Blade & Soul: Force Master Guide by WuBi

UPDATED April 18, 2015 chaose5 2 Comments

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Force Master is the

long range damage dealer and spell caster class in Blade & Soul Online. This Force Master guide
is written by WuBi of Freedom guild.
The following is simply an opinion-based guide. It covers some basic understanding needed to
deal better damage and how to use the right skills at the right moments.

Introduction
Force master is basically the mage class in Blade & Soul Online. Force Master is one of the
ranged class and most of their skills require users to target the enemy. There are pros and cons
for this class and it is important to understand the basics in order for you to be good in it. Force
master controls two elements, namely fire and ice. Fire skills are mainly damaging skills while
ice is used for control/defence.

Ember/Ice Stack (On enemy)

When you deal damage to a target with fire skills, you are able to stack up ember and likely to
gain fire orb likewise with ice skills and ice orb. The maximum number of ember stack is 5 and
the ember can be used to cause additional explosive damage to the target.

Once you have reached 5 ember stacks, you can detonate them manually to generates more
damage. The faster you stack up these ember, the more explosion you can trigger (you can do it
either manually or automatically).
Ice stacking is mainly used for freezing. It is good for pvp or non-boss monsters. There isnt
much extra damage you can deal with it.
Manual Detonation
Use Shockwave (1)
Automatic Detonation
Use Flame Palm (LB) 4-1, Heat Wave (F)

Fire/Ice Orb (/)

The fire/ice orb can only be generated only if you specs some skills to gain them. The orbs can
be stacked for up to a max of 3; each stack has a different % of buff given. (To know which skills
have them, all you need to do is find these words 1 /)

Once you have stacked up to 3 orbs, you will be able to cast Flame/Frost Dragon Blast (F). If
you stacked both 3 fire and 3 ice orbs as shown in the above picture, you will be able to use
Twin Dragon Blast (F) which is a mixture of both fire and ice element.
Fire Orb 3 stack: When hit by enemies, deal extra 10% damage to the enemies that hit you and
increase ember by 1

Ice Orb 3 stack: When hit by enemies, they will receive ice damage () and you recover 3
MP
It is good to get used to stacking 3 of both orbs because Warlock Spiritualism buff will awaken
Twin Dragon Blast. Only 1 Fire and Ice orb is consumed when casting Awakened Twin Dragon
Blast.

Flame/Frost Stance
Flame Stance When you are critically hit by enemy, the following attack to that
enemy will increase 1 ember stack.
Frost Stance Randomly freeze opponents. (Only apply to those which can be frozen, not
applicable to boss. Easily seen in pvp arena.)
Force masters skills are very straight forward and once you understand the above, all you need
to do is balance up how you want to play your character. Either you push up ember stack, gather
orbs or allocate enough points to do both.

Ember Stack Combo

If you look at Blaze Palm (X) skill, there is an additional description below the damage.

Blaze Palm creates a 9 seconds Burn effect () on the target. This burn deals certain amount
of damage to opponents over time and even allows another 3 fire skills, namely Flame Palm
(LB) 4-2, Pyroblast (2) 3-2 and Meteor Shower (V) 3-2, to stack 2 embers each time they are
used.
During the 9 seconds Burn effect, it is advisable to spam the 3 skills because it increases fire
stack easily which will cause more explosion to your opponents.

Force Master PVE Build Singe Target

Once you have understood the general idea of force masters stacking mechanics and buff, there
shouldnt be any problem on what skill to add. It is totally up to you on how you want your build
to be. Below is just how I want to play my FM skills.

Ember Stack skills:

F, Z, C,
Detonation Skills:
LB (4-1),F
Ice Support Skills:
3, C, V, F( Ice for regen), Tab (ice)
Fire Orbs:
F, C
Ice Orbs:
X, 3, F, RB
Ignored Skills: 1 & Tab (Fire)
My build mainly balances up the important parts. The reason why I choose automatic
detonation of ember stack is because I would rather spend more time casting other skills.
Explosion (Tab path 2) is preferred as a block skill which I usually use it in Mushin tower
against 7 & 8.
However, if you require Searing Flame (Tab path 3) to knock down enemies (like Snow Jade
Palaces 2nd boss), then spec for it. Depending on circumstances, it might prove useful.
Two usual combos:
Fire combo: X (x2 if crit) V(Stack) 2(Stack) LB (Explodes) 2 (Stack) -LB

Ice combo: All Ice dps to stack ice buff then move to fire buff skills
Other skills: Used whiling waiting for the cool down of other skills. Example Skill 4 (Charge for
5 sec)

Force Master PVE Build Multiple Target

In this section, I would just describe the build I use while facing a group of enemies. The skills
are mostly AOE and a few of them are single target. The single target skills are used because
they help to recover your Hp/Mp. At this point, I usually ignore all the guidelines of stacking,
buff, combos and try to spam as much as I can to kill more.
AOE Fire Skills:
2, z, v
Ice Skills:
3, z
Support:
4
Try to collect both fire and ice orbs so you can cast Twin Dragon Blast to deal more damage.

Force Master PVE Build - Mushin Tower

Mushin tower is known to be challenging. It is even more difficult for Force Master if your dps
is not high enough or your skills are not used correctly. In order for you to challenge Mushin,
you will need to master the timing for i-frame block and damage stacks.
You will need both good dps skills and defense skills. Do not focus only in DPS skills because
you will need to counter as well. Slight modification for the PVE single target build is
recommended for Mushin Tower. Here are the important skills that will definitely help you:
Explosion (Tab) This skill work wonders in 7th floor because you can use it to break the
boss combo. The down side of this is, it lasts for 0.5 second only and its very hard to time. The
more you use it, the better you will be.

Searing Flame (Tab) Works well in 8th floor and allow you to get yourself together

Protection Barrier (C) Reduce damage for a certain period

Ice Flower (V) Prevent yourself from being combo-ed at 7th & 8th floors

Cyroblast (3) Stun and freeze

Try to keep a distance from the boss though it will be hard for you to stay far always. Change
your build at each level and make full use of all your skills. Do consider using Force Grip (4) to
hold and recover MP. It also helps in stopping the boss combos (7th, 8th floors).
There is no absolute right or wrong in skill building. I have even seen some players investing 1
point at Withdraw (SS) which I probably wont advise you to do so. As long as you can clear it,
everything is good.