Builds
Dragon Breath Build
STR:1
AGI:1
VIT:100-120
INT:100-120
DEX:75+
LUK:1

One of the more mainstream build for Rune Knights. Good for typically anything - Tanking, Mobbing, MVP, WOE, PvP. This build is centered on Dragon Breath. The key to this build is high vit and int, for the high HP and SP that Dragon Breath relies upon, with decent DEX for faster cast and hit rate with Clashing Spiral. Rune Knights using this build can deal decent physical damage with Enchant Blade thanks to high INT. While this Build is not item intensive, having items that boost MaxHP and MaxSP will differentiate the Great from the Good; 25% more MaxHP and MaxSP from Transcend Character is highly beneficial for this build. As a precautionary statement, be aware that attempting this build can be difficult without support/funding in the first 125 levels, during which time Clashing Spiral is usually the main attack. Having a sufficiently heavy spear for Clashing Spiral is crucial during the difficult leveling phrase.

Disclaimer: Dragon Breath damage depends on MaxSP and CURRENT HP.

Recommended Items:
Tao Gunka Card
Dark Lord Card + Dark Illusion Card
Andre Egg Card
Aliot Card
Spearman Build
STR:100-120
AGI:1
VIT:100-120
INT:1+
DEX:75+
LUK:1

A classic build from Knight/Lord Knight era. Does well in Tanking, Mobbing, MVP and WOE. This is the typical Tank Build, with Phantom Thrust "picking up" strayed monsters or sneaky players targeting the weaker supporting team members. Transcend character is critical for this build to inflicted status damage with Vital Strike; Knight's Spear Boomerang and Lord Knight's Clashing Spiral adds to Rune Knight's Hundred Spears damage as well.

Disclaimer: This Build popularity has given way to the Dragon Breath Build as the latter has more burst damage and mobility; both builds are actually largely similar Skill Tree wise, focusing on Spear and Dragon Skills; key difference will be this build focus on Pierce, Clashing Spiral and Hundred Spears, while the other focus on Dragon Breath. Also, due to this builds lack of INT, skills cannot be cast as frequently.

Notes:
Clashing Spiral damage easily equals or better Hundred Spears damage.
Players who proceed to Rune Knight without Transcend Character, Hundred Spears is a priority.
ASPD/Frenzy Build
STR:60+
AGI:100-120
VIT:1+
INT:60+
DEX:75+
LUK:90+

An ASPD Rune Knight sports high AGI for ASPD, STR for the damage, good DEX and LUK for Hit and Crit/Dodge respectively, aiming for ASPD of 190 and more. This Build also sings in tune with the Lord Knight's Frenzy skill for Transcend Character. For Frenzy Build, 2-Hand Swords need not to be emphasize as Frenzy increases ASPD for all weapon types - and Mace Weapon Type (NO Shield) sports the highest ASPD in Frenzy Mode. This Build is great for MVP-ing. Theme: "Can't Touch Me!" Not recommended for PvP and WOE.

Balanced Build

Base stats:
STR:78-97
AGI:81-97
VIT:89-95
INT:90
DEX:63-83
LUK:30-57

A Balanced Build Rune Knight aims for versatility, capable of taking on various roles and situations. This build is great for those who prefer to solo and wants to utilize everything that Rune Knight has to offer. It's skill tree focuses on 2-handed swords, yet branches off into spears as well for Spear Dynamo and Clashing Spiral (which can be cast with 2Hand-Swords in Renewal).

As such, this build at its peak can:
(1) attain high ASPD with Turisus Runestone + Asir Runestone + Twohand Quicken/Frenzy (Sidenote: Mace has highest ASPD with Frenzy)
(2) Parry + Dragon Howling/Dragon Breath + Pertz Rune AOE Combo and
(3) perform Clashing Spiral one-shot wonders; therefore Transcending is mandatory in order to acquire the Lord Knight's Parry, Frenzy and Clashing Spiral skills to be most successful in using this build. This build offers a wide variety of options and can be a very fun build to attempt. However, this build calls for great investment item-wise and skill-wise in serious PvP and WOE environment.

Recommended equipment
Clashing Spiral
Krasnaya
Atlas Weapon
Alca Bringer
Frenzy
Bloodlust Penetration Krasnaya of Elimination (Samurai Specter Card, Memory of Thanatos Card, Randgris Card)
Quadruple Crucial Mace (Lord of the Dead Card)
Autocast
Storm-Bringer's Explosive Violet Fear (Stormy Knight Card and Turtle General Card)
Ring of Flame Lord + Ring of Resonance

Skill Tree Pointers:
No more than 1 skill point in Cavalier Mastery
Max Clashing Spiral, Dragon Breath, Frenzy, Aura Blade, Parry, Enchant Blade, Two-Handed Sword Mastery.
There is also suggestion to Max Endure to use in place of Spear Dynamo for mobbing due to lower MaxHP. However, Endure has a long skill delay, while Spear Dynamo has zero skill delay; MAX either Endure for MDEF or Bowling Bash for knock back/AOE mobbing prior to mastering Ignition Break.
Up to 15 Skill Points may be "wasted" in Spear Mastery, Pierce and Spear Stab <- Need to MAX Class 2 Job Level to 70