Hello. I’ve taken a break from a game and now want to roll something for PvE and built around my fav class - Swordsman (I just kinda like it… sad IMC doesn’t give s**t).
So, I’ve come up with three builds. I find all of them utterly disgusting, because each has it’s major flaws. But I guess I’ll have to choose smth and maybe you’ll help with smth I missed.
I daresay I know a lot about the class tho, so let’s see if u manage.
Build 1: Exotic
Sw1-Pelt1-Barb3-Doppel1-Fencer1 (Rapier + Shield)
pros:
- can double the damage of Slash attacks once in 14 secs for 4 secs - those are Cyclone, Pouncling, Flanconnade and Seism.
- can be used with shield, increasing survivability for lategame content
- doesnt really rely on Pierce damage, so can take Esquive Toucher, Lunge and Flanconnade for maxed Slash, Block and Evasion… tho I still want to forego Esquive Toucher for Sept Etoiles.
- will get even more Slash-damage with Cleave buff of kToS… someday
- if u work on capping both Block and Dodge, you can theoretically wear fullcloth if needed
- all and all a great tank char that can destroy packs solo with long combos like Swashbuckling-WarCry-Cleave-Lunge-Cyclone, even though some of those are very long cd + does damage and manages aggro well.
cons:
- rapiers are disgustingly weak, even more so if char doesn’t rely on Pierce dmg…
- need to bump a lot into DEX
- need to forego better weaponry like Venier to have more AoE Ratio with Catacombs Rapier (note: it’s more effective the more dex you have)
- needs GBs / Phadas
- so when Cleave starts doubling Slash too, the whole idea of going Fencer for the same effect will become questionable
Build 2: Sword Classic
Sw1-High1-Barb3-Doppel2 (Two-handed sword)
pros:
- greatswords have op stats, only manamana is better. when Lolopanther Two-handed Swords start to appear, many ppl will want to roll such char.
- crit attack passive is considered weak by many, but crit atk is still being enhanced by attribs, if I’m not mistaken. and with cap lvl increasing, the effect will get increasingly stronger + any equipment with Critical Attack like Gladiator Band of Phada will be even stronger.
- when that patch from kToS hits us, it’ll be able to double Slash damage with Cleave that has 2 overhit, making previous build much less appealing
- it has two levels of Doppel. Cyclone does more dmg and lasts longer by ~37.5%. Deeds of Valor has 5 more stacks (+50% dmg bonus to existing modifier).
cons:
- NO PELTASTA
- NOW it has no slash-dmg modification and TBH it’s damage is kinda lackluster. so currently it’s chasing a korean dream.
- it has no no-cd skills, which also hurts. overall situation with CDs of this char is rather dire, it needs Chrono badly, only real dmg are Pouncing and Cyclone, both have terrific cds.
- can’t use shield, making this char very squishy at high level dungeons. so needs to pump more CON than shield builds as well.
- still needs to pump a lot into DEX.
- still needs GBs/phadas BADLY, because AoE ratio, tho it’s better then with Rapiers as a lot of twohands have decent AoE 1-2 usually, there are some 4 AoE ofc, but they are for lower lvls.
Build 3: Spear Classic
Sw1-Pelt1-Hop3-Dop1-Drag1 (Spear + Shield)
pros:
- cheapest build because I have fullequip for it already lol
- finestra is +150 crit rate, +30% block and +3 AoE ratio. it means you can wear like double sissels or sissel + phada/gb and have 0 point invested into DEX, wear a shield and a fullplate with 150 CON and rest into STR.
- as it doesn’t need DEX at all, it’s one of the few swordsman builds making good use of Sissel Bracelets.
- spears are decent in PvE as Maga Spear gives dmg to Medium mobs (all party leveling) and Brandism kills bosses.
- can double Pierce damage for 6 sec - those are Stabbing, Synchro-Thrusting, Dragontooth and Serpentine.
- can, with some additional effort, make use of Circling + Geras Spear + Spear Throw combination (having to rely on Geras hurts tho)
cons:
- have no Evasion whatsoever and also it’s DEF is always halved due to Deeds of Valor.
- can’t increase Cyclone damage, have no Pouncing => have no good AoE hitbox skills with maxed performance
- has no no-cd skills apart from Spear Throw, which requires a switch
Fencer seems like a winner now, but I’m REALLY worried about rapiers perfomance 280+ (yes, I’m talking about future).
PS. Another alternative is Sw1-Pelt1-Hop2-Cor2-Dragoon1, but it really HURTS cuz it has no evasion and no shield and only a darn karacha which is so much weaker than mana-mana (my main is Corsair3).
[quote]Ok, so it’s 4:22 am here and I have to work in ~5 hrs.
Below should explain everything. Added to OP post.
Build name: Combo Fencer Build (for kToS->iToS patch merge in August, hopefully)
Circle build: Swordman3-Barbarian1-Peltasta1-Fencer1-Doppelsoldner1
Skill build: http://www.tosbase.com/tools/skill-simu … 3nvcd24lp/
Build idea: PvE super tank - high survivability, strong crowd control, all
attack types with empowering skill rotations. Supposed to tank ET after
kToS patch arrives.
Build equip: Grynas, Cata Rapier, Sage Wall, Phada, Phada, Max Petamion
||— KEY MAPPING —||
Attack skills:
1 - Cleave lvl 5 (+50 crit rate; with kToS patch increases all slash dmg to target; double damage to stunned)
2 - Helm Chopper lvl 5 (2-hit Strike attack; 2 overheat; each hit has a high chance to stun)
3 - Double Slash lvl 5 (2-hit Slash attack; 3 overheat; gets bonus dmg from Bleeding; has +35% flat critchance)
4 - Sept Etoiles lvl 5 (7-hit Pierce attack with fast animation; 29 sec cooldown)
Q - Lunge lvl 5 (4-hit Pierce attack; increases all slash dmg to target for 4 sec; also gives +50% Evasion on use)
E - Flanconnade lvl 5 (2-hit Slash attack; 0 sec cooldown; also gives +50% Block on use)
R - Cyclone lvl 5 (continuous AoE damage for 4 sec; 2 overheat; 75% added anticontrol; long cooldown)
F - Thrust lvl 2 (1-hit Pierce attack; 0 sec cooldown; makes stunned enemies bleed => increases Double Slash damage)
G - Bash lvl 3 (AoE knockdown)
C - Pommel Beat lvl 10 (1-hit Strike attack; 3 overcharge; gets double damage from stuns; ignores def of Medium mobs)*
-
- simply to burst-down Plate mobs quicked, as Slash-oriented builds may have problems with them.
will go away with Rank 8 as I’ll need more quickslots, will probably get Thrust to 12 in that case
- simply to burst-down Plate mobs quicked, as Slash-oriented builds may have problems with them.
Mouse skills:
L => X2B (mouse side lower button) - Guard lvl 1 (hold to greatly increase block and def + stagger attackers)
P => X3B (mouse middle button) - Swashbuckling lvl 5 (aggro 11 mobs; +25% hp; increase maximum provoke value)
Buffs:
5 - Pain Barrier lvl 15 (only 10 sec downtime)
6 - Double Pay Earn lvl 5 (double the drop and exp from white/gold/blue mobs)
T - Guardian lvl 1 (+18% Evasion)
Y - Restrain lvl 10 (40% chance of 1 sec stun with every hit; long slow after stun; 60 sec with 60 sec downtime)
H - Deeds of Valor lvl 5 (+10% atk and -10% def per hit taken; maximum 5 stacks)[/quote]