Dancer: Guide to Weapons and Armor

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Guide Key Italicized names are items classifed as Rare and are likely to be expensive. Bold names are items classified as Exclusive or Rare/Exclusive and cannot be bought at an Auction House. These can be skipped over typically. Alt.Opt. subheadings are literally alternate options. HQ refers to a High Quality item. These are generally denoted by the +# and can usually be a synth/crafted item. NQ, conversely, refers a Normal Quality item. Author's Opening This guide is still under construction. Note: This guide does not reflect the views or owner of the wiki in any way. This is simply an opinion on how to optimize yourself while playing the Dancer job class. All items are my own personal opinion as to what's the best or most feasible choices at these levels. ~Mercurialwings Though I'm sure many already know of this, you should be carrying at least two sets of gear to capitalize the most out of your job. For Dancers, you should probably have an alternate set of equipment that you switch just prior to a weaponskill to pack the most damage possible in that one attack. These sets should be constructed post 30s-40s.

Weapons

Hand-to-Hand

At lower levels, it's probably better to use these over low-level daggers despite the D rating in them. This weapon type will probably last you till level 20 when the difference in skill level will start to show.

Lvl 1: Cesti/Cesti +1

Lvl 1: Cat Baghnakhs/+1

Lvl 5: Bronze Knuckles/+1

Lvl 9: Brass Knuckles or

Lvl 10: Royal Archer's Cesti

Lvl 10: Freesword's Baghnakhs

Lvl 10: Legionnaire's Knuckles

Lvl 11: Hydro Baghnakhs/+1

Lvl 11: Brass Baghnakhs/+1

Lvl 12: Burning Cesti

Lvl 14: Strike Baghnakhs or

Lvl 15: Republic Knuckles or

Lvl 15: Kingdom Cesti

Lvl 20: Metal Knuckles +1 possible replacement for Republic Knuckles but I would stay with Republics.

Lvl 32: Impact Knuckles

Lvl 46: Exocets

Lvl 72: Wagh Baghnakhs

After Lvl 30 /Monk is not that useful anymore and so H2H loses a lot of its effectiveness.

Dagger

Lvl 20: Mercenary's Knife

Lvl 25: Windurstian Knife or Federation Knife

Lvl 30: Mercenary Captain's Kukri (If you're just using a Windurstian Knife, otherwise stay with your Federation Knife)

Lvl 34: Windurstian Kukri or Federation Kukri

Lvl 34: Acid Kukri or Corrosive Kukri (for mobs that have defense bonus moves)

Lvl 46: Bone Knife/+1

Lvl 53: Darksteel Knife/+1 or Venom Knife/+1 if you don't mind it overriding your Sambas once in a while. (I think Bone Knife+1 still the better option.)

Lvl 56: Beetle Knife/+1

Lvl 59: Darksteel Kukri/+1

Lvl 60: Cermet Knife/+1

Lvl 68: Kard Good damage, low delay, and +5 CHR for Waltz, however its RareEx.

Lvl 69: Stun Kukri/+1

Lvl 70: Behemoth Knife/+1

Lvl 71: Cobra Knife Nice off-hand dagger

Lvl 72: Adder Jambiya/+1

Lvl 73: Jambiya/+1

Lvl 73: Heart Snatcher (broken) May be better to stick with a previous dagger.

Lvl 73: Mighty Knife - +1 CHR but has very high price tag.

Sword

Swords can be used at lower levels, and at high levels in the offhand to increase TP gain if you decide to play /nin. It is recommended to have sword merits at high levels if you choose to use them.

Lvl 13: Bilbo/+1

Lvl 19: Small Sword

Lvl 20: Degen/+1

Lvl 23: Tuck/+1

Lvl 70: Joyeuse (This is the best sword you can use on DNC to keep your TP high.)

Between 20 and 70 you are better off using Daggers and abandoning Swords due to the gap in skill and limited choice of weapons in this category.

Ranged Weapon

Lvl 1: Happy Egg (if not pulling)

Lvl 15: Rogetsurin (RareEx)

Lvl 20: Platoon Disc

Lvl 28: Chakram

Lvl 30: RSE Sachets (if not pulling)

Lvl 40: War Hoop (AF weapon)

Lvl 40: Junior Musketeer's Chakram

Lvl 43: Junior Musketeer's Chakram +1

Lvl 43: Junior Musketeer's Chakram +2

Lvl 57: Moonring Blade +1/Moonring Blade

Lvl 58: Tiphia Sting (if not pulling)

Lvl 68: Rising Sun +1/Rising Sun

Armor

* At level 16-17, either Bone or Lizard set may be used. Lizard is usually cheaper, but Bone +1 offers Evasion bonuses.

Head

Lvl 1: Bronze Cap

Lvl 7: Leather Bandana

Lvl 9: Compound Eye Circlet

Lvl 10: Royal Footman's Bandana

Lvl 11: Entrancing Ribbon (for Waltzes) or

Lvl 14: Noble's Ribbon

Lvl 14: Cotton Headband

Lvl 16: Bone Mask

Lvl 17: Lizard Helm

Lvl 20: Trump Crown (Better then Noble's)

Lvl 21: Beetle Mask

Lvl 24: Emperor Hairpin / Empress Hairpin (DEX+ for added Acc+, Eva+10 for when you pull hate)

Lvl 30: Dandy Spectacles / Fancy Spectacles

Mercenary Captain's Headgear for night (If you don't have an Empress/Emperor Hairpin)

Lvl 39: Dobson Bandanna

Lvl 41: Voyager Sallet for weaponskills.

Lvl 43: Walkure Mask

Lvl 50: Crow Beret / Raven Beret for those times you don't want to pull hate.

Lvl 54: Dancer's Tiara AF

Lvl 65: Wivre Mask

Lvl 66 Coral Cap Good for dancing edge, IF you can find one.

Lvl 68: Cobra Cap

Lvl 70: Optical Hat

Lvl 72: Pahluwan Qalansuwa

Lvl 72: Panther Mask/+1

Lvl 75: Walahra Turban

(incompleted)

Body

Lvl 1: Bronze Harness

Lvl 7: Leather Vest

Lvl 16: Bone Harness/+1 or

Lvl 17: Lizard Jerkin / Fine Jerkin

Lvl 21: Beetle Harness

Lvl 25: Shade Harness

Lvl 30: Mercenary Captain's Doublet

Lvl 33: RSE or Linen Doublet +1

Lvl 42: Wool Doublet +1

Lvl 45: Brigandine/+1

Lvl 50: Rapparee Harness

Lvl 55: Jaridah Peti

Lvl 57: Scorpion Harness

Lvl 59: Black Cotehardie / Flora Cotehardie

Lvl 60: Dancer's Casaque AF

Lvl 67: Assault Jerkin *Great for attack build and WS swap-in.

Lvl 69: Blue Cotehardie / Blue Cotehardie +1

Lvl 72: Pahluwan Khazagand

Lvl 74: Narasimha's Vest

(incompleted)

Hands

Lvl 1: Bronze Mittens

Lvl 7: Leather Gloves

Lvl 10: Legionnaire's Mittens or Royal Footman's Gloves

Lvl 14: Battle Gloves Stick with these for the Acc.

Lvl 16: Bone Mittens

Lvl 16: Scentless Armlets

Lvl 17: Lizard Gloves

Lvl 21: Beetle Mittens

Lvl 27: RSE

Lvl 30: Mercenary Captain's Gloves

Lvl 50: Crow Bracers

Lvl 52: Dancer's Bangles AF

Lvl 55: Jaridah Bazubands / Akinji Bazubands

Lvl 65: Fencing Bracers

Lvl 68: Cobra Mittens

Lvl 70: Alkyoneus's Bracelets

Lvl 70: Tarasque Mitts / Tarasque Mitts +1

Lvl 72: Pahluwan Dastanas

Lvl 72: Dusk Gloves / Dusk Gloves +1 *Likely to be expensive.

Lvl 75: Denali Wristbands

(incompleted)

Legs

Lvl 1: Bronze Subligar

Lvl 7: Leather Trousers

Lvl 16: Bone Subligar

Lvl 17: Lizard Trousers

Lvl 20: Garrison Hose DD

Lvl 21: Beetle Subligar

Lvl 24: Kingdom Trousers

Lvl 25: Bastokan Subligar/Republic Subligar

Lvl 30: Mercenary Captain's Hose

Lvl 31: RSE

Lvl 50: Crow Hose

Lvl 58: Dancer's Tights AF

Lvl 67: Coral Subligar

Lvl 70: Clown's Subligar

Lvl 71: Vendor's Slops/Prince's Slops

Lvl 72: Pahluwan Seraweels

Lvl 72: Dusk Trousers if u don't mind the movement speed decrease

Lvl 75: Denali Kecks

Lvl 75: Barbarossa's Zerehs

(incompleted)

Feet

Lvl 1: Bronze Leggings

Lvl 7: Leather Highboots / Leaping Boots / Bounding Boots

Lvl 10: Royal Footman's Boots

Lvl 16: Bone Leggings

Lvl 17: Lizard Ledelsens

Lvl 21: Beetle Leggings

Lvl 24: Winged Boots

Lvl 29: RSE

Lvl 30: Mercenary Captain's Gaiters

Lvl 38: Mountain Gaiters

Lvl 50: Crow Gaiters

Lvl 55: Jaridah Nails

Lvl 56: Dancer's Shoes AF

Lvl 59: Tabin Boots/+1

Lvl 70: Volunteer's Nails

Lvl 72: Dance Shoes

Lvl 72:Pahluwan Crackows

Lvl 75:Denali Gamashes

Lvl 75: Heroic Boots / Heroic Boots +1 *Liable to be expensive for +1

(incompleted)

Waist

Lvl 1: Gold Moogle Belt/Silver Moogle Belt/Bronze Moogle Belt

Alt.Opt.: Blood Stone +1/Blood Stone

Lvl 14 Friar's Rope
*Waist All Races DEF:2 MP +5 MND +1 +2 +2/Lvl.14 All Jobs*

Lvl 15: Warrior's Belt +1 / Warrior's Belt

Lvl 30: Mercenary Captain's Belt

Lvl 30: Sarashi (if /nin this reduces the delay of your weapons)

(reduces delay only by 1%, Tilt Belt is probably a better choice)

Lvl 40: Tilt Belt (Acc+5, ideal for DD until 48 if you aren't tanking)

Lvl 40: Corsette macro in for Curing Waltz

Lvl 43: Swordbelt +1/Swordbelt

Lvl 48: Life Belt

Lvl 50: Swift Belt

Lvl 55: Speed Belt (Expensive, better than Life Belt ONLY if you don't need the Acc+)

Lvl 60: Potent Belt (Good upgrade from Life Belt)

Lvl 71: Warwolf Belt

(incompleted)

Back

Lvl 4: Rabbit Mantle

Lvl 12: Traveler's Mantle

Lvl 17: Lizard Mantle

Lvl 18: Dhalmel Mantle

Lvl 24: Nomad's Mantle

Lvl 28: Wolf Mantle +1

Lvl 30: Wyvern Mantle (if you use /drg)

Lvl 47: Jaguar Mantle

Lvl 60: Bushido Cape ( DEF 7, "Store TP" +1, "Subtile Blow" +1, )

Lvl61: Amemet Mantle/+1

Lvl 71: Forager's Mantle (Second best mantle for any Melee in the game)

Lvl 75: Cerberus Mantle/+1 (Likely to be expensive.)

(incompleted)

Neck

Lvl 7: Wing Pendant or Justice Badge

Lvl 14: Van Pendant

Lvl 15: Bird Whistle Helps with Curing Waltz

Lvl 20: Bloodbead Amulet

Lvl 21: Spike Necklace (+DEX, +STR)

Lvl 24: Tiger Stole (Def +2, Att +5)

Lvl 33: Peacock Amulet / Peacock Charm

Lvl 59: Spectacles

Lvl 60: Chivalrous Chain (+Acc, +STR, and "Store TP" +1)

Lvl 73: Love Torque

(incomplete)

Ring

Lvl 1: San d'Orian Ring or Bastokan Ring or Windurstian Ring

Lvl 14: Mighty Ring (the 50 charges on this ring lasted me to Lvl 40)

Lvl 14: Vision Ring

Lvl 14: Stamina Ring

Lvl 30: Archer's Ring/Shikaree Ring

Lvl 30: Rajas Ring (if you have)

Lvl 34: Venerer Ring

Lvl 35: Jaeger Ring

Lvl 36: Puissance Ring +1

Lvl 40: Sniper's Ring or Woodsman Ring

Lvl 42: Assailant's Ring

Lvl 49: Kshama Ring No. 2

Lvl 49: Kshama Ring No. 8

Lvl 49: Ecphoria Ring

Lvl 50: Garrulous Ring

Lvl 50: Unyielding Ring

Lvl 50:Ulthalam's Ring

Lvl 54: Fluorite Ring

(to be added)

Earring

Lvl 1: Cassie Earring

Lvl 10: Optical Earring

Lvl 16: Bone Earring/+1 for DD

Lvl 20: Shield Earring if not /mage for tanking/soloing.

Lvl 21: Beetle Earring/+1 for DD

Lvl 29: Dodge Earring for tanking/soloing.

Lvl 30: Wyvern Earring if /DRG.

Lvl 30: Trimmer's Earring if /BST.

Lvl 35: Drone Earring

Lvl 49: Heims Earring

Lvl 49: Harvest Earring

Lvl 50: Velocity Earring

Lvl 50: Storm Loop

Lvl 55: Fang Earring/Spike Earring

Lvl 61: Minuet Earring

Lvl 63: Coral Earring/Merman's Earring

Lvl 72: Ethereal Earring, Suppanomimi or Bushinomimi

Lvl 75: Brutal Earring

(Incomplete)

Closing Note

Guide created by Mercurialwings with edits from Zatias, Ctcutter, Babba, Druvion, Yippy, Legomike, Kaishen, ((please feel free to add your name here). Thanks to Andres for the template. H2H added by Heartfire Shields removed by GoufCustom Tests and Edits by Charles Guillen