Sword/Axe Mastery Master Level: 20
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Type: Passive
Description: Increases the sword/axe mastery and accuracy. It only applies when either a one-handed or a two-handed sword/axe is in hand. Adds 60% mastery and 20 Accuracy when maxed.
Okay, this skill is a must. This skill varies depending on what weapon you use; if you use axes, then choose Axe mastery, if swords, then choose Sword mastery. This skill will make your damage MUCH more stable by increasing your minimum damage (if you hit a range of... 100-500, with this skill maxed your damage will probably be ~ 300-500). It's passive, so you don't need to press a button to activate it. Get this skill before all others (although you could postpone that 1 acc that the last SP (lv 20) gives)
The color of the wave behind your weapon when you swing/stab it varies according to this skill's level. It starts with your usual blue, then it changes to a purple and in the end red.
Final Attack : Sword/Axe Master Level: 30
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Type: Passive Pre-requisite: Sword/Axe Mastery Lv. 3
Description: With a certain success rate, another attack follows after performing an attacking skill. Only works with a one-handed or two-handed sword/axe in hand. Success rate is 60%, and the attack follows your powerstrike/slash blast, and for a total of 250% damage.
Pretty much self explanitory here: If you power strike/slash blast a monster, Final attack may activate at a 60% chance. Final attack takes about half the time that a regular power strike/slash blast takes. This attack is basically "double damage" at a certain success rate while sacrificing a little time (for the activation). For slash blast, however, it could be a hinderance as the 250% damage is split up amongst the mob. Nevertheless, its still a very necessary skill to max. This is like Mastery in that it comes in 2 variations: one for sword, and one for axe. Max the one corresponding to the weapon that you use.
Sword/Axe Booster Master Level: 20
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Type: Supportive Pre-requisite: Sword/Axe Mastery Lv. 5
Description: Use HP and MP to temporarily boost up the attacking speed of the equipped sword/axe. It only applies when either a one-handed or a two-handed sword is in hand. Max level: Attack speed + 1 [actually its -1 if you use sleepywood calculations, as the lower the number, the faster the weapon is. Ex: Normal (5) with booster would go to Fast (4)], 200 Second duration.
This is one of the most important skills that you get as a fighter (along with final attack and mastery). It increases ALL of your attacks by one speed (Ex:For a sword or an axe with normal attack speed, booster will change the normal attack speed --> fast attack speed). Although this may not be as useful as final attack/mastery, its still an important skill. You will attack much faster with this skill activated. You don't have to max this in the beginning of your fighter career; just get it to level 3-6, as each SP DOES NOT increase the attack speed- it just increases the duration. However max this with your remaining SP, as it could hinder your training if you had to recast this skill very often.
Rage Master Level: 20
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Type: Supportive/Active - Party
Description: Temporarily boosts the weapon attack level of everyone in the party around the area, but also decreases the level of weapon defense. Max Level: Weapon attack + 10, Weapon Defense - 10, Duration: 160 Seconds
This skill is not useless. I know 12 attack pots are out, but Rage saves Use item space, some money, and gives 10 attack which is nearly as good as 12 attack (Hardly any difference before level 70)
Another important skill (actually, all of the fighter skills are important, lol)... Rage increases your Base damage range by theoretically increasing the weapon attack of your weapon by 10 points (Ex: 90 attack sparta --> 100 attack sparta, although on the stat screen it will still show your sparta as 90 attack). However, it lowers your defense by 10, but don't worry. 10 defense is pidly, you will hardly recieve any more damage than you usually do. But if you are that upset about it, then put some of your extra remaining 2nd job SP into iron body- it will cancel the defense loss while still keeping the attack. Its pretty nice, I myself got some iron body to cancel out the defense loss.
Power Guard Master Level: 30
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Type: Supportive - Singular Pre-requisite: Rage Lv. 3
Description: Returns a portion of the damage received from the enemy. Can't return more than 10% of the enemy's Max HP at once, however. Max level: 60% bump damage recieved. The other 40% goes back to the enemy.
Yay, we finally get a GOOD defense skill. Although it isn't that necessary till monsters start doing 100 damage + (which is why most people/fighters don't get power guard until level ~50-55), it's still a good skill to have. It will allow you to spend less money on pots, and you also may not get KBed by a monster as far (than without Power guard activated). Also when you get to your later levels (as a crusader), this skill is important to have since monsters do 1,000 + damage, and thus you will only take ~ 600 damage and the other 400 damage goes back to the monster!
As for fighter SP build, the recommended way to go is this:
Get mastery to level 19 as soon as possible.
then once mastery is lvl 19, get booster to level ~6
Once your booster is level 6, max final attack (lv 30)
Then get rage (lv 19, as last sp only adds duration and no attack)
Get power guard to level 30 after 19 SP in rage
Then finally max out booster to level 20 (+14 SP from original 6 SP).
With your remaining SP, you should get 1 more mastery (lv 20) and 1 more rage(optional), then iron body to cancel out rage's -10 w.def.