This guide is here to help new players that choose to play the bowman class, currently I am 12x Bowmaster playing on Khaini server, I have made this thread to anwser any questions new players may have. NOTE: this guide has a mix of information from my own personal experiences and other guides & websites, it is meant for beginners and players new to the class.

Pros

1. Flashy Skills mainly in the Ranger/Sniper stage.
2. Has the highest accuracy in the game
3. Gets soul arrow in 2nd job, allowing space saving for more pots.
4. Handles normal mobs pretty well(Puppet, hawk, Blizzard for Snipers)
5. Good mobbing skills.
6. Far ranged.
7. Confirmed as the most effective 4th job.
8. Can hit as high as warrior with double shot very early on.

Cons

1. Low health, getting 2-hit-killed by monsters at high levels ( solution )
2. Confirmed as the least popular of all the classes
3. Low damage largely due to weak damage formula
4. Very unstable damage until mastery in 2nd job
5. Not many monsters weak to fire in 3rd job
6. Gets ksed easily until 2nd job

First job advancement

The first step to being an Archer is already complete! Now that the prospective archer is on Victoria Island, or Vic for short, it’s time to head to the Job Instructor. For Archers, that’s Athena Pierce, in Henesys. The best way to get to Henesys is via the taxi. In Lith Harbor, the taxi is run by a man in a booth, near the ship.

AP distrubution
Repeat this for every other level. Use the last level to put in all the AP needed for strength.  STR should be 5 more than level, with everything else in DEX; NEVER PUT AP INTO HP, MP, INT OR LUK. At level 30 (and assuming perfect LUK and INT), a Hunter should have 35 STR and 127 DEX. The best AP Distribution (for hunters) is as follows:

Below is the best recommendation for all new Archers:

• 3 The Blessing of Amazon
• 8 The Eye of Amazon
• 20 Critical Shot
• 1 Arrow Blow
• 20 Double Shot
• 9 Focus ( max this later with saved points from not wasting in PKB & FA)
  

Second job advancement

Upon reaching level 30, return to Henesys. Talk to Athena Pierce, and she’ll send you off to the Second Job Instructor, who is located outside of Henesys on the path to Sleepywood. She will send you to an ant tunnel type setting, where weakened Evil eyes and strengthened Zombie Mushrooms roam. It’s advisable to bring a number of potions, as this can take a while depending on luck. Three Arrow Blows or Double Shots per monster should do the trick. There are a fixed number of monsters on this map, so bring a melee weapon in case they respawn in an inconvenient location. The goal is to collect 30 Dark Marbles. If the test taker leaves the arena, either by changing channels or talking to the Instructor, all marbles are lost and the test must be restarted. Once these marbles are collected (a fairly simple task), talk to the Job instructor again. She will give you a medal and return you to the normal world. Take the medal to Athena, and be sure to know the second job to choose. She will ask whether the successful Archer wants to become a Hunter, who specializes in Bows, or a Crossbowman, whose name is self-explanatory. Choose the appropriate job, and be prepared to get another big boost in power. Go ahead and have some fun by putting the first point into Arrow Bomb or Iron Arrow.

My build recommendation:

• 30:  1 Arrow Bomb
• 31:  3 Mastery
• 32:  3 Mastery
• 33:  3 Mastery
• 34:  3 Mastery
• 35:  3 Mastery
• 36:  2 Mastery, 1 Arrow Bomb
• 37:  3 Arrow Bomb
• 38:  3 Arrow Bomb
• 39:  3 Arrow Bomb
• 40:  3 Arrow Bomb

1. DO MAX mastery (due to a 4th job skill Bow expertise requiring 20 points into it)
2. DO MAX soul arrow & bow booster
3. PKB & FA don't waste points in these skills

I do not think PKB ( power knock back ) is worth the points, it is helpful to knock back enemies if your poor trying to save on pots, but if you got the money to burn on pots then it is not a useful skill at all, especially when you reach 4th job you get dragon pulse which instantly knocks back 4 enemies and is very strong with one point into it.  Save the points and put them into focus, if you have alot of points left over after maxing the important things then stick em in there just so you have another move to play around with, and sometimes it is fun pkbing stuff to death.

Training tips

30+ If your training in Ant Tunnel 1 far right of the map before Ant tunnel 2, get Arrow Bomb earlier this will help you level quickly.

Using warrior & speed pills will significantly increase your leveling speed

Warrior Pill - Effects: Weapon Attack +5

Available from:

• Buy for 570 mesos at Ludibrium Potion Shop or from Gumball Machine.

Speed Pill - Effects: Speed +10

Available from:

• Buy for 475 mesos from Gumball Machine.
• Buy for 500 mesos at Ludibrium Potion Shop.

Bowman gear on a budget ( requirements level 30 )

Ryden - Req Stats: STR 35, DEX 95 - Weapon Att.: 45 (40-50) - No. of upgrades available: 7

Available from:

• Buy for 150,000 mesos at Orbis Weapon Store, Ludibrium Weapon Store or Aqua Road Weapon Store.
• Synthesized by Vicious of Henesys with 5 Steels, 5 Golds, 3 Emeralds, 2 Topazs, 30 Screws, and 30,000 mesos.
• Forged by Rydole of Toy Factory <Aparatus Room> with 1 Bow Production Manual, 1 Bow Production Stimulator (optional), 5 Steel Plates, 5 Gold Plates, 3 Emeralds, 3 Topazs, 30 Screws and 15,000 mesos.

Scroll for Bow for ATT - Effects: Success rate: 100%, weapon attack +1

Available from:

• Buy for 69,000 mesos from Vega.
• Buy for 70,000 mesos from El Moth or Barun.

Blue Sauna Robe (M) - Effects: Avoidability +10 (10-12) - No. of upgrades available: 10

Available from:

• Acquire this item according to your character's gender by completing Mr. Wetbottom’s Secret Book (Level 30 Quest)

Scroll for Overall Armor for DEX - Effects: Success rate: 100%, DEX +1

Available from:

• Buy for 35,000 mesos from Tulcus.

Work Gloves - Weapon Def.: 2 (1-3) - No. of upgrades available: 5

Available from:

• Synthesized by JM from tha Streetz with 15 Leathers and 1,000 mesos.
• Acquire this item according to your class by completing Nella & Kerning City Citizen's Request [1] (Level 15) {3rd Request} (Beginner class only).

Scroll for Gloves for DEX - Effects: Success rate: 100%, accuracy +1

Available from:

• Buy for 34,000 mesos from Vega.
• Buy for 35,000 mesos from Barun.

Green Snowshoes - Weapon Def.: 18 - No. of upgrades available: 7

Available from:

• Buy for 29,000 mesos at El Nath Armor Store.

Scroll for Shoes for DEX - Effects: Success rate: 100%, Avoidability +1

Available from:

• Buy for 34,000 mesos from Vega.
• Buy for 35,000 mesos from Tulcus, El Moth or Barun.

Green Bamboo Hat - Weapon Def.: 15 - Effects: DEX +3 - No. of upgrades available: 7

Available from:

• A chance to acquire this item by completing Kerning City's Party Quest (Level 21-30).

Scroll for Helmet for HP - Effects: Success rate: 100%, MaxHP +5

Available from:

• Buy for 35,000 mesos from Tulcus or Barun.

Emerald Earrings - Magic Def.: 10 (8-12) - No. of upgrades available: 5

Available from:

• A chance to acquire this item by completing Kerning City's Party Quest (Level 21-30) or Alex the Runaway Kid (Level 20) quest.

 Third job advancement

The third job advancement is one of the most important in the game, but for different reasons. For the first and second job advancements, choices are made as to which weapons the character will specialize in. This is the first time that the advancement provides no choices. On the other hand, the Third Job advancement is the first major boost in power. The skills are far more powerful than any previous job, and the test harder. This advancement is made at level 70 in El Nath.

After leveling to 70, go to El Nath, and find the building on the main map called "El Nath: Chief's Residence". Talk to Rene, who is holding a bow behind her back. She will send the prospective Ranger or Sniper to Victoria Island to talk to Athena Pierce, the always helpful Archer leader. She will send the ranger- or sniper-to-be to find a secret map called "the Path of Glittering Crystal" located in another dimension to fight her evil clone. To get there, find the Door of Dimension in Sleepy Dungeon, map five. (Note: This is NOT the portal in the Ant Tunnel Park. That is for warriors.) After being warped in, proceed down the path until arriving at "The Other Dimension". Here, Athena Pierce's dark clone is located. She will summon Tauromaci, so be careful. She uses a one arrow Strafe attack which can be fairly dangerous, however she possesses no moves that can kill an Archer in one hit, so pay attention and be diligent and the fight will be easy. When defeated, Athena will drop a Black Charm.

Take this to the REAL Athena Pierce to receive the Necklace of Strength. Now, return to El Nath with the Necklace. Give it to Rene upon arrival, and she will send the almost-Ranger or -Sniper on to the second part of the test. To do this, a complete Dark Crystal is needed. These can be refined by Pi of Ludibrium. Now, walk up to Sharp Cliff II, and find a door hidden on the right side of the map, near the top. Go through it to enter the Holy Grounds at the Snowfield. Walk down to the bottom and talk to the Crystal NPC. It will ask a series of questions. If any are missed, it will take the Dark Crystal and the quiz will have to be restarted. After the fifth question, a Necklace of Wisdom will be awarded. Take this back to Rene (Note: Return to Town scrolls cannot be used in the Holy Grounds map.) The third job advancement is now complete! Enjoy the powers of the Ranger, for hunters, and Snipers, for Crossbowmen. Remember to spend your 5 AP and 1 SP.

ANWSERS TO QUIZ HERE

If you find any mistakes let me know...

From level 30-40 I leveled in Dungeon: Ant Tunnel I

the very end of the map before it changes into Ant Tunnel 2, its good spot because you can use arrow bomb effectively down there, it was pretty quick leveling.

Try to get your self a good 6-10 attack work glove if you can't afford one try to get a dex glove, and check http://www.hidden-street.net

for quest for your level that will give good rewards so you can make some good money if your broke.  Also buy the 500 meso pills in Ludi they will give you a big boost in your damage, if your confused about how your gear should be just ask.

You haven't messed up your archer its perfect heres what you should have by 30:

• 3 The Blessing of Amazon
• 8 The Eye of Amazon
• 20 Critical Shot
• 1 Arrow Blow
• 20 Double Shot
• 9 Focus

From 20-30 you could try Kerning PQ & pig beach, also try doing a few quest so you can get some EXP & money which is very helpful in the low levels so you can buy yourself a attack work glove.

Red Dahlia (Level 20, Bowman Only) (a 60% scroll for glove dex)

To check the rewards of other quest for your level find them here: http://global.hidden-street.net/quests/questall.php#quest1120

 Just save the shirt till you level, and increase your strength to the current level requirement of your bow, so if there is a bow you see you want, make sure you strength will be at that level when you get to that level.  
 

Hmm level 47, personally I trained all the way up to 50 on pink teddies( no one bothers you and the spawn is good) then I moved out to zombies in el nath.  Try to get yourself a dex cape, dex earrings and boots and use weapon attack pills to increase your damage.  
 

I wouldn't know, I have never equipped a xbow to my bowman o.o

The only differences between xbow and bow is the speed and damage, xbow slower and stronger, bow faster and weaker.  But personally I cannot remember if its possible to equipped a xbow as a bowman, I believe I have but that was back in 06' I haven't done it in so long, as I have 4 strength so I can only equipped 1 bow and thats the Bow of Magical Destruction.  Sorry not much help on this, but there is a damage calculator here http://forum.nexon.net/MapleStory/forums/www.ironarrows.com