Class Info

Weapon Selection: Swords, Two-handed Swords, Spears, Two-handed Spears, Axes, Two-handed Axes, Daggers, Maces

Maximum Job Level Bonus: STR 8, AGI 2, VIT 10, DEX 6, LUK 4

HP Modifier: 1.5

SP Modifier: 3

Guide Proper

Knights are a simple yet effective class. Knights are currently the only lightning bruiser class in game. High HP and high mobility due to Pecopeco riding allow Knights to manfight every single class in the 2-1 setting. They aren't slouches when it comes to PvM as well.

Right now there's 2 routes available for knights, the classic SVD build and the SAVD build.

SVD

The SVD build stands for Strength, Vitality and Dexterity. It's the tankiest build that you can have. Typically this is more inclined for PvP and WoE. It's not that bad for boss hunts too but don't expect to be able to solo bosses easily. For WoE builds I highly recommend getting base 90 VIT. You become stun immune at 100 total VIT and you get 10 VIT once you're job level 50. The challenge with this build is that it will be harder to level. Your primary damage mitigation comes from stacking high defense gear and chugging potions. Your auto attacks will be slow so you will be forced to spam skills, chugging sp recovery consumables might be the bulk of your expense too. The good thing about it is that HP recovery isn't that much of a problem. The stacked VIT increases the value of recovered HP from consumables which means that you get more bang out of your buck. You'd be primarily use Bowling Bash, Bash, Pierce or Brandish Spear for leveling. High DEX helps with hitting stuff AND reducing the cast time of Bowling Bash and Brandish Spear.

Recommended Stats:

• STR 60 to 90
• VIT 70 to 90
• DEX 50 to 70

SAVD

The SAVD build adds AGI to the mix to mitigate some damage by dodging and increases your auto attack speed. This build is arguably a bit cheaper but you're going to have problems with managing your stat points. For WoE builds, I still suggest doing base 90 VIT. Getting momentarily stunned can quickly turn ugly if you get hit by a lucky proc. You would have to balance your STR and AGI. I wouldn't suggest having your DEX on low amounts since it helps a lot for ensuring constant DPS. Also, note that the damage mitigation from flee is only good for like one or two monsters at a time. Once you get mobbed you can't dodge anymore. For leveling this 2HQ makes it easy to autoattack stuff to death. You can also gather up a mob and use Bowling Bash or Brandish Spear. For single target fights with large monsters, if you have a high attack spear, Pierce can make quick work of them.

Recommended Stats:

• STR 60 to 80
• AGI 40 to 80
• VIT 50 to 90
• DEX 50 to 70

In the future, a Critical Knight build is possible. Also, an autocast Knight is another build that is possible once there are more autocast equipment available.

Skill Recommendation

Swordsman:

• Increase HP Recovery - 10/10
• Bash - 10/10
• Magnum Break - 3/10 at most
• Provoke - 5/10 Minimum
• Endure - 1/10 Minimum
• Sword Mastery - 1/10 Minimum
• Two-handed Sword Mastery - 1/10 Minimum

Most of the skills are prerequisite skills for some key Knight skills. Masteries aren't that great most of the time. They add little damage to skills and they only add a flat value for regular attacks. I recommend not putting more points in them than the needed levels to unlock other needed skills. If you follow this build you'd have 18 skill points left. Personally, I'd rather max Provoke and Endure then dump the rest to Two-handed Sword Mastery.

Increase HP Recovery is non-negotiable, it is to be maxed 200% of the time. Bash is your bread and butter skill and a prerequisite to Bowling Bash.

Knight:

• Pecopeco Ride - 1/1
• Cavalier Mastery - 5/5
• Counter Attack - 5/5
• Twohand Quicken - 10/10
• Bowling Bash - 10/10
• Pierce - 10/10
• Spear Stab - 0/10
• Brandish Spear - 0/10
• Spear Mastery - 3/10 or 8/10
• Spear Boomerang - 0/5 or 5/5

Pecopeco Ride and Cavalier Mastery are part of what makes Knights amazing. In the future, when Rune Knights are available, you wouldn't max Cavalier Mastery but as of now it is to be maxed. Counter Attack is only useful for countering Assassins if you can't hit them, it's only a prerequisite skill. Twohand Quicken increases your ASPD by 30%, it's an integral part of autoattack leveling as well. Pierce is a good skill for hitting Large targets, it's fairly okay with hitting Medium targets too. It's great for PVP because of the bonus hit, it would be easier to deal with high flee targets without relying on stun procs from Bash. Spear Boomerang is just used for inflicting status effects from farther distances especially on sniping spots for WoE. For PVP, it can lock down a Hunter when you can proc curse, freeze or stun. Spear Stab is a wonky skill, the knockback makes it unattractive to use since a lot of your skills require you to be up close and personal. If you aren't going to use Spear Boomerang, you can dump those points onto Spear Mastery. If you have absolutely no love for Spear stuff, you can dump the points spent for spear skills to whatever you see fit. However, I would still recommend having Spear Boomerang especially if you plan on doing WoE or PvP.

On Bowling Bash vs Brandish Spear

Brandish Spear is an inferior skill in comparison to Bowling Bash.

Bowling Bash is probably the strongest attack avaiable atm. It hits twice unless if you're in "gutter lines". Bowling Bash does (500%*2) damage for 22 SP if you aren't in gutter lines while Brandish Spear does 300% damage for 12 SP. The only unreliable part of that skill is casting it on areas that aren't gutter lines. That's the main argument against using this skill instead of Brandish Spear. However, it's easily fixed by using RCX or simplerohook. Those tools can show where the gutter lines are. Compared to Brandish Spear, it has less AoE range, however Brandish Spear's wonky knockback makes the point moot as Bowling Bash gathers targets. Brandish Spear will make it easier to spread status effects on WoE settings but, that's best to be relegated to Hunters with Arrow Shower. Brandish Spear suffers from a fixed aftercast delay of 1 second, Bowling Bash only has an ASPD animation delay. That would mean more DPS from Bowling Bash as it's easier to chain it. Brandish Spear locks you to Spears while Bowling Bash can be used with any weapon that can be equipped by Knights. It doesn't help that the current content doesn't have much high ATK spears based from the statements from this sub. It's fairly easier to equip a sword or a two-handed sword as a Knight.

Equipment

Typically you're going to want to invest in two weapons a 2 handed sword and a One handed spear. However, since the cash shop isn't totally detailed like how it was on pRO where you can buy level 4 equips. Don't expect yourself to do real damage using a one handed spear right now if there's no easily available Gungnir or Battle Hook. Right now you'd only use a Quad-carded status Pike. Usually, you'd want one quad Magnolia, Metaller, Savage Babe or Marina pike. Personally, I'd prioritize the Curse carded pike if you'd even consider getting a status pike for PVP. People don't usually gear for curse resistance. Stun is usually not a problem for pvp builds since they stack VIT. Silence gets nullified by INT and being Frozen is countered by equipping Unfrozen armor (which is a staple armor for PvP). You use the carded pike with Spear Boomerang to disable stragglers, or to initiate fights.

For 2 hand swords, just grab the highest attack one you can get. Carding them should be a bit straightforward. For pure PVP right now Hydra Cards should be the best. For leveling, sometimes it's just best to get an elemental Claymore to keep things cheap.

For Cash shop items, I'd definitely recommend getting the Fish in Mouth. Even in iRO, fresh fish are well regarded as one of the best hp recovery items available. Second purchase should be a Snake Hat if you're going to rely a bit on autoattacks otherwise get Angel Spirit.

Starter Equipment

For absolute beginners, a weapon selection guide. Only listed are weapons that can be equipped for level 50 and below and bought from NPCs.

The best bang/buck would be the Bastard Sword. The ASPD penalty of it is also better in comparison to the succeeding 2H weapons. If you're looking to use a shield, the bang/buck winner would be the Sword Mace if you don't have much points invested in Sword Mastery and you're hunting in a map with only Medium and Large monsters. It also doesn't break so you can take advantage of Blacksmith buffs especially Power-Thrust since Maces can't be broken. If those conditions aren't met, a Tsurugi would be great replacement.

Changelog

• Format edits, minor text edits - August 12, 2017
• Written - July 25, 2017