Overview

Hunter subclass (BrHu) is simple, flexible, and universal. It will carry you from the first day of playing PSO2 until you reach the point where Hunter’s defense turns into a burden. There will be times that BrHu will betray you and your guts.

The Build

A example of possible Hunter Skill Trees

As a subclass, we are taking everything that improves Just Attack usage alongside Fury Stance for unconditional damage boost. The points spent in Fury Critical will depend on whether you want to save skill points on Braver and Hunter, or making the tree to be compatible for other classes.

For the defensive options from Hunter, we choose Automate Halfline, Flash Guards, and Massive Hunter for the sake of consistency. 75% chance of cheating death from Iron Will can backfire in various situations, and since we attack things from range, it also counts as a form of defensive measure. However, some can shift the points from Flash Tech Guard and grab both Iron Will (also Never Give Up) and Automate Halfline for maximum safety.

Therefore, pick your poison. If you plan on using a katana to a degree, taking a point in Healing Guard works wonders. Grab High Level Bonus Hu whenever possible, and you can neglect the rest of the skill tree.

Overview

Ranger subclass (BrRa) will let you experience the DAMAGE, but in exchange for enemy knowledge, situational awareness, and precision. In the right situation, along with support from the others, BrRa can be a powerhouse. Otherwise, the performance consistency fluctuates, going so low it turns into a deadweight.

The Build

A stable Ranger subclass Skill Trees

As a subclass, grab every single skill that provides damage, prioritizing Weak Hit Advances, Standing Snipes, and Moving Snipe first. When the necessary skills are taken, the skill tree is very straightforward. Besides, the remaining points should be enough to grab things restricted for using main-class Ranger.

Grenades will act as a portable PP recovery tool on 15-seconds cooldown, while traps become the extras gadget against a variety of bosses, especially any that are weak to poison status effect. Speaking of bullets, we only need a single point in Weak Bullet to trigger Power Bullet buff, or for periodic bursts. There will be times that the Rangers are absent from your raid party, and BrRa can act as a target painter. Regardless of your approach to it, keep in mind that bullet utilization will interfere with Braver Combination.

Grab High Level Bonus Ra when you can, then fill up the points in stats and other skills such as Killing Bonus and First Hit. Investing in Dive Roll skills are recommended for those that really want to use Assault Rifle. Ask yourself.

Overview

Summoner subclass (BrSu) has proven to be a decent subclass for Bow Braver, providing both offensive and defensive skills to fight against everything the game wants to throw at you. As one would (never) say “within all the good things lies at least one bad thing”, BrSu is the greatest source of frustration that has ever existed in PSO2.

The Build

A example of generic Summoner subclass Skill Tree

Because we can never use pets when having Summoner as a subclass, anything that gives stats and damage becomes the point sinkers for us. The recommendation is that you should grab the skills that increase your damage output first before working on the rest. All Attack Bonuses, All Attack Ups, Point Assist, Support Fire, and Pet Element Weak Hit (yes, it applies to you but at half the effect compared to pets) are the top priority.

Feel free to decide what skills to take with the remaining seven points. PB Advance and Quick Recovery may become useful later, and never, ever forget to take High Level Su Bonus whenever possible.

Overview

Phantom sub (BrPh), aka, “The better Summoner subclass”, said by someone I’ve known. By making some sacrifices on firepower and sturdiness, BrPh improves the mobility and handling of Bow Braver, while giving extra benefits from stacking your max PP. Despite its viability in today’s content, Phantom has never meant to be the subclass that works well in general for bow braver since the start.

The Build

The Phantom-as-subclass Skill Tree

You only need 47 points for Phantom subclass skill tree, and you are reading the sentence correctly. The majority of skills cater toward the three weapons of Phantom and its core mechanics: katana, assault rifle, rod, and Mark. It is recommended that you should check the Phantom guides elsewhere to see what skills must be prioritized first.

Photon Stream and Critical Stream converts a percentage of your PP into additional bonuses. Since we have maxed out both skills, remember the following maths:

Quick note: Step Roll Advance gives the same effect as level 4 Step Advance. Therefore, don’t put points in that skill on your Braver tree

Overview

Etoile subclass (BrEt) is often considered to be the straight upgrade from BrHu, and the go-to for Bow Braver. Consistent defense and innate PP Reduction are what Bow Braver has been seeking for the whole time! However, several skills of Etoile demands more awareness and can lead to some… unintended gameplay.

The Build

A example of possible Etoile-as-subclass Skill Trees

As a subclass, focus on taking every skill that boost your damage output first and grab the defensive skills afterward. Flat Attack Bonus greatly improves your PA usage, alongside with Same Arts PP Save and Tech Arts Count Bonus. Stats skills come last, and take All Attack Up and PP Up over the rest first.

The biggest question of BrEt lies in the level of Same Arts PP Save: how many points does one need to invest in that skill? In general Bow Braver gameplay, you only need five points, so that it takes less number of PA to hit the max value of PP Reduction. Only cap Same Arts PP Save if you are certain that you can utilize it properly and don't worry if you accidentally max it. There are times you can abuse the skill for PP sustain. The table below - originated from my spreadsheet - will show you roughly how much reduction Etoile can give you as Bow Braver.

Feel free to spare some points for Etoile HP Restorate should you prefer, and grab High Level Bonus ET when you can. Oh, and a quick note: Step Roll Advance gives the same effect as level 4 Step Advance skill. Therefore, do not put points in Step Advance on your Braver tree.

Overview

Luster subclass (BrLu) breaks the convention by introducing “Luster Voltage”, the most overloaded skill ever in PSO2. Besides a plethora of buffs that the Voltage provides, BrLu has access to a variety of skills that greatly improve the gameplay of Bow Braver. Alas, the fixation on Luster Voltage inevitably becomes the downfall of this class combination.

The Build

A example of possible Luster-as-subclass Skill Trees

To make a Luster subclass skill tree, you may need to drop the points from Styles (Formel, Zandi, and Baran) and Lu Weapon Bonuses. We will be sinking tons of points in offensive and utility skills that Luster has, mainly All Attack Bonus Lu, Shifta Gauge Boost and Tech Arts PP High Save.

Adding to that, please take all the skills related to Luster Voltage, so we can get the most out of it. We can’t achieve the same accumulation speed as Luster or some other class combinations using Luster as sub. Speaking of the Voltage Bonus skill, It’s necessary to learn Shifta and Deband, preferably level 17, in order for the Voltage to buff you at every 100 points. Otherwise, it won’t activate. You also need to learn Anti, any level, for High Voltage (500+) to cleanse the status effect from your character. While in that state, you are also immune to most status effects except Stun.

Various skills are left behind for you to decide whether you want to max it or not. The example skill tree above should work just fine though. Don’t forget to grab High Level Bonus Lu once you have reached level 80+. Step Roll Advance gives the same effect as level 4 Step Advance skill so, do refrain from putting points in Step Advance on your Braver tree.

Gunslash Shenanigan

Luster has a unique skill called “Sub Luster GS Boost” which provides extra damage multipliers for both striking [melee] and shooting [range] damage done with Gunslash PA. Among those class combinations, BrLu has an impressive multiplier number, making the weapon somewhat viable.

Even though your Gunslash can do things now, being a secondary or even tertiary weapon, BrLu is probably the worst contender for it. (or even deemed as a cursed “off-meta” option). Taking Gunslash out for quick slices or shots is fine, but making it the “last of all last” option because of your disdain toward bow (or katana) is probably not a good idea.

The “high power” aspect of Gunslash BrLu relies heavily on utilizing Weak [Precision] Stance. If the enemy doesn’t bring one out, then you are in a rough spot. Gunslash can hit real hard, and I can’t deny that. BUT, Braver skill tree caters Bow and Katana, boosting its performance with weapon skills and stance while giving you a small amount of defense. Gunslash barely gets anything besides the Stances and interferes with the Braver Combination effect as well.

Speaking of which, other class combinations can do you better. They are HuLu with its extreme defenses, FiLu with massive strike-boosting skills and Limit Break [Overload] usage, and the generally accepted TeLu with access to enhanced supportive Techniques alongside the goodies of Luster. Adding to that, Gunslash gameplay is often “striking-oriented”, where most of Gunslash PA works well in close quarter combat, despite some having a split or pure range damage scaling. You will need to learn about their properties to see which PA should be chained together for optimal rotation.

Today, both of Braver weapons perform exceptionally for Braver these days, and many video examples out there have proved it. While no one can stop you from using it, do expect Gunslash BrLu to be inferior in practice compared to other options. Again, no one’s gonna force you to follow the “meta”. You may even find success with it.

Fighters are famous for their absurd modifiers and stats numbers that significantly boost their damage: the Slayers skills, the TAJA (Tech Art Just Attack) skills, and the stances. Adding to that, it has a bunch of striking damage boosts. However, we whack our enemies with the arrows, not the bow. And, to get the most of Fighter, you are dropping your health to 50% or 25% for max bonuses, getting a good position to enable stances, and cycling Photon Arts. Hope that the lady of luck is on your side while you are surviving in higher difficulty.

Most BrFi I used to see were short-lived to tell the tale unless they played Katana Braver… or FiBr with the dedicated supporters.

I believe that it was TeBr and FoBr instead. One of my veteran friends who have played PSO2 JP server since Day 1 told me about it. In summary...

• During the early release of Braver, the bullet bow was considered to be a “garbage tier weapon”: awful support skills and ousted by katana.
• Instead of following the typical Banish Combo Rotation and firing arrows, old day bow players were playing “Mage-bow”: using Rapid Shoot to recover PP while slinging Techniques. For example, dumping seven Ilbartas into a Banishing Arrow, follow with Folmegian. It was pretty broken back then, and the PP usage was as high as today’s bow.
• As a result, if I recall the story correctly, it’s the reason for the nerf where Banishing Arrow disappears whenever you switch to a different bow. Also, Compound Technique cooldown was adjusted shortly after.

After a couple changes to the bow skill tree over time and better weapons introduced, the class combination becomes obsolete. If I have to exacerbate, you get nothing from the Force and Techer. Please refrain from using either in most quests, except for leveling purposes.

Dubbed as the game-breaker, BrGu was one of the popular class combinations back in the old days of the PSO2 JP server. The ridiculous multiplier of Chain Finish and its interaction with bow attack rotation were responsible for the harshest adjustment to Bow Braver. Let me explain.

• Chain Finish used to apply to every class, and a 100-counts Chain Trigger activation will cause your PA in the next three seconds to deal five times the regular damage. (2.0 x 2.5 from Chain Trigger and Chain Finish)
• Banishing Arrow used to take 100% of the damage you have done, along with any modifier applicable to it. So, everything hits 10 times harder. That definitely doesn't sound broken... yeah...
• Combining the two properties above, a platoon of BrGu can obliterate any raid boss in the game. It was a complete mess.

The tactic was effective, yet problematic to the game, which resulted in two adjustments. First, Chain Finish is main-class-exclusive, cutting the multiplier to half for any Gunner-as-subclass usage. Second, Banishing Arrow takes 50% of the damage you have done, has 2.5x PP cost (20 => 50), and takes JA and site multiplier to boost the power.

Still, I cannot deny that Gunner skills do improve Bow Braver gameplay, but our combat range exceeds Gunner’s in most situations. Our Banish Combo can compete with Chain Trigger burst combo to a degree, so playing BrGu is detrimental rather than beneficial.

It should take a moment for you to realize that you get nothing from the Bouncer skills through a quick observation. It exists to support Dual Blades and Jet Boots combat. Despite being a hybrid weapon class similar to us, Bouncers tend to use both to keep their damage output optimal unless using certain class combinations, while Braver can choose one weapon and do fine. The field skills look promising, but you can use rings instead. The stance is reassuring, but our damage goes to the enemies’ weak point, and we utilize supportive techniques rather than the offensive ones. The MAG skills stack, but it doesn’t give you more range stats.

Going BrBo is pretty much torturing your soul, and you will gravely regret many life decisions doing so. The Bouncer Master, Master of all Bouncers doesn’t approve this - AT ALL.