases the player's attacking speed by one level when a bow is equipped (available at lvl 35) costs 5 skill points

Max to lvl 2 if using bow.

Projectile Mastery

Level 1 - Ability that increases the player's attacking speed by one level when a crossbow is equipped (available at lvl 14) costs 3 skill points
Level 2 - Ability that increases the player's attacking speed by two levesl when a crossbow is equipped (available at lvl 35) costs 5 skill points
Level 3 - Ability that increases the player's attacking speed by three levels when a crossbow is equipped (available at lvl 50) costs 7 skill points

Max to lvl 3 if using javlien.

BASIC:

Town Portal

Skill Point Cost: 0
Resource Usage: none
Recharge Time: 10 sec

Level 1 - Teleports you to the nearest town/dungeon entrance. Cast time of 10 seconds. (available at lvl 1)
Level 2 - Teleports you to the nearest town/dungeon entrance. Cast time of 9 seconds. (available at lvl 20)
Level 3 - Teleports you to the nearest town/dungeon entrance. Cast time of 8 seconds. (available at lvl 40)

Free and its faster than typing /town. Max.

Sharp Shooter

Recharge Time: none

Level 1 - Buff that increases shooting accuracy by 5% for 5 minutes (available at lvl 2 ) costs 2 skill points - uses 60 MP and 5 SP
Level 2 - Buff that increases shooting accuracy by 12% for 5 minutes (available at lvl 19 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 144 MP and 20 SP
Level 3 - Buff that increases shooting accuracy by 21% for 5 minutes (available at lvl 45 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 400 MP and 45 SP

Makes you shoot much more accurately. Max to lvl 3.

Slow

De-buff that decreases an opponent's moving and attack speed with a fixed success rate of 70%

Range: 24m
Recharge Time: 60 sec

Level 1 - Slows enemy for 6 seconds (available at lvl 3 ) costs 2 skill points - uses 80 SP
Level 2 - Slows enemy for 9 seconds (available at lvl 17 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 200 SP
Level 3 - Slows enemy for 12 seconds (available at lvl 30 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 315 SP

Really useful skill in both PvE and PvP. Max to lvl 3.

Long Range

Recharge Time: none
Skill Point Cost: 3

Level 1 - Buff that increases the range of attack by 3 meters for 5 minutes (available at lvl 4 ) - uses 65 MP and 5 SP
Level 2 - Buff that increases the range of attack by 4 meters for 5 minutes (available at lvl 18 ) - uses 140 MP and 15 SP
Level 3 - Buff that increases the range of attack by 5 meters for 5 minutes (available at lvl 31 ) - uses 244 MP and 30 SP

More range, more pain. Max.

Shot Pointer

De-buff that decreases an opponent's shooting defense power for 30 seconds.

Recharge Time: 30 sec

Level 1 - Decreases targets shooting defense by 25, range of 27m (available at lvl 7 ) costs 2 skill points - uses 5 MP and 35 SP
Level 2 - Decreases targets shooting defense by 50, range of 29m (available at lvl 23 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 25 MP and 85 SP
Level 3 - Decreases shooting defense of all mobs within 10m of target by 75, range of 32m (available at lvl 32 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 30 MP and 115 SP

Not really useful IMO, so I'd skip this.

Big Coup

Buff that helps the player to successfully accomplish physical and shooting attack regardless of the targets DEX.

Recharge time: 600 sec (10 min)

Level 1 - Buff that lasts 30 seconds (available at lvl 18 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 35 MP and 80 SP
Level 2 - Buff that lasts 40 seconds (available at lvl 27 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 50 MP and 115 SP
Level 3 - Buff that lasts 60 seconds (available at lvl 37 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 65 MP and 150 SP

Increases your shooting accuracy AND your evasion rate. Good for both PvE and PvP. Max.
COMBAT:

Piercing Shot

Skills that deals fixed damage regardless of target's defense and imobilizes the target for 3 seconds.

Range: 24m
Skill Point Cost: 3

Level 1 - Deals 58 damage, recharge time of 30 sec. (available at lvl 1 ) - uses 45 SP
Level 2 - Deals 112 damage, recharge time of 30 sec. (available at lvl 15 ) - uses 105 SP
Level 3 - Deals 239 damage, recharge time of 25 sec. (available at lvl 30 ) - uses 180 SP

If you PvP then max. If you don't then get lvl 1 at least.

Rapid Shot

Range: 24m
Recharge Time: 18 sec

Level 1 - Wounds target for 2 times basic damage (available at lvl 8 ) costs 2 skill points - uses 45 SP
Level 2 - Wounds target for 3 times basic damage (available at lvl 24 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 90 SP
Level 3 - Wounds target for 3 times basic damage +80 additional damage for every successful hit (available at lvl 45 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 200 SP

Good skill all-around. Max to lvl 3.

Wide Shot

Range: 24m
Skill Point Cost: 4
Recharge Time: 20 sec

Level 1 - wounds all mobs within 6m of target for basic damage (available at lvl 10 ) - uses 100 SP
Level 2 - wounds all mobs within 10m of target for basic damage (available at lvl 20 ) - uses 150 SP
Level 3 - wounds all mobs within 14m of target for basic damage (available at lvl 40 ) - uses 235 SP

1 of the 5 aoe skills of a hunter. You don't have to get it, but its useful for when you pull an extra mob so you kill the first 1 and damage the 2nd 1. Get lvl 1 at least.

Ballista Shot

Range: 24m
Skill Point Cost: 4
Recharge Time: 20 sec

Level 1 - wounds all mobs within 6m of target for basic damage (available at lvl 10 ) - uses 100 SP
Level 2 - wounds all mobs within 10m of target for basic damage (available at lvl 20 ) - uses 150 SP
Level 3 - wounds all mobs within 14m of target for basic damage (available at lvl 40 ) - uses 235 SP

Same as above.

Sustain Shot

Range: 24m

Level 1 - Deals damage equal to 2% of the target's current HP per cycle for 30 seconds, 30 sec recharge time (available at lvl 11 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 60 SP
Level 2 - Deals damage equal to 3% of the target's current HP per cycle for 40 seconds, 30 sec recharge time (available at lvl 29 ) costs 6 skill points - uses 120 SP
Level 3 - Deals damage equal to 3% of the target's current HP per cycle for 60 seconds, 20 sec recharge time (available at lvl 39 ) costs 7 skill points - uses 165 SP

Ok for PvP, but PvE its useless. Lvl you choose is up to you.

Nailed Shot

Range: 24m
Recharge Time: 8 sec

Level 1 - Deals 95 damage every 3 seconds for 12 seconds, (available at lvl 12 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 60 SP
Level 2 - Deals 144 damage every 3 seconds for 12 seconds, (available at lvl 27 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 110 SP
Level 3 - Deals ??? damage every 3 seconds for 12 seconds, (available at lvl 41 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 145 SP

Not worth your time. Skip.

Mana Shot

Range: 24m
Skill Point Cost: 3
Recharge Time: none

Level 1 - Deals basic damage and drains 194 MP from the target. (available at lvl 13 ) - uses 15 MP and 60 SP
Level 2 - Deals basic damage and drains 350 MP from the target. (available at lvl 23 ) - uses 25 MP and 100 SP
Level 3 - Deals basic damage and drains 631 MP from the target. (available at lvl 36 ) - uses 35 MP and 150 SP

Pretty good in Pvp against Magic using toons and toons that need MP to do special skills. I''d go for lvl 2 or 3.

Stamina Shot

Range: 24m
Skill Point Cost: 3
Recharge Time: none

Level 1 - Deals basic damage and drains 243 SP from the target. (available at lvl 13 ) - uses 15 MP and 60 SP
Level 2 - Deals basic damage and drains 438 SP from the target. (available at lvl 23 ) - uses 25 MP and 100 SP
Level 3 - Deals basic damage and drains 987 SP from the target. (available at lvl 36 ) - uses 35 MP and 150 SP

Really good in PvP against fighters and defenders since they need SP to do most of their skills. Max lvl 3.

Slump Shot

Level 1 - Deals basic damage and decreases targets REC by 9 and STR by 18 for 15 seconds (available at lvl 16 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 53 MP and 123 SP
Level 2 - Deals basic damage and decreases targets REC by 15 and STR by 30 and ATK speed for 15 seconds (available at lvl 37 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 108 MP and 212 SP
Level 3 - Deals basic damage and decreases targets REC by 21 and STR by 41 and ATK speed for 30 seconds (available at lvl 57 ) costs 6 skill points - uses 177 MP and 302 SP

Good skill for PvP. Get lvl 3.

Jumping Airshot

Skill Point Cost: 4
Recharge Time: 30 sec

Level 1 - wounds target for 270 regardless of its defense, range 27m (available at lvl 34 ) - uses 360 SP
Level 2 - wounds target for 500 regardless of its defense, range 28m (available at lvl 44 ) - uses 440 SP
Level 3 - wounds target for 1270 regardless of its defense, range 30m (available at lvl 54 ) - uses 560 SP

Good for PvE and great for PvP when someone gets too close. Max lvl 3.

Viper Sting Shot

A new AoE skill in EP4. It's a damage over time skill. It drains HP, MP, and SP every 3 seconds and lasts for 21 seconds.

Range: 24m
Skill Point Cost: 4
Recharge Time: none

Level 1 - Drains 185 HP, MP, and SP, AoE range of 4m around the target, (available at lvl 37 ) - uses 360 MP and 360 SP
Level 2 - Drains 401 HP, MP, and SP, AoE range of 4m around the target, (available at lvl 47 ) - uses 440 MP and 440 SP
Level 3 - Drains 503 HP, MP, and SP, AoE range of 5m around the target, (available at lvl 57 ) - uses 540 MP and 540 SP

Out of all the DOTs the hunters have, I would max this 1 for PvP. For PvE pass on it.

SPECIAL:

Shower Time

Range: 24m
Recharge Time: 600 sec (10 min)
Requirements: HM or UM

Level 1 - Wounds everyone within 10m of target for basic damage + 306 (available at lvl 33 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 165 MP and 415 SP
Level 2 - Wounds everyone within 10m of target for basic damage + 451 (available at lvl 42 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 230 MP and 525 SP
Level 3 - Wounds everyone within 10m of target for basic damage + 671 (available at lvl 53 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 320 MP and 670 SP

With the LUC build and lvl 3 this skill will easily 1 hit magic users in PvP(depending on their build) Max.

Bloody Shower

Range: 24m
Recharge Time: 600 sec (10 min)
Requirements: HM or UM

Level 1 - Wounds everyone within 10m of target for basic damage + 306 (available at lvl 33 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 165 MP and 415 SP
Level 2 - Wounds everyone within 10m of target for basic damage + 451 (available at lvl 42 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 230 MP and 525 SP
Level 3 - Wounds everyone within 10m of target for basic damage + 671 (available at lvl 53 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 320 MP and 670 SP

Same as above.

Magic Defy

Buff that negates magic attacks that would have hit you. Works like a buff that lasts 5 minutes and wears off early once you block the limited number of magic attacks.

Recharge Time: 300 sec (5 min)
Requirements: UM

Level 1 - Negates the next two magic attacks that hit you (available at lvl 11 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 75 MP and 120 SP
Level 2 - Negates the next three magic attacks that hit you (available at lvl 32 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 140 MP and 280 SP
Level 3 - Negates the next five magic attacks that hit you (available at lvl 52 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 240 MP and 430 SP

Max. This pisses magic users off and gives you enough time to kill them before help arrives.

Flash Attack (ultimate mode skill)

Recharge Time: 300 sec (5 min)
Requirements:UM

Level 1 - Increases ATK speed by 1 level for 30 seconds, (available at lvl 21 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 100 MP and 185 SP
Level 2 - Increases ATK speed by 1 level for 45 seconds, (available at lvl 34 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 145 MP and 285 SP
Level 3 - Increases ATK speed by 1 level for 60 seconds, (available at lvl 43 ) costs 5 skill points - uses 195 MP and 360 SP

Max, Max, Max. With the LUC build you will crit very high each hit and you hit as fast as a sin.


Marksman Song

Recharge Time: none

Level 1 - Increases shooting ATK and defense of party within 100m by 7 for 10 min (available at lvl 7 ) costs 2 skill points - uses 95 MP and 85 SP
Level 2 - Increases shooting ATK and defense of party within 100m by 14 for 10 min (available at lvl 24 ) costs 3 skill points - uses 220 MP and 210 SP
Level 3 - Increases shooting ATK and defense of party within 100m by 39 for 10 min (available at lvl 39 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 400 MP and 330 SP

Party buff. Max.

Bull's Eye

Level 1 - Deals basic damage + 10. recharge 25 sec (available at lvl 9 ) costs 6 skill points - uses 49 SP
Level 2 - Deals basic damage + 92. recharge 20 sec (available at lvl 27 ) costs 7 skill points - uses 104 SP
Level 3 - Deals basic damage + 208. recharge 15 sec (available at lvl 47 ) costs 8 skill points - uses 225 SP

This skill never misses so at high lvls it will be useful. Max.

Potential Viable

Level 1 - Raises movement speed by one level and critical hit rate by 8% for 30 sec when HP falls below 8% (available at lvl 17 ) costs 1 skill points
Level 2 - Raises movement speed by one level and critical hit rate by 15% for 30 sec when HP falls below 10% (available at lvl 29 ) costs 2 skill points
Level 3 - Raises movement speed by one level and critical hit rate by 25% for 30 sec when HP falls below 12% (available at lvl 50 ) costs 3 skill points

Pretty helpful if you pull too many mobs or get ganged in PvP. Max.

Absolute Attack

Recharge Time: 300 sec (5 min)

Level 1 - deals damage equal to 10% of the target's HP. (available at lvl 22 ) costs 7 skill points - uses 230 SP
Level 2 - deals damage equal to 15% of the target's HP. (available at lvl 37 ) costs 8 skill points - uses 370 SP
Level 3 - deals damage equal to 20% of the target's HP. (available at lvl 55 ) costs 9 skill points - uses 550 SP

Max lvl 3 if PvP.

Flame/Earth/Storm/Surgy Weapon

Level 1 - Over rides weapon elemental attributes and turns any weapon into the element of the buff for 5 minutes, recharge time of 5 minutes (available at lvl 31 ) costs 6 skill points - uses 440 MP and 117 SP
Level 2 - Over rides weapon elemental attributes and turns any weapon into the element of the buff for 10 minutes, no recharge time (available at lvl 50 ) costs 4 skill points - uses 540 MP and 295 SP

Changes the element of your bow/javlien. Max. Good for PvP and PvE.

Mana Decay

Skill that blows away a % of the target's max MP by spending your entire MP. Only usable when equipped with a sword. It doesn't affect Monsters.

Recharge Time: 600 sec (10 min)

Level 1 - Takes 50% of target's MP (available at lvl 36 ) costs 4 skill points
Level 2 - Ttakes 70% of target's MP (available at lvl 46 ) costs 5 skill points
Level 3 - Takes 90% of target's MP (available at lvl 56 ) costs 6 skill points

This skill uses an axe. No need to get up close and personal when you can just send them 6 ft under from miles away.

Nuke Shot

Recharge Time: 900 sec (15 min)
Requirements: HM or UM

Level 1 - Deals 2 times basic ATK and pauses target for 5 sec, cast time of 2 sec. (available at lvl 49 ) costs 8 skill points - uses 570 MP and 1230 SP
Level 2 - Deals 3 times basic ATK and pauses target for 5 sec, cast time of 1.5 sec. (available at lvl 59 ) costs 9 skill points - uses 750 MP and 1500 SP

Max. Good for emergencies.

Sleeper Ban

Skill that makes enemies sleep for a number of seconds with a melee attack. Only able to use it with a sword. The affected target falls asleep but will be awakened when damaged.

Requirements: HM or UM

Level 1 - Puts target to sleep for 6 seconds, recharge of 60 sec (available at lvl 26 ) costs 6 skill points - uses 72 MP and 165 SP
Level 2 - Puts target to sleep for 8 seconds, recharge of 55 sec (available at lvl 39 ) costs 7 skill points - uses 117 MP and 220 SP
Level 3 - Puts target to sleep for 10 seconds, recharge of 50 sec (available at lvl 51 ) costs 8 skill points - uses 154 MP and 266 SP

This skill uses an axe. Useless so pass.

Pantera Vision

Powerful Shooting skill that deals % damage of the target's max HP. The UM version of the skill deals 88% damage, the HM version deals 44% damage. Its effect is limited to some Monsters.

Recharge Time: 600 sec (10 min)
Range: 30m
Cast Time: 1 sec
Level Requirement: 60 HM/UM
Skill Point Cost: 9
Resource Usage: 800 MP and 1650 SP

PvP skill strictly. Combine this and absolute attack and you can 2 shot ANYONE. Max.

Well that just about covers the hunter's skills. Pm me if I missed anything.
This wraps up my short guide of the hunter. All from my head (I know I'm a nerd )
Now go out there and be the best badass you can be!

Thank you for the guide. I haven't played enough hunter to know much of anything about them. I look forward to reading more