Maru's Chivalry: A war guide for Knights

Introduction

So you are interested in bringing your mount to WoE, aren’t you? You've come to the right place! I'll guide you through this journey of becoming the strongest knight you can be.

I'm Maru

and I've been playing RO for around 18 years now. During all these years, Knight has always been my favorite (to be honest, my only) job and I don't feel like myself if I'm not mounted (kappapride). And, since I'm mostly a PvP player since my childhood, I wanted to make a complete guide with all the things that I've learned along the years to help those who are just starting on PvP as a Knight, either as a Rune Knight for WoE SE or as a Lord Knight for WoE TE.

Keep in mind that this guide is NOT absolute truth and doesn't intend to be, it is my vision and experience as a WoE player. You can (and should) adapt and change things based on your needs, experiences and own tests. WoE is not as simple as black and white, there are many variants that will change from guild to guild, player to player and meta to meta.

War of Emperium: Second Edition!

WoE SE is my favorite WoE edition and the one I played the most in my life. I played as a DB RK mostly and I'll share some tips, ideas and builds that I've gathered over the years.

Dragon Breath

Dragon Breath is, by far, my favorite build. It is a simple still effective build with a fun playstyle, not very punishing for those who are beginning and still have an amazing learning curve. Due to it being simple, you can focus on what is happening on GvG, focus on learning more about the jobs and what they should do or even shotcall for your guild if you feel like doing so. Since you are a frontliner, you want to get as high as possible resists with enough after cast delay reduction to spam your main skill. Damage is not your priority and you should always focus on your main goal: keeping your enemy frontline away from your stack, acting like a wall between them.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Easy to play and very newbie friendly; Offensive tanker, dealing decent damage even if your main goal is to take damage; Great toolset, being naturally immune to freeze/stone due to high mdef from runes; Higher weight capacity and higher speed.	Easily disabled; Predictable damage element, being forced Neutral/Shadow, Ghost/Holy or Water/Fire; High usage of badges due to consumables (Runes and Potions); Needs to get hit to really shine.

Stats

STR	Increases weight capacity and reduces duration of some disables;	80+	It is your main source of protection against Shadow Chasers and those annoying Masquerades.
AGI	Increases ASPD and reduces chances of some disables;	70+	Good for ASPD but also helps with Masquerades.
VIT	Increases your HP and potion efficiency;	110+	Your main stat. Increases your damage and your tankyness.
INT	Increases your SP and reduces cast time;	110+	Reduces cast time and slightly increase your damage.
DEX	Greatly reduces cast time;	120	Used mainly for Temporal DEX Boots [1] (22008) .
LUK	Reduces chances and duration of some disables;	1+	Good for Curse immunity and helps with Masquerades.

Skills

Swordsman's Skills	Notes
Increase HP Recovery	Increase potion efficiency by 10% per skill level. BE SURE TO HAVE IT MAXED.
Magnum Break	Can be used to break Ankle Snare traps.
Endure	Slightly increase MDEF.
Lord Knight's Skills
Aura Blade	Increases a bit of DB damage.
Concentration	Decreases your DEF. Very useful against Ice Pick [1] (13017) users.
Rune Knight's Skills
Rune Mastery	Enable Rune usage. BE SURE TO HAVE IT MAXED.
Dragon Training	Increases DB damage. Increases ASPD as leveled. Increase weight capacity. BE SURE TO HAVE IT MAXED.
Dragon Breath	9x9 AoE physical damage. Your main skill, spam it.
Dragon Breath Water	9x9 AoE physical damage. Your main skill, spam it.
Dragon Howling	80% chance of inflicting fear and immobilizing enemies. Use it whenever enemies try to pass through you and get to your stack.
Death Bound	Amplifies the damage you take and reflect back to attacker (70% on him and 30% on you). Very useful to deal with Ignition Break and other melee physical skills. OBS: try to use it on the lowest level but that is still enough to kill your enemy.

Runes

Asir Runestone (12729)	Greatly increases ASPD. Changes Dragon Breath Water element from Water to Ghost.
Hagalas Runestone (12733)	Greatly increases DEF/MDEF.
Isia Runestone (12728)	Increase potion efficiency by 50%. It is cumulative with Increase HP Recovery.
Lux Anima Runestone (22540)	30% bonus to Ranged Damage, HP and SP, which is huge damage boost. Changes Dragon Breath Water element from Water to Neutral. Changes Dragon Breath element from Fire to Shadow.
Nosiege Runestone (12725)	Remove and become immune to the following debuffs: Stun, Sleep, Curse, Stone Curse, Poison, Blind, Silence, Bleeding, Confusion, Frozen, Deep Sleep, Burning, Freezing, Guillotine Cross Poisons, Marsh of Abyss, and Mandragora Howling. For 60 seconds. IT HAS 120 SECONDS COOLDOWN AND IS BEST USED BEFORE IMPORTANT GVGS.
Verkana Runestone (12727)	Randomly summon 2~4 shields. Each shield can protect you from 1 attack. It lasts for 15 minutes if doesnt break and has 60s cooldown. Try to always keep it up, this way you can protect yourself from initial burst from GvG and still have it for emergency (panic button).

Consumables

HP Increase Potion (Large) (12424)	Increases your HP, increasing damage.
SP Increase Potion (Large) (12427)	Increases your SP, increasing damage.
Vitata500 (12436)	Increases your SP, increasing damage.
Enrich Celermine Juice (12437)	Highly increase ASPD.
Thunderproof Potion (12121)	+20% Wind resist / -15% Earth resist. Use according to your gears and your enemies attacks.
Earthproof Potion (12120)	+20% Earth resist / -15% Fire resist. Use according to your gears and your enemies attacks.
Coldproof Potion (12119)	+20% Water resist / -15% Wind resist. Use according to your gears and your enemies attacks.
Fireproof Potion (12118)	+20% Fire resist / -15% Water resist. Use according to your gears and your enemies attacks.
Berserk Potion (657)	Highly increase ASPD. Be aware that Flying Kick will remove it, you can use Awakening Potion (656) if you prefer.
Guarana Candy (12414)	Very useful for animation canceling and gives you the effect of Concentration Potion (645) . Very useful after being dispelled.
Panacea (525)	Use this in case you are not curse immune. If you playing curse immune, use Green Potion (506) instead.
Yggdrasil Berry (607)	Heals 100% of your HP and SP. Use it as panic button.
Yggdrasil Seed (608)	Heals 50% of your HP and SP. Use it as panic button.

Gears

Before continuing, I want you to keep in mind that this is totally personal and you should adapt and use those that are most suited for your playstyle and your guild. I will give few ideas for gears and a brief explanation on why/when use it.

You going to need to achieve 97% after cast delay reduction to be able to spam properly, so make sure you pick items that give enough for it.

Equipments

Position	Item	Enchant	Notes
Upper	+12 Temporal Circlet (Rune Knight) [1] (19474)	Adamantine Lv5 (29105) Temporal Jewel (VIT) Lv 3 (29680)	We don't have much choice here, Temporal Circlet is just busted. It gives flat HP, SP%, skill damage, ACD reduction, ranged damage and can be enchanted for even more HP. You can change Temporal Jewel (VIT) Lv 3 (29680) to Temporal Jewel (AGI) Lv 3 (29677) if you are lacking ASPD.
	+7 Judge Hat [1] (18572)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you some race resistance. Very important if you are stacking race resistance. A most expensive (and better) version of Beret (5172) .
Middle	Rainbow Star (18894)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you some race resistance. Very important if you are stacking race resistance. A most expensive (and better) version ofhttps://muhro.eu/flux/data/items/icons/5800.png Blush of Groom (5800) .
	Gambler's Seal [1] (410233)	ACD enchants. At least 5%.	Best offensive choice. It combos with Ace of Diamonds in Mouth (Ranged Physical) (420220) for more damage.
	Victory Wing Ears [1] (400002)	ACD enchants.	A cheaper option to reach the acd needed.
	Sealed Chain [1] (410094)	It can't be enchanted.	Cheap option for damage.
Lower	Handkerchief in Mouth (18670)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you some race resistance. Very important if you are stacking race resistance.
	Ace of Diamonds in Mouth (Ranged Physical) (420220)	Long ranged damage +5~7%.	Best offensive choice. It combos with Gambler's Seal [1] (410233) for more damage.
	Feather in Mouth (420030)	It can't be enchanted.	Cheap option for damage.
Armor	+9 Siege Suit [1] (15047)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you some race resistance, some ranged resistance and some HP%. Best used when stacking race resistance and using the whole Siege combo.
	+11 King Schmidt's Suit [1] (15388)	The element you prefer. VIT+5 (4744) VIT+5 (4744)	Gives you some med size resistance and can be enchanted with an element of your preference. Very important if you are stacking size resistance. Be aware that elemental armors are the best way of reducing/increasing damage taken, so pick your element wisely.
	+12 VIT Soutane [1] (15399)	VIT Blessing (310078) VIT+8 (4747) VIT+8 (4747)	Highly increase your HP, increasing your damage by a lot. Keep in mind that it isn't a defensive item since it increases your damage and HP but doesn't increase much your potion efficiency or reduces the damage taken at all. You might need to use Yggdrasil Berry (607) and Yggdrasil Seed (608) more often when using this.
Weapon	Combat Knife (1228)	Expert Archer Lv5 (4836) Expert Archer Lv5 (4836)	Gives you some race resistance. Very important if you are stacking race resistance. Even if it can be enchanted for some ranged damage, this is a defensive gear and is best used as defensive swap.
	+12https://muhro.eu/flux/data/items/icons/32013.png Metal Stick [3] (32013)	It can't be enchanted.	3 slotted spear, all around weapon that gives you half [MVP] Kiel Card (4403) .
	+15 Javelin [4] (1402)	It can't be enchanted.	4 slotted spear, level 1 weapon. Easy to farm and easy to overrefine. The best offensive choice.
Shield	+11 Illusion Silver Guard [1] (460018)	Rune of Vitality Lv2 (29010) Rune of Vitality Lv2 (29010)	Gives you some acd and can be enchanted for more HP and damage. The best choice all around.
	Mad Bunny [1] (28902)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you a small chance of activating Magic Mirror Lv. 8. Best used as a swap.
	Platinum Shield (2122)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you a small chance of activating Magic Mirror Lv. 7. Best used as a swap.
Garment	Siege Manteau [1] (2586)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you some race resistance. Best used when stacking race resistance and using the whole Siege combo.
	+12 Temporal VIT Manteau [1] (20965)	12~15% after cast delay reduction.	Some raw HP and damage increase. Can get enchanted with acd for even more
	+11 Gray Wolf Muffler [1] (480090)	Wolf Orb (Above All) Lv.3 (310581) Wolf Orb (Fast) Lv.3 (310575) Wolf Orb (VIT) Lv.3 (310494)	Gives you some nice flat HP, ACD with Wolf Orb (VIT) Lv.3 (310494) and med size resistance with Wolf Orb (Above All) Lv.3 (310581) . Very important if you are stacking size resistance. You can also use +11 Automatic Engine Wing Type A [1] (480020) with same enchants if you have it, the only difference is just the acd enchant, resists are just the same.
	+12 King Schmidt's Manteau [1] (15389)	Expert Archer Lv5 (4836) Expert Archer Lv5 (4836) Expert Archer Lv5 (4836)	Best offensive choice. Best used as swap and combined with Crux Findel Card (300426) . Keep in mind that this is a high risk, you are going to get melted if focused while it is equipped.
Footwear	Siege Boots [1] (2484)	It can't be enchanted.	Gives you some race resistance. Best used when stacking race resistance and using the whole Siege combo.
	+12 Temporal DEX Boots [1] (22008)	Expert Archer Lv4 (4835) Muscle Fool (4878)	Gives you -0,5s FCT and some ranged damage. Muscle Fool (4878) is a strong and mandatory tool, increasing your damage and effective HP by almost 40% while active. If you don't need the FCT feel free to change it for Temporal VIT Boots [1] (22007) with same enchants (best used when combo'd with Temporal VIT Manteau [1] (20965) ).
Right Accessory	Gray Wolf Pendant [1] (490106)	Wolf Orb (Archer) Lv.4 (310631) Wolf Orb (Archer) Lv.4 (310631) Wolf Orb (VIT) Lv.3 (310494)	Best offensive choice, increasing ranged damage by a lot.
	Physical Enhancer Ring [1] (2963)	5~6% all elemental resistance (except neutral).	Great defensive choice, best used when stacking some elemental resistances. Since you want just the enchants, can use a Magic Intensifier Ring [1] (2964) with same enchants instead.
	Expert Ring [1] (2703)	Expert Archer Lv1 (4832)	Slotted, 5% acd with small boost to ranged damage. Only use it if you can't get acd through any other source.
Left Accessory	King Schmidt's Rigid Body Insignia [1] (32231)	Rigid Body (29591) Expert Archer Lv5 (4836)	Nice HP boost, ranged damage and gives you free ACD when used with Muscle Fool (4878) . Use it everytime you have Muscle Fool (4878) equipped.
	Physical Enhancer Ring [1] (2963)	5~6% all elemental resistance (except neutral).	Great defensive choice, best used when stacking some elemental resistances. Since you want just the enchants, can use a Magic Intensifier Ring [1] (2964) with same enchants instead.

Cards

Position	Card	Notes
Headgears	Permeter Card (4311)	Increases Shadow and Undead resistance. Very useful against Dragon Breath.
	Leaf Cat Card (4195)	Increases Water resistance. Very useful against Jack Frost.
	Giant Hornet Card (4271)	Increases Wind resistance. Very useful against Chain Lightning.
	Giearth Card (4087)	Increases Earth resistance. Very useful if you using Wind armor.
	Melted Poring Card (300174)	Best offensive choice, increases your HP and your damage.
	Isaac Wigner Card (27396)	Very useful if you are struggling to reach the needed acd.
Armor	Two Eyes Dollocaris Card (300376)	Best offensive option, highly increase your HP. Best used on a +12 VIT Soutane [1] (15399) .
	Anger Ice Titan Card (27112)	Increases med size resistance when equipped with Anger Snowier Card (27111) . Very important if you are stacking size resistance.
	Toxious Card (300002)	Combos with Noxious Card (4334) increasing ranged resistance and giving some HP, increasing some damage. A good all around choice.
	Swordfish Card (4089)	Endows your armor with Water element.
	Dokebi Card (4098)	Endows your armor with Wind element.
	Angeling Card (4054)	Endows your armor with Holy element.
	Bathory Card (4119)	Endows your armor with Shadow element.
Weapon	Senior Papila Ruba Card (300094)	Combos with Verporta Card (300089) and Broken Cleaner Card (300101) increasing Dragon Breath Water every 2 refines. This is mandatory on your main weapon.
	Rekenber High Guard Card (300264)	Best offensive choice. Greatly increase ranged damage every 3 refine.
	White Knight Card (4608)	Increases med size resistance. Very useful if you are stacking size resistance. Since you want just the resistances, you can use Mutating White Knight Card (27384) instead.
Shield	Thara Frog Card (4058)	Greatly increases race resistance. Very important if you are stacking race resistance.
	Khalitzburg Knight Card (4609)	Increases med size resistance. Very important if you are stacking size resistance. Since you want just the resistances, you can use Mutating Khalitzburg Card (27385) instead.
Garment	Noxious Card (4334)	Increases your ranged and neutral resistance. Good all around choice.
	Marse Card (4095)	Greatly increases Water resistance. Very useful against Jack Frost.
	Dustiness Card (4056)	Greatly increases Wind resistance. Very useful against Chain Lightning.
	Hode Card (4081)	Greatly increases Earth resistance. Very useful if you using Wind armor.
	Marionette Card (4113)	Greatly increases Ghost resistance. Very useful against Soul Expansion with Telekinesis Intense.
	Isis Card (4116)	Greatly increases Shadow resistance. Very useful if you using Holy armor and against Dragon Breath.
	Raydric Card (4133)	Greatly increases Neutral resistance. Very useful against Comet and Asura Strike.
	Ancient Stalactic Golem Card (27292)	3% acd and some flat HP. Only use it if you can't get acd through any other source.
	Crux Findel Card (300426)	Best offensive choice. Greatly increases ranged damage per refine but reduces your Normal enemies resistance. Best used with Temporal VIT Manteau [1] (20965) or King Schmidt's Manteau [1] (15389) . Keep in mind that this is a high risk, you are going to get melted if focused while it is equipped. And I will repeat: KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A HIGH RISK, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MELTED IF FOCUSED WHILE IT IS EQUIPPED.
Footwear	Verporta Card (300089)	Increases HP/SP and combos with Senior Papila Ruba Card (300094) and Broken Cleaner Card (300101) increasing Dragon Breath every 2 refines. This is mandatory.
Accessories	Broken Cleaner Card (300101)	Increases HP/SP and Dragon Breath Water and Dragon Breath damage. Is also part of the combo withhttps://muhro.eu/flux/data/items/icons/300094.png Senior Papila Ruba Card (300094) and Verporta Card (300089) . This is mandatory, be sure to have AT LEAST ONE EQUIPPED.
	Anger Snowier Card (27111)	Combos with Anger Ice Titan Card (27112) for med size resistance. Very important if you are stacking size resistance.
	Erend Card (4349)	Adds a chance of auto casting Pneuma when you take physical damage. Very useful when diving, specially against burst ranged damage like Gate of Hell and Picky Peck.

Shadow Gears

Position	Item	Notes
Shadow Armor	+10 Cold Breath Shadow Armor (24446)	Increases Dragon Breath Water damage, ranged damage and gives 1% acd by every 2 refine of the whole set. VERY STRONG and should be a priority.
Shadow Shield	+10 Cold Breath Shadow Shield (24447)
Shadow Shoes	+10 Cold Breath Shadow Shoes (24448)
Shadow Armor	+9 Reload Shadow Armor (24245)	Gives you 15% acd when all parts are at least on +9; Not ideal but can be used if you dont have Cold Breath Shadow Set.
Shadow Shield	+9 Reload Shadow Shield (24244)
Shadow Shoes	+9 Reload Shadow Shoes (24243)
Shadow Weapon	+10 Rune Knight Shadow Weapon (24288)	Increases Dragon Breath Water per set refine when equipped with Cold Breath Shadow Shield (24447) . If you have no intention of using Dragon Breath, is better to use it instead of the Fire Breath Shadow Set.
Shadow Weapon	+10 Fire Breath Shadow Weapon (24449)	Increases Dragon Breath damage, ranged damage and HP/SP by every 2 refine of the whole set.
Shadow Pendant	+10 Fire Breath Shadow Pendant (24450)
Shadow Earring	+10 Fire Breath Shadow Earring (24451)
Shadow Pendant	+9 Elegant Shadow Pendant (24365)	Increases potion efficiency by a bit. It is cumulative with Isia Runestone (12728) and Increase HP Recovery.
All enchants should be Long range physical attack +5%.

Costume Stones

Position	Item	Notes
Upper	Lord Knight Stone (Top) (29460)	Increases Dragon Breath/ Dragon Breath Water damage when equipped with garment stone.
Middle	Rune Knight Stone (310882)	Increases ranged damage and Dragon Breath/ Dragon Breath Water damage when equipped with garment stone.
Lower	Lord Knight Stone (Low) (29462)	When equipped with garment stone, gives 5% acd. Only use it if you can't get acd through any other source.
Lower	Rune Knight Stone (Low) (1000612)	Increases HP/SP when equipped with garment stone.
Garment	Rune Knight Stone (Garment) (29463)	Main stone, be sure to always use it.
Garment	Reload Stone (Dual) (311014)	Gives some acd with no downside. Very nice.
Keep in mind that I didn't test any other costume stone, feel free to do so and compare damage/tankyness. Costume stones can be very versatile and you can create many different setups based on what you use here. Those are the ones I use and can't give any other ideas because I still didn't have time to test and theorycraft. I might add some new ideas later.

Build example

Position	Item	Enchants	Card/Stone
Upper	+12 Temporal Circlet (Rune Knight) [1] (19474)	Adamantine Lv5 (29105) Temporal Jewel (VIT) Lv 3 (29680)	Giearth Card (4087)
Middle	Gambler's Seal [1] (410233)	+5% MaxHP / 5% ACD	Giearth Card (4087)
Lower	Ace of Diamonds in Mouth (Ranged Physical) (420220)	+7% ranged damage
Armor	+11 King Schmidt's Suit [1] (15388)	Wind Element (Armor) (29303) VIT+5 (4744) VIT+5 (4744)	Anger Ice Titan Card (27112)
Weapon	+12https://muhro.eu/flux/data/items/icons/32013.png Metal Stick [3] (32013)		Senior Papila Ruba Card (300094) Rekenber High Guard Card (300264) White Knight Card (4608)
Shield	+11 Illusion Silver Guard [1] (460018)	Rune of Vitality Lv2 (29010) Rune of Vitality Lv2 (29010)	White Knight Card (4608)
Garment	+11 Gray Wolf Muffler [1] (480090)	Wolf Orb (Above All) Lv.3 (310581) Wolf Orb (Fast) Lv.3 (310575) Wolf Orb (VIT) Lv.3 (310494)	Marse Card (4095)
Footwear	+12 Temporal DEX Boots [1] (22008)	Expert Archer Lv4 (4835) Muscle Fool (4878)	Verporta Card (300089)
Right Accessory	Gray Wolf Pendant [1] (490106)	Wolf Orb (Archer) Lv.4 (310631) Wolf Orb (Archer) Lv.4 (310631) Wolf Orb (VIT) Lv.3 (310494)	Broken Cleaner Card (300101)
Left Accessory	King Schmidt's Rigid Body Insignia [1] (32231)	Rigid Body (29591) Expert Archer Lv5 (4836)	Anger Snowier Card (27111)
Shadow Armor	+10 Cold Breath Shadow Armor (24446)	Long range physical attack +5%.
Shadow Shield	+10 Cold Breath Shadow Shield (24447)	Long range physical attack +5%.
Shadow Shoes	+10 Cold Breath Shadow Shoes (24448)	Long range physical attack +5%.
Shadow Weapon	+10 Fire Breath Shadow Weapon (24449)	Long range physical attack +5%.
Shadow Earring	+10 Fire Breath Shadow Earring (24451)	Long range physical attack +5%.
Shadow Pendant	+10 Fire Breath Shadow Pendant (24450)	Long range physical attack +5%.
Upper Costume	ANY CHAD COSTUME THAT YOU WANT.		Lord Knight Stone (Top) (29460)
Middle Costume	ANY CHAD COSTUME THAT YOU WANT.		Rune Knight Stone (310882)
Lower Costume	ANY CHAD COSTUME THAT YOU WANT.		Rune Knight Stone (Low) (1000612)
Garment Costume	ANY CHAD COSTUME THAT YOU WANT.		Rune Knight Stone (Garment) (29463) Reload Stone (Dual) (311014)