Lann Dark Knight Builds

[MaverickHL]

Hi All,

This post is to outline some potential builds with regards to DK Lann's. After the re-balancing a lot of thought is required as to where to put your points relative to the character. It would require assessing the character and what it is capable of doing and augmenting DK to make them better. Now depending on the type of Lann you are, the build out will vary but I think this will work for most use cases. Of course feedback with regards to having a better min/max on the builds can be shared in this thread:

Things to Consider:

- No infinite stamina
- No 100% Knockdown and Flinch Resistance
- Initial transformation gives you 500HP and 50 Stamina boost and a boost on your ATT and MATT by about 750? (need confirmation on ATT and MATT)

About Knockdown Resistance:

Reports claim that knockdown resistance is only meant to prevent knockdown of your smash attacks. For example when Lann does a slip dash > double crescent, that animation of the double crescent can't be interrupted. However, normal attack execution can be interrupted and flinches your character. Knockdown Resistances usefulness is debatable, but for now I have augmented the guide to make use of it as there is not many other skills that I found that are any better. Please post your results and comments with regard to knockdown should there be more insight on how it fully works.

Encroach or Full Potential:

First and foremost the one thing to decide regardless of which character (Lann, Evie, Fiona or Karok) is whether you are going to do the following at level 35 DK:

1) Augment points to Revelation: Destiny and 40% Fissure damage from Encroach. Combined with Revelation: Potential you will get a total of 1500 STR, WIL, AGI, INT during Stage 2

2) Augment points to Encroach at 100% damage and have Potential bonus at 600 STR, WIL, AGI, INT

The problem with the choice is that I could not find any information at all what the Fissure damage formula is and whether it is based on base stat(s) (STR, WIL, AGI, INT) or even ATT or MATT. I will need the communities feedback on which way to go for this (ideally those who play in the KR servers) or if Nexon themselves disclose the damage formula to help make the decision easier, as you know point resets don't come everyday. So far this guide is focused on full Potential until more details regarding the damage of Fissure is revealed.

Now after deciding with the above the next part is augmenting your Lann based on the type of user you are. You are divided usually in the following three categories: Sword, Spears, Full Hybrid

Sword Lann:

Sword Lann in pre-nerf state BnB most likely consisted of slip dash and DC followed by a full out Furious 7 to do DPS. With the help of infinite stamina and knockdown resistance one can keep at the boss rather easily. Here is the suggested output builds based on the fighting type:

All Rounder Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 6 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 1 Point
Revelation: Resistance = 5 Point
Revelation: Aura = 5 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: This will give you the most balanced and restored functionality of a pre-nerfed transformation. The focus was basically pumping stamina and knockback resistance while giving a decent survival option. Max potential for overall stat boost and lets you play around with Fissure.

Full ATT Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 6 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Firestorm = 4 Points
Revelation: Aura = 2 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Alternative:

Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 4 Points
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Firestorm = 5 Points
Revelation: Resistance = 5 Points
Revelation: Aura = 5 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: Depending on the skill of the player this will give you the most potential of having the highest attack as a DK. Steal and Firestorm formulas are still not great in terms of how much ATT/MATT is returned, but the steal does its job overall to help reduce a bosses HP faster. Firestorm just helps in a mob situation. If you are good with your slip dashing HP becomes technically irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. However the two presented above will make sure it suits peoples taste.

Full Survive Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 6 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 4 Points
Revelation: Resistance = 5 Points
Revelation: Aura = 5 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: If surviving is your concern this would be the beefiest build you can get, reducing your attack potential than what a DK was meant to be.

Spear Lann:

Spear Lann in pre-nerf arguably was the best DPS in trans mode due to infinite stamina which basically defines spin2win at its peak assuming you are not a noob and know how to move. Alas with the nerf you will need to somehow compensate. Here are a couple of suggested builds for Spear Lanns:

All Rounder Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 6 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Firestorm = 1 Point
Revelation: Aura = 5 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: Some may wonder where the heck resistance went with the build and the answer is that Spear Lann's don't need it due to the spin2win super armor which is essentially a 100% knockdown resistance. This is a balance build which gives Spear Lanns a large HP pool for fury infusion along with a large Stamina pool for a longer spin2win. As your DPS is mainly from spin2win the Fissure and Encroach is just icing.

Full ATT Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 6 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Firestorm = 4 Point
Revelation: Aura = 5 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: Really not much of a boost in terms of DPS, this will give the most out of it and forgoes anything on the Fissure tree if your main BnB is spin2win.

Full Survive Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 6 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 5 Points
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Aura = 5 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: Not really recommended for Spear Lanns only because the role is for DPS, but if you want a bit of survival here it is. Also note, you still have to dodge and not be a noob in your spin2win mode. Your DOT will be a little longer though thanks to the regeneration of HP.

Full Hybrid:

At this point of the game if you are a full hybrid Lann that having no more skills to level and have tried playing both swords and spears you technically don't need a guide on how to augment your points. However, as a full hybrid you will probably require the most skills because you will have to sacrifice a bit in order to work out.

Hybrid All Rounder Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 4 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Resistance = 5 Points
Revelation: Aura = 3 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Alternative:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 6 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 6 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Resistance = 1 Point
Revelation: Aura = 5 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: This will give you some spin2win time along with knockdown resistance. The amount of stamina and HP would be equivalent to that of the pre-nerf version and is a viable solution for either sword or spears, this one geared a little more towards swords. The alternative is leaning towards more spears.

Hybrid ATT Type:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 4 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 5 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Firestorm = 5 Points
Revelation: Resistance = 2 Points
Revelation: Aura = 2 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Alternative:

Revelation: HP/Longevity = 4 Points
Revelation: ATT/Fury = 6 Points
Revelation: Fatigue/Vigor = 5 Points
Revelation: Potential/Destiny = 6 Points
Revelation: Regeneration = 1 Point
Revelation: Steal = 5 Points
Revelation: Firestorm = 2 Points
Revelation: Resistance = 5 Point
Revelation: Aura = 2 Points
Revelation: Fissure = 1 Point
Revelation: Encroach = 2 Points
Stage 2 Trans = 1 Point

Comments: This build is tweak to give you the most attack potential while reducing it in places where it is equivalent to a pre-nerf transformation. You will notice that you have full steal and firestorm at the cost of reduce knockdown and Fatigue/Vigor. However at 5 points for Fatigue and Vigor you have the same SP rate of recovery as pre-nerf which is 150%. You can also go with the alternative tweak which reduce the attack potential slightly for the full knockdown resistance.

Final Thoughts: Hopefully these build will help everyone out and if it is a TL:DR for some then the summary is that transformation aint that bad as long as you know how to allocate your points. Some will probably ask why I did not use stamina regeneration in any of the builds and the answer is simply the cost does not benefit a Lann overall. Stamina management for sword Lann's should not be that hard and for Spear Lann's you have your fury infusion so it becomes a moot point.

[Lightbringer6]

This should be helpful, after the patch i was feeling confused, i think i will go with the sword lann all att one... :) thx

[scythelover]

This is a good guide, but can anyone make a guide like this for Scythe Evies? :)

[Lightbringer6]

Does anyone have some numbers for steal, to prove if it is worth it? Cuz I have already got it maxed (lvl. 5) and I find it gives me no more than abut 100 att...

[Mello]

Be aware that steal is useless unless it works on bosses now o.o

[dotbeige]

It has always worked on bosses. The only downside in upgrading steal is its damage increase and the ATT you steal is hard to justify. Until more tests are done, it is better to leave it at 1.

[Mello]

It has always worked on bosses. The only downside in upgrading steal is its damage increase and the ATT you steal is hard to justify. Until more tests are done, it is better to leave it at 1.

It works on bosses? wish I knew that before making myself look stupid on a bunch of threads.

[MaverickHL]

Steal's usefulness is not overall in the amount of ATT and MATT returned but the 25% damage done to the HP or however that is calculated. The builds were optimized for as much damage as possible albeit it may be small.

[driventc]

sorry to revive a old thread but I just became a dark knight and I'm a little confused on how the skills work. Some skills such as fatigue says "you need to gain at least 5 points" does that mean i must have at least 5 points allocated into various skills before I can put points into that skill? Also is it true that I wont be able to max all skills in both paths? Thanks

[MaverickHL]

That is how I understood it, so allocate them as you go along and plan your build accordingly.