Souls-like games are noxious for thematic dodge rolling, hacking and slashing, and other such frantic antics. However, some builds in these types of games allow for a more versatile experience. The Blackfeather Ranger in Lords of the Fallen is that type of class, offering players a dedicated bow playstyle, while also serving as a solid versatile starting class to pivot in other such directions. In this guide, expect an explanation of starting stats, items, tips, and potential builds you can opt for.

Blackfeather Ranger Guide in Lords of the Fallen¶

The Blackfeather Ranger class in Lords of the Fallen is versatile, as we will get into with its starting stats and items. The stats for the class are as follows:

As you can see, the class has a specialization for Agility playstyles starting at 13. However, it has somewhat of an okay Strength starting stat, with average Endurance, but slightly below average Vitality. It also has the base amount of magic.

The Blackfeather Ranger is the type of class where you can really adapt your starting stats and follow any pre-planned build path you like.

In terms of the starting items, you can expect the following:

• Blackfeather Axe
• Blackfeather Shield
• Blackfeather Bow
• Blackfeather armor, containing light helmet, gloves, and body armor, with medium legplates.
• Small Ammunition pouch

As you can see, this class comes with a shield, an axe for melee, and a bow. Both the bow and axe scale with strength and agility, so, you can really make lots of use from a series of weapons, or hybrid scaling weapons as you progress through the game. The Blackfeather Ranger is the only class that starts with a bow. So, if you are dedicated to that combat style, the Blackfeather Ranger is likely to be your starting class in Lords of the Fallen.

In addition, you will start with a few Ammunition Pouches, allowing you to refresh your ammo supply when needed.

Blackfeather Ranger Builds in Lords of the Fallen¶

For the most part, the Blackfeather Ranger is a fairly versatile class. The idea behind the class is that it’s an Agility class, using that to scale your bow’s attack damage. The bow starts off fairly weak, however, as you advance through the game, its scaling will get noticeably stronger. So, ideally, you’re looking for weapons with Agility on them too.

Examples of bows and where you can get them are as follows:

• Bow of the Mutilated: 13 Strength and 16 Agility bows looted in a chest in the destroyed, flooded village in Fief.
• Bow of the Convert: Agility Bow requiring 16 Agility. Looted from a rooftop in Calreth Slums as part of the path you take to venture through the area normally. Look for a body near a fire mage in a wooden archer lookout spot.
• Assassin’s Bow: Agility 20 with a B- scaling. The highest starting scaling of the bows we’ve found so far. Found inside a cell in the Tower of Penance.
• Udirangr Shaman Bow: 13 Strength and 13 Agility bow with 100 fire damage modifiers. Acquired from the Fief. Walk along the road from the Fief vestige gate, and then reach the end and drop down. The bow is right below you.

In addition, the core of this class is built on collecting new bows and arrow types. The arrows you get are as follows:

• Radiant Arrows - Acquired via a balcony in the Mence area.
• Cinder Arrows - Found in the Calreth City Slums. When you reach a high up street level and start crossing over roofs, you’ll find an item pick up near where you soul flay a bridge to create a crossing. Before crossing, drop down to a thin gangplank area and get the item.
• Poison Arrows - Looted in the Fen, near the Vestige spot close to the first village.

Lastly, there’s an important ring you can buy from Gerlinde. This ring unlocks around the mid-game when stores get more populated with better items. The ring increases the damage of bows and crossbows. So, this is a must-have for making the most out of any bow advantage.

Blackfeather Ranger Tips¶

In this section, we will offer you some Blackfeather Archer tips, helping you get the most out of the class.

• Carry Ammo Consumables: Unlike the casters with their mana, you cannot reset your arrow count by resting. So, you will always rely on many ammo consumables to restock your ammo. Luckily, you can find plenty of ammo kits from defeated enemies and buy them fairly cheaply from vendors you encounter in the Safe Hub and on your travels.

• Use Arrows against Low Resistance Enemies: As you begin to unlock arrow types, you’ll find many offer various types of damage, from Bleeds, Radiance, and more. Use these arrows to deal damage to enemies with lower resistance to that damage type to increase your damage potential with your bow. Feel free to experiment with ammo types to figure out which one is more effective against different enemies and unit types.

• Heavy Bow Moves: Use your fully charged heavy attacks with your bow to deal burst damage from afar against unsuspecting victims or slow-moving melee units. This can also be very handy for bursting the tankier monster types you encounter, as charged bow strikes deal a lot of damage.

• Critical Hits: Bows have a unique feature allowing you to target weak points while free aiming. You can score huge damage if you can hit a monster’s weak point or land headshots against humanoids. This feature is unique to bow builds and something you should look to master to make your limited quiver size more effective.

This concludes our guide to the Blackfeather Ranger class and builds in Lords of the Fallen. Feel free to comment any other tips if you have them and help any other player looking to trial this class in their first or next playthrough!