Welcome to the Staff / Dagger Leveling Build Guide! The highlight of this weapon combination for the leveling process is its incredible AoE potential once unlocking Skill Specializations at Level 15, basically like Tripods in Lost Ark. Staff skills like Chain Lightning and Judgment Lightning with their Guaranteed Damage Transfer Specializations makes your leveling journey incredibly easy.
You won't be using many Active Skills from Dagger as you level apart from Cleaving Moonlight, but you do prioritize some Dagger Passive Skills like Assassin's Step. The combination of the Staff's powerful AoE actives and the Dagger's passive support results in a smooth and enjoyable leveling experience.
Fresh 50 Staff / Dagger Leveling Build
If you're looking for End Game guides, check out our Staff/Dagger PvE Guide and our Staff/Dagger PvP Guide.
- High AoE Damage
- Melee Range
- High Cooldowns
Stat Priorities
Use the following stat priorities when following the Staff / Dagger Leveling build:
- Level 1 - 21
- 20 Dexterity
- Level 22 - 32
- 11 Wisdom
- Level 33 - 50
- 18 Perception
You have 49 Stat Points you can freely allocate to any of the 4 primary Stats. Once you put 20 points into an individual Stat, it takes 2 points to increase the Stat by 1. Do not put more than 20 points into a Stat unless absolutely necessary.
Dexterity not only adds maximum Weapon Damage but also increases your Crit Chance, Evasion, and Attack Speed. Increasing Dexterity is your best method of increasing your damage output. Wisdom is the next best stat for improving your Weapon Damage. Each added point into Wisdom also provides extra Cooldown Speed and Mana Regen.
Key Leveling Notes
- Focus on the Main Story Quest as you level to 50. The MSQ is going to be your main source of EXP.
- Before leaving Kastleton during Chapter 3, craft as much Green Gear as possible!
- When your story quests introduce you to Resistance Contracts, be sure to choose ones that give Quality Lithograph: Accessories first!
- You'll need an additional 4 Quality Lithograph: Accessories for Chapter 4 because there is an Appendix Quest to complete a Lithograph Book entry. Complete Rustic Mother Nature Rings to acquire Lethal Fortune Ring.
- Be sure to use the Block Blade against Fury Attacks to regain Mana while killing mobs and leveling.
Gear Progression
What gear you craft doesn't impact Leveling difficulty too much. The most important thing is that you upgrade it.
Towards Chapter 3 you will start to get quests to craft items. Before heading to Urstella Fields, make sure to craft all the Green Items possible. You should have 2 Green Weapons, 3 Green Armors, and at least 2 Green Accessories. After Chapter 4, you will have enough to craft the rest and have a full set of Green Gear. Here are the recommended Items to craft.
Staff / Dagger Leveling Build
Weapon Crafting Priority
- Prophet's Staff
- You get Swashbuckler's Dagger from completing the Chapter 1 story codex.
Armor Crafting Priority
- Shock Trooper's Plate Gloves
- Liberation Magic Boots
- Holy Knight's Iron Gaiters
- Shaman's Cloak
- Assassin's Leather Armor
- Retainer's Visor
Accessory Crafting Priority
- Crude Wave Necklace
- Crude Wind Band
- Crude Vigor Belt
- Crude Conquest Bracelet
- Crude Flame Band
- Rustic Mother Nature Rings (Replace Crude Flame Band)
Codex Chapter Rewards
If PvE is the only thing you care about, transfer over your +6 Greens to the Blue Gear from Codex Rewards. Only do that when your Greens are fully upgraded. If you intend to PvP, stick with your +6 Green Armor and Accessories until you reach level 50. Transfer your Green weapon over to Elite Resistance Staff once you get it.
For more information on how to transfer over your gear, visit our Gear Upgrade Guide.
Ch. 1 - Swashbuckler's Dagger
Ch. 2 - Quality Marind Ore
Ch. 3 - Rare Marind Ore
Ch. 4 - Sophia's Ring
Ch. 5 - Elite Resistance Staff
Ch. 6 - Elite Resistance Visor
Ch. 7 - Moonlight Wind Bracer
Ch. 8 - Elite Resistance Leather Pants
Ch. 9 - Moonlight Grace Leather Boots
Ch. 10 - Special Res. Tactical Armor
Skill Slot Prioritization
Active Skills
Levels 1-15: Take everything as you unlock it. Use Block Blade as your Block.
Level 18: Replace Vampiric Strike with Ice Spear.
Level 30: Replace Knife Throwing with High Focus.
Level 36: Replace Frost Smokescreen with Judgment Lightning.
Passive Skills
Level 3: Slot in Assassin's Step and Manaball Eruption.
Level 6: Add Assassin's Instincts.
Level 20: Add Asceticism.
Level 27: Add Destructive Fang.
Level 30: Skip adding a Passive for now. You can if you want, but you replace it at level 39.
Level 39: Add Wrathful Edge and Forbidden Sanctuary.
Level 40: Add Flame Condensation.
Skill Specialization Order
Once you hit level 15, you acquire 10 Skill Specialization points to use, which modify your skills. Press "K" and access them in the 2nd tab. Every level from 16 to 30 gives you 2 Skill Specialization points, and every level from 31 to 50 gives 3. Spend your points in this order as you level.
- Chain Thunder
- Guaranteed Damage Transfer
- Chain Damage
- Focused Fire Bombs
- Able to Move
- Focused Fire Bombs
- Range ▲
- Inferno Wave
- Consecutive Use
- Cooldown ▼
- Ice Spear Bombardment
- Ice Spear Bombardment
- Damage ▲
- High Focus
- Base Damage Boost
- Judgment Lightning
- Guaranteed Damage Transfer
- Chain Damage
- Guaranteed Consecutive Use
- Chain Thunder
- Chain Thunder
- Fireball Barrage
- Cooldown ▼
- Cleaving Moonlight
- Consecutive Use
- Effect Accumulation
- Brutal Incision
- Thunderclouds Bombing
Skill Rotation
Here are some examples of skills you should use when following the Staff / Dagger leveling build:
- Chain Lightning, Serial Fire Bombs, and Inferno Wave are your main DPS skills. At Level 30, you unlock the AoE potential of Chain Lightning.
- Ice Spear with Skill Specializations is your main single target nuke.
- Cleaving Moonlight and Brutal Incision are good finishers if enemies ever come into Melee range. You can combine them with Shadow Strike with Inject Venom.
- Use Shadow Strike and Frost Smokescreen to quickly move from place to place.
Skill Priority Upgrade
- Use Quality Marind Ore to craft Quality Passive Skill Growth Book and Quality Active Skill Growth Book
- Use Rare Marind Ore to craft Rare Passive Skill Growth Book and Rare Active Skill Growth Book.
- Prioritize getting all these skills to blue first before getting them to purple. These are universal skills you always use.
- Upgrade the rest of your skills as you play the game.
Active Skills
Passive Skills
Summary
- The Staff / Dagger build gives you access to decent AoE abilities while leveling.
- Focus on Dexterity and Wisdom for stats.
- As you progress through the game, make sure to craft green and blue gear using Quality Lithographs.
- Keep your Green Gear if you plan on PvPing later in the game. They are easier to trait than Blue Gear early on.
Credits
Written by Yaen
Reviewed by Nymphellas