Skills (4)

Learn about the best bow and gun skills in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, from Poison Arrow to Doppleganger, and how to best utilize gunners for maximum HIT.

Alright, let's talk about skills for your Disgaea crew, specifically focusing on bows and guns. These are your long-range options, and while bows might seem cool, guns really shine with their ease of use and effectiveness. We'll break down the bow skills first, then dive into why guns are often the better pick.

Bow Skills:

• Lv. 1 - Poison Arrow: This is your very first bow skill. It's decent for a bow attack, and the added poison effect is a nice bonus. It can hit enemies up to three spaces away.
• Lv. 3 - Dark Flash: Honestly, this one's a bit of a letdown. It hits enemies 2-4 spaces away but does less damage than Poison Arrow and inflicts 'deprave,' which isn't super useful. Best to skip this one if you can.
• Lv. 6 - Delta Split: Now we're talking! This skill requires a bit more positioning – hitting enemies two squares behind or two squares diagonally – but it actually deals good damage.
• Lv. 10 - Sturmhimmel: This is a pretty solid skill, though it can be a bit tricky to get. It hits enemies in a phalanx formation two squares away and can inflict paralysis, which is super handy.
• Lv. 15 - Zielregen: This skill is... fine. It hits an X-shaped area three squares away, dealing fire elemental damage and inflicting 'Forget.' It's good for what it is, but don't expect miracles.
• Lv. 20 - Doppleganger: This is where bow skills get really good. Doppleganger can hit anything within a four-space range and deals some serious damage, even without status effects. It's the standout bow attack.

Guns: The Preferred Choice

Out of the two long-range weapon types, guns are definitely my go-to. Why? Power and simplicity. They might not hit as hard as melee weapons like fists or swords, but they can attack from four squares away, which is a huge advantage. Plus, managing their effectiveness is way easier than with bows. Guns don't care about your ATK stat; they only care about your HIT. Better guns only boost your HIT, and that's exactly what you want. So, my advice? Grab a Scout early on, give them the best glasses you can find, and they'll be a powerhouse. Seriously, the skills you get with guns are actually useful, unlike some of the bow skills. Bottom line: get a Scout to be your gunman as soon as you have a Brawler and Warrior around Level 5.