My Opinion On How to Train a Cleric
 

Build (there really is none, STR/SPR STR wins):

From testing all builds I must say full STR/25 SPR rest STR clerics are by far stronger than any other builds (we're talking about 130%-200+% more damage by comparison depending on the opponent's equipments). This build is also the best for soloing (you level 2-4x faster depending on your choice of the mobs). Also for players that do not know, STR and INT (this is the "STR" for mages) pierce defense and magic defense without any regards to the amount of defense present. (so +1 STR from free stat points gained at level up will do guaranteed 1 damage even on 10000 defense; this is true as of April 28, 08). The only type of defense capable of resisting this type of damage are the ones gained from stats investment in END, but the END guy still lose, simply because it takes 2 points in END for 1 defense that could resist this type of damage). 2:1 damage vs defense, not to mention criticals, so what if the END guy can block a few hits better when they're way too slight to be noticeable anyway.

Why not to go END:

So what if you have a bit more hp? If you're not going to be the one taking hits it's useless (let's face it, END clerics even with +9s suck HORRIFYINGLY at solo), and if you hate partying, you really don't have a future with the damage you do; this leaves duo/party as your only means to effectively level (you can't really draw aggression from a mage with inferno/nova, if you do, you're not partying the right guy). As for the "extra defense" - even tier1 scrolls could easily outclass them, not to mention the so-called defense provides absolutely no resistance to mages. With all these bashing on END it is not to say that this stat is useless, as a matter of fact END should be one of the main stat points you seek, but only from equipments.

About DEX:

Clerics have bad aim, but this could be easily covered by greens & blues, so do not bother with this stats unless you're too lazy to look for gears.

INT...

You should really consider buying stat reset scrolls at this point.

SPR:

Unless it's for the sake of criticals this stat investment is not worth the time. SPR does help tremendously when added up against mages when choosing gears however.

My personal preference when choosing equipment stats:

END > DEX > STR > SPR > INT

Choice of Weapon:

Always get hammer, the difference is too great to be ignored against a mace, especially in PVP.

Leveling a license:

Always level a license that's relatively easy for you. If you are seeking "uber" critical rates from high level mobs you're wasting the time you could use to level. For example, a level 50 cleric wasting his/her time leveling orc/blue clover/etc. licenses is wasting valuable time he/she could spend elsewhere, especially abyss. By the time you've completed your license another cleric going the difference route would've exceeded your level by far.

Skill Points:

As of now I find fully investing in heal, 5 points into the duration of invincible, 5 points in strength increase and sp reduction for bash (if you solo or pvp a lot) the only points worthy of investment (save up your extra points for later skills/tweaks that come around), don't fool yourself into wasting these points unless you want to spend some money on Sparkcash later.

The Best Way to Level:

No matter what, partying and duoing always produce better results when you choose carefully (if you party with some dialup tanker that disconnects every few seconds you've made a horrible decision). Solo only when you have no alternative means to level.

Are Quests Worth the Time ?

Not really if you could find good parties, unless its for the purpose of getting class change or specific rewards such as scrolls/fame.
Tips When in Party:

Healing -

Prior to starting an aoe ask each member of the party the amount of damage they take and try to remember their amount of hp (this is so that you could prioritize your heals). When you see a members hp in a pinch use heal instead of rejuvenation/restore (common sense) unless heal is on cool down. Casting duration associated with other skills would most likely result in your party member dying before the spell lands. Your performance in a party will affect how quickly you could find a party in future, hence the less deaths the better.

Invincible -

This skill requires a long cool down time, so save it for times when you really need it (such as when you draw aggro but needs to continue healing the party or when the tank overpulls).

When entire party gets attacked -

AoE heal is self explanatory, restore goes to the member with the highest defense, heal to the one with the lowest or the one taking the highest dmg. Rejuvenation is used when other skills or on cool down, but generally a good time to use this is when a member's hp is within the 35-55% range.

I'm going to continue my jibberish later on, now I'll take a break from posting text wall :p

Ok I have to question the build... because for me...

Pure END build
STR/END gears

Ãœber solo pro build with the ability to clank if I need to when AoE arises in BG.

STR clerics can clank equally well with decent equipments, STR isn't an important factor in clanking when healing is the main factor contributing to the aggro during aoe, the soloing part varies by the level of the mob/players you take on, much like bashing a level 1 player vs bashing a 79 tank. The more defense associated the the opponent the more noticeable the difference is between the two builds. Also @ 67 I believe you've gotten about 82 pts in END which is about 410 extra hp with 41 defense, it really doesn't play a big part in contributing to your clanking abilities. As for the STR/END gear, I have no disputes with the END, but whether STR or DEX should be next choice in line is fully up to the cleric choosing the gears, with DEX you land every hit, with STR from gears you hit slightly higher. A 68 cleric with +9 hammer hit only 140~ on a 70 mage, a full STR hit over 200. Vs full STR fighters at higher levels an END cleric hit as low as 10s and 20s, but with STR build the difference is far greater.

For example when my sister's 70 mage took on the 68 cleric as mentioned earlier they are trading damage in this format:

Cleric: 110-140
Mage: 700-1200, adding in aoe roughly 1300-2100 dmg

The cleric also have to heal nonstop, as for my sis, she stops attacking to let the cleric heal fully and use mushroom to recover (far more hp recovery compared to cleric damage)

I'm not calling my sis godly or anything, just citing an example. As one can easily see a match up like this is way too slanted in the mage's favor, an STR cleric can at least force the mage to spam a few stones at times.

ok
 

well, i think im going to buy resetscrolls now and go full str then int (edit: i ment end)because i've been noticeing that this build is not geting any better as i lvl :(

Don't get INT lol, that's for mages.

Yes well if you've noticed... the gears that have high END on them

1) Cost a million
2) Don't add to shield block rate

I'm blocking huge amounts of hits with this 6,3% increase.

Then I use shield buff for another 3%.

And 5 points went into DEX... I need to get a reset scroll xD

I'll be adding those 5 to END.

High STR gears at my lvl don't run for nearly half as much as those über END gears... because everyone wants END... I'll take my way, and the less popular one... I'll save money, and I'm an effective cleric.

Before this most recent patch I was able to to quick attack, but now they've gone and messed that all up, meaning I can't do loads of dmg like I used to... =/

But then I use T3 DEF, VIT, and T2 Aim and I have no problem hitting anything.

I was solo grinding in Burning Rock on the Crystal Guardians and only missing once in a blue moon.

My guy to me is perfect.

:3

EDIT:

My cleric isn't built around PvP.

I want to solo and survive, and AoE and survive.

Pure STR is really for PvP.

;3

If you want block rate just grab a blue shield lolz. 8% is plenty and they're dropping more frequently as well as in pricing, but then again these cost you a "million" as well x).

Yes well I have 16,3% right now... my shield has 7% green ;)

But honestly the builds you suggest seem perfect for PvP.

Pure STR with the guys that hit the weakest to boost their attacks, and at the same time, they're going to need DEX to hit things, and they can heal themselves, so END isn't neccesarily the most important ;3

I just have been this build since CB1... so I'm used to it :p

man i wish i had a blue wep or shield, actually a blue anything. also i used the rest of my reset scroll(that i got at lvl 30) and i now have +17 str i have 2 rings that give +6str +4end, +13 str hammer(+4) +10str shirt, +11str boots
+4 str pants, and last a +6str helm. for a tottal of +73str i think im good for now :D or at lest thats what i can remember from the top of my head cuz im at school right now:rolleyes:

To make a good decision about what build u want to use is to ask yourself: "What do i want to do?"

If u want to solo/duo a lot, going all str is way to go. After all monster ain't hurting much.

If its PvP u have to find a good balance between defence and attack. So putting a lot Str in the build, and a lot of end in the equip.

If u are the party type, and the only think u do day in day out is healing in a party, then all end is the way to go. After all u will never kill a monster/player on you own.

clerics are stronger because they can heal.

To assume that clerics will never need to fight is a major flaw in your thinking. What if you can't find a party to do the grinding for you, or if your guild is in a war and need additional firepower? Being a STR cleric I have more hp and defense compared to most other clerics at my level END build or not. I'm not saying all clerics should solo; I'm just stating the facts from my personal experience. I was a full END all the way till 55 doing nothing but healing, and that was the only thing I could do really, since having such low firepowers put me in serious disadvantage.

As I've also stated, unless you're simply too bad at collecting money or equipments that provide you with END, you are not going to have to ever invest in END. If your reason of investing in END is due to the supposed need to survive you're going the wrong direction, since if you rely on others to take the hits it's unlikely you will ever be in a situation where you few points of extra defense would be needed. Defense from added END is also wasteful as they only provide 0.5 defense per point as opposed to 1 full point of defense from simple greens.

From all my grinding/partying this is the result:

at around 55 my END cleric hit at most around 100 on red mobs, my STR cleric hit 240 (I'm using 55 since that's the highest my END cleric has gotten). With buff my END cleric had roughly 2.4k hp and 2.7k sp, my STR cleric had 2.3k hp & 2.6k hp (change in gears). My END cleric has about 540 defense without +9 equipments & my STR cleric had about 650.

As you can see gears are what's really making the difference for me, and I've spent less than 500s on all of them except for my hammer & shield.

I can't really say my block rate wins over the END cleric, but once again if you rely on healing others for exp, then you most likely won't be blocking much mobs anyway. Since others are the ones that take hits for you.

Going after the block rate is logical for fighters as they tank and make maximum use of the shield, but as a support cleric it's rather pointless. After all if you're at the point where those block rate meant life or death for you then you would really not have a purpose in pt (you're too busy healing yourself to mind others).

Imo if you're a careful cleric you would never draw aggro upon yourself via heal; from experience only crazy heal spamming (as crazy as spamming 1k+ heal on 200 damage) have even a chance to steal from mages.

well the world isn't perfect. And so we are.

I personally never level outside or parties, and i have no problem finding one too.
So i personaly cant draw any use out of str, dex, int and spr. So i power on end so that i can concentrate more on healing others in case i get attacked.

1. I never said we never had to fight. I said that your build is from PvP viewpoint. I grind solo, and I don't care that I have to wait and do a little less dmg than the pure STR clerics. Besides, I always have a pt waiting for me.

2. If your gears boosted your DEF that much, then they must've been really high END, and for you to only spend 500s on those is amazing. Plus at max like +25 (or whatever the max is for lvl 55 gears) for all the gears, that would be +150 END... that's not +110 DEF, meaning either you were using DEF scroll, or those high END gears were +'d. The only thing I use + is my hammer... which will always be +9.

3. My perfect party is duo with a mage in 6x BG. I go for the block rate because mages are squishy... and even though they cast AoE spells, my rejuv, heal, restore, heal, etc... that's going to pull aggro to me... and I never heal myself in party unless it's an AoE and the tank has gone to grab mobs. When the size of the mob is like 30+ and they start to come at me, I'm healing the mage and using HP stones until the mage can kill them off me.

I have my build, and you have yours.

Mine has pros and cons, and so does yours ;)

It's really all just a matter of opinion and how you like the game to run... there's really no "correct" build... other than NO INT FOR CLERICS xD!

But at least you're not someone that's going around talking generically about things :p

You've done your research, and you like the pure STR build a lot better ^^

I'm more of a lax guy, and yeah I love to deal dmg, which is why if I could be lvl 67 mage, I would change instantly... but I'm ok with being weak for the sake of keeping everyone else alive.

;)

~~

my cleric is really stronge and it got 11spr and 17 end 15 str 3dex 1 int
it owneds lol :D

That is the most random build I've ever seen in my life. And when you get to 30, you need to use a stat reset scroll to take that point out of INT. INT does NOTHING for any class other than mage!

;3

well im and END/SPR build and i can solo fairly well.

What it boils down to is How You Play. Everyone will play differently, that is why we can build our own character how we want to. I personally have gone 25 SPR, and now I am throwing everything into END. Once I reach 60, I will prolly start throwing points into something else, but for now, I like my build. I am a great party cleric and if needed I can solo.
I do not think their is truly one right build and one wrong build. It depends on how you play and what you want.

Awesome then ><

My build is 25 SPR/Rest STR

I gotta agree with you on the End bit.

Well, you're guide is a little bit authoritative. It's like "Do this and nothing else". Not everyone has the fortune of finding good END gears whether to buy, or in drops (I'm reminded of a poor cleric called Vasu at this point ;D). I'm pure END, I party a lot, I love my cleric. I also use a mace. At lvl 20, I chose a hammer, and missed 1 out of 7 hits, it got a bit tiresome. I switched to the mace. Sure, the dmg was lower, but atleast I don't get that hollow feeling every time I miss a bash. Also, you're assumption, that Heal, when used properly won't pull aggro, you're wrong. I was in an AoE party in abyss once, and even after the fighter Mocked once, and Deva'd once, I was able to pull all the mobs except the single one he was attacking (I used Reju once, and Heal once), and there was even a mage spamming Magic Burst. That's where my high HP and auto-dmg cancelling END def was of huge help. I also blocked loads of hits. Sure, a blue shield with 8% block rate is plenty, but add another 5.2% to it, and it gets even better.