Start a tank class

[nuyu11]

I start this game by playing a Gladiator, but after lvl 28 I drop and go with bard.
Now I want to know is that necessary for me to get Stoneskin & Mercy Stroke?
I'm thinking to use that for FCoB before Heavensward coming out.

Bit lazy to lvl all the side class more than lvl15, especially Conjurer.

[ItaruKarin]

I'd go and get Stoneskin if I was you. Not having it won't be a problem for most fights, but can be quite useful for some others. That, and there's nothing else really useful to cross class.

Mercy Stroke... M'eh. Once again, it's more because there's nothing more to cross class than anything, but I suppose if you want your additionnals 400DMG once a fight, why not.

In the end, you should get both. Mercy Stroke is just much less useful.

[BlueThunder]

Ehhh... Much of what you said doesn't make much sense.

You need a level 34 Conjurer to have access to Stoneskin, and I think it was level 22 or 26 Marauder to get Mercy Stroke.

That said, if you're going to get a Bard at 50, you cannot Cross-class those skills for it. Bards can only X-class with Pugilist and Lancer, and you need to be level 30 Archer and level 15 Pugilist to have access to the Bard job.

[BlueThunder]

Never mind my previous post.

What the guy above me said its what it is. It's not mandatory to get those skills, but in certain situations they can help or give that small boost you might need, but you don't get to use your own SS much on the final coils unless you're OTing and want or support slightly.

That said, any of those 2 beats Fracture. Maybe I'm a fool but only a Warrior could go with using that skill, yet I've seen my share of PLDs use it, but I find it a waste of TP in something that does little to no damage.

[SantaClaw]

Stoneskin yes, Mercy Stroke no.

[nuyu11]

Thanks for the reply.... I will consider the Stoneskin.
I'm totally bad with healing, hopefully this will not cause any bad experience to others.

[JustARTificial]

Are you trying tank out because you want to be a Dark Knight? If so I think leveling Conjurer could be a "waste" for you.

It's not hard to level or all that time consuming, but DRK only uses Gladiator and Marauder cross-class skills.

If you don't want DRK then just ignore this comment.

[krazyrs]

If you were to continue with PLD to 50 stoneskin is a big help, many fights the main boss turns (like Titan and landslides) and you have enough time to apply your own sskin, he then turns back and that sskin absorbs most if not all of that first cleave.

Mercy stroke I have on cause it's better then cure or protect (these are good for solo play)

BRD needs blood for blood from LNC34 and depending what u want to cross from PUG it can take up to the lv42 skill mantra

[Xenosan]

@OP, if you know FCoB already and cleared with mates, I'd bet you're fine without. PUG though may want Stoneskin cuz stranger-danger healers may not give you shielding spells at those moments when you really need them.

..
Just some added thoughts semi related.. ..(long Frontlines queue)..

Fracture is helpful for melee at lower levels when there isn't much of a GCD rotation

Fastblade 150 potency, Savage Blade 200 potency, Fracture 220 potency over 20 seconds. Rough math: 4560 Potency over a minute with Fracture (no clipping) vs 4200 without. Just under 9-10% DPS boost. At low levels TP starving isn't really an issue. Boss HP isn't that deep, and no one has costly TP actions yet anyway for AOE trash, and it's not like you'll pull an entire room at those levels anyway.

And Fracture/Stoneskin Tank Swaps... At/After tank swap MT can Fracture or Stoneskin to give the OT 1 GCD of breathing room on enmity.

It's not necessity, but it's a nice alternative to just standing idly by for a GCD.

[Krocodile]

Mercy stroke is alright if you macro into fast blade, free damage on the spot.