Swordfighter Best Builds

Swordfighter is one of the basic Jobs that can be accessed in Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins. Read on to find out more about this Job, its best builds, and which Equipment Effects to go after to maximize Jack's potential!

Swordfighter Guides
How to Use Swordfighter	Swordfighter Best Builds

Counter Attack Build

The Swordfighter Job is a naturally defensive Job, allowing players to make use of a "sword and shield" set up with their gear. Harnessing the defensive nature of the Job allows players to gradually build their MP while still dealing damage against foes through quick counter-attacks that can stun-lock enemies all while shrugging off any of their attacks.

Best Abilities Loadout

Combo Ability Setup

No.	Ability	Button Commands
1	Interception
2	Slash & Soar	> >
3	Cross Slash	> > > >

Command Ability Setup

Best Commands
Shield Bash	Counter	Reinforce

• Shield Bash: As a counterattacking build, the Shield Bash is a useful ability to get from the Swordfighter Job Tree. This makes it possible for players to perform a quick counterattack when raising their shield against enemy strikes, allowing them to "attack" with the shield itself.
• Counter: Counter is a command ability that can be unlocked in the Pugilist Job Tree. It reduces the break cost of a successful soul shield while also increasing MP restored.
• Reinforce: Reinforce is one of the command abilities that you can pick up in the Job Tree for Swordsman. The Ability decreases the chances of staggering from enemy attacks, giving players enough time to think about a way to effectively counter or respond to enemy attacks.

Passive and Effect Priorities

Best Passives and Effects
Interception Mastery	All Damage -4.5%	Potion Recovery Amount +17.9%

• Interception Mastery: Interception Mastery boosts the effects of Interception, which is the primary Action Ability for the Swordfighter Job.
• All Damage -4.5%: Reduces the amount of received damage from enemy attacks. As a defense focused build, this ability can allow players to last longer on the field, capably receiving more hits from enemies with reduced damage intakes.
• Potion Recovery Amount +17.9%: Despite being a defense oriented build, it is functionally impossble to completely avoid 100% of enemy attacks. When using Potions to recover, this ability is useful as it can increase the amount of HP recovered per use of a Potion.

Recommended Equipment Effects

Equipment Effects
・Physical Damage Taken ( - ) ・Physical Break Damage Taken ( - ) ・Action Ability MP Cost ( - )

Running a defensive oriented build with the Swordfighter Job is a rewarding task that unfortunately exposes the player to plenty of potential dangers, particularly against stronger enemies that are particularly difficult to deal with such as Tonberries or Cactuars.

Counterattacking against such enemies requires that you hit hard to make attacks worth it, so supplement your counter attacks (Abilities) with a reduced MP Cost to offset any MP uses that you may have with the Interception and Shield Bash Abilities, and spam any offensive skills that you may have in your moveset until you need to recover your MP once more.

Offense Heavy Build

Choosing to go with an offensive heavy build while using the Swordfighter Job will allow players to more quickly chain attacks together through the use of the Job's quick and easy attack Abilities that are supplemented by damage dealing stat bonuses.

Provided that players are starting off with a full MP gauge when fighting against enemies, chaining together attacks accessed through the Swordfighter Job can more than adequately deal with some of the stronger enemies found in-game.

Best Abilities Loadout

Combo Ability Setup

No.	Ability	Button Commands
1	Slash & Soar	> >
2	Cross Slash	> > > >
3	Dayflash	> > > > > >

Command Ability Setup

Best Commands
Shield Bash	Reinforce	Swayback

• Shield Bash: Despite being an ability more oriented to counterattacks, Shield Bash is a useful ability to have in cases of emergency. Use it when enemies are particularly being difficult or are on the verge of depleting your Break Gauge.
• Reinforce: Reinforce is one of the command abilities that you can pick up in the Job Tree for Swordsman. The Ability decreases the chances of staggering from enemy attacks, giving players enough time to think about a way to effectively counter or respond to enemy attacks.
• Swayback: Swayback is a command ability unlocked in the Lancer Job Tree. Use it to jump back from enemies that are close to depleting your break gauge – successful uses of this ability allows the player to counter attack with a full break gauge against enemies.

Passive and Effect Priorities

Best Passives and Effects
Ability Damage +3.1%	All Damage -4.5%	Potion Recovery Amount +17.9%

• Ability Damage +3.1%: Increased Ability Damage can allow enemies to be vanquished faster through chained uses of the Combo Abilities.
• All Damage -4.5%: Reduces the amount of damage received from enemy attacks. Due to the free flowing attack nature of this build, having the attack damage of enemies reduced is a good way to last longer in conflicts.
• Potion Recovery Amount +17.9%: Similar to how players can't completely be devoid of any taken damage while on the defensive, this ability makes it so that much more aggressive players can offset any damage taken by having more of their HP return to them when using potions.

Recommended Equipment Effects

Equipment Effects
・Soul Shield: MP Recovery ( + ) ・Physical Damage Dealt ( + ) ・Damage Dealt at Max Break ( + )

Owing to the heavy usage of MP for a heavy offense oriented build with this Job, MP recovery is an essential part of this build to allow players to chain more Attack Abilities together more frequently.

This not only reduces the time players will have to wait until their MP replenishes with the use of basic attacks, but also helps to defeat stronger enemeis faster with the supplemental bonuses that is added with Equipment Effects affecting dealt Physical Damage, Damage Dealt on Max Break, and the Support Abilities that can be unlocked in the Swordfighter Job page.

Best Job Synergies and Pairings

Mage

Mage	Available Weapon(s)	Shield?
	Mace	Can use shields
Basic Info	The Mage is a job that relies on the use of magic to deal considerable damage to enemies. This class utilizes both maces and shield, making it a capable melee fighter when it runs out of MP.

There are plenty of elemental enemies that can be found in the many different areas players will have to go through during Main and Side Missions. Taking these enemies out fast unfortunately cannot be done with a pure Swordfighter build due to the close-ranged combat the Job employs.

Having a Mage build as the secondary Job in your armament can help deal with these threats faster by exploiting their weaknesses, allowing players to close in on them for quick attacks up close. You can even exploit this synergy by moving on to upgraded forms of the Mage Job, such as the Red or Black Mage.

Mage Guide: How to Use Mage

Lancer

Lancer	Available Weapon(s)	Shield?
	Lance	Cannot use shields
Basic Info	The Lancer is a mid-range fighter that specializes in using lances and halberds. With its ability, the Lancer can target enemies from a distance by hurling their weapon in the direction of the enemy.

One glaring weakness that players will notice early on with the Swordfighter build is its lack of range when attacking enemies. Although it is not a significant problem overall, this vulnerability can get exposed when dealing with flying enemies such as Leech Bats, which often fly just outside of a player's range.

The Lancer can help deal with these threats, and with its ability to throw Lances at enemies for critical hits, they can allow players to deal with flying targets first before engaging in close quarters combat against grounded enemies.

Lancer Guide: How to Use Lancer

Swordfighter Job Info

General Info

Swordfighter Info
Swordfighter
Info	The Swordfighter is a lot similar to your Swordfigher, with the exception that it offers more mobility in exchange to a drop in damage output. Swordfighters can intercept enemy attacks with a successful guard, nullifying the enemy's attack and dealing counter damage in the process.
Job Action	Interception: A counterattack that deals slashing damage. While active, damage from blockable attacks is nullified and will trigger a counterattack. Effect ensds after a period of time, or after triggering once.
Level	Basic
Usable Weapon	Sword
Shield?	Can use Shields

Swordfighter Guide: How to Use Swordfighter

Stranger of Paradise Related Guides

Best Builds for Each Job

All Builds

Basic Jobs
Swordsman	Swordfighter	Duelist
Ronin	Pugilist	Mage
Marauder	Lancer
Advanced Jobs
Samurai	Monk	Knight
Dragoon	Warrior	Berserker
White Mage	Black Mage	Thief
Red Mage
Expert Jobs
Liberator	Cyclic Warrior	Breaker
Tyrant	Sage	Paladin
Ninja	Assassin	Dark Knight
Void Knight

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