Best Ranged Build in Core Keeper: Bows, Guns, Armor & Accessories

Best weapons for a ranged build (Lv.20)

Ranged weapons sorted by expected DPS at Lv.20 with endgame gear (top 10). Effects on the weapon such as critical hit chance and attack speed are included.

Rank	Weapon	Base Lv	Range damage (Lv.20)	Attacks /s	Expected DPS (with endgame gear)	Weapon only /s	Effects (Lv.20)
1	Scrap Minigun	18	52–62	8	5,083	456	+22.8% physical range damage +8% critical hit chance Takes 1 second to spin up before firing (value assumes continuous fire).
2	Phantom Spark	15	261–317	1.43	4,825	413	+12% critical hit chance +34% critical hit damage +20% chance to summon a ghost caveling when killing any enemy Charging fires up to 4 projectiles, and kills have a 20% chance to summon a ghost scholar that fights with you (neither is included).
3	Throwing Daggers	14	152–184	2.5	4,761	420	+19% critical hit chance Charging makes them bounce up to 10 times (not included).
4	Iron Bow	7	262–320	1.43	4,617	416	+45.3% physical range damage Charging adds up to +2 arrows (not included).
5	Solarite Crossbow	16	258–314	1.43	4,543	409	+8% critical hit chance +22.1% physical range damage
6	Galaxite Chakram	14	152–184	2.5	4,506	420	+52% critical hit damage Bounces up to 4 times (only one hit is counted).
7	Quill Rifle	7	85–103	4	4,200	376	+47.2% physical range damage
8	Octarine Bow	12	252–308	1.43	4,038	400	+9.1% range attack speed Charging adds up to +3 arrows (not included).
9	Blowpipe	10	225–275	1.67	3,973	417	+27% chance to apply poison on hit, which reduces enemy healing received by 75%
10	Bubble Gun	12	150–182	2.5	3,957	415	+52% chance on hit to apply slippery movement

Best armor for a ranged build (helm, chest, pants)

Keeping every other slot of the best combination above as is, this shows how much damage (expected DPS) rises when only that slot is swapped (compared with leaving the slot empty; set bonuses included). Accessories use the same calculation.

Best helm for ranged

Rank	Helm	Base Lv	Damage gain	Effects (Lv.20)
1	Atlantean Worm Helmet	17	+27.9%	+46 max health +24 armor +1.3 health every sec +18.7% melee and range attack speed +7% critical hit chance +21% critical hit damage
2	Core Commander Helm	17	+13.0%	+52 max health +25 armor +8.2% melee and range attack speed +7.4% damage +4% critical hit chance
3	Ninja Cowl	17	+12.9%	+50 max health +20 armor +8% dodge chance +7% critical hit chance +22% critical hit damage
4	Pot Lid	5	+11.5%	+33 armor +7% critical hit chance +17% critical hit damage
5	Omoroth's Helm	13	+8.1%	+52 max health +26 armor +8.2% damage +6.9% melee and range attack speed

Best chest armor for ranged

Rank	Chest armor	Base Lv	Damage gain	Effects (Lv.20)
1	Gemstone Garment	16	+16.8%	+65 max health +6.7% physical range damage +9.5% movement speed +19.2% range attack speed
2	Ninja Garments	17	+15.4%	+68 max health +23 armor +9% dodge chance +9% critical hit chance +22% critical hit damage
3	Tassel Top	14	+15.0%	+72 max health +10.4% range attack speed +5.2% movement speed +7% critical hit chance
4	Core Commander Brigandine	17	+13.7%	+66 max health +35 armor +10.5% melee and range attack speed +7.6% damage +11% critical hit damage
5	Ivy's Thorn Harness	11	+12.3%	+97 max health +50% critical hit damage

Best pants for ranged

Rank	Pants	Base Lv	Damage gain	Effects (Lv.20)
1	Ninja Leggings	17	+14.7%	+57 max health +20 armor +8% dodge chance +8% critical hit chance +25% critical hit damage
2	Core Commander Greaves	17	+13.1%	+58 max health +29 armor +9% melee and range attack speed +12% critical hit damage +4% critical hit chance
3	Ivy's Pants	11	+11.2%	+89 max health +49% critical hit damage
4	Omoroth's Leg Armor	13	+9.1%	+56 max health +30 armor +9.7% damage +8.4% melee and range attack speed
5	Solarite Tassets	16	+8.6%	+64 max health +33 armor +9% critical hit chance +7 health on melee hit

Best accessories for a ranged build (necklace, rings, off-hand)

Best necklace for ranged

Rank	Necklace	Base Lv	Damage gain	Effects (Lv.20)
1	Copper Cross Necklace	2	+21.5%	+18% critical hit chance
2	Polished Copper Cross Necklace	13	+16.9%	+9% critical hit chance +26% critical hit damage
3	Mold Vein Necklace	11	+14.8%	+40.8% physical range damage
4	Needle Necklace	15	+14.6%	+5.5% range attack speed +9% critical hit chance
5	Glass Bead Necklace	17	+13.2%	+85% critical hit damage +33.5% damage taken

Best ring for ranged

Rank	Ring	Base Lv	Damage gain	Effects (Lv.20)
1	Spine Ring	13	+21.5%	+43% damage against bosses
2	Gold Crystal Ring	7	+15.8%	+43.6% physical range damage
3	Mold Ring	11	+15.7%	+16% critical hit chance
4	Clarity Ring	16	+14.8%	+22.3% physical range damage +25% critical hit damage
5	Polished Gold Crystal Ring	13	+14.5%	+29.5% physical range damage +5.4% range attack speed

You can wear 2 rings. This table ranks swaps for one ring while keeping the other (Polished Golden Spike Ring) equipped.

Best off-hand for ranged

Rank	Off-hand	Base Lv	Damage gain	Effects (Lv.20)
1	Hydra Tooth	16	+23.5%	+5% chance on hit to deal triple amount of damage +30.2% physical range damage
2	Crystal Meteor Chunk	15	+12.2%	+3 blue glow -30.5% armor +30% damage dealt by you and all nearby allies
3	Concealed Blade	13	+11.8%	+12% critical hit chance
4	Gilded Hookshot	14	+3.6%	+10.4% melee damage +8.8% range damage
5	Octarine Shield	12	+3.1%	+31 max health +16 armor +4.9% melee and range attack speed

Recommended set bonuses for a ranged build

Keeping the other slots and food from the best combination above, these sets give the highest damage when their pieces are swapped in (set bonus included). "Damage" is relative to the best combination = 100.

Recommended food for a ranged build

Best combination

Golden Pewpaya+Tornis Kingfish

• +8.2 health every sec (20 s)
• +28.2% physical range damage (10 min)
• +8.4% range attack speed (10 min)
• +50.4% damage (10 min)

Ingredients with strong effects

• Tornis Kingfish
  • +7.8 health every sec
  • +50.4% damage
• Golden Pewpaya
  • +8.2 health every sec
  • +28.2% physical range damage
  • +8.4% range attack speed
• Elder Dragonfish
  • +14% critical hit chance
  • Immune to burning
• Shiny Larva Meat
  • +13% critical hit chance
  • +4 health on melee hit
• Starlight Nautilus
  • +17.7 health every sec
  • +7% critical hit chance
  • +8.5% melee and range attack speed
  • +100 max health
• Verdant Dragonfish
  • +41% critical hit damage
  • Immune to burning

See the best food for each goal →

Recommended pets for a ranged build

• Pheromoth
  • +12.6% physical range damage
  • +7% dodge chance
• Owlux
  • +7.6% movement speed
  • +6.5% damage
• Arcane Symbiote
  • +28 magic barrier
  • +11% mana regeneration while casting

See the best pet rankings →

Recommended talents for a ranged build

1. RangedRapid shotsPer point: +2% range attack speedRange attack speed translates directly into DPS, so take it first.
2. RangedKeeping momentumPer point: Gain 2% range damage every time an enemy is shot, stacks up to 2 timesRange damage grows as you keep landing hits. Weapons that fire many projectiles stack it faster.
3. RangedWeakness detectionPer point: +2% chance on ranged hit to increase critical hit chance by 50% for a short durationRange hits can temporarily raise your critical hit chance by a lot.
4. RangedFocused accuracyPer point: +5% range damage after standing still for 3 secMore damage while standing still. Useful in boss fights where you shoot from a safe spot.
5. FishingWell-trained aimPer point: +6% of fishing added as range damageAdds part of your fishing stat to range damage. Strong if you also collect fishing gear.
6. FishingStudied patternsPer point: +2% dodge chanceA chance to dodge any attack. Insurance for fragile ranged characters.
7. VitalityStrong and healthyPer point: +2% damage while at max healthKeeping your distance makes it easier to stay at full health and keep this bonus.

See recommended talents for every build →

How gear is scored

Each gear effect (value at Lv.20) is multiplied by the points below and summed. 1 point ≈ +1% damage (expected DPS) with endgame gear. "Damage %" effects such as physical melee damage and all damage add together in one bucket, so late game, when that bucket is already large, each 1% is worth little, and effects in other (multiplying) buckets like attack speed, critical hit chance and triple damage score higher (damage formula and detailed calculation).

• +1% chance on hit to deal triple amount of damage1.82 pts
• +1% critical hit chance0.99 pts
• +1% critical hit chance0.99 pts
• +1% range attack speed0.65 pts
• +1% melee and range attack speed0.65 pts
• +1% damage against bosses0.41 pts
• +1% damage0.36 pts
• +1% damage dealt by you and all nearby allies0.36 pts
• +1% physical range damage0.36 pts
• +1% range damage0.36 pts
• +1% critical hit damage0.24 pts
• +1% critical hit damage0.24 pts
• +1% damage while at max health0.18 pts
• +1% range damage after standing still for 3 sec0.18 pts
• +1% damage taken-0.18 pts
• +1% damage-0.36 pts

Conditional effects (only at full health, etc.) are counted at about half. Effects other than damage, such as healing and mana, are valued in "points of damage %" so they share the same unit. A weapon's expected DPS is damage × attacks per second, multiplied by endgame gear and the weapon's own effects using this calculation.