There are generally two main ways to go as Blade Dancer efficiently (with one PvP method against magi), unless you're the type to deviate away from them purposely. The first is to take advantage of the melee DPS's agility and go for dodging with evasion, striking with accumulating damage, similar to the thief.
The second is my prefered method; high p-attack and crit rate. The Blade Dancer has the advantage of two triple hit techniques and access to the encourage reg. skill, which increases double hit chance by 15%, giving the option of quadruple hits to slash down your foes
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-Blade Dancer-
Wielding twin swords, Blade Dancers benefit from the effects given by both, the stronger sword always in the main hand. As anyone should know, two swords means pure offense, giving them their rank in the melee class tier. Their prerequisite is lvl 45 Bard, and they have taken many attributes from the only healing class to wear light armor; meaning Blade Dancers make use of many temporary, but useful self-buffs and one party buff that decreases damage. A BD is traditionally built for mobbing, in dungeons or field, and tend to shadow the tank, dealing quick, rapid blows to surrounding enemies with their aoe attacks and debuff.
Pros and Cons:
Pros: Blade Dancer holds two swords for more diverse stats
Movement Speed characteristic to help keep after impatient tanks in dungeons using speed buff >.<
Seduce skill, similar to Illusionist's hypnosis, which allows caster to force a mob of corresponding level to commit mutiny.
Cons: Only two personal skills acquirable currently.
Capability is limited without Bard.
Skimpy clothing makes males shy away from class. (Level 60 clothing is highly anticipated)
-mobbing p-attack BD-
Rarely does a BD do well in pvp, with only two personal attacking skills with the current lvl cap at 55, both triple hit. Instead, they have better use as a melee support class, like the bard, only taking damage. They can take massive rounds of damage on the mobs surrounding a tank, killing them simultaneously with encourage buff and dance of war (similar to the Bard's War Rhyme). The Blade Dancer has a useful healing buff, which, alone of all the melee healing buffs, holds no detriment to the caster, reducing malice to hide from whatever mob is dealing the damage.
The thief and martial artist easily outdo the blade dancer when it comes to bringing down a single target with quick, powerful blows, much more quickly. But a blade dancer can outdamage most classes, given the time and patience to stack their buffs and debuffs.
A blade dancer is incomparable at mobbing when a bard is standing behind them, using buffs and burning metal to attract mobs. The blade dancer's two personal skills are powered up by the Bard's buff counterparts (as is the level 60 skill, which is powered up by burning metal...Epic :3) and with the healing from music of life, there is no reason for the BD to take time to use slow dance. The mobbing rate is practically incomparible. And for those skeptical about the BD's name and appearance, your doubt will vanish while watching a Blade Dancer literally 'dancing' throught the mobs, to the music the Bard produces.
-Aoe hazzard-
Sadly, Blade Dancer's are melee class, which means zero range. In order to mob efficiently, the need to charge the mobs in particularly to gain their aggro. Once you've gathered the necessary mobs (not too many if you're doing this without Bard) start off with flashy charm, the debuff, and then reg. melee aoe skill, fury hit, which also helps keep their cast/attack speed low. Then follow up with dancing blade, which takes three hits, adding more damage. In the mere moment between use of dancing blade and the cooldown ends for fury hit, use slow dance for health, which will last 12 seconds. Afterward, fury hit will be immediately available for use, and should take out most of the mobs so long as their level and your own correspond nearly enough. (ex. lvl 20 BD vs lvl 50 mobs=won't be so easy) For any left over mobs, a quick smash reg. skill shoudld finish them, along with another fury hit once it's low cooldown time ends.
(P.S. Watch out for respawns. Sometimes you attract the mobs into the wrong place and you have another one to deal with...)
-Field Bosses-
It's simple, once you get the hand of it. Before attacking, just be sure you have song of patience buff activated (fast shadow optional). Then you charge in and spam sonic cut, until the debuff stacks to full capacity. Immediately use slow dance, encourage, and dance of war, and start in with superstar, fury hit, and dancing blade. Once you go through all three, use sonic cut again to be sure it doesn't fade. Then its smash to try and stun, if you're lucky. Then you're pretty much using each of your three attacking skills (smash to stun) and keeping sonic cut up until the field boss falls.
(Another P.S.: Aoe hazzard! Watch out for mobs nearby while attacking. Although your aoe's should taking them out pretty quick...)
Certificates/Class Talents
-PvP Blade Dancer-
The idea to use the BD in PvP efficiently is purely theory on my part, though I've tried it halfheartedly before. I'm sure it would work, for those who would build it right.
The idea is simpy: Level up Magic Samba to max and use your class points on modern dance so you can level up "Samba". Then its simple. Find a magic class and use song of patience and magic samba. Theoretically, the harder they hit, they'll take more damage. So long as they don't outlast you, they're dead. It may also help to have your resistances up, as well as the mage's resistence certificate...
(If anyone's bored enough to spend the time to make a BD like that, I'd be interested to see. I'm not going to buy two memory stones to try it then turn back to my DPS form...)
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