Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-1031179-20161209124752/@comment-28251580-20161209154636

"Archers" in that sense didn't exist. Like ZeHaffen said, Aincrad had only close range weapons, but no magic or long-range weapons (aside from Nezha's charkam in Progressive, but that's a throwing weapon and not a bow). The first season encompasses both the Aincrad Arc and the Fairy Dance Arc, please be a bit more specific.

Could you tell the episode and minute where you suppose Archers appeared?