Ranger Headshot question.

It's been a long time since I've played EQ and I have a question about Ranger Headshot. When I last played, Daybreak was making changes to how headshot works. As I remember, the changes were still being tuned when I left so I have no idea what the final state of the AA ended up being. Can someone please bring me up to speed on how it currently works?

Also, I remember something about bow shots breaking snare and or root, but my memory is fuzzy on that.

Thanks, Dex.

It works by shooting a mob flagged as "humanoid" or using an arrow spell. The only real change I can think of is now the AE arrow spells can only HS the targeted mob.

AA's raise the level of mob it affects and the base amount of damage. Which currently at rank 37/37 is Level 119 mobs and 308,000 dmg. On parse I see a lot of 3 million crits and a couple 10 million lucky crits. Not bad dmg, but mobs I was killing have 50 million hp.

Snare isn't an effect that can be broken, but yes root is. Root can break early on it's own, but generally it's spells or procs. I don't believe our actual shooting of them break it, though can't remember the last time I did an ol' root-n-shoot

Archery alone can break root.

I do not recall the exact timeline, but basically, when they made Banestrike into a proc, they also changed it so that procs do not break root. While this made certain ranger archery buff proc AA’s useful, they also made it so that archery alone can break root, basically moving the break chance from the proc to the base attack.

Headshot now only works with AE arrow spells like Whirlwind of Arrows and not Focused Whirlwind of Arrows??

No it works for both. That player is referencing the old way of headshotting was to use the directional AE arrow spell and it would HS any mob in the path. They changed the AE to only work on the current mob years ago.

Ahh ok, misread that, thanks!

poison arrows dont break root but thundering blades and the procs off bow like spike of ice etc can break root

Thanks for the replies on this. The changes that were being made when I last played were in 2018 I believe. The main one I think I recall correctly is normal archery shots breaking root. My memory isn't what it once was though, so I could be very wrong.

The AoE shots only firing headshot on current target I remember from before. Also, it looks like Headshot can only proc twice a minute now if I understand correctly. That change seems to suggest that the fastest bows are no longer as big a deal as they once were. Would it be fair to say that a bow with say 24 delay would likely proc twice a minute as often as a 17 delay now?

Nooo, you can absolutely light a humanoid up with all activated abilities running. Particularly imbued ferocity (1: Increase Proc Modifier by 10000%) which makes you headshot like a machine gun. My combat dummies go IMMUNE out of self-preservation because it hits so hard, so fast. I'd wager any ranger with the right AA's, regardless of bow speed or gear, could score 20+ HS's in one minute.

Previously, they mega nerfed the HS rate where even raid level rangers were getting that 2ish procs per minute. Due to stat increases over time, that rate has gone back up, its on par or better than before the proc rate change.

If you are leveling up, it makes the TBM armor more compelling to use if you can afford it, as it will get better heroics overall.

some of this info is wrong:
With full bow AA's a 'normal' headshot hits for about 3m damage. With Called shots on the target its just north of 4m.

There is no limit to the number of procs per minute. I've gotten 4 off a single arrow rain.
With Pureshot running, you can headshot for 7-8m against a rooted or in-motion mob.
Raid mobs seem to heavily mitigate headshot. (by about half) but depending on target type can still be hit.

1/15/2022 18:50:28 You activate Pureshot Discipline Rk. III.
1/15/2022 18:50:28 You shoot Pli Senshali for 6680504 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:50:31 You shoot Pli Senshali for 8169203 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:50:37 You shoot Pli Senshali for 8135337 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:50:44 You shoot Pli Senshali for 8101861 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:50:47 You shoot Pli Senshali for 7321512 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:50:47 You shoot Pli Senshali for 7321512 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:50:55 You shoot Pli Senshali for 8112329 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:51:19 You shoot Zun Centien for 5821936 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:51:22 You shoot Zun Centien for 5780740 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:51:23 You shoot Zun Centien for 5207207 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:51:39 You shoot Zun Centien for 8151326 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:51:40 You shoot Zun Centien for 7321512 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:51:51 You shoot Zun Centien for 8107402 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:51:56 You shoot Zun Centien for 7290089 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:01 You shoot Zun Centien for 7290089 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:07 You shoot Zun Centien for 8403742 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:18 You shoot Zun Centien for 5573795 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:26 You shoot Zun Centien for 7803313 points of damage. (Strikethrough Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:35 You shoot Zun Centien for 7926535 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:41 You shoot Zun Centien for 7949419 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:50 You shoot Zun Centien for 7910305 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:54 You shoot Zun Centien for 7872603 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:52:56 You shoot Zun Centien for 7131503 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:06 You shoot Zun Centien for 7162926 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:24 You shoot Zun Senshali for 5653568 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:27 You shoot Zun Senshali for 5116376 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:39 You shoot Zun Senshali for 7131503 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:45 You shoot Zun Senshali for 7481331 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:46 You shoot Zun Senshali for 6662478 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:51 You shoot Zun Senshali for 6585940 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:56 You shoot Zun Senshali for 7320747 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:53:59 You shoot Zun Senshali for 6585940 points of damage. (Strikethrough Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:54:01 You shoot Zun Senshali for 7328904 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:54:13 You shoot Zun Senshali for 4726688 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:54:14 You shoot Zun Senshali for 5253606 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:54:23 You shoot Zun Senshali for 4704243 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:54:24 You shoot Zun Senshali for 5243276 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:54:27 You shoot Zun Senshali for 5232151 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 18:54:30
The natural energy fades from your bow.





1/15/2022 1:43:29 You can use the ability Pureshot Discipline Rk. III again in 19 minute(s) 21 seconds.
1/15/2022 1:43:35 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 6025118 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:35 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 6025118 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:37 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 5596240 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:37 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 6002673 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:40 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 5573795 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:43 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 5596240 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:49 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 8435165 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:04 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 8435165 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:06 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 7834736 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:07 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 8403742 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:15 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 6002673 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:20 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 7834736 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:23 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 7834736 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:24 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 7803313 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:24 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 7803313 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:40 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 6025118 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:41 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 5573795 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:46 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 5596240 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:46 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 6002673 points of damage. (Strikethrough Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:53 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 8403742 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:54 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 8403742 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:44:57 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 8118076 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:45:01 You shoot a syl ren sentinel for 8120539 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:47:25 The natural energy fades from your bow.
1/15/2022 18:50:08 You shoot Pli Senshali for 3111922 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)


Note the 2nd parse is all against tanked mobs, so should have seen a damage boost, but the mitigation takes effect. (this is trash in ME raid instance)

Against that same trash without pureshot running:

1/15/2022 1:35:03 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2874544 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:05 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2473779 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:06 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2455700 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:08 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2466969 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:16 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 3439800 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:19 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 3080631 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:25 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 3300676 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:47 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 3754165 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:50 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 4190267 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:52 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 3754165 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:55 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 3785457 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:55 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 4191852 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:35:58 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 4173258 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:00 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 4177906 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:01 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 4175054 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:02 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 3754165 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:06 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 3785457 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:34 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 2703898 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:37 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 4228953 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:38 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 4184245 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:43 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 4168292 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:36:48 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 4191324 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:04 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2447861 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:05 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2448170 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:05 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2476958 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:06 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2200722 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:09 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 3081010 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:12 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 3437145 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:12 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 3437406 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:18 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 2985049 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:23 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 2998255 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:29 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 2995387 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:31 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 2681547 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:35 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 2681547 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:37 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3015324 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:51 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4220291 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:54 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4055847 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:54 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4173363 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:54 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4503969 points of damage. (Strikethrough Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:37:58 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4170089 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:02 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3754165 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:07 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 2992973 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:10 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 2998330 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:16 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 2991464 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:19 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 3018191 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:23 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 4180337 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:24 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 3754165 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:32 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 2703898 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:32 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 2998270 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:38 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 2681547 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:39 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 2996519 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:38:45 You shoot a fyr jen flame warder for 3019474 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:39:44 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 3830703 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:39:45 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 4252528 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:39:46 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 3861995 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:39:49 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 4283035 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:39:53 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 3830703 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:39:58 You shoot a syl ren frost warder for 4265679 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:16 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4268698 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:18 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4263092 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:21 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3830703 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:22 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 4261583 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:39 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 2736217 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:41 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 3050687 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:46 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 2736217 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:40:51 You shoot a fyr jen sentinel for 4264062 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:41:39 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 4104325 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:41:43 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 4300420 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:41:46 You shoot a syl ren guardian for 3830703 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:41:54 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 2736217 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:41:57 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3055692 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:42:03 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 2420496 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:42:05 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3080631 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:42:08 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3080631 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:42:08 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3111922 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:42:09 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3430785 points of damage. (Lucky Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:42:10 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3080631 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:42:11 You shoot a syl ren frost caller for 3080631 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:14 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2703898 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:14 You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 2703898 points of damage. (Critical Headshot)
1/15/2022 1:43:19
You shoot a fyr jen guardian for 4905254 points of damage. (Strikethrough Lucky Critical Headshot)

Wow, thanks for the corrections! I've been gone less than 4 years and it seems more like 40 with how lost I am. I should have mentioned that I made a Ranger on the TLP Rizlona (currently at OoW with DoN opening 2/2/22 I believe.)

Just started leveling my Ranger, but already thinking about what my Headshot bow should be. Assuming that DoN is the current expansion when I reach 60+, can anyone recommend a good bow for HS that can be easily acquired or purchased in the Bazaar? It seems I quit with 2 Krono on the account so I'll have a little plat to spend if needed. Bow of the Destroyer may be a bit difficult for me to get.

One last thing, while I'm being a total pain with my dumb questions, is there a Ranger forum that people use besides this one? Seems like there was a good one back in the day.