Arbalest

"Shoot, bandage, and pillage­­ - the dancing steps of war!"

- The Ancestor

The Arbalest is one of the playable Character Classes in Darkest Dungeon.

Class Description
"Clad in heavy armor and able to vanquish foes with her massive crossbow, she is like a living embodiment of a cannon. Her life of war has given her many skills for the battlefield such as marking down targets, raining arrows upon her foes and even firing bolas to disrupt the enemy's formation. She also learned how to dress and treat wounds, and can apply makeshift healing upon the battlefield. Given enough time at camp, she can treat the wounds of all her allies, or even instruct them in how to be quicker than their adversaries. Or she may spend her night tending to her crossbow, her one companion since childhood. As long as she is given ample distance between herself and her quarry, no foe is safe from this sharpshooter's wrath."

The Musketeer
The Arbalest has received a visual restyling available to Kickstarter backers of Adventurer tier. The Musketeer presents a restyling of most combat abilities, one camp ability and every visual aspect and animation of the character itself. As of June 19th, 2018, the Musketeer has been made available to all owners of the game in the form of a free DLC.

Combat Skills
"A runaway turned soldier, the Arbalest is the definitive backline fighter. Able to rain suppressing fire down on the enemy, snipe high profile targets and apply powerfully effective first-aid, she is a rallying point, a turret, a beacon in the dark."

- Guild

Note: New Arbalests will always come with the Sniper Shot skill.

(All buffs and debuffs last for 3 rounds unless otherwise specified.)

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Camping Skills
"As on the battlefield, so too at camp. The Arbalest splits her time at rest, providing expert first aid care, and preparing for the next leg of the journey with optimized marching plans and a fresh, taut bowstring."

- Survivalist

Tactical Analysis
The Arbalest is a strictly backrow character. Most of her skill set is restricted to positions 3 and 4, though she compensates easily as her movement lets her quickly return to those positions in a single step. However, if an expedition begins to go awry and her companions begin dying, it's not unusual to see the Arbalest get stranded at the front with no skills to use.

Her main attack skill is Sniper Shot, which hits anywhere but position 1 and has a DMG and CRIT bonus against marked enemies. She has her own marking skill in the form of Sniper's Mark, but that is one of the weakest mark skills, being the only skill that can't mark position 1. For enemies within position 1, Bola hits the front two positions with a chance to shuffle frontliners into a position where she can snipe them, and Blindfire is weighed down with a random target. Note that Blindfire will never hit corpses (unless all other remaining enemies are stealthed) or stealthed enemies, so it's always a good skill to use for picking off enemy frontliners as a battle approaches its end. Suppressing Fire deals rather insignificant damage, however, the debuffs applied can prevent catastrophe, such as an Unclean Giant performing Treebranch Smackdown, unable to land a critical hit or missing entirely.

When she has nothing to snipe, her Battlefield Bandage lets her stand in as a surprisingly effective off-healer. Though its healing strength is relatively low, it amplifies the healing received by its target, letting her combo perfectly with a Vestal or Occultist to patch up heavily damaged combatants — doubly so for the Occultist, which, on a high roll, can heal for 30 or more HP, saving anyone at Death's Door. The buff to healing received also works splendidly with the Flagellant's Reclaim skill, and it is the only way to increase the ticks of healing-over-time.

Her remaining skill, though, are rather unremarkable. Rallying Flare is generally too situational for use, with the exception of a few specific boss fights.

Equipment
"The Arbalest takes her name from the massive crossbow she carries into the battle. Able to decimate enemies at range with a dizzying array of ammunition, she wears medium plate for increased protection against the volleys she knows are coming..."

- Blacksmith

Each Hero has Trinkets unique to them that only they can equip. The Arbalest has seven; 2 common, 2 Crimson Court and 1 uncommon, rare and very rare. In the base game, her lower level trinkets are greaves and her high level trinkets are bandanas. The Crimson Court DLC adds a stuffed animal and crossbow bolt, while The Color of Madness DLC added crystal bolts


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District Bonus
The Crimson Court DLC adds Districts to the Hamlet, some of which confer passive benefits to heroes.


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Customisation
As for every hero, the Arbalest has four different colour palettes to choose from: green, red, blue and cream.

Barks
Critical Hit =

Landing a Critical Hit
Fearful =
 * Hell's fire I'm good!
 * Right where it hurts!
 * Bull's eye!
 * Naturally.
 * A bloody good shot!
 * Exactly where I called it!

Becoming Fearful

 * I can feel Death's sights on my heart!
 * The front line will fall!
 * N-no! No more!
 * Nothing can stop these fiends!
 * Defeat! Despair! DEATH!

Stressing Party

 * My sights shake, my breath trips and stumbles!
 * They are beyond my range!
 * My bolts mean nothing!

Switching Position to the Back

 * Too near!
 * They can reach me! Back!
 * Help!

Passing Turn

 * Which path is safe?
 * I am fixed in Death's gaze!
 * I...am frozen..

Camping Stress

 * This trail leads to ruin.
 * Did you feel that chill?
 * We journey through darkness itself!

Getting Hit by Enemy

 * I am not ready for you, Death!
 * More will surely follow.

Enemy Missed Self

 * My entire life! Revealed to me in a vision!
 * This is too much!

Party Member Attack Misses

 * We are done for!
 * Your failure has doomed us!

Party Member Hit

 * They will flay us one by one.
 * Can my bolts stop this?

Enemy Missed Party Member

 * The bell tolls for us all!
 * Will I be next?

Blocks Move

 * Just let it be over with!
 * I am frozen in Death's gaze!

Refuses to Perform Camping Skills
Paranoid =
 * I cannot focus, my soul quakes.
 * My hands shake so.
 * I am vexed by the shadows.

Becoming Paranoid

 * Surrounded by servants of Darkness!
 * Which of you bumped my arm?!
 * Who here parlays with shadows?
 * Deceive me at your peril!
 * Comrades?! Enemies?! All have it in for me!

Stressing Party

 * One of you has frayed my cord!
 * My herbs are fouled! But by whom?!
 * A trap! Surely this is a trap!

Switching Position to the Back

 * Your ruse would lure me out of position!
 * I would feel better with you in front.
 * You would abandon our flanks!

Passing Turn

 * I am surrounded! To move is certain death!
 * I will not show my back to you craven fiends!
 * They know where I will aim!

Random Action

 * I will foil their conspiracy!
 * They try to surround me!
 * I will fight you all if I must!

Camping Stress

 * I will sleep with my finger on the trigger.
 * Any of you could be with them. Any of you!
 * I see creeping shapes just beyond the fire's light.
 * Someone speaks to the darkness!

Attacking Party Member

 * Flee betrayer!
 * Yes, I know your plots!
 * I spied you tampering with my weapon!

Refuses to Retreat

 * I sense a trap!
 * Why so keen to leave?

Getting Hit by Enemy

 * Come out, traitors! I am not afraid!
 * The trap is sprung!

Enemy Missed Self

 * You all let this happen!
 * How easily that one slipped through!

Party Member Attack Misses

 * Traitor!
 * You betray us!

Party Member Hit

 * Who among us is the traitor?!
 * Which of you gave us away?!

Enemy Missed Party Member

 * Hard to strike a friend, isn't it?
 * Is there a monster hiding among us?

Blocks Move

 * Into your trap?! Never!
 * I can sight all you traitors from here!

Refuses to Use Item

 * I'll stick to my own tinctures.
 * I question your intent!

Refuses to Get Healed

 * I'll prepare my own treatments!
 * That reeks of belladonna.
 * Far too convenient.

Refuses to Get Buffed

 * Spare me your tricks, fiend!
 * Never trust a smiling fox.
 * Too freely given.

Refuses to Performing Camping Skills

 * That one plots against me.
 * Feigning an injury to lure me into danger.
 * Better to trust no one right now.

Refuses to be Target of Camping Skills

 * Not from you, not from anyone here!
 * Your cowardly stare betrays you.

Refuses to Eat when Camping
Masochistic =
 * More belladonna, eh?
 * Something was slipped in the food!

Becoming Masochistic

 * Give me more! I've endured worse!
 * The pain focuses my aim!
 * Wounds heal, but glory never fades!
 * Ah, what a bloody delight to do battle!
 * The agony quickens the pulse!

Stressing Party

 * Pain steadies my aim.
 * Each scar is a seal proving my worth!
 * This road has been one long delicious trial!

Switching Position to the Front

 * Life is made true through suffering!
 * Ah, what tales my stitches will tell!
 * I cannot help it! I hunger for blows!

Random Action

 * Blood! Mine or theirs, what does it matter?
 * I seek the glory of bloody battle!
 * The pandemonium rules my heart!

Camping Stress

 * These wounds stand testament to my deeds.
 * Some herbs heal and soothe, these burn and purify.
 * No better lullaby than the stitching of flesh.

Marking Self

 * There is joy in shooting and being shot!
 * Am I not armored? Try me!

Damaging Self

 * I can see clearly!
 * Now I am ready!
 * My aim is steadied!

Refuses to Retreat

 * Not until the bitter end!
 * This journey won't end in cowardice!

Getting Hit by Enemy

 * This! This is living!
 * A proper battle!

Enemy Missed Self

 * Hell's fires! Do I have to help you aim?
 * Oh, you tease me!

Party Member Hit

 * What I would give to trade places with you.
 * How agony blesses you!

Blocks Move

 * Just when the fight is getting good and bloody?
 * I can hit anything, no matter the danger!

Refuses to Use Item

 * What glory is there in begging for aid?
 * I already feel so alive!

Refuses to Get Healed

 * Such sweet wounds, leave them!
 * These wounds are finer than any medal!
 * You insult my valour!

Refuses to Get Buffed

 * That would lessen the thrill!
 * I must remain keen and sharp!
 * My aim becomes still with pain.

Refuse to Perform Camping Skills

 * Life gains more purpose at the edge!
 * Feel the burn and let it fire your spirit!
 * Luxury spoils the soldier.

Refuses to be Target of Camping Skills

 * That would dishonor the spirit of battle.
 * I yearn to thrive on the unbearable.

Refuses to Eat when Camping
Abusive =
 * A heavy stomach dulls the fight.
 * I need clarity to keep my sights steady.

Becoming Abusive

 * My herbs and stitches are wasted on you louts!
 * Surrounded by untrained dolts!
 * You are just the meat between my arbalest and our foes.
 * Dullards! You will not last another hour!
 * You couldn't handle the road I have ridden, louts!

Stressing Party

 * Hold still so I can aim!
 * Down in front or fell my bolts!
 * A bolt for your back if you block my aim again!

Random Action

 * Confused? Of course you are.
 * Watch and learn, for once!
 * A coward could never understand!

Camping Stress

 * Keep away from my arbalest! Too fine an instrument for your dull hands.
 * May you dream courage into your hollow hearts.
 * I hope you suffocate on your snores.

Attacking Party Member

 * I never hit anything, or anyone, by accident.
 * That was for jostling my aim earlier.
 * Years on the road and I still encounter fools.

Party Member Attack Hits

 * A clumsy blow.
 * Such brutish flailing.

Party Member Attack Misses

 * Why do you even bother?
 * Oh, don't tease the enemy so.

Party Member Hit

 * Just keep them back so that I can fire!
 * Now you learn about battle.

Blocks Move

 * Think any of you can make me?
 * Back off.

Refuses to Perform Camping Skills

 * Show some steel first.
 * Earn it.
 * A waste of time.

Refuses to be Target of Camping Skills
Selfish =
 * From you? No.
 * Unproven whelp.

Becoming Selfish

 * I do in one shot what takes you a dozen swings.
 * I deserve twice as much as my share increases.
 * My aim grows more true as my share increases.
 * It seems I am the only one truly made for this adventure!
 * You need me to watch the flanks!

Stressing Party

 * I hope my superior skill inspires you all!
 * I charge per kill, as my contract states.
 * Perhaps you have forgotten whose bolts saved your hide?

Switching Position to the Front

 * So it falls to me!
 * Once again I have to win the battle myself!
 * Glory calls me, and me alone, it seems!

Switching Position to the Back

 * My arbalest is too fine to risk!
 * I cannot risk injury!
 * A general's daughter on the front line? Hah!

Passing Turn

 * I am adjusting my sights!
 * I have earned this rest.
 * I need more time to sight my prey.

Random Action

 * I will pick my own targets and position!
 * I have earned the right to do as I please!
 * My aim is my own!

Camping Stress

 * I'll sleep closest to the fire.
 * I barely have enough tincture for myself.
 * Snort the watches between us, I deserve a night's rest.

Getting Hit by Enemy

 * Tired of my unerring bolts, eh?
 * Only I could have survived that!

Party Member Attack Hits

 * I had that one in my sights!
 * I was about to fire!

Party Member Attack Misses

 * I am not paid enough to fight for the both of us.
 * I would have made that shot!

Refuses to Perform Camping Skills
Hopeless =
 * I need my rest.
 * I am tired, leave me be.
 * And then help you again tomorrow? Fah!

Becoming Hopeless

 * What is it I ran away from?
 * What a fool I was to try and prove myself!
 * My aim is as faulty as my heart!
 * Grim thoughts circle my head like buzzards!
 * My string is frayed, my soul quails.

Stressing Party

 * Could I hit the long side of a barley house?
 * Am I still just a runaway?
 * Home calls me, but the way is lost.

Switching Position to the Front

 * I might be able to hit something from here.
 * I am more useful taking their blows.
 * Come, Death! Claim me!

Switching Position to the Back

 * I am not meant for great things after all.
 * I should have stayed home like a faithful daughter.
 * This whole journey has been one big fool's errand.

Passing Turn

 * I cannot hold my aim steady.
 * I can barely crank my weapon.
 * Happy endings only happen in children's tales.

Random Action

 * Every choice leads to ruin.
 * If I could steady my aim for just one more shot.
 * Strange whims are all that move me now.

Camping Stress

 * I have lost my way on this road.
 * What I would give to be home again, a wiser daughter.
 * I cannot recall a single target struck today.

Marking Self

 * I am without recourse, all hope gone.
 * Let them aim at the least of us.

Damaging Self

 * At least I can decide how I am to die.
 * It must end.

Refuses to Retreat

 * This road seems headed for ruin.
 * Onwards to my bloody ending.

Refuses to Use Item

 * No, I am not worthy.
 * I am too eager to die.

Refuses to Get Healed

 * No. Wounds are inevitable.
 * No bandage can mend my despair.
 * Save it for a better soldier.

Refuses to Get Buffed

 * Death has found me.
 * It would not be enough.
 * Oh, give up on me already.

Refuses to Perform Camping Skills

 * I am too lost in shadow.
 * My heart is not into it.
 * I would foul it up. Again.

Refuses to be Target of Camping Skills

 * Not worth your time.
 * Save it for someone worthy.

Refuses to Eating when Camping
Irrational =
 * None for me, not hungry.
 * Just let me lie down.

Becoming Irrational

 * I am fluent in the language of feathers!
 * Silence, my arbalest sings!
 * I must go back and find my missing bolts!
 * Three stars, two moons, one horse.
 * Will you marry me? Will you marry me? Will you marry me?

Stressing Party

 * A bird for a bolt and a bolt for a fish. A blue fish.
 * My harp has but one string! My song is a death rattle.
 * I shall have to remember this funny dream when I awaken.

Switching Position to the Front

 * My bolts tire of such long flights.
 * The parade almost trod me over!
 * Have you ever tried to argue with your feet? Pointless!

Switching Position to the Back

 * The ground was getting too hot!
 * I am the wind itself!
 * And queen takes knight! Checkmate!

Passing Turn

 * We are but puppets in a giant play!
 * What spell does the wind weave upon my feet?!
 * Terriers! In my boots!

Random Action

 * Who has taken all the ducks away?
 * An arbalest that fires arbalests?!
 * I know where there is a door to the Moon itself!

Camping Stress

 * I'll need three fingers for this magic trick. Volunteers?
 * Tie me down as I sleep to keep the owls from taking me away!
 * Still your hearts, they keep me awake!

Marking Self

 * Those beyond the stars need my blood to come through!
 * You are all welcome for tea!

Attacking Party Member

 * This is a common treatment in the Far East.
 * Bees! Full of bees!

Damaging Self

 * If it whispers for my blood...
 * I was right! Bells in my veins!
 * One, two, three...FOUR!

Refuses to Retreat

 * I was picnicking with these fine stones, if you don't mind.
 * The rain speaks to me with one thousand tongues!

Getting Hit by Enemy

 * T'keleli! T'keleli!
 * Metal! Claw! Blade! Tooth!

Enemy Missed Self

 * You have slain Sir Withers!
 * Sounds a bit flat to my ears but I'm just a soldier.

Party Member Attack Hits

 * Marionette strings?!
 * The moon is rather loud today.

Party Member Attack Misses

 * A swarm of beds!? Here?!
 * It is wise to ask permission of the weapon first.

Party Member Hit

 * Oh my! What a delightful funeral!
 * When the spirits offer you ribbons, always refuse.

Enemy Missed Party Member

 * Why are they applauding?
 * Have you ever seen a colour out of space?

Blocks Move

 * Tentacles?! Not again!
 * This spot finally got some sunshine!

Refuses to Use Item

 * I cannot pay for your wares, kind merchant.
 * I only trade in the finest tobacco.

Refuses to Get Healed

 * Scorpions!
 * I'll take an ale instead.
 * Who are you?

Refuses to Get Buffed

 * No, that tickles!
 * Can't catch me!
 * NOOOO!

Refuses to Performing Camping Skills

 * I cannot say I liked your poem.
 * I am on a road borne by the wind!
 * Cut a vein and see what scripture flows.

Refuses to be Target of Camping Skills

 * Hullo Mr. Ghost, will it be ham or sausage this time?
 * Shall we play Ring a Ring o' Roses instead?

Refuses to Eat when Camping
Stalwart =
 * I've already had my fill of hair.
 * That will surely give me the toots, and we are in court!

Becoming Stalwart

 * The highest inspiration guides my sights!
 * None shall take our flanks!

Stress Healing Self
Courageous =
 * These are small bumps on life's long road.
 * A steady heart makes for a steady hand.

Becoming Courageous

 * I cannot miss!
 * We can beat them all!

Stress Healing Party
Focused =
 * A special tincture that soothes the spirit.
 * This infusion will cool your thoughts.

Becoming Focused

 * The enemy cannot escape my sights.
 * Target sighted.

Buffing Party Member
Powerful =
 * Breathe like this and feel the calm grow.
 * Hold this powder under your tongue.

Becoming Powerful

 * Hah! My bolts know their eyes!
 * I have sighted their weaknesses!

Buffing Party
Vigorous =
 * I have the flanks covered, press hard!
 * Feel no fear, I will shoot those who threaten!

Becoming Vigorous

 * I can see for miles!
 * Hold that line and my bolts will fly true!

Self Healing
Final Boss (spoiler) = "Please no, I want to live!"
 * Taught myself this concoction in my last campaign.
 * This herb is toxic when taken under a gibbous moon.

- Arbalest while being executed by the Heart of Darkness.

Trivia

 * "Millicent", the name of her highest level weapon, is a female medieval name whose Germanic roots are the words for "work" and "strength".
 * "Arbalest" actually refers to a type of crossbow, not to the wielders themselves as noted by the blacksmith. However this may just be the Blacksmith refering to the Arbalest in the general sense like "The Crusader" meaning it's the reverse case and not incorrect.
 * Her predetermined name, Missandei, is a reference to a character found in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.
 * One of her camping skill barks, "If it bleeds, we can slay it," is a reference to the 1987 movie Predator.
 * One of her Irrational barks, "Have you ever seen a colour out of space?," is a reference to the title of H.P. Lovecraft's short story The Colour Out of Space. The Color of Madness DLC is also based on this short story.