Hi y’all! I’ve been asked so many times for a good starter class. After testing multiple builds, I realized one of the best starting classes was Dragonic Breath DK — mainly because of how many great beginner-friendly gears you can take advantage of.

However, I’ve never been a big Dragon Knight fan, so I started experimenting and ended up discovering a sleeper job — my favorite class ever. Without further ado, welcome to Magic Cross Royal Guards!

* Amazing tankiness: Naturally designed as a tank, and even better thanks to *Prestige* — which lets you skip the expensive GTB card (~300m). * Great sustain: Using Divine Guard Hat, each Holy Cross triggers Genesis Ray, which also casts Tuna Party Lv2 (healing 30% HP). * Easy to gear: Early-game gear stays relevant well into late game, giving this build excellent flexibility and value.

* Clunky gameplay: Once you get TD Rune Crown + Dimensions Weapon Combo, the casting animation locks you while mobs are hit. * Elemental flexibility: Struggles against Holy element mobs — using *Inspiration* to make Genesis Ray Neutral is necessary for maps like Odin Past.

Even with these downsides, this job remains one of the best starter classes out there!

Let’s start with leveling. This class follows the typical leveling path, though having only Holy elemental damage early can be rough.

Get your Paradise Gear for magic damage from *Arina* at the Hub. It becomes useful after changing to Crusader/Paladin.

Leveling route:

• Anthell 1 → Lv 50
• Orc Dungeon 1 → Lv 75
• Magma 2 → Lv 99

Always Rebirth! At Lv 100, get the Paradise Royal Guard Sword, Extra Freebies, and Race Cap (enchant with INT + refine to +11 using Racing Cap Refine Cube).

Farm Magma Dungeon to max:

• *Inspiration*
• *Genesis Ray*
• *Spell Shield*

Then start leveling *Prestige*. Any shield works from Prontera NPC.

Farm Illusion Teddy Bear until Lv 150, then Special Cor Area (@go 38) to get:

• +9 Grace Set
• Noblesse Ring

Navi Commands: For the crafting NPC:

/navi sp_cor 136/156

For farming the materials:

/navi sp_os 260/357

Farm Magma Dungeon 3, autoloot armors, and collect:

• Shadowdecon Ore
• Zelunium Ore

Turn them into:

• Shadowdecon
• Zelunium

for crafting items like Divine Guard Hat.

After your 4th Job change, focus on:

• *Spear and Sword Mastery*
• *Attack Stance*
• *Holy Shield*

Farm Issgard Dungeon > Snake God’s Warmth 2. Start autolooting materials for later; request leeching around Lv 235 if needed.

* STR: 100 (for weight capacity) * LUK: boosts magic damage + Prestige’s magic evasion * AGI: enough for 190 ASPD with VIP buffs * VIT: can replace STR if using Gym Passes

First goal: Sealed Drake Card (~100–200m).

Gear setup:

• Grace Armor
• Divine Guard Hat

Divine Guard Hat is Level 1 — refine it using pink tickets via *Eat Gear NPC.*

Episode Quests: push to Episode 20.

—

Farm Snake God’s Warmth 2 and craft gear at *Pipiring (Ice Castle)*:

/navi icas_in 165/64

Materials:

• Divine Cat Whiskers ×1250
• Snow Flower Stone ×600
• Shining Snow Flower Heartstone ×150
• Brilliant Snow Flower Manastone ×50

Armor Enchants:

Next Target: Dimensions Imperial Sword

• Farming maps:
• Abandoned Lab Amicitia 2
• Odin Past
• Mjolnir Underground
• Prontera Field 6

Riggs Gear: Moan of Corruption boots + Mad Bunny-LT

—

• Varmundt Rune Pauldron ×1
• Varmundt Rune Armor ×1
• Death Rune ×100
• Varmeal Tickets ×600
• Death Essence ×100
• Armor Upgrade Stone Superior ×300

• Time Dimensions Magic Jewel ×50
• Abyss Magic Jewel ×50
• Temperal Gemstone ×50

Next upgrades:

• Nebula of Spell
• Star Seal of Spell

—-

Greater White Knight White Knight

All the above gear can be self-farmed, but to push your build further, consider:

• CoL Autumn Cape & Accessory: Great with Nebula Armor; tough to enchant but excellent performance. Only outclassed by *Royal Geffen Cape* (Overdrive Rampage is often stronger though).
• Royal Geffen Cape: Replace a weapon card with *Dracula*. If using *Copo*, switch it for *Dracula* and use *Nightmare Verit* on boots.
• Astrologer Boots: Get with SPL enchants — great combo with Nebula Armor.
• Engraved Soul Purification Rune Robe: Comparable to Nebula when paired with Chapter 1 boots and accessory.
• Dimensions Boots & Accessory: From Chapter 1 content. Hard to get, but outstanding when combined with Engraved Rune Robe.
• Shiny Teddy Bear Card: Best card for Holy-elemental damage (≈4b zeny).

I created this guide after realizing how strong Imperial Guard was even with minimal gear. It’s a versatile and fun class, capable of going melee, ranged, or magic.

While I haven’t tested all playstyles, I’ve enjoyed the magic path the most. I hope you also become an Imperial Guard enthusiast by following this guide!

— Syphon — 2025/10/02 13:34