Hybrid, FAless or pure Spear with FA?

I have always been confused about the Spear/Pole-arm thing. I had a PA Spearman once (didn't make it far, that was like 3 years ago) and someone told me "Pure Spear, hybrid or fail."

Nothing against PA Spearmen now (I like PAs :<) but I made a pure Spear now and I'm confused as to one thing. Which is more preferrable, pure Spear with FA or Hybrid with no FA?

I've always liked FA on any class (even Bowmen, though I'm FA-less) but I understand that there are times when FA isn't needed at all. What's the case with Spearmen? Are they better off with or without it? Bear with me, this is my second time making a Spearman and it's my highest leveled one (36 now, lawl :<).

I'm thinking that depending on what I go with (FA or FA-less), I'd go pure Spear or Hybrid... but I wanna know if FA's worth it or not. =x

I could have posted in that other FA thread, yes, but that's a Fighter thread. This is about Spearmen. >:o

2nd job FA is good for saving MP and increasing range.

It also benefits Spears average damage quite well, because unlike Powerstrike/Slashblast, it is 50% stab 50% slash.

I have a Lvl 60 PA spearman-
And I am very happy with him.
But I doubt he'll ever get to 4th job -(well eventually after he HB mules everything)
I think alot of it comes down to WHAT your goal is-

Endgame Bossing Behemoth- You'll want a Pure Spear or a Hybrid- Single Target DPS Spear > Polearm

I am not sure about if I was going to race to 200- Probably Hybrid

But If you plan on playing casually and probably not making a HARDC0R3 Mapler PA and Hybrid seem better.

I like PAs they are cheap and effective.
Plus if you are taking a slow route your lvl 60 Blood Snowboard will be sooo cheap. And easy to scroll since they are EVERYWHERE- (I ended up with a 9 Str 94 att one )
PAs are really like BWs or Axes WITHOUT the disadvantages-
They just aren't made for BOSSCORING!
But with 4th job neither are any DrKs

PAs are really like BWs or Axes WITHOUT the disadvantages-
They just aren't made for BOSSCORING!
But with 4th job neither are any DrKs

The difference between PA and Spear is massive compared to sword v. axe/bw. Those weapons are 5-10% weaker. Polearms are 40% weaker with Crusher.


Berserk training relies on either taking low damage or killing monsters so quickly that they don't have a chance to use magic attacks. Fury training involves creating large mobs to kill all at once, not killing 1-2 targets in 1-2 hits.

With Polearm, you're stuck as HB mule on the majority of high level training maps because you just can't berserk much and 3rd job damage is crappy compared to every other 4th job.

I'd definitely recommend going hybrid if you're not going to quit in 3rd job.

I would just go pure spear and get spear fury.

The difference between PA and Spear is massive compared to sword v. axe/bw. Those weapons are 5-10% weaker. Polearms are 40% weaker with Crusher.


Berserk training relies on either taking low damage or killing monsters so quickly that they don't have a chance to use magic attacks. Fury training involves creating large mobs to kill all at once, not killing 1-2 targets in 1-2 hits.

With Polearm, you're stuck as HB mule on the majority of high level training maps because you just can't berserk much and 3rd job damage is crappy compared to every other 4th job.

I'd definitely recommend going hybrid if you're not going to quit in 3rd job.

Crusher and Fury are made for their respective weapons
...
But ya my point was that without Bossing and 4th job
Polearms > spears
So if you plan to actively train it too 4th Job+ I'd say hybrid or Pure Spear
(Actually just Hybrid since you don't use FA in 3rd job)

And I know several 130+ Drks that Berserk with Polearms at Himes- Only for training though