The Archer class in Chivalry 2 is, perhaps surprisingly, one of the more versatile of the four classes available. Archers are the only class with ranged primary weapons (the bow, crossbow, javelin, and throwing axe) but they can still hold their own in a one-on-one situation thanks to their melee weapon variety.
The class suffers from low armor and the lack of high-tier options at close range. Nonetheless, the Archer is a staple of every team composition in Chivalry 2, and one that skilled players can use to to control the battlefield with precise ranged shots.
Updated July 2, 2022 by Erik Petrovich: With Chivalry 2 finally available on PC via Steam, the game is seeing a bit of a minor resurgence. The Archer is Chivalry 2's default ranged class, able to use the best ranged weapons like Crossbows. They do have other options, though, especially for the Skirmisher subclass which is more suited for close combat than ranged. No matter your choice of Archer weapon in Chivalry 2, the game is balanced enough for it to probably be viable - just don't be surprised if you go up against a Knight as a Skirmisher and get one-shot by his Battle Axe as you try to dance around and deal melee damage. Ultimately, the best Archer weapons are the ones that keep them out of direct conflict.
8 Mace
When it comes to fighting at melee range as an Archer, there are a few decent weapons available for the secondary slot. The mace is one of the weakest of these options strictly because of its incredibly short range. Archers tend to die quickly in close combat situations, and maces just get the Archer too close to the action.
The squishier the character, the better it is to keep enemies at arms' length – Archers excel in the long-range game, but if you can't take out a foe before they come toe-to-toe, it's best to forgo a mace for something longer. Two different versions of the mace can be used, being the Flanged Mace and the Blunt Mace, and are best paired with the Skirmisher subclass as it is more oriented for close combat.
7 Falchion
The falchion is another very short-ranged weapon, but the attacking speed of a falchion makes it outclass the mace. A falchion is like a short, sharp dagger-like sword from the Middle Ages, which Archers can swing wildly and rapidly at nearby opponents. Similar to the mace, though, the main drawback of this melee weapon is its range.
Using a falchion effectively requires the Archer to run into the fray of battle, which is never as effective as dealing damage from a range. It comes in two varieties, its normal Falchion and Cleaver Falchion designs, and is best paired with the Skirmisher class as it is best suited for an Archer who wants to fight in closer quarters.
6 Short Sword
The short sword is one of the better hand-to-hand weapons available for Archers in Chivalry 2. It's relatively fast, does a fair amount of damage, and it's got a longer reach than either the mace or the falchion. It's certainly not the most impressive weapon in the game, but it's pretty well-suited for the least melee-oriented class.
It's the default melee choice for most classic Archers who choose a bow or crossbow for their primary weapon. It might not do the most damage of all the melee options, but it's very reliable. It can be styled as a Carolingian or Katzbalger short sword, and works well for the Longbowman or Crossbowman subclasses.
5 Throwing Axe
The throwing axe is arguably the Archer's worst primary ranged weapon of the four available to the class. It can be used in the Francisca or Hurlbat designs that all deal Blunt damage. While it does the most damage of the primary ranged weapons, its very limited ammo reserves and the difficulty of aiming shots make it a far worse option than any other ranged weapon.
If you plan to play an Archer in close combat often, throwing axes are only a slightly worse option than javelins – though close combat Archers will usually choose the latter. The best subclass for the Throwing Axe is the Skirmisher, as it gives them more options for thrown weapons, but it's still not as reliable as a good old bow and arrow.
4 Axe
The axe, in the forms of the Horseman's Axe and the Viking Axe, is one of the best melee weapons for a ranged-first Archer. The reach of the Viking Axe is close to the reach of the Arming Sword and hits harder, though it swings slower too. There's no better way to dispose of an oncoming foe than to whip out an axe and surprise the overconfident attacker with its brutal swings.
The differences between each melee weapon are relatively minor, all things considered, so be sure to play around and see what fits your personal playstyle best. The Axe is best paired with any of the Archer subclasses as it is reliable and deals a good amount of damage with few downsides, save for range.
3 Javelin
The javelin is considered to be the best combination of a melee and ranged weapon for Archers in Chivalry 2. Javelins can be thrown very accurately at opponents, and while they hit for huge damage as a projectile, they also double as melee spear-like weapons. There's nothing more important for a squishy Archer than to keep enemies as far away as possible.
The javelin has the longest reach of any melee weapon for the Archer, and it's doubly effective at finishing off a fleeing foe. It can be used in the Javeline and Pilum forms, and is good for all Archer subclasses thanks to its long reach and unpredictable moveset.
2 Bow
An Archer wouldn't be an Archer without the option of using a trusty, regular bow, and Chivalry 2 gives two options: the Longbow or the Recurve Bow. The Longbow has slightly increased range for big maps, while the Recurve bow can be fired slightly faster. Out of the ranged primary weapon options for Archers, the regular bow only falls short of being the best for its lack of damage.
No matter the enemy, Archers can expect to shoot at least two to three arrows to kill a player, while the javelin and crossbow can finish enemies with a single hit in the right spot. The Bow can be used by the Longbowman subclass, who is also able to set traps and light arrows on fire for extra burning damage on hit.
1 Crossbow
The crossbow is the best ranged weapon in Chivalry 2, and thus the best weapon for Archers, because of its huge damage output. Archers are rarely seen in close combat, and the crossbow is best used when set up a long distance away from the intended target. The main drawback of the crossbow (no pun intended) is the lengthy reload time. While bow users can fire off a few shots in the span of a few seconds, crossbow users need to plan to reload for about two seconds after every single shot.
It's the most powerful ranged weapon, but it can also leave an Archer wide open for melee attackers. Only fire and reload this weapon if you are sure you won't be interrupted. However, if you can see your attacker closing in and you can finish the reload before they arrive, a well-aimed crossbow bolt at close range can take out all but the strongest opponent. It comes as the regular Crossbow or the Recurve Crossbow, and is used by the Crossbowman subclass. This subclass can set up shields and healing banners, which helps offset the downside of long reload times.
Chivalry 2 is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S