Kain

DEX focus · Archer · Nova

Swaps between Possession and Execute for agile ranged burst setups.

Legion effect

Grants flat DEX10/20/40/80/100

Link skill

Time to Prepare

By defeating 8 enemies or attacking a boss 5 times, you gain 1 stack of Time to Prepare. At 5 stacks of Time to Prepare, your damage increases by 25% for 20 sec.
Cooldown: 40 sec

Class overview

Kain is a DEX archer class part of the Nova. Kain utilize Whispershots as their primary weapons. For their secondary weapon, Kain can equip Weapon Belts

Attack stats

Base multipliers and passive boosts unlocked while leveling.

Weapon Multiplier	1.3x
Attack Speed	8	Stage 6 +2
Weapon Mastery	85%	Base +15% +70%
DEX	+60 & +15% to assigned AP	+60 +15% to assigned AP
Attack	+4%(+19%) +185	+4% +15% +40 +40 +40 +35 +30
Crit Rate	+60%	Base +5% +35% +20%
Crit Damage	+40%	+20% +20% +50% of Crit Rate
Damage	+25%(125%)	+25% +17% +15% +45% +35%
Boss Damage	+15%	+15%
Final Damage	+108%	+25% × +28% × +30%
Ignore DEF	+37%	+10% × +30%

All actives

Quick reference for buffs, summons, and defensive utility to keep track of.

Active buffs	[200s]
Summons & placables	[40s](Toggle) (Toggle) [5-10s](60s cd) (Toggle)
Buffs with cooldowns	[35s](120s cd) [35s](120s cd) [40s](120s cd) [960s](1200s cd) [30s](120s cd) [2400s](300s cd)
Binds	[10s](360s cd)
iFrames	[Up to 3.4s](40s cd) (120s cd) [960s Buff](1200s cd blocks 1 death) (360s cd)
Damage reduction (%Max HP)	[Up to 5s](-50% \| 60s cd) [Up to 2s](-50% \| 60s cd)

Inner ability

Suggested line rolls.

For Bossing

Boss Damage +20%
Crit Rate +20%
Damage to Abnormal Status +8% OR Attack +21

For Bossing (Alternative)

Passive Skills +1
Crit Rate +20%
Attack +21 OR Boss Damage +10%

For Training

Meso Obtained +20%
Item Drop Rate +15%
Damage to Normal Monsters +8%

Hyper skills

Node picks once Lv.140+.

Whispershot - Guardbreak, Reinforce, and Boss Rush
Execute - Reinforce
Lasting Grudge - Reinforce

V Matrix nodes

Boost node pairings & notes.

Primary Trio

Secondary Trio

Tertiary (Bossing) Trio

Any combination of these skills are good but preferred from same category as you want to max primary first

The last skill from the Tertiary Trio can be any skill as Kain only has 8 skills to boost

6 Boost Nodes total are needed to reach Master Level 60 for these skills (with Matrix Points used)

Nodes with the same Main Skill (skill at the top) cannot be equipped at the same time

Other notable combinations

Possess and Execute Skills & Dark Sight

[Possess and Execute Skills

In 2nd Job, you gain access to your special resource gauge,

Possess that utilizes Malice. Malice is gained periodically and from attacking enemies with Whispershot skills like

Strike Arrow. Every 100 Malice, you gain a Malice Stone that is used to enter Possess state. In Possess state, enhances one attack granting it special effects. Possess skills share the same Skill Key and Skill Points (SP) as their regular version. Possess skills also have their own independent cooldowns from the regular skill

20 Malice is generated periodically in 2nd Job, it is increased to 30 in 4th Job
13 Malice is generated when landing a Whispershot skill, it is increased to 18 in 4th Job

Below is all skills that have a Possess form:

Strike Arrow [1st Job]
Scattering Shot [2nd Job]
Shaft Break [3rd Job]
Falling Dust [4th Job]
Unseen Sniper [Hyper Skill]
Dragon Burst [5th Job] - Always usable

Additionally, in 3rd Job, you gain a passive called

Death's Blessing. Possess skills add stacks of Death's Blessing which new Execute skills will detonate one stack for an additional attack. Detonating Death's Blessing also grants a %Final Damage buff to Death's Blessing and Execute skills

Upon defeating an enemy with an Execute skills or detonating a stack of Death's Blessing, the cooldown of

Shadow Step (1st Job) is reset

Below is all your Execute skills:

Phantom Blade [3rd Job] - Does not reset dash
Tearing Knife [3rd Job]
Chain Sickle [4th Job]
Poison Needle [4th Job]
Unseen Sniper [Hyper Skill]
Fatal Blitz [5th Job]

Lastly, several skills have a recharging cartridge system where you have a set amount of ammo which recharges over time. Below is a list of all cartridge system skills:

Scattering Shot [2nd Job] - 3 Charges, 6 sec recharge
Shaft Break [3rd Job] - 3 Charges, 8 sec recharge
Falling Dust [4th Job] - 2 Charges, 10 sec recharge

Dark Sight

Credits to the Night Walker Discord for the list of attacks avoidable with Dark Sight. For an actively maintained version, please check out the Night Walker Discord

In 1st Job, using

Shadow Step grants brief

Dark Sight state. Below is a list of avoidable attacks that have been tested:

Boss	Avoidable Attack
All Enemies	Touch Damage
Hilla	Lightning Bolt, Flame Breath
Cygnus	All minion touch damage + attacks
Ursus	Falling Debris
Princess No	Butterfly Throw, Sakura Shower
Magnus	Immobilizing Gas, Falling Debris, Dash
Papulatus	Hand Smash, Floor Rift, Timed Cursed/Seal, Falling Debris
Gollux	Reverse / 99% Bomb
Crimson Queen	Burn DoT
Pierre	Falling Hats, Fire Spin (Blue Form)
Von Bon	Falling Debris
Vellum	Falling Stun Rocks
Pink Bean (Statuses)	All attacks except Laser, Poison Clouds, Mini Pink Beans
Pink Bean	Blue ground attack, Big Bang, Mini Pink Beans
Lotus	Phase 2 Stun Debris
Damien	Falling Fireballs, Dash, Thorn Bind
Will	P1 Red Meteors, P2 Web, P2 Dash
Guardian Angel Slime	Slime Pool DoT, Slime minion touch damage
Verus Hilla	Corpse DoT
Gloom	Falling Debris
Darknell	Debris, Small Minion touch damage
Black Mage	Red Lightning, Falling Debris, Knights' Dash
Seren	Dash, Falling Debris

References & thanks

This guide cross-checks data from the following resources.

Grandis Library MapleStory Wiki