Archers have a storied history in video games going back to the early days of the medium. The popularity of these string-based weapons has never truly declined, as more bow wielders emerge every year. Indeed, these characters are, if anything, becoming more popular - which isn't surprising. It is oddly satisfying pulling back the bowstring, releasing, and seeing your arrow arch into the distance.From ancillary units in your RPG party to the central protagonist of an expansive, open-world adventure title, archers play an important role in the landscape of gaming. Many of these characters have become gaming icons in their own right.
10 May, Shining Force 2
The truth about archers in the Shining Force series is that they aren't very good. While they do have better range than melee fighters, they don't hit as hard as mages, and yet they are still typically pretty fragile.
However, May bucks this trend. She is a centaur, which immediately helps give her much better mobility. May is a highly mobile unit capable of advancing and retreating while dealing death with her bow. She is unquestionably the best archer in Shining Force 2.
9 Chester, Tales of Phantasia
Chester is one of the core cast members in Tales of Phantasia. Most notably, Chester is the first archer in the Tales Of series. Chester is an argumentative and brash character (which occasionally sets him up to be the butt of the joke), but he balances these traits by being loyal and caring. He also packs a wallop with the bow.
You see, Tales of Phantasia took a very different approach with this archer. Chester does not have any special attacks. He is limited to a basic move-set. In order to compensate for this, Chester hits like a truck. Equip him with a good bow and never worry about him again. Just sit back and watch the big numbers accumulate.
8 Kassandra, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
Kasandra from Assassin's Creed: Oddysey belongs on this list for one reason alone. She possesses the ability to annihilate multiple opponents with a single, powerful shot of her longbow. That isn't to say that Kassandra doesn't have a bunch of tricks in her quiver - she does.
Her devastating shot ability allows her to do increased damage and knock enemies back, and her multishot ability allows her to peg multiple targets at the same time; these are all great skills. However, once you unlock Kassandra's overpower bow strike, and level it up to its final tier, everything changes. The pure impact of this shot will demolish large groups of enemies. Often one is enough to kill. For that monstrous attack alone, Kassandra deserves a place among the greats.
7 Ganyu, Genshin Impact
Ganyu is one of Genshin Impact's best archers (and there are a lot of them). She is a cryo elemental character who is effective at dealing with groups of enemies. Her best feature is her charged shot. Not only does this attack deal excellent damage, but when fully charged it hits multiple enemies.
Better yet, Ganyu's elemental skill pairs well with her charged shot, as her skill places an object that draws the attention of all the nearby enemies. Her ultimate attack creates a giant ice field that pummels enemies with giant icicles (this ultimate also easily synchronizes with a variety of party members). Her bow will have a chilling effect on your enemies' effectiveness.
6 Metera, Granblue Fantasy Versus
You can't have a fighting game without having a frustrating keep-away character, and keeping the opponent away from her is one of the many things Metera excels at in Granblue Fantasy Versus.
Metera has a number of abilities that help keep her opponents at a distance. She can hop around the battlefield, letting loose arrows in the air. She can fire in every direction, forcing your opponent to stay on the defense (and at a distance). She is also able to rain arrows down on the enemy to keep them pinned down. In Granblue Fantasy Versus there is no better character for keeping characters away.
5 Lara Croft, Tomb Raider
Traditionally, Lara Croft was known for dual-wielding pistols. However, that all changed with the new trilogy. Lara traded in her guns for a bow and hasn't looked back since.
The new trilogy of Tomb Raider games emphasizes stealth to a much greater degree, this makes Lara's bow utterly indispensable. She can steady her aim over the course of the game, slow down time, and even use her arrows for up-close takedowns. Moreover, Lara isn't wasteful, as she can retrieve her arrows from her fallen foes.
4 Jin, Ghost of Tsushima
Jin is a ghost with a million tricks up his sleeve. However, even he isn't limited to engaging in sword battles or dispatching his enemies with stealth, as he can spend his time as an archer. And don't worry, Jin's bag of tricks lends to his archery well.
With points invested in archery, Jin obtains the ability to slow down time - the more points invested, the longer he will have to line up shots. With his already impressive ability to stealthily stay undetected, being able to pick off multiple enemies in rapid succession is potent. This potency is only compounded when Jin obtains the longbow, which allows him to hit harder and from farther away. Jin as an archer is a force to be reckoned with - perhaps even at his most powerful when holding his longbow.
3 Link, Breath Of The Wild
Link is a jack of all trades when it comes to weapons, but it did feel as though his Breath Of The Wild incarnation was more focused on archery than ever before. The way the arrow travels in Breath of the Wild is extraordinarily satisfying. Tether that to Link's ability to slow down time when he fires arrows mid-air, and you have a recipe for a very pleasing archery experience.
Link will also have an assortment of bows and arrows at his disposal. Fire arrows are used frequently to solve puzzles, but can also be used to create havoc in your opponent's camp as well. Shock arrows, ice arrows, and bomb arrows will help fill out the rest of Link's quiver and ensure his victory. And then there are ancient arrows, if you just want the enemy to cease existing.
2 Aloy, Horizon Zero Dawn
Typically, archers in video games fight fantasy creatures, or maybe medieval bandits. Rarely do you see the bow being utilized against robots. Yet, that is exactly what you do in Horizon Zero Dawn.
Aloy doesn't use just any arrows, though - she uses arrows that have been imbued with advanced technology to create electrical shocks on collision. Aloy also comes equipped with a number of extremely useful archery abilities. She can slow down time while aiming, or fire multiple arrows at once. This all makes her a rather potent archer.
1 Ellie, The Last Of Us Part 2
In the world of The Last of Us Part 2, silence is golden. Mainly because noise is extremely dangerous. For this reason alone, Ellie is going to be relying on her bow a fair bit. Thankfully, she is quite proficient with it.
Over the course of the game, you will be able to increase how steady Ellie's hold of the bow is through upgrades. This helps you place headshots more easily, which is good, as a headshot typically kills. Another extremely helpful upgrade is increasing the number of arrows she produces while crafting. In a game with minimal ammo, this is a big deal (especially on the harder difficulties). Ellie with a bow is the ultimate stealthy assassin and survivalist. She shows why the bow, in the right hands, is the post-apocalypse weapon of choice.