Before balance patch you usually went Archer2Ranger2 or variations of that, A1R3 or A2,R1Scout1 (my personal favourite, while koreans often went for A1R3) but now Ranger 2 is very weak and with the upcoming patch, Swift Step will be changed to give 20 crit rate per attribute level (so, 100 instead of 150) but it will give 5 crit rate more per Swift Step level.
So while an Archer2 still gets his 150 crit rate with Swift Step level 10, an Archer3 can reach 175 crit rate with Swift Step level 15.
With that being said, of course the path is not set in stone, itās about personal preferences:
- if you want 25 crit rate more than Archer2 and Double Arrow skill -> go Archer3 Ranger 1.
- if you donāt mind losing 150/175 crit rate, you want 10% more Steady Aim and Spiral Arrow/Bounce Shot -> go Archer1 Ranger3.
- if you want 150 crit rate and want an all-rounder -> go for A2R2 or A2R1S1.
Also, Iād like to add that talking about Fletcher3Mergen merely as a Boss killer isnāt really correct anymore, before balance patch it was very true, since the only AoE capabilities came from Mergen skills (with known long CDs) but now with the reworked Crossfire, Fletcher3 feels pretty good at clearing mob waves too, 5 overheat on a 10 seconds CD and hits for a pretty good amount of damage (and quickly, even witth 0 points investted in DEX).
I have one Fletcher3Mergen myself and did Solmiki 40 with no issues and no particular party setup (no falconer3, no cryochrono) or heavy transcended weapon (+11 Astra level 5, which is very common/cheap nowadays) and that because on Solmiki 11th/16th floors, many mobs are flying type, giving you that juicy 50% more damage.