The Guide to 1v1 Blades.

Introduction

Welcome to my guide to the 1v1 Blade. My aim in creating this guide is to help people who have never made a blade before, by creating a Fame-specific guide to making one. Blades have the potential to become the greatest 1v1 damage dealers in the game, but also have very complex builds. In this guide, I have used builds which I have tried and tested, and therefore know work; specifically in Fame.

Build

These builds are based on the assumption you have Pang buffs
This build is for when you don’t have an RM with you. The reason for having 57 DEX is that when you reach level 65 and get berserk, it will allow you to have 99% attack speed.
STR: XXX
STA: 30-50
DEX: 57
INT: 15

This build is more for people who will have a 75+ RM with them at all times. The lower DEX is because the RM skill Geburah Tiphreth adds an additional 25% attack speed when maxed, so the DEX is wasted. It is essentially a full STR build.

STR: XXX
STA: 30-50
DEX: 15
INT: 15

The only difference between these two builds is that one of them is reliant on having an RM with GT at all times. A full STR build will allow you to do more damage, so if you do always have a high level ringmaster helping you, this build is recommended.

I recommend that your STA is between 30 and 50. 30 allows you to do slightly more damage, but you have to use food more. 50 STA is perhaps slightly excessive, but will allow you to go into Dekane without any problems, tank giants Rage modes easier and generally heal less. Again if you have a Ringmaster, you should perhaps consider having slightly less stamina, but I wouldn’t advise it otherwise. The only reason you should have more than 50 STA is for CW or if you are a PVP blade.



My recommendation is using swords up until level 90. When you hit level 90 the damage offered by axes will be so immense it will mean you damage more per second than using swords. However, before this the speed that swords offer means that you damage less per hit, but more over time.

Level Breakdown

15-60
For your mercenary days, your only really going to need NPC equips, so don’t bother buying greens. If you don’t have too much money, you can use your vagrant armour, and any other armour that drops, until level 53, where you should buy the Beast/Daisy set, as the DEF to beat the Venal will come in handy.
You should level your STA to 30 from the points you get with your job advancement, and then level STR and DEX 50/50 (if you’re using the build without an RM) until you get the desired DEX points. When you get your DEX to the desired level, then level the STA if needed. After this, put all your points in STR.
Skills wise, you should max axe and sword mastery’s, blazing sword and Smite Axe, then save points for berserk.

60-75
Congratulations on becoming a Blade!
First things first, buy your Darkbin/Darkomet set, and make sure you have 2 panggril swords. You can also get Dretra swords, a clockworks only drop. However, since they are rare, and therefore expensive, it may be difficult for you to afford them. The added hit rate will be useful but isn't really an issue at this level, and isn't really worth this high price. However, the damage is high for the level. They are without doubt the best weapons until 75, but are by no means essential, and NPC gear is fine.
From this point onward, you should add STR, and nothing else.
Skills wise, max Beserk, as soon as you hit 65. The extra damage always helps, but most essentially you now have 99% attack speed. The rest of your points you can spend where you like, after getting Empower Weapon as there are no essential 1v1 skills you now haven’t maxed.
Another question often asked is when you should go to Azria. The late 60’s to early 70’s are the best time, as you can take Yetis with ease.

Alternatively, you could get a Recorn/Rescorn set, and use this for the extra attack speed. The points you save in DEX can then be put into STR.

75-90
Now that you have hit 75, you have access to the set you will be using until level 105, and therefore one of the most important sets for 1v1 blades. The Einy/Akan set, when complete, gives you an extra 10 STR, which is naturally important, and also +15% HP. This is helpful for AoE’s and 1v1 blades, as it cushions you between life and death. This 15% is especially helpful for low STA blades. When you get your Einy or Akan, you should upgrade it as high as possible. Weapons wise you should try to get yourself some Historic Swords if possible. The strength and added critical rate will also be helpful levelling. However, if you’re aiming to challenge Clockworks before level 90, or have low STA, Historic Axes are probably a better option, because of the added 20% HP that they offer. This mounts up to +55% HP when coupled with a full, clean Einy/Akan set, which will go some way to keeping you alive. If these equips aren’t available, then NPC equips will, again, be sufficient, but an Einy or Akan should be bought as soon as possible, and should take precedence over Historic weapons.
At this point you have maxed any skills that you need, and can use the skill points toward anything that you desire.
Training wise, you should stay in Azria, as the money is not matched by anything else at this level. When you approach early 80’s, if you feel exp at Augus is not enough, but you’re not quite ready to go to Mutant Augus, you can go into Dekane, and take Pinkies for a bit.
At this level you should begin to element your equipment, in order to speed up kills, and stay alive longer, helping your exp gain. An option is to element your set to fire, and your weapons to water, and go from pinkies to mutant augus, and from there to Luias and Kerns. The advantage to this is that the Luia and Kern spawns are often empty, but you forsake the income that you get in Azria. Whether you choose to train exclusively in Azria, or to go elsewhere during this period is completely personal choice.

90-105
At level 90, you should keep your Einy/Akan set equipped, but start gathering pieces of the Dayst/Dest set. Although you won’t be using it yet, you want to be prepared for the next stage. If it is your preference, you can equip the Dayst/Dest set, as the extra Crit Rate can speed up 1v1. It is at this point where axes begin to become preferential to swords, so you should acquire a pair of Angel Axes if possible. You should keep your equipment constantly elemented, and upgraded to a high level if at all possible. Angel swords are useful for Clockworks, and to an extent PvP, but for 1v1 grinding, Angel Axes do the most damage for this level.
At this point, you should know what to be training on, so I will leave it completely up to you whether you will be killing in Azria or not, and the decision relies on the availability of partners and spawns, and possibly to what your elemental preferences are.

105-120
At this level you face a choice. You can either get hold of a Blain/Virain set, and start AoEing, or stay with a 1v1 blade.
If you stay as a 1v1, it is at this point you should equip your Dayst/Dest set. The reason is Legendary Golden Axes. These weapons are godly, and should be gotten as soon as possible. A Dayst/Dest set, in combination with 2 LG Axe’s gives Critical rate +55%, and Critical Damage +80%. The amount of damage these axes will allow you to churn out the most damage over time compared to any weapon, except perhaps Bloody weapons. If you can get hold of a pair of Bloody Swords, you won’t need a Ringmaster to obtain 100% attack speed, and can therefore add any points you had in DEX to STR, ready to become a master.
Needless to say you should upgrade your Dayst or Dest set as much as possible as it is likely to be your endgame set, with the exception of if you are lucky enough to acquire a Nox/Noctis Set, in which case the extra block, critical rate and HP will be enough to make you a god of 1v1’ing when coupled with LG Axes or Bloody Swords.

Equipment

The equipment that blades use is most useful when it helps them dish out more damage. Therefore, equipment with STR and Critical Damage increases help blades immensely.

Armour

In this section I will cover the green armour that you can equip as a Blade, what sets you will be using, and why.

The Einy or Akan set will be what you are using between 75 and 105. The added STR and HP make it an ideal 1v1 set, as it will increase your damage and keep you alive. It should be upgraded fairly highly, since you will be using it for 40 levels.

The level 90 green set, the Dayst or Dest is what you will be using after 105 if you stay as a 1v1 blade. The additional Critical Rate is very good when coupled with LG Axes. Some people get 3 pieces of the Dayst/Dest set to save money, as an extra 5 DEX isn’t a lot, and the suit is often very expensive. Some female blade will have low DEX, and use Dest Helm, Suit and Gaunts, and then use the Shaentra boots to increase their hit rate.

The first 105 set, the Blain or Virain set is good for AoE characters, and also for PvP. For 1v1 combat however, you are going to be using the Dayst or Dest set after 105, to compliment the LG Axes effects.

The Hanes/Haganes set, the second blade 105 set is also not used by 1v1 blades. It’s only real use is to high level AoE blades (115+) who use this sets reflection bonus for a bit more damage. It’s not much, but every little helps.
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