Hunter or Crossbowman?

This is a classic example of speed vs. power. While Hunters have a higher damage/minute output in early levels, Crossbowmen catch up quickly in 2nd job. This is unfortunate as it gives a bad example of the strength of Crossbows in the first 30 levels; where the damage difference is minuscule and the speed difference is massive.

In second job however, Crossbows and Bows get the skill "booster" that levels the playing field in terms of speed. While hunters are still faster than Crossbows, it is less noticeable with booster on. (With no booster, the speed difference is 10%, with booster on the speed difference is only 6%). The damage difference does just the opposite, the higher level you are, the bigger the difference is between the classes. Crossbows just get stronger and stronger than Hunters.

Frankly, both the speed difference and strength difference is minuscule compared to the different skills in 2nd job. Hunters get Arrow Bomb, a weaker attack that can cause up to 6 enemies to get stunned. Crossbows get Iron Arrow, a stronger attack that does not "home" on enemies but can go through walls.

The true difference between the classes is simply the Arrow Bomb vs. Iron Arrow debate. The skills are similar; they both hit up to 6 enemies and both cost a lot of mana, however Iron Arrow is a bit cheaper. This is where the similarities end; Iron Arrow gets weaker as it progressively hits enemies, while Bomb gets stronger after it hits an initial enemy. This means Iron Arrow is most definitely going to be stronger on small mobs (3 or 4) and Bomb will be better on larger mobs (6 at a time). However, Iron Arrow is more powerful than bomb in all circumstances.

Please note that since Arrow Bomb does not pierce through enemies, it will do area damage (and perhaps stun) around the first monster it hits. Therefore, a group of six monsters can be easily hit by Iron Arrow; however, the same group must be very close to be affected by Arrow Bomb. It must also be noted, Iron Arrow's strengths are also its weaknesses; Arrow bomb has the ability to shoot upward or downward at a slight angle. This ability is useful in ranged combat from a safe spot.

Arrow Bomb has a stun ability, which makes up for its relative weakness. When maxed, Bomb Arrow has a 60% chance to stun an enemy, for each enemy. Admittedly, it doesn't seem like a "flat" 60% chance, weaker enemies tend to get stunned more often than the stronger enemies, and bosses never get stunned.

Arrow Bomb also has something of a glitch. The monster that is actually struck with the arrow takes half damage, 65% at max, and the monsters hit by the “splash” damage take more than it says, 195% at max. Also, a critical with Bomb does double damage, as opposed to a critical with other skills, where it merely adds 100%. This is a great advantage, as a monster hit by splash damage that criticals will take 390% damage, where as if it had worked normally it would only do 230% damage.

In 3rd job, the tables are reversed. Crossbows get Ice Shot, which freezes foes for up to 3 seconds as long as they aren't ice-resistant; however, it does not receive critical attacks. Hunters get Fire Shot, which is stronger and does receive criticals. In essence, however, the difference between these two bowmen can be summed up like this: Hunters are speedy, and Crossbows are powerful.http://strategywiki.org/wiki/MapleStory/Bowman_Guide