How to properly use cf?

My dmg goes from decent to low depending on how I use it. Is that normal or am I using it wrong? Sometimes like 12-20k+ or like 100k+.
My gear isn't all that great, but my dmg is pretty ok. I keep hitting the lower range of dmg. Even if target is still.
Is there a certain way I need to use it?
I've seen others use it like it's nothing. I also tried a combo, but it only works once, and the same 12-20k+ dmg pops up.
As well an mp problem.
Tried for a one mp combo. That didn't work out like I said before. I wanted to try charge, but It would take so long.
Do I need to change anything?

 

You need separate combo for CF Cast and CF Release

 

First of all, why aren't your equipments refined?
Do you know how CF works? If not then I'll tell you.
The first cast is a buff cast, it costs 4MP you'll start charging CF. Getting hit stops the charging. The second time you cast, it will be an attack cast, it costs 0MP. The damage will depend on how many charges you have when you cast the attack. There will also be extra smaller hits depending on how many charges you have. Those smaller damage numbers you got were probably the extra hits.
Also you won't need 1MP combos, because you have Decoy to continuously recover MP.
Most people usually use CF like this: Manually buff cast, wait for it to charge to at least 2 or 3, then use a short smite combo for the attack cast. So far the most common combo is Kairiki > CF (smite) > ender (no ender is also ok since attack cast is 0MP).

 

This is how i use my cf:
My combo: snipe > cf(smite)
First charge your cf. Then use this combo for second cast to hit boss/mob.
Snipe will armor break the target for Maximum damage. Elementaly atk (arrow) will give extra dmg to the target weakness
Have fun using cf ^^)/

 

You should really do as JerryRst pointed out, it's important. Even more so, because you don't have any xtals.

(1) Did you enable Support Skill Icons at Graphics? If not you should enable everything. It's crucial to knowing how many charges your cf has currently (with 1 being the minimum and 5 the maximum)! Although you shouldn't wait for fully charged cf. You can shoot it at 3/4 charges and still have some decent damage.

(2) Do you have elemental arrows? If not you should try to get them for the elemental advantage.

(3) Do you have enough crit?

(4) Armor break with snipe before shooting a smited charged cf, for some burst damage. Or how about buffs? Like warcry, kairiki, meikyo or brave aura?

EDIT: I think you should have asked in Class Discussions > Hunter

 

I've just been leveling the character up.
I thought to wait for slotted gear for that.
Thank you for explaining.
I'll refine
Also about the mp issue. I end up constantly low. I do use decoy but I'm afraid of upsetting people in parties thinking I'm not doing anything. As well since I barely lower hp of targets at all unlike other archers.

 

I have the earth, wind,fire, and water arrows. Along with arrow of penetration and empress arrow. I've been using empress mostly.
And for crt honestly no.

 

I hope you're using a 1MP decoy combo. Regarding thhe low MP. If you have the money for xtals later, you could put a AMPR xtal in a ring.
What I usually do is if I'm in dire need of MP:
(1) use decoy
(2) use a impact > kairiki combo to raise my AMPR [counter the ignite with recovery if needed]
(3) well, attack

And well if you're using the kairiki > cf(smite) or some variation of that combo, you should recover some decent amount of mp that is if you casted your decoy combo beforehand.

 

1mp skill > cross fire (save) > decoy
make to use a skill you don't need for other combos. Power Shot is a good option.

 

just a little tips, try to have at least 90-100 critical rate (either from equips, xtal or food), refine your weapon and learn boss movement.
if you have land, try to visit friend, guild member or new made land by other player sometime they got good food like AMPR and Crit.

 

Your damage fluctuates a bit because of wep. stability and procration.
Buy a stack of Mithril Ore and Mithril and refine to 9 from NPC. Very cheap.

 

This is bad. Don't do this. Save tag will be applied to dmg.

 

even when it's the buff cast?

 

Yes, it is carried over

Edit: taken from skill tree thread
https://toramonline.com/index.php?threads/skill-tree-list-lvl-180-cap-salvaged.45857/#post-471713

- If the attack cast has the same Combo Tag as the buff cast did, the Combo Tag of the attack cast will be ignored
- The Combo Multiplier carries over from the buff cast; this takes into account if the attack cast's Combo Tag is ignored;

Cross Fire Total Combo Multiplier = Attack Cast Combo Multiplier + Buff Cast Combo Multiplier - 100

 

Here's how I use CF

1. Cast CF with no combo (400 MP)
2. Wait for it to get to lv 2 or 3 (DPS wise, lv 2 or 3 is better than lv 5 because it's faster)
3. Impact > Snipe(Smite) > Finale(Smite) (400 MP). This is optional to give [Armor Break] ailment (you can skip this)
4. Kairiki Ranshin > CF(Smite) > Impact(Cons) (200 MP)
5. Cast CF with no combo again (200 MP because of Impact), and repeat

Pretty spammable. Make sure Decoy is on. You can replace Kairiki with Moeba Shot or Snipe (skipping step 3)

 

heres how i use it:
1. i cast my 1mp decoy combo backstep/moeba shot>decoy save>impact smite
2. cast cf without combo
3. keep spamming impact>snipe combo(i can do about 440k snipe for me at least is a very good amount of dmg i think, and dont forget to use at least 1 auto atk after every impact>snipe) and then i use Kaikiri>cf(smite)>impact cons

 

My atk are only 1,3k and deal 600k+ dmg, im not using decoy because im only using cf and hit it until 3x charge, my combo are very simple. Cast cf normally(4mp), then Moeba shot>cf(smite) (1mp), it's only 5 mp, even with ampr barely enough can make up of it, simple combo are very helpful. I often being the one survived in party especially at Carbuncle, when other member are all died. Btw my archer are full tec, lol.