Swordfighters excel in both offense and defense.Tutorial Description
The Swordfighter is a basic job in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, and is one of the earliest available jobs in the game, as well as the first job available to Neon in the second stage of the game. Leveling the Swordfighter is required to unlock the Knight and Red Mage jobs.
Swordfighter is an agile Defender job centered around the broadsword and shield with its great defensive capabilities and quick strikes, much similar to the Swordsman job but exchanging a better damage output for better mobility on the field. It is a good starter job with basic passives, such as increased Potion recovery, ability damage, and reduced general damage taken to cover the multiple sides of combat.
Abilities
Job action
| Ability | Job Points | MP Cost | Required Ability to Unlock | Description | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Interception |
0 | 100 | — | [Attack Type:  Slash][Stat Bonus:  Agility]A counterattack that deals slashing damage. While active, damage from blockable attacks is nullified and will trigger a counterattack. Effect ends after a period of time, or after triggering once. [Any Link] Can be set to any link ability slot. |
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Its job action is Interception, which grants the player a temporary barrier on activation. With this barrier, any blockable attack is automatically countered with a swift slash. Such a job action provides good break damage all while protecting the player from any stray attacks in the middle of combat. In addition, with the job's mastery passive, the player can soul-shield during Interception's duration and still initiate a counter without ending it and triggering certain abilities.
Command ability
| Ability | Job Points | MP Cost | Required Ability to Unlock | Description | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shield Bash |
3 | 100 | Swordfighter Affinity +10% | [Attack Type:  Strike][Stat Bonus:  Stamina]Smash an enemy with your shield, staggering them. *Requires a shield. |
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The Swordfighter obtains the Shield Bash support ability which attacks the enemy with the character's shield to stagger them. This attack deals a small amount of damage but can cancel any animation and automatically parry any blockable attacks, thus triggering any effects thereof while still maintaining an offensive playstyle and providing an attack to any job that can equip shields.
Combo abilities
| Ability | Type | Job Points | MP Cost | Required Ability to Unlock | Description | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Slash & Soar |
Sword Combo | 3 | 100 | Swordfighter Affinity +10% | [Attack Type: Slash] [Stat Bonus: Agility]Unleash a series of powerful slashes. [Link 1 Ability] Can be set to  >  .
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 Cross Slash |
Sword Combo | 6 | 100 | Potion Recovery Amount +10.9% | [Attack Type: Slash] [Stat Bonus:  Strength]Unleash a series of slashing attacks that deal heavy break damage to enemies. [Link 2 Ability] Can be set to > > .
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 Dayflash |
Sword Combo | 8 | 200 | Spirit of the Sword | [Attack Type: Slash] [Stat Bonus: Strength]Deliver a powerful slash attack that sends enemies flying. [Link 3 Ability] Can be set to > > >
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Combo effects
| Ability | Job Points | Required Ability to Unlock | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 Knowledge of the Blade |
6 | Swordfighter Affinity +15% | [Weapon Type: Sword] [Rear Attack Link] Enhances abilities set to  + (Weapon Skill) > Refills break gauge based on magic damage dealt. |
| Spirit of the Sword |
5 | Shield Bash | [Weapon Type: Sword] [Charged Attack Link] Enhances abilities set to Hold > .Staggers nearby enemies. |
Job Passives
| Ability | Job Points | Required Ability to Unlock | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 Swordfighter Affinity +10% |
1 | Interception | Increases swordfighter job affinity. |
 Potion Recovery Amount +10.9% |
4 | Slash & Soar | Increase amount recovered by potions. |
| Swordfighter Affinity +15% |
4 | Slash & Soar | Increases swordfighter job affinity. |
 Interception Mastery |
6 | Swordfighter Affinity +15% | A successful soul shield during Interception will automatically initiate a counter. *This will not cancel Interception's effect. |
| Ability Damage +3.1% |
8 | Interception Mastery | Increases ability damage dealt. |
| All Damage -4.5% |
8 | Interception Mastery | Decreases damage taken. |
| Potion Recovery Amount +17.9% |
5 | Shield Bash | Increase amount recovered by potions. |
| All Damage -2.7% |
6 | Spirit of the Sword | Decreases damage taken. |
| Ability Damage +3.1% |
8 | All Damage -2.7% | Increases ability damage dealt. |
| Swordfighter Affinity +25% |
8 | All Damage -2.7% | Increases swordfighter job affinity. |
Job/class Unlocks
These nodes lead to the following advanced jobs/job classes:
| Ability | Type | Required Ability to Unlock | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 New Job: Red Mage |
Job Unlock | All Damage -4.5% | Partial unlock for the Red Mage Job. Also requires a similar ability in the Mage Job Tree. |
 New Job: Knight |
Job Unlock | Swordfighter Affinity +25% | Partial unlock for the Knight Job. Also requires a similar ability in the Swordsman Job Tree. |
 New Class: Divine Commander |
Class Unlock | All Swordfighter tree abilities | Unlocks the Evocation Class for Swordfighter, Divine Commander. Only available in the Trials of the Dragon King DLC. |
 New Class: Demonslayer Champion |
Class Unlock | All Swordfighter tree abilities | Unlocks the Ultima Class for Swordfighter, Demonslayer Champion. Only available in the Trials of the Dragon King DLC. |
Class trees
Introduced in the "Trials of the Dragon King" DLC, These classes are unlocked after visiting Bahamut's Cave and completing the "A Token of Courage and Strength" conversation with Bahamut and the abilities thereof can be bought by using Rat Tails which are accumulated by completing missions on the Bahamut difficulty onward and purchasing them from the Bahamut Exchange Shop via Dragon Treasures:
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Divine Commander
| Ability | Type | Rat Tails | Required Ability to Unlock | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grounded Stance |
Job Action | — | All Swordfighter tree abilities | Interception + [Class Change Effect: Evocation] Decreases break gauge consumption for soul shield while active. [Any Link] Can be set to any link ability slot. |
 Stamina +6 |
Passive | 2 | Grounded Stance | Increases stamina. |
| HP +200 |
Passive | 6 | Stamina +6 | Increases HP by 212. |
 Luck +6 |
Passive | 8 | HP +212 | Increases luck. |
 Swordfighter Master Points +3 |
Passive | 13 | Luck +6 | Increases swordfighter master points acquired. |
| Break +160 |
Passive | 10 | HP +200 | Increases break by 160. |
 Agility +5 |
Passive | 12 | Break +160 | Increases agility. |
 Spirit +6 |
Passive | 2 | Grounded Stance | Increases spirit. |
| Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% |
Passive | 4 | Spirit +6 | Increases resistance to status ailments. |
| Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0% |
Passive | 6 | Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% | Increases magic vulnerability resistances. |
 Strength +6 |
Passive | 8 | Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0% | Increases strength. |
| Sword Cancel |
Combo Ability Effects | 14 | Strength +6 | [Weapon Type: Sword] [3rd Link] Enhances abilities set to > > > .Enables earlier dodging. |
 Intellect +6 |
Passive | 8 | Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0% | Increases intellect. |
| Swordfigher Master Points +3 |
Passive | 13 | Intellect +5 | Increases swordfighter master points acquired. |
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Demonslayer Champion
| Ability | Type | Rat Tails | Required Ability to Unlock | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fangfetter Stance |
Job Action | — | All Swordfighter tree abilities | Interception + [Class Change Effect: Ultima] Slash with your sword, inflicting paralysis. [Any Link] Can be set to any link ability slot. |
| Stamina +6 |
Passive | 2 | Fangfetter Stance | Increases stamina. |
| HP +200 |
Passive | 6 | Stamina +6 | Increases HP by 212. |
| Luck +6 |
Passive | 8 | HP +212 | Increases luck. |
| Swordfighter Master Points +3 |
Passive | 13 | Luck +6 | Increases swordfighter master points acquired. |
| Break +160 |
Passive | 10 | HP +200 | Increases break by 160. |
| Agility +5 |
Passive | 12 | Break +160 | Increases agility. |
| Spirit +6 |
Passive | 2 | Fangfetter Stance | Increases spirit. |
| Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% |
Passive | 4 | Spirit +6 | Increases resistance to status ailments. |
| Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0% |
Passive | 6 | Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% | Increases magic vulnerability resistances. |
| Strength +6 |
Passive | 8 | Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0% | Increases strength. |
| Vigorous Sword |
Combo Ability Effects | 14 | Strength +6 | [Weapon Type: Sword] [2nd Link] Enhances abilities set to > > .Increases physical damage dealt. |
| Intellect +6 |
Passive | 8 | Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0% | Increases intellect. |
| Swordfighter Master Points +3 |
Passive | 13 | Intellect +5 | Increases swordfighter master points acquired. |
Job affinity bonuses
Most weapons and items of clothing have a certain percentage of job affinity for a certain job. By combining them and raising this percentage, the character may not only gain extra EXP to that job, but also unlock abilities and bonuses to their stats. The bonuses for the Swordfighter job affinity are:
| Name | Job Affinity percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Swordfighter's Wisdom I | 20% | Increases the corresponding stat(s). HP+25 |
| Swordfighter's Wisdom II | 30% | Increases the corresponding stat(s). HP+25 Stamina+1 |
| Shield Bonus I | 50% | Increases break gauge recovery speed by 7.5% when a shield is equipped. |
| Swordfighter's Wisdom III | 80% | Increases the corresponding stat(s). Stamina+1 Intellect+2 Agility+2 |
| Shield Bonus II | 120% | Increases break gauge recovery speed by 12.5% when a shield is equipped. |
| Swordfighter's Wisdom IV | 160% | Increases the corresponding stat(s). HP+25 Strength+2 Stamina+1 Spirit+2 Luck+2 |
| Fencer's Soul | 250% | Sword: The strong attack (hold ) will now include a quick rush forward toward the enemy.
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| Sword Master | 400% | Sword:
Enables the use of all weapon abilities for the sword and increases damage dealt with sword combo abilities. Including Interception. |
| Memories of a Void Challenger | 600% | Reduces the MP cost of Sword combo abilities while a Sword is equipped. Also enhances the effects of Swordfighter's Wisdom. |
| Swordfighter's Essence | 800% | Enhances the effects of Swordfighter's Wisdom, and also boosts stats based on your affinity. |
Gameplay
The role of a Swordfighter as a Basic job is centered around the broadsword and shield with its great defensive capabilities and quick strikes, much similar to the Swordsman job but exchanging a better damage output for better mobility on the field. Its abilities help to clear through multiple enemies by staggering enemies and refilling the player's break gauge. Though at later levels, this job becomes an excellent choice for minimizing any damage taken while breaking enemies, encouraging all manners of builds centered around it.
Strengths
- Can be built in multiple ways to utilize different Sword abilities.
- Can trigger Interception buff without having to go through a combo link and functions as a combo ability, saving MP and inflicting more damage with effects that modify sword combos.
- One of the best jobs in terms of defense. This being bolstered by support abilities such as Shield Bash and Counter.
Weaknesses
- One of the worst stat growths out of any job in the game, being a flat growth throughout each level
- As a Basic job, is replaceable by end-game for any job that can use the sword.
Stats
The Swordfighter action gives a stat bonus to Agility, however, it's stat growth is flat in all areas as you level up the job.
| Stat | Rating | Lvl 1 | Lvl 30 | Lvl 55 | Lvl 80 | Lvl 99 | Lvl 120 | Lvl 135 | Lvl 150+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP | C | 900 | 1489 | 1937 | 2050 | 2143 | 2269 | 2359 | 2449 |
| Strength | C | 15 | 18 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Agility | C | 15 | 18 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Stamina | C | 15 | 18 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Intellect | C | 15 | 18 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Spirit | C | 15 | 18 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Luck | C | 15 | 17 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Recommended subjobs
Hunter
Hunter is an excellent support job for any physical job, especially those that deal with Agility. Analyze is helpful to bolster your attacks for the Swordfighter's less-than-stellar damage output by bypassing resistances. This can also aid in MP management should the Swordfighter have the Lancet support ability at the ready.
Tyrant
Similar to Hunter, Tyrant is a good support job for any physical job, especially those that deal with Intellect. The Tyrant's Enchantments help to add elemental attributes to your attacks for the Swordfighter's less-than-stellar damage output by easily taking advantage of elemental weaknesses and gaining MP.
Monk
Monk probably remains the most popular support job for Swordfighters at any level. The Monk's stats complement Swordfighters well and provide a moderate boost in total HP and means of quick attacks. Also, the Monk's Focus ability is useful for total damage output and damage mitigation.
Thief
Thief is a good support job upon reaching level 30 and obtaining the Rouge Evocation class. Mug grants the chance to gain a Potion with every steal attempt, which makes it a good choice for healing in addition to agile attacks. Thief also will assist in stats with the Azure Lore support ability, which spends any Instant Abilities stolen to increase stats. Thief-specific job traits such as Treasure Hunter are important boosts that help any job.
