I don’t really know much about swordsman but a friend is asking me about a descent build for pvp and pve, since I know only theory and what I have been able to read in the last minutes, would you mind to rate this builds? This is what he asked: “It must has taunt and shield, I don’t mind to swap to other weapon for pvp but shield is a must in pve”. Thanks in advance.
–>First build
No. Cata C3 is a good choice, but Pelta C2 in a damaging\mobile build? For what purpose? With Cata you either go Pelta 1 - Hop 1 - Cata 3, which is more or less still worthless or High 2 - Cata 3, which is far better choice.
–>Second build
See above. 2H Spears for Cata are preferable. Hop C1 is useless.
–>Third build
The best choice of classes here.
- Instead of Stabbing max Pierce.
- Get at least 1-2 points in DPE, gonna be useful.
- If you use Spear Throw, you don’t need Gae. ST is spammable with zero cooldown, Gae is not, it offers only burst damage, while it’s bonuses lack.
First at all thanks for answer.
High 2 is not an option since he requested to have taunt and shield for pve. So let’s say Sword>Peltasta is a must, after that you can change anything.
Now, for second build: all Hoplite skills can be used with 2h spears if he wants to change, but he can also use Cata’ skills with 1h spear (I know he will do less damage, but he wants the shield 
) or am I wrong?
I also think that 3rd build has the best synergy but according to what I read Swordman without Cata sucks in pvp. About skills:
Why max Pierce? Stabbing is a spameable skill with no cd, right?
About Gae. Isn’t a good idea to have a strong burst in pvp in case he need it?
cata can also be a mobile tanker right? with sw1 pel1 hop1 cata3
Sword - Peltasta - Hoplite 3 - Doppel - Dragoon.
Sword - Peltasta - Highlander 3 - Doppel 2.
You are not. But for Cata and Dragoon 2H Spears are preferable, since not only they do more damage, but you also get additional Block Penetration and additional damage on Large enemies.
More or less, since Cata is extremely mobile and has Impaler. That, if you don’t go Sword 2, which has Restraint.
What? Stabbing no CD? Since when? You probably meant Spear Throw, as it DOES have no CD and thus spammable, which is why it’s prefered more than Stabbing.
Pierce is better since it gets consecutive hits, depending on enemy-type, like on bosses it’s 4 hits.
Maybe so, but it’s bonuses lack quite a lot and if you have ST, is also has Bind Effect. And remember, no cooldown. All Dragoon skills are usable while mounted AND are multihit, by the way, except Gae.
Only first Circles are kind of wasted on Cata, which is not only mobile, but damaging class. And Hop C1 just isn’t enough.
then what do you suggest for tanking cata? I can’t really think about another build than that one
I can’t suggest anything for tank Cata, unfortunately, since this is the ONLY way right now to build it.
It’s just that damaging Cata is better.
I plan to build a full CON tank cata because I think peltasta is the only reason swordman would have a place in party slot PVE wise because of swashbuckling and block. And cata3 is for PVP reason, swordman’s biggest chance on actually landing hit is by having high mobility. Cata also has bonus HP, def, and evasion from companion mounting.
But that’s completely wrong. How about Highlander - Hoplite - Dragoon build, invested in STR? Heavy DPS and great utility in or without party.
How about Shinobi, which synergizes with Sword3 because of it’s clones?
A grave mistake. Cata, without a doubt, a damaging class first and foremost. If you build it like a tank, all you will do is run aroung the field, still receiving full magical hits and use Impaler here and there sometimes. It has a lot of great damaging skills, Rush being the prime example of C3 Cata. Full CON basically negates all these skills, leaving you with nothing.
Is there a chance a swordman could outdps other classes in a party? What about current endgame PVE content like earth tower where monsters hit like truck?
Well, ET is a dungeon, which is kinda meant to be surfed through with a party. The main thing here is optimizing your build to the point you can solo grind maps with mobs about 240~260 level. Can you do that? Yes, you can.
There is a variety of possible choices. At least three of them I already listed in this thread. All of them are very viable, so don’t worry.
So full CON tank cata can’t solo high level grind maps?
Assume I choose offensive cata, can I do ET without another swordman (tank build)?
just a sample
Peltasta Hoplite Cata3 is a very common build, and a lot of people do well with it. They’re good to have in the party, and are pretty fun to play. I’ve parted with a lot of them at 200+ too, I’d say this is probably the build your friend wants to do.
Having Hoplite gives you access to 1h spears ( without waiting til rank7 for Dragoon ) which is nice with using a shield. 1h spears ( unlike 2h spears ) generally give a large bonus vs Large enemies ( and a decent bonus vs Medium ), which will make up for the difference in base attack.
Also the 50% block penetration on Cata’s 2h spear mastery may seem nice, until you see that it’s relative to the block penetration that you already have. Your value x 1.5. If you don’t have any SPR, you don’t get much from this bonus anyways. In a lot of cases, 1h spears actually end up being better than 2h spears until late game.
A lot of people seem to underestimate the usefulness of Swash Buckling lately. With the game being largely dungeon runs now, your main role in a party as a swordsman should be having taunt. If you don’t have taunt, you’re hoping another swordie who has taunt is going to be in the party to make the dungeon run go faster/smoother. It’s a bit silly. As a general rule of thumb with the current state of the game, as a swordsman, if you can get peltasta, do not pass it up. It looks like you’re already on the right path.
So it’s a good build for high level PVE content. What about solo grind capability and PVP/GVG performance? Since full CON means no bonus accuracy.
Of course you can.
I still can’t agree with @zhouyu47 about first CIrcles, though. You said you wanted to go full CON, but that is usually needed for full tanks, not for off-tanks like you will be.
And you still sacrifice the damage of a variety of your skills, remember. Also Finestra gets uptime only in Circle 2 of Hoplite and the damage of Stabbing + Pierce on level 5 will be insignificant in later game.
About GvG - get Impaler. Everything else I already said above.
Can you help me? xD I m having some troubles on deciding what’s the best DPS/PVE path, if it’s going to be 1H spear + Shield or 2H spear,
2 H spear: Swordsman-Swordsman-Hoplite-Hoplite-Catapracht-Doppelsoeldner-Dragoon,
1H spear: Swordsman-Peltasta-Hoplite-Hoplite-Hoplite-Doppelsoeldner-Dragoon
I would be happy if u was being able to suggest anything to me. 
*The 40% block penetration is something on PVE? (Catapracht)
Eh, I’ve played with peltasta/hoplite cata3 and highlander2 cata3. The peltasta was always way more useful. What’s your highest level char anyways? I can’t imagine you’d stick with defending that build if you’d actually played it to 200+.
@nuzulspyware08 I can’t say much about building full CON, it’s not really something I’d ever do. You’ll have a bunch of block ( more reason why you’d want to have a shield on all the time at least ). If you wanted to go full tanky with the ability to still do decent in PvP/GvG, I’d just go for a balance of DEX and CON.
The thing is, if you go Peltasta - Hoplite path, you sacrifice Hoplite. C1 is just not enough. No Uptime for Finestra, no damage with low-level Stabbing and Pierce.
I have nothing against Peltasta, it’s a 1 circle wonder class, especially for off-tanks, but if you take it, you then HAVE basically to take Hoplite, which cripples your damage, because of how Hop lacks on C1.
Isn’t it better to go in full damage dealer then? High2 stll has Skyliner, which he can spam all day long and I also have Cross Guard with Pierce vulnerability, which is practically my Lunge now.
I also have means to deal with magic (Crown) and that Crosscut with Bleed. So yeah, pretty good.
Since it also allows for more damage, you can spam Skyliner while your other skills are on cooldown. And you get access to all types of damage.
For pure PvP it’s better to take Sword2, though.
Anyway, what I mean is you sacrifice the whole Circle for measly damage and 5 level Finestra.
ALTERNATIVE - go Pelta 2, without investing in High Guard.
Replied in PM, check it out.