People's Army of Sonoma

Whats the best way to raise combat skills nowadays [i.e. archery, parying]. And where can i farm some decent gear?

Mostly going to depend on current skill level. I don't know exact levels, but how I raise archery is to go to Yew cemetery and shoot the skeletons while safely standing on outside of fence. When stop gaining there, I find shooting the Ogre Lords a good way to gain.

parry, jhelom fighting pit, female fighters with no wep., they dont hurt u and u gain parry, keep killing till u get a bunch of them