Hunter Build Guide

Hunter Build Guide

The Hunter build in Assassin's Creed Odyssey transforms you into a master archer, capable of eliminating foes from afar with devastating precision. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to craft a truly formidable Hunter, focusing on maximizing ranged damage, crowd control, and stealthy takedowns. Whether you prefer raining down arrows from a distance or unleashing a flurry of shots in close quarters, this build offers unparalleled versatility and destructive power.

Core Hunter Philosophy

At its heart, the Hunter build revolves around maximizing your bow damage and utilizing abilities that enhance ranged combat. This means prioritizing Hunter Damage, Headshot Damage, and Crit Chance/Damage on your gear and engravings. Your goal is to eliminate targets before they can even reach you, or to soften them up significantly for a quick melee finish if necessary. Stealth is your best friend, allowing you to thin out enemy ranks before engaging directly.

Essential Abilities & Combat Rotation

Mastering your abilities is crucial for an effective Hunter. Here are the core abilities and how to weave them into your combat strategy:

Key Active Abilities:

• Devastating Shot (Hunter, Tier 1): Your bread and butter for single-target damage. Charge it for massive damage, especially against elites and mercenaries. Always aim for the head.
• Multi-Shot (Hunter, Tier 1): Excellent for clearing groups of weaker enemies or applying pressure to multiple targets simultaneously. Can also be used to quickly build adrenaline.
• Ghost Arrows of Artemis (Hunter, Tier 3): Allows your arrows to pass through shields and enemies. Invaluable for hitting shielded foes or lining up shots through multiple targets. Essential for stealthy kills through walls.
• Spread Shot (Hunter, Tier 2): A close-range shotgun-like blast. Useful for enemies who get too close or for quickly breaking shields at medium range.
• Rain of Destruction (Hunter, Tier 3): Call down a barrage of arrows on an area. Fantastic for clearing out large groups or softening up a fortified position before engaging.
• Overpower Bow Strike (Hunter, Tier 3): A powerful, adrenaline-consuming shot that deals massive damage and can knock back enemies. Your ultimate single-target burst.

Key Passive Abilities:

• Archery Master (Hunter, Tier 1): Increases Hunter Damage and Headshot Damage. Max this immediately.
• Sixth Sense (Hunter, Tier 1): Slows time when detected by enemies, giving you a chance to react or land a critical shot.
• Arrow Master (Hunter, Tier 2): Allows you to craft special arrows (Fire, Poison, Explosive) on the fly. Fire Arrows are excellent for sustained damage and igniting enemies.
• Master Archer (Hunter, Tier 3): Further increases Hunter Damage and Headshot Damage.

Combat Strategy & Rotation:

1. Stealth Approach: Always start by scouting with Ikaros. Mark high-priority targets (captains, brutes, archers).
2. Initial Takedowns: Use Ghost Arrows of Artemis to silently eliminate shielded enemies or those behind cover. Prioritize archers and torch-bearers.
3. Opening Volley: For unalerted groups, a well-placed Rain of Destruction can decimate weaker foes. Follow up with Multi-Shot for any survivors.
4. Single Target Burst: Against elites or mercenaries, open with a charged Devastating Shot to the head. If they survive, follow up with another Devastating Shot or an Overpower Bow Strike.
5. Crowd Control: If enemies close in, use Spread Shot to create distance or stun. Retreat and reposition to maintain your ranged advantage.
6. Sustained Damage: For longer fights, continuously use charged Devastating Shots. swap to Fire Arrows for additional damage over time.

Legendary Gear & Engravings

Choosing the right gear is paramount for a Hunter build. You want to stack Hunter Damage, Headshot Damage, Crit Chance, and Crit Damage. Here are some of the best legendary sets and engravings:

Recommended Legendary Sets:

Legendary sets offer powerful set bonuses that significantly enhance your build. For Hunters, these are your top priorities:

• Artemis Set (Hunter):
  • How to Obtain: Complete the "Daughters of Artemis" questline, starting with "The Goddesses' Hunt" from Daphnae in the Phokis region. You will need to hunt legendary animals across Greece and return their pelts to Daphnae.
  • Set Bonus: +15% Hunter Damage, +20% Damage with Hunter Abilities.
  • Individual Pieces & Engravings:
    • Artemis's Hood: +% Hunter Damage, +% Headshot Damage
    • Artemis's Garment: +% Hunter Damage, +% Crit Chance
    • Artemis's Gloves: +% Hunter Damage, +% Crit Damage
    • Artemis's Belt: +% Hunter Damage, +% Adrenaline per Hit
    • Artemis's Boots: +% Hunter Damage, +% Movement Speed while Aiming
  • Why it's good: The ultimate Hunter set. The set bonus directly boosts your most important damage type and ability damage, making your Devastating Shots and Multi-Shots hit incredibly hard.
• Master's Artemis Set (Hunter):
  • How to Obtain: Found in various legendary chests across the world, often in high-level areas or as rewards for specific quests.
  • Set Bonus: +15% Hunter Damage, +25% Damage with Bow Charged Shot.
  • Why it's good: A fantastic alternative or complement to the regular Artemis set, especially if you rely heavily on charged shots like Devastating Shot.
• Pilgrim Set (Assassin/Hunter Hybrid):
  • How to Obtain: Found in legendary chests in various locations:
    • Pilgrim's Hood: Temple of Britomartis (Messara)
    • Pilgrim's Garment: Eleusis Telesterion (Attika)
    • Pilgrim's Gloves: Temple of the Golden-Bowed Goddess (Malis)
    • Pilgrim's Belt: Akropolis of Argos (Argolis)
    • Pilgrim's Boots: Temple of Athena (Lakonia)
  • Set Bonus: -40% Adrenaline Cost for Shadow of Nyx.
  • Why it's good: While primarily an Assassin set, the Shadow of Nyx ability (invisibility) is incredibly useful for Hunters to reposition, escape danger, or set up perfect stealth shots. The reduced adrenaline cost allows for frequent use.

Recommended Legendary Weapons:

• Achilles' Bow (Bow):
  • How to Obtain: Defeat the legendary mercenary "The Centaur of Taygetos."
  • Legendary Engraving: +20% Hunter Damage, +20% Damage with Devastating Shot.
  • Why it's good: Directly boosts your primary single-target ability, making your Devastating Shots even more lethal.
• Fanged Bow (Bow):
  • How to Obtain: Found in a legendary chest in the Cave of Mt. Koryphe in Messenia.
  • Legendary Engraving: Basic arrows become poison arrows.
  • Why it's good: Provides a constant source of poison damage without needing to craft special arrows. Excellent for sustained damage and weakening enemies.
• Paris's Bow (Bow):
  • How to Obtain: Defeat the legendary mercenary "The Frenzied."
  • Legendary Engraving: +20% Hunter Damage, +20% Damage with Multi-Shot.
  • Why it's good: Perfect for clearing groups and quickly building adrenaline.
• Hades's Bow (Bow):
  • How to Obtain: Defeat the legendary mercenary "The Master."
  • Legendary Engraving: Basic arrows become fire arrows.
  • Why it's good: Similar to the Fanged Bow, but with fire damage. Great for igniting enemies and dealing damage over time.
• Minotaur's Labrys (Heavy Bladed - Melee):
  • How to Obtain: Defeat the Minotaur in the "Myths of the Minotaur" questline on Messara.
  • Legendary Engraving: +25% Damage with Overpower Abilities.
  • Why it's good: While a melee weapon, its engraving can be applied to your bow, significantly boosting your Overpower Bow Strike.

Powerful Engravings to Prioritize:

Beyond legendary engravings, you'll want to engrave your gear with these stats:

• All Armor Pieces:
  • +% Hunter Damage
  • +% Headshot Damage
  • +% Crit Chance
  • +% Crit Damage
• Bow:
  • +% Hunter Damage
  • +% Headshot Damage
  • +% Crit Chance
  • +% Crit Damage
  • Engraving from a legendary bow (e.g., "Basic Arrows become Poison Arrows" from Fanged Bow)
• Melee Weapons (for their engravings):
  • +% Hunter Damage
  • +% Headshot Damage
  • +% Damage with Bow Charged Shot (from Master's Artemis Set pieces)
  • +% Damage with Overpower Abilities (from Minotaur's Labrys)
  • +% Adrenaline per Hit (from Artemis's Belt)
  • +% Damage while Full Health (from various epic gear)
  • +% Crit Damage while Full Health (from various epic gear)

Engraving Tip: Always engrave your legendary gear with the highest possible tier of the desired stat. You can upgrade engravings at any Blacksmith.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

• Adrenaline Management: Hunter abilities consume a lot of adrenaline. Prioritize engravings that boost adrenaline gain (e.g., "Adrenaline per Hit") and use basic shots or Multi-Shot to quickly replenish your bar.
• Arrow Conservation: Special arrows are powerful but finite. Craft them strategically using the "Arrow Master" ability. Don't be afraid to use basic arrows for weaker enemies.
• Melee Backup: While you're a master archer, sometimes enemies will close the distance. Have a solid melee weapon and a few Warrior abilities (like Second Wind for healing) as a backup.
• Environmental Awareness: Use high ground to your advantage. Look for explosive pots or braziers to create chain reactions with your arrows.
• Mercenary Encounters: Mercenaries are often resistant to specific damage types. Adapt your strategy, using fire or poison arrows as needed, and focus on headshots.
• Naval Combat: The Hunter build excels in naval combat. Use your bow to target enemy weak points and archers on opposing ships.

By following this comprehensive guide, you'll transform your Misthios into an unstoppable force, raining death from above and dominating the battlefields of Ancient Greece with unmatched precision and power.

While Odyssey emphasizes explosive arrow abilities, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD introduced the blowpipe as a more subtle ranged tool for silent, tactical eliminations.