Swordsman and Knight Build Guide
The Swordsman and Knight are the backbone of any serious party composition in Ragnarok The New World, providing frontline tanking, reliable AoE damage through Bowling Bash, and the survivability needed to absorb MVP attacks and hold chokepoints in War of Emperium. This build guide covers the optimal stat distribution, skill point allocation, and equipment strategy for both PvE farming and PvP tanking, with specific recommendations for maximizing the Knight's versatility across all content types.
The Knight's defining characteristic is durability combined with respectable damage output. Unlike pure support tanks in other games, the Knight contributes meaningful AoE damage through Bowling Bash while simultaneously absorbing enemy attacks that would eliminate other classes. This dual role of damage and defense makes the Knight one of the most impactful classes in the game, consistently ranked A-tier or higher across all content categories.
Stat Distribution
Bowling Bash Farming Build
The farming build maximizes STR for Bowling Bash damage and AGI for attack speed, with moderate VIT providing survivability during mob gathering. This build is optimal for field farming and daily dungeon clearing where kill speed matters most.
| Stat | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| STR | 90+ | Primary damage stat, carry capacity |
| AGI | 50-70 | ASPD for Bowling Bash frequency |
| VIT | 50-60 | HP for mob gathering survivability |
| INT | 1 | No benefit for physical damage |
| DEX | 30-50 | Hit rate for consistency |
| LUK | 1-10 | Minimal investment |
STR is the primary damage stat for the Knight, directly scaling the damage of Bash, Magnum Break, and Bowling Bash. The high STR investment ensures each Bowling Bash hit eliminates or significantly damages mobs in your farming area, maintaining the fast clear speed that makes the Knight an efficient farmer.
MVP Tanking Build
The tanking build shifts toward VIT for maximum HP and defense, with moderate STR for threat generation and consistent damage contribution during vulnerability windows.
| Stat | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| STR | 70-80 | Damage for threat and contribution |
| AGI | 30-40 | Moderate ASPD |
| VIT | 80-100 | Maximum HP and defense |
| INT | 1 | No benefit |
| DEX | 30-50 | Hit rate |
| LUK | 1 | Minimal investment |
The VIT investment provides the raw survivability needed to absorb MVP special attacks and dungeon boss AoE without dying. At high VIT values, the Knight can tank multiple hits from endgame MVPs, giving the party's DPS classes time to deal damage safely.
War of Emperium Build
The WoE build balances survivability with crowd control utility. High VIT ensures the Knight survives concentrated attacks from multiple players, while STR provides enough damage to threaten soft targets.
| Stat | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| STR | 70-80 | Damage for holding chokepoints |
| AGI | 30-40 | Attack speed |
| VIT | 80-100 | PvP survivability |
| INT | 1 | No benefit |
| DEX | 40-60 | Hit rate against high-flee players |
| LUK | 20-30 | Status effect resistance |
Skill Build
Swordsman Skills (Pre-Advancement)
| Skill | Points | Priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bash | 10 | Critical | Primary single-target with stun |
| Magnum Break | 10 | High | Early AoE for mob farming |
| Provoke | 5-10 | High | Reduces target defense, MVP utility |
| Endure | 10 | Critical | Prevents hit delay, essential for tanking |
| Increase HP Recovery | 10 | High | Passive HP regeneration |
| Sword Mastery | 10 | Medium | Damage bonus for sword weapons |
Bash and Magnum Break form the Swordsman's pre-advancement damage foundation. Bash provides reliable single-target damage with a stun chance that is surprisingly useful during the leveling process. Magnum Break gives the Swordsman its first taste of AoE farming, though it pales compared to the Bowling Bash that awaits at Knight advancement.
Endure is a critical skill that prevents hit delay, allowing the Knight to continue attacking and moving while taking damage. Without Endure, the Knight gets locked in hit reactions when tanking multiple mobs, dramatically reducing both damage output and mob control capability. Max Endure early in your skill allocation.
Knight Skills (Post-Advancement)
| Skill | Points | Priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Bash | 10 | Critical | Defining AoE skill, primary farming tool |
| Brandish Spear | 5-10 | Medium | Alternative AoE for spear users |
| Pierce | 5-10 | Medium | Single-target DPS for large targets |
| Pecopeco Ride | 1 | Critical | Mount for movement speed |
| Cavalier Mastery | 5 | High | Removes ASPD penalty while mounted |
| Two-Hand Quicken | 10 | High | ASPD boost for two-handed weapons |
Bowling Bash is the Knight's defining skill and the reason the class excels at AoE farming. The skill delivers damage in a line pattern that extends forward from the Knight, hitting all mobs in a narrow but long area. By gathering mobs into a line formation before using Bowling Bash, you can eliminate entire groups in a single cast.
Bowling Bash Farming Technique
Mob Gathering Pattern
The Bowling Bash farming technique follows a four-step cycle: gather, position, strike, reposition. Run through a mob-dense area to collect enemies following you, then turn to face a direction where the mobs are lined up behind you. Cast Bowling Bash to hit the entire line of mobs simultaneously. After the strike, reposition for the next group while checking the respawn status of your farming area.
Optimal Farming Locations
The Knight farms most efficiently in areas with high mob density and predictable spawn patterns. The Prontera South Gate area and Coal Mine Depths are classic Knight farming locations where Bowling Bash line patterns align naturally with mob clustering behavior. For location-specific details, see the best farming spots guide.
Equipment Priority
Weapon Refinement First
As with all DPS-oriented builds, weapon refinement provides the highest return on investment. A Knight with a +7 two-handed sword and +0 armor outperforms a Knight with a +3 weapon and +7 armor in virtually every scenario. Follow the safe refining guide for cost projections at each refinement level.
Shield vs Two-Handed Weapon
The Knight faces a choice between one-handed sword with shield (more survivability) and two-handed sword (more damage). For PvE farming, the two-handed sword is standard because kill speed reduces the time enemies have to deal damage. For MVP tanking, the shield provides additional defense that can be the difference between surviving a boss special attack and dying. The War of Emperium guide discusses the shield build for PvP scenarios.
FAQ
Is the Knight good for solo play?
The Knight is excellent for solo play due to its self-sufficiency. High HP and defense mean you can tackle content without a dedicated healer, and Bowling Bash provides efficient mob clearing without party support. The Knight is one of the best F2P classes precisely because it performs well independently.
Should I use a spear or sword?
Two-handed swords are the standard Knight weapon for PvE farming due to Two-Hand Quicken's ASPD bonus and higher base damage. Spears with Pierce are viable for large-size MVPs where the Pierce multi-hit effect applies. Many Knights carry both weapon types and swap based on content.
How does the Knight compare to the Gunslinger?
The Knight provides tanking and AoE farming while the Gunslinger provides adaptive DPS through weapon swapping. The Knight is more F2P-friendly due to single-weapon dependency, while the Gunslinger is more expensive but offers superior flexibility. See the all classes overview for a complete comparison.
What is the minimum refinement for MVP tanking?
A Knight with a +7 weapon and +4 armor can contribute to most MVP encounters as a tank, though the hardest content benefits from +10 weapon and +7 armor. The safe refinement system ensures you can gradually improve without risk of equipment destruction. Focus on weapon refinement first, then progressively upgrade armor as resources allow.
Can the Knight do damage in PvP?
The Knight's primary PvP role is frontline control rather than burst damage. Bowling Bash provides crowd control and consistent pressure, while the Knight's durability allows them to hold positions that DPS classes cannot maintain. The Knight excels in organized PvP formats like War of Emperium rather than one-versus-one arena combat.