Fencer really sucks
1: Swarmstrike
Swarmstrike is an ability that deals a crummy status (Poison) and does nothing else. It's not balanced with abilities in the same tier. Even an Engineer tool can do group sleep at this level. Swarmstrike is just garbage, I can't even see using it at level 1, let alone later.
8: Reflex
Pretty much the only good thing Fencers have. If a Fencer gains roughly .75 evasion per level (from stats) and .5 evasion per level from reflex, the fencer gains 1.25 evasion total per level. Too bad mobs get at least 1 accuracy per level, plus 4 per every point in AGI. This ability shouldn't be buffed or anything, it's actually decent. It's just not overpowered, and the Fencer really needed something overpowered.
15: Featherblow
10 DS, single target wind element damage. At this level, characters should be starting to get their first T4 weapons, and d12 T4 weapons deal 9 DS base and don't have charge time. Not a big deal? How about Monk earth slash dealing 10 DS to group... for the same CT (also at level 15)? T4 Samurai drawouts are dealing 12 DS group. Don't get me started on engineers or mages (L17 mages get the -a series nukes).
22: Greased Lightning
You ignore reaction abilities with your normal attack only. Unfortunately, your normal attack is either with a light sword (garbage damage) or is using STR. Honestly, that doesn't seem like such a bad idea, since your best attack (Featherblow) is now totally obsoleted by the other classes high damage weapons, let alone skills.
29: Shadowstick
14 DS. T5 d12 melee weapons are dealing 11 DS. T5 d10 melee weapons are dealing 10 DS and can be dual wielded. Sure, you need your shield to keep ahead on evasion. Did I mention Fighter gets Double Cut (2*100%, or 20 DS with a 1-handed weapon), Samurai has 14 group and 15 single. Monk has 19 single, and automatic dual wielding. SM has 150% (15 DS) with Disable instead of Agility Break.
36: Checkmate
lol. Seriously.
43: Swallowtail
16 DS group. No status. At level 43. Samurai got it at 35. Monk got it at 36. Fighter and Archer don't get it until 50, but they get to use status effects. Swordmaster gets Blade Beam here, which is not quite the same, but he's had Fated Circle for a billion levels. This is the Fencer's only group damage, ever. I'm not even going to bother comparing the mages or Engineer. I really should stop comparing the fencer to anything, really. Oh, and Knight gets 125% group damage here. Yeah, Knight starts to pick up here after a 30 level slump.
50: Manastrike
It could be useful in some niche cases. Most of the time, Fencer will just have to rely on swallowtail spam or normal attacks if he has EI. Like anyone would haste a fencer though, amirite? It's a good thing Fighter didn't get anything that totally obsoleted Swallowtail or anything at this level.
57: Nighthawk
Double Cut and d10 dual wielding outdamage it for less CT, that's okay, normal, we're used to it, etc. Flurry (Quadra Slam) outdamages it, duh. Monks actually are slightly outdone I think (they get 21 DS group though, instead of 27 single; significant tradeoffs there). Dual tier 8 claws can get close but they have to go through armor twice so I think Nighthawk actually can out-ST a non-EI monk at this level. It's a moral victory. Obviously Samurai was doing it at 50, rifle archers at 43, d12 Swordmasters at 43 too. d12 Knights are doing it to group.
64: Piercethrough
32 DS single, ignores armor. You can start laughing now. Yes, 32 DS. Yes, I think they should have got it at 57 too.
Swarmstrike is an ability that deals a crummy status (Poison) and does nothing else. It's not balanced with abilities in the same tier. Even an Engineer tool can do group sleep at this level. Swarmstrike is just garbage, I can't even see using it at level 1, let alone later.
8: Reflex
Pretty much the only good thing Fencers have. If a Fencer gains roughly .75 evasion per level (from stats) and .5 evasion per level from reflex, the fencer gains 1.25 evasion total per level. Too bad mobs get at least 1 accuracy per level, plus 4 per every point in AGI. This ability shouldn't be buffed or anything, it's actually decent. It's just not overpowered, and the Fencer really needed something overpowered.
15: Featherblow
10 DS, single target wind element damage. At this level, characters should be starting to get their first T4 weapons, and d12 T4 weapons deal 9 DS base and don't have charge time. Not a big deal? How about Monk earth slash dealing 10 DS to group... for the same CT (also at level 15)? T4 Samurai drawouts are dealing 12 DS group. Don't get me started on engineers or mages (L17 mages get the -a series nukes).
22: Greased Lightning
You ignore reaction abilities with your normal attack only. Unfortunately, your normal attack is either with a light sword (garbage damage) or is using STR. Honestly, that doesn't seem like such a bad idea, since your best attack (Featherblow) is now totally obsoleted by the other classes high damage weapons, let alone skills.
29: Shadowstick
14 DS. T5 d12 melee weapons are dealing 11 DS. T5 d10 melee weapons are dealing 10 DS and can be dual wielded. Sure, you need your shield to keep ahead on evasion. Did I mention Fighter gets Double Cut (2*100%, or 20 DS with a 1-handed weapon), Samurai has 14 group and 15 single. Monk has 19 single, and automatic dual wielding. SM has 150% (15 DS) with Disable instead of Agility Break.
36: Checkmate
lol. Seriously.
43: Swallowtail
16 DS group. No status. At level 43. Samurai got it at 35. Monk got it at 36. Fighter and Archer don't get it until 50, but they get to use status effects. Swordmaster gets Blade Beam here, which is not quite the same, but he's had Fated Circle for a billion levels. This is the Fencer's only group damage, ever. I'm not even going to bother comparing the mages or Engineer. I really should stop comparing the fencer to anything, really. Oh, and Knight gets 125% group damage here. Yeah, Knight starts to pick up here after a 30 level slump.
50: Manastrike
It could be useful in some niche cases. Most of the time, Fencer will just have to rely on swallowtail spam or normal attacks if he has EI. Like anyone would haste a fencer though, amirite? It's a good thing Fighter didn't get anything that totally obsoleted Swallowtail or anything at this level.
57: Nighthawk
Double Cut and d10 dual wielding outdamage it for less CT, that's okay, normal, we're used to it, etc. Flurry (Quadra Slam) outdamages it, duh. Monks actually are slightly outdone I think (they get 21 DS group though, instead of 27 single; significant tradeoffs there). Dual tier 8 claws can get close but they have to go through armor twice so I think Nighthawk actually can out-ST a non-EI monk at this level. It's a moral victory. Obviously Samurai was doing it at 50, rifle archers at 43, d12 Swordmasters at 43 too. d12 Knights are doing it to group.
64: Piercethrough
32 DS single, ignores armor. You can start laughing now. Yes, 32 DS. Yes, I think they should have got it at 57 too.