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