Ragnarok Online/Swordsman

The Swordman is the master of melee, having the skills to receive minimal damage and restore HP while dishing out lots of damage. The preferred weapon of choice is, obviously, a sword (one-handed or two-handed). Swordmen can also use spears; however, it is recommended for them to wait until they reach their second job before using spears. Upon reaching Job Lv 40, a Swordman can become a Knight, using spears or two-handed swords for a more offensive approach, or a Crusader, the more defensive path that uses shields or two-handed spears effectively.

Skill Builds
As one of the jobs that has a follow-up, the Swordman skill build will often be dependent on what type of Knight or Crusader the Swordman will be. In the case of Swordmen, the weapon of choice also matters a lot. Knights typically use Spears (Vitality types) or Two-Handed Swords (Agility types), while Crusaders use Swords (VIT) or Two-Handed Spears (AGI). Of those weapons, Swordmen have the Mastery skills for Swords and Two-Handed Swords. Since using one-handed swords will allow the usage of shields as well, unless a Swordman plans on becoming a Two-Handed Sword Knight, he/she should master Sword Mastery. There can be hybrid skill builds which have points invested in both Mastery skills, but often they will not be at max skill level.

One-Handed Sword Skill Build

 * Sword Mastery (L10)
 * Increase HP Recovery (L10)
 * Bash (L10)
 * Provoke (L5)
 * Endure (L1)
 * 3~13 Skill Points Left

These are the minimum skills and skill levels; as you can see, it only uses up 36 out of at least 39 skill points. Make sure when learning skills as a Swordman that you learn all the necessary prerequisite skills for skills you want to get as a Knight or Crusader; for example, if you want to get Counter Attack (Knight), you need Two-Handed Sword Mastery (L1).

Two-Handed Sword Skill Build

 * Sword Mastery (L1)
 * Two-Handed Sword Mastery (L10)
 * Increase HP Recovery (L10)
 * Bash (L10)
 * Provoke (L5)
 * Endure (L1)
 * 2~12 Skill Points Left

Suggestions for further skills: if you want to get Bowling Bash (Knight), you need Magnum Break (L3).

Job Change Quest
To change from a Novice to a Swordman, you must go to the west building in Izlude and undergo several tests.