The July major update for Arthdal Chronicles has finally arrived, bringing a series of class balance tweaks that have sent ripples through the community. The most striking change? The Archer, which has received a performance boost that is, frankly, astonishing. So, what exactly has shifted, and which skills should you be keeping a close eye on? We at KookminTree have done the legwork to find out.

The Archer's Major Glow-up: Which Skills Now Demand Your Attention?

Following the latest balance patch, the Archer has seen a significant buff. While there is plenty to unpack, the most immediate improvement lies in the projectile speed of core skills like Rapid Fire and Aimed Shot. Previously, the sluggish pace of these projectiles often resulted in a classic case of 'dps loss'—firing at an enemy that had already been defeated—which kept the Archer trailing behind other classes in terms of pure hunting efficiency.

Thankfully, those days are behind us. The patch has smoothed out these awkward moments, and if you can manage to secure one kill per Aimed Shot, the Archer’s hunting performance now stands toe-to-toe with any other class. Moreover, the increase in overall skill damage coefficients has made taking on higher-level monsters a much more viable prospect.

The changes to Aimed Shot are particularly radical. What was once a static, stand-still ability can now be used while moving, albeit at 60% of your movement speed for the Hero grade. It feels remarkably similar to the fluid mobility of the Dangri's Salnaeri Dance or the Stormcaster's Typhoon. Coupled with a massive 19m range, it is an ideal tool for both tactical retreats and chasing down fleeing targets.

Next on the list is the common class skill Wind Walk. At the max level of the Hero grade, the final evasion rate has jumped from 43.04% to a staggering 57%—an increase of 13.96%. Furthermore, the duration has been extended by 3 seconds, moving from 5 seconds to 8 seconds. If you build your Archer for evasion, you will find yourself dodging the vast majority of incoming enemy skills.

Beyond the active skill, the Hero-grade common passive 'Emergency Escape' associated with Wind Walk has also received a lift. Previously, Emergency Escape only cleared stuns upon using Wind Walk, but the update adds a health recovery effect: healing up to 3% of max HP per second for 5 seconds (15% total at max level). It is effectively a life-saver, mirroring the regenerative properties of the Blood of Projection.

The Archer: A Surprisingly Potent Sub-Class

Historically, players have given the Archer sub-class a wide berth. However, thanks to the massive buffs to Wind Walk, it has become a top recommendation for PvP. With a 57% evasion rate at max Hero grade and the 15% health recovery from Emergency Escape, it is hard to ignore the utility on offer.

The Archer works as a versatile secondary choice for almost any class. Warriors and Fighters can leverage it for better positioning and survival, while Dual Swordsmen or Stormcasters can push their evasion stats to the limit. Beyond that, the Archer boasts a solid toolkit of common passives: Sharp Arrow (+10 defense weapon attack), Archer's Ruthlessness (+2 all crit damage), Advanced Archer's Onslaught (+2 attack), Flow (increased final damage/crit rate), Archer's Might (+4% all damage), Rare Archer's Onslaught (+4 attack), Hero Archer's Insight (+6 crit), and Archer's Hardiness (6% reduced incoming damage).

A quick word of caution: if you want to run Archer as a sub-class, having the Hero-grade Wind Walk and Emergency Escape is non-negotiable. If you haven't unlocked those yet, you are likely better off sticking with the Fighter, Dangri, or Stormcaster. Also, keep in mind that while the Archer sub-class shines in PvP, if your focus remains strictly on hunting, the Dangri’s ability to reset curses is arguably still the superior choice. Choose based on your available skills and personal playstyle.