Questions about bowgun builds

I recently made a new bowgun character and have a few questions.
First, which sub equip is better between arrow, dagger and knuckles and I've seen two different stat distributions in videos dex>str and dex>agi.
I have tier 4 skills if that affects any of the decisions.

 

arrow offers you elemental damage and stability.traditionally this is the best choice.

knucks offer you breaking skills and another long range skill so you can spam chariot while charging cf.

dagger is extremely underwhelming

MD allows you to spam snipe and with resonance and maximizer.

Shield allows you access to PDEF and shield cannon if you go dex vit. shield cannon can be as strong as CF. this is my personal build

 

I guess I'll try knuckles. But if I do is snipe and kairiki still necessary or chariot covers up for them

 

I mean you can technically do both in a long combo

Starter -> Arm Break Save -> Kairiki -> Snipe -> Impact -> Chariot -> Ender

 

Ok thanks a lot

 

Worth reminding that snipe on bowgun has a -25% crit reduction (back in the day it was considered too op before t4 skills). You would effectively need 140crit for 100% crit on snipe. Probably better now to focus on cf and chariot (as a direct replacement for snipe) for gunfu... or use meikyo (+40crit buff) before snipe.

 

Ok I guess I'll forget abt snipe for now

 

arrow: This is for if you really need it for things like hunter skills. You bonus from arrows are halved with bowgun, and as much you need the stability on the low stability bowguns have, there arent many other benefits for going with arrow unless you're a purist who just wants to be pure gun. Not a bad choice at all.

knuck: This was traditionally considered the best choice for bowgun, as the knuckle skills give bowgun something to do when it needs to interupt or take aggro, sometimes dealing a lot more damage in the long run. You can make a mixed range build with Rush or a full long range build with chariot. Triple Kick is also not a bad choice. This can give you more to do while CF is charging instead of using the critical baned Snipe, with impact chariots or rushes while waiting for your 35 secs.

daggar: Probably my second favourite sub weapon for bowguns, in my opinion. You gain access to two of the best combo enders (if you dont like using Finale as an ender) which are Arcane Strike and Lv.10 Throw Dagger. Both of these cost 0mp when you end your combo with it with the save tag, and Arcane Strike especially will boost your AMPR. The most for damage you may use is a Smited Arcane Strike (with Decoy up so you gain all your MP back), Smited Backstab, or Smited Gatling if you wanna get that. Use Arcane if you have lots of MP you can get back fast. This is more of a tricky build to use and master but it is very fun.

MD: My favourite sub weapon for both bowgun and knuckles (wow I must be insane right). Well, if you have the magic warrior skill tree then lv10 the mastery skill so your ATK doesnt die, and you have access to probably the best long range mixed set. You're able to set up a Decoy while also having access to MP Charge, Maximizer, and Resonance. My favourite reason to get this is the ability to actually use your Impact uses on Magic:Burst. You can prorate by yourself very well my mixing magic and physical and you can do Dex>Int do be able to do decent damage with both CF and Burst. Will this do the most damage: no. Is it fun: very very fun.

Shield: This is probably the best one you can do at least right now. Doing Dex>Vit and getting P.Def and Shield Cannon can get you a good role as a Tank with good damage (every 30 seconds). Shamefully CF doesnt charge through P.Def, but you could go Vulcan Shield+S and not play tank role in the party and mix up CF, Shield Cannon, and maybe some Snipes in there to do some high damage.

 

Remember that sub arrow elements can be beneficial on cf.