What sort of low-tier armor would be best for a ranger-in-the-making? Any set bonuses that would come in handy?
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most of the starting ranged weapons dont have knockback so the best prefix they can get should be demonic. (unless you get to drop or get them with the unreal modifier, which wouldnt be logical).
for accesories, if you dont feel the need for armor then you either go for "lucky" (for more crit chance) or menacing (for raw damage increment).
as for armor. there's not really a ranged armor early on, the choices a think would serve you would be:
-pumpkin armor (the full set gives +10% damage dealt by any of your weapons, it only gives 7 defense though)
-ninja armor(the 1.3 update converted it from a vanity set to an early game throwing related equipment, if you dont mind playing with thrown weapons it would be the most close to a ranged set at that point, the downside is that you have to farm king slime for it)
-fossil armor(better stats than the ninja armor, still throwing weapon focused)
-necro armor(this is practically reaching the end of pre-hardmode so it shouldnt count)
-ore armor(the typical progression, you may not get any bonus to your ranged weapons but you can use the extra resistance to focus your accesories in actual damage increase for them).
outside of that well, archery potions, ammo box, and other potions to max your damage.