I get some kills versus MAXes but its difficult versus infantry,either i have little advantage versus small vehicles. I really like this weapon but seems that versus infantry its bad. Any tips??? PD: Please dont make jokes about my K/D ratio or my xp/minute,i usually play engineer with the NS Archer as main weapon,and u cant imagine how difficult is to kill other things that not are MAXes...
Another option is to watch Wrel's review of the gun. He usually has suggested loadouts on his weapon reviews videos.
There is no getting good against infantry with it. - You kill Maxes. - You scare away anything else (also scare maxes occasionally). I see it as a 'Bee-sting' type of gun. Everything in game can be damage by the archer. You're just forcing people to take cover or look around. Its a support weapon with a little kill potential.
The thing is it is supposed to be relatively poor AI-wise, but actually it works ok if you use it AI-wise like you might a sniper rifle (only on Engi) - it is no where near as effective as one, but you will get AI kills with it (it's also really good vs flashes, harrassers and ESF other Vehicles it is usually worth taken a shot if you can safely). Personally I only really specifically pull it where I expect to be supporting at a position at long range from the majority of opposition or when there's juicy MAX targets about. I don't think I'd ever run around with it as a default weapon.
My suggested changes to Archer would be... very little. Make it an all class weapon, for one. (HA excluded). I also would like for it to have an ammo option Flak Ammunition: Damage buff vs. Maxes removed. Damage to MBT/Sunderers removed. Adds flak burst effect against aircraft to Archer shot. Shot does damage roughly equal to 2 burster shells from a MAX unit. This would give the Engi a light anti-aircraft weapon it could carry at the expense of it's primary weapon, and would lose AT viability.
I just unlocked it today because I want to complete the Sniper Rifles directive and wanted to have something as a break from Infiltrator. I have found it to be quite good against MAX suits, especially ones who are at a good distance. It's useful against troops especially if you hang back and engage enemies who may not be full health. Against light vehicles it's poor. Against tanks it's practically worthless. It's even weaker than the Lancer so only viable in a dedicated team - you need 4-5 Lancers to be a threat so you're gonna need 10 people all firing these things in a co-ordinated manner to be a danger to a tank column. Not sure if I've got the endurance to Auraxium this thing.
After using it for a few days I find it quite amusing but would suggest some changes... I'd like to see it do a little bit more damage against vehicles. Presently it is more or less pointless even shooting at a tank unless your entire army is also firing rockets at them. I shot a tank that was on fire yesterday and didn't get a kill. The Engineer has access to the AV Mana turret (which is and has always been massively OP for what it it - it does more damage than a Phalanx turret FFS). To carry the Archer you have to sacrifice your primary weapon for something that makes you a sitting duck against other infantry and for this you get something that is weak against everything except MAXes. Slightly increases damage against vehicles and reduce the daft amount of damage done by AV Mana turrets .
make it a secondary and give it the same damage against armor as it has against maxes. then i'd use it... i own one now, don't pull it out often.
It's a niche anti-max rifle intended to help vehicle users kill or disrupt AV MAXes constant spamming from long range, it does damage heavy armor, just because it can doesn't mean it should deal more damage and become another problem to tankers when it was meant to be a problem solver for tankers. It's extremely niche by design.
At least light armor. Tanks are fine but I should be able to do more than tickle lightnings. And 3 hits to kill a flash?
