Spearman
Last Updated: October 22, 2026
This guide is actively being worked on! Builds shown have been updated and reviewed.
Stat Distribution
Spearman's main stat is STR and secondary is DEX.
- Armor require 10 less DEX than the armor level.
- Most weapons require the same DEX as the weapon level.
- Put just enough points into DEX to equip your armor and weapon. Everything else into STR.
- 4 STR and 1 DEX per level. Adjust distribution depending on your gear.
Weapon Choice
Polearm vs Spear
- Higher average multiplier (x2.7), since its strong Swing (x3.5) is the more common animation
- Mastery gives up to +20 Speed, which makes clear cycles a lot easier
- Craftable
- Mastery gives up to a 20% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def
- Swing Stab Weapon Mult (x3.5 / x1.5) can make hit count thresholds less consistent
- Lower average multiplier (x2.3), since its strong Stab (x3.5) is the less common animation
- Swing Stab Weapon Mult (x1.5 / x3.5) can make hit count thresholds less consistent
- Not craftable, Lv35+ Spears are harder to get
For training, go with Polearms. The +20 movement speed from Polearm Mastery is something warriors are severely lacking, and it makes clear cycles much easier. In most situations, you want to clear the mobs you're responsible for before every respawn cycle, or every ~7 seconds.
Spear's chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def only really matters against high defense bosses, and it doesn't make up for the lower average Weapon Mult while grinding.
Spearman Skills
Spear Mastery
PassivePassive that increases weapon mastery and grants a chance to ignore enemy weapon def.
Like all other weapon mastery skills, you want to max this out first. When maxed, it brings your mastery from 7% to 77%, which contributes directly to your average damage.
We can’t use 2nd job SP on 1st job skill, so our leftover point goes here. We will SP reset to spear once we get a Redemption/crusher/fury online in 3rd job. SP resets should be tradable or giftable, so this should be done even as a F2P, as you can just buy it from another player using mesos.
Weapon Mastery
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Spear Mastery level 1, 1% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 2 | Spear Mastery level 1, 2% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 3 | Spear Mastery level 1, 3% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 4 | Spear Mastery level 2, 4% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 5 | Spear Mastery level 2, 5% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 6 | Spear Mastery level 3, 6% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 7 | Spear Mastery level 3, 7% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 8 | Spear Mastery level 4, 8% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 9 | Spear Mastery level 4, 9% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 10 | Spear Mastery level 5, 10% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 11 | Spear Mastery level 5, 11% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 12 | Spear Mastery level 6, 12% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 13 | Spear Mastery level 6, 13% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 14 | Spear Mastery level 7, 14% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 15 | Spear Mastery level 7, 15% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 16 | Spear Mastery level 8, 16% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 17 | Spear Mastery level 8, 17% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 18 | Spear Mastery level 9, 18% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 19 | Spear Mastery level 9, 19% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
| 20 | Spear Mastery level 10, 20% chance to ignore enemy Weapon Def. |
Polearm Mastery
PassivePassive that increases weapon mastery and speed.
Like all other weapon mastery skills, you want to max this out first. When maxed, it brings your mastery from 7% to 77%, which contributes directly to your average damage.
The first skill we max due to the much needed tightening of our range from the mastery alongside our movement speed increase to help us during the levels we are most vulnerable to being KS’d.
Weapon Mastery
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Polearm Mastery level 1, Speed +1 |
| 2 | Polearm Mastery level 1, Speed +2 |
| 3 | Polearm Mastery level 1, Speed +3 |
| 4 | Polearm Mastery level 2, Speed +4 |
| 5 | Polearm Mastery level 2, Speed +5 |
| 6 | Polearm Mastery level 3, Speed +6 |
| 7 | Polearm Mastery level 3, Speed +7 |
| 8 | Polearm Mastery level 4, Speed +8 |
| 9 | Polearm Mastery level 4, Speed +9 |
| 10 | Polearm Mastery level 5, Speed +10 |
| 11 | Polearm Mastery level 5, Speed +11 |
| 12 | Polearm Mastery level 6, Speed +12 |
| 13 | Polearm Mastery level 6, Speed +13 |
| 14 | Polearm Mastery level 7, Speed +14 |
| 15 | Polearm Mastery level 7, Speed +15 |
| 16 | Polearm Mastery level 8, Speed +16 |
| 17 | Polearm Mastery level 8, Speed +17 |
| 18 | Polearm Mastery level 9, Speed +18 |
| 19 | Polearm Mastery level 9, Speed +19 |
| 20 | Polearm Mastery level 10, Speed +20 |
Final Attack: Spear
ActiveFull skip, we aren’t using Spears in 2nd Job.
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | 25% trigger rate; MP -8; Final Attack with damage 260%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 2 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 263%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 3 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 266%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 4 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 269%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 5 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 272%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 6 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 275%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 7 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 278%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 8 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 281%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 9 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 284%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 10 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 287%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 11 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 290%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 12 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 293%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 13 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 296%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 14 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 299%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 15 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 302%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 16 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 305%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 17 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 308%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 18 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 311%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 19 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 314%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 20 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 317%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 21 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 320%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 22 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 323%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 23 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 326%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 24 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 329%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 25 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 332%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 26 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 335%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 27 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 338%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 28 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 341%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 29 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 344%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 30 | 25% trigger rate; MP -16; Final Attack with damage 350%, absorb 10% of damage as HP |
Final Attack: Polearm
ActiveIf you’re a true brokie, could opt for 1 FA early on to save meso since you essentially get a free attack every 4 skills and lvl 1 FA has decent dmg (the life steal is insignificant).
This skill should not be activated when using Slashblast as your main clearing skill, it is a clear speed loss, and meso neutral at best and meso negative at worst due to that speed loss.
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | 25% trigger rate; MP -8; Final Attack with damage 260%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 2 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 263%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 3 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 266%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 4 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 269%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 5 | 25% trigger rate; MP -9; Final Attack with damage 272%, absorb 5% of damage as HP |
| 6 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 275%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 7 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 278%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 8 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 281%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 9 | 25% trigger rate; MP -10; Final Attack with damage 284%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 10 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 287%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 11 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 290%, absorb 6% of damage as HP |
| 12 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 293%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 13 | 25% trigger rate; MP -11; Final Attack with damage 296%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 14 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 299%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 15 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 302%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 16 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 305%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 17 | 25% trigger rate; MP -12; Final Attack with damage 308%, absorb 7% of damage as HP |
| 18 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 311%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 19 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 314%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 20 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 317%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 21 | 25% trigger rate; MP -13; Final Attack with damage 320%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 22 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 323%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 23 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 326%, absorb 8% of damage as HP |
| 24 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 329%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 25 | 25% trigger rate; MP -14; Final Attack with damage 332%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 26 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 335%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 27 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 338%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 28 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 341%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 29 | 25% trigger rate; MP -15; Final Attack with damage 344%, absorb 9% of damage as HP |
| 30 | 25% trigger rate; MP -16; Final Attack with damage 350%, absorb 10% of damage as HP |
Spear Booster
BuffBuff that increases weapon attack speed by 2.
Full skip, we aren’t using Spears in 2nd Job.
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | HP -30, MP -30; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 100 sec |
| 2 | HP -29, MP -29; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 110 sec |
| 3 | HP -28, MP -28; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 120 sec |
| 4 | HP -27, MP -27; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 130 sec |
| 5 | HP -26, MP -26; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 140 sec |
| 6 | HP -25, MP -25; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 150 sec |
| 7 | HP -24, MP -24; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 160 sec |
| 8 | HP -23, MP -23; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 170 sec |
| 9 | HP -22, MP -22; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 180 sec |
| 10 | HP -21, MP -21; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 190 sec |
| 11 | HP -20, MP -20; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 200 sec |
| 12 | HP -19, MP -19; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 210 sec |
| 13 | HP -18, MP -18; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 220 sec |
| 14 | HP -17, MP -17; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 230 sec |
| 15 | HP -16, MP -16; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 240 sec |
| 16 | HP -15, MP -15; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 250 sec |
| 17 | HP -14, MP -14; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 260 sec |
| 18 | HP -13, MP -13; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 270 sec |
| 19 | HP -12, MP -12; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 280 sec |
| 20 | HP -10, MP -10; Increases Spear Attack Speed by 2 stages for 300 sec |
Polearm Booster
BuffBuff that increases weapon attack speed by 2.
1 Point will be more than manageable for a long time, as it gives all of the speed boost and 100 seconds of uptime right away. You can opt to put a few levels in this during your FA levels if you want more uptime.
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | HP -30, MP -30; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 100 sec |
| 2 | HP -29, MP -29; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 110 sec |
| 3 | HP -28, MP -28; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 120 sec |
| 4 | HP -27, MP -27; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 130 sec |
| 5 | HP -26, MP -26; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 140 sec |
| 6 | HP -25, MP -25; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 150 sec |
| 7 | HP -24, MP -24; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 160 sec |
| 8 | HP -23, MP -23; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 170 sec |
| 9 | HP -22, MP -22; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 180 sec |
| 10 | HP -21, MP -21; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 190 sec |
| 11 | HP -20, MP -20; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 200 sec |
| 12 | HP -19, MP -19; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 210 sec |
| 13 | HP -18, MP -18; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 220 sec |
| 14 | HP -17, MP -17; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 230 sec |
| 15 | HP -16, MP -16; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 240 sec |
| 16 | HP -15, MP -15; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 250 sec |
| 17 | HP -14, MP -14; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 260 sec |
| 18 | HP -13, MP -13; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 270 sec |
| 19 | HP -12, MP -12; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 280 sec |
| 20 | HP -10, MP -10; Increases Polearm Attack Speed by 2 stages for 300 sec |
Iron Will
BuffA welcome defensive buff that also gives us early access to Stance.
Unfortunately, the stance scales up very slowly, so it ends up being one of the last things we max out, due to how much SP it takes to be useful.
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | MP -10; Weapon Def. +20, 5% chance to ignore knockbacks for 150 sec |
| 2 | MP -10; Weapon Def. +21, 6% chance to ignore knockbacks for 155 sec |
| 3 | MP -10; Weapon Def. +22, 7% chance to ignore knockbacks for 160 sec |
| 4 | MP -11; Weapon Def. +23, 8% chance to ignore knockbacks for 165 sec |
| 5 | MP -11; Weapon Def. +24, 9% chance to ignore knockbacks for 170 sec |
| 6 | MP -12; Weapon Def. +25, 10% chance to ignore knockbacks for 175 sec |
| 7 | MP -12; Weapon Def. +26, 11% chance to ignore knockbacks for 180 sec |
| 8 | MP -13; Weapon Def. +27, 12% chance to ignore knockbacks for 185 sec |
| 9 | MP -13; Weapon Def. +28, 13% chance to ignore knockbacks for 190 sec |
| 10 | MP -14; Weapon Def. +29, 14% chance to ignore knockbacks for 195 sec |
| 11 | MP -14; Weapon Def. +30, 15% chance to ignore knockbacks for 200 sec |
| 12 | MP -15; Weapon Def. +31, 16% chance to ignore knockbacks for 205 sec |
| 13 | MP -15; Weapon Def. +32, 17% chance to ignore knockbacks for 210 sec |
| 14 | MP -16; Weapon Def. +33, 18% chance to ignore knockbacks for 215 sec |
| 15 | MP -16; Weapon Def. +34, 19% chance to ignore knockbacks for 220 sec |
| 16 | MP -17; Weapon Def. +35, 20% chance to ignore knockbacks for 225 sec |
| 17 | MP -17; Weapon Def. +36, 21% chance to ignore knockbacks for 230 sec |
| 18 | MP -18; Weapon Def. +37, 22% chance to ignore knockbacks for 235 sec |
| 19 | MP -18; Weapon Def. +38, 23% chance to ignore knockbacks for 240 sec |
| 20 | MP -19; Weapon Def. +39, 24% chance to ignore knockbacks for 245 sec |
| 21 | MP -19; Weapon Def. +40, 25% chance to ignore knockbacks for 250 sec |
| 22 | MP -20; Weapon Def. +41, 26% chance to ignore knockbacks for 255 sec |
| 23 | MP -20; Weapon Def. +42, 27% chance to ignore knockbacks for 260 sec |
| 24 | MP -21; Weapon Def. +43, 28% chance to ignore knockbacks for 265 sec |
| 25 | MP -21; Weapon Def. +44, 29% chance to ignore knockbacks for 270 sec |
| 26 | MP -22; Weapon Def. +45, 30% chance to ignore knockbacks for 275 sec |
| 27 | MP -22; Weapon Def. +46, 31% chance to ignore knockbacks for 280 sec |
| 28 | MP -23; Weapon Def. +47, 32% chance to ignore knockbacks for 285 sec |
| 29 | MP -23; Weapon Def. +48, 33% chance to ignore knockbacks for 290 sec |
| 30 | MP -25; Weapon Def. +50, 35% chance to ignore knockbacks for 300 sec |
Rush
ActiveDash forward and push mobs infront of you.
Cost 35 mp at lv1. MP cost goes down with skill levels. Excellent mobility tool and rush enables you to maximize enemies hit with Slash Blast by grouping them all up.
Skill levels
| Lv | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | MP -35; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 60% |
| 2 | MP -34; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 61% |
| 3 | MP -33; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 62% |
| 4 | MP -32; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 63% |
| 5 | MP -31; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 64% |
| 6 | MP -30; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 65% |
| 7 | MP -29; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 66% |
| 8 | MP -28; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 67% |
| 9 | MP -27; Rush, with 130 in distance; Damage 68% |
| 10 | MP -26; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 69% |
| 11 | MP -25; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 70% |
| 12 | MP -24; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 71% |
| 13 | MP -23; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 72% |
| 14 | MP -22; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 73% |
| 15 | MP -21; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 74% |
| 16 | MP -20; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 75% |
| 17 | MP -19; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 76% |
| 18 | MP -18; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 77% |
| 19 | MP -17; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 78% |
| 20 | MP -15; Rush, with 150 in distance; Damage 80% |
Spearman Skill Build
Focus on polearm build because it’s more average damage due to swing / stab probability. Shouldn’t really rely on crit rate to meet hitcount breakpoints early on because it’s inconsistent. Once you’re in your 40s, you can switch to a spear if you want. Just note that in CoT2, spears weren't craftable so the barrier of entry was significantly higher than polearms.
| Level | Skill | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 30 |
| If money is good, take 1 rush for the mobility (lvl 1 is 35 MP which can be expensive), otherwise stick to mastery If you’re a true brokie, could opt for 1 FA early on to save meso since you essentially get a free attack every 4 skills and lvl 1 FA has decent dmg (the life steal is insignificant) |
| 31-32 |
| |
| 33-37 |
| |
| 38-40 |
| Rush gains increased distance at lvl 10 |
| 41-44 |
| Max Rush to lower mana cost. You’ll be using Rush and Slash Blast a lot more frequently in Forgotten Hollow. |
| 45-54 |
| |
| 55-64 |
| Can move the 2 pts in booster to before FA maxxing if the 100 second uptime is griefing you |
| 60-70 |
| Can’t use 2nd job SP for first job so we just put it into Spear Mastery. We will SP reset to spear once we get a Redemption/crusher/fury online in 3rd job (lvl 1 crusher > lvl 20 power strike & lvl 1 fury > lvl 20 slash blast). |
Stats Indepth
STR Scaling
STR impact to your damage range can be calculated as
Mastery comes from Polearm Mastery or Spear Mastery (see the Weapon Mastery formula in the skills above). It’s 0.07 with no points in it.
STR is affected by Weapon Multiplier and Weapon Mastery, so every point of mastery raises your damage floor and tightens your damage range.
Weapon Multiplier
| Weapon | Swing | Stab | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spear | x1.5 (60%) | x3.5 (40%) | x2.3 |
| Polearm | x3.5 (60%) | x1.5 (40%) | x2.7 |
DEX Scaling
DEX impact to damage can be calculated as
DEX isn’t affected by Weapon Multiplier or Weapon Mastery, so its damage range stays the same as you level mastery. Once mastery is leveled, STR overtakes DEX at both ends of the range.
Accuracy
Accuracy decides whether your attacks hit. It's one stat used for both physical and magic attacks.
Accuracy from your stats can be calculated as
Every stat here is your total, including equipment and buffs
Each attack compares your Accuracy against the monster's Avoid. Monsters that are a higher level than you need a lot more Accuracy to hit reliably, while being a higher level than the monster gives no extra bonus. Level is part of the formula too, so your Accuracy goes up a little every level even without adding stats.
Weapon Mastery
Weapon Mastery can be calculated as
Mastery Level is the “mastery level” shown in the skill levels of Spear Mastery or Polearm Mastery, from 1 to 10. With no points in a mastery skill, Mastery is 0.07.
Mastery only affects the MIN side of the STR formula (STR × Weapon Mult × Mastery). It goes from 7% with no mastery skill, to 14% at Mastery Level 1, up to 77% at Mastery Level 10, so leveling your weapon mastery skill raises your damage floor and tightens your damage range.
FAQ
Can I go hybrid build if I don’t want to SP reset in 3rd Job?
You definitely CAN drop Final Attack to make a hybrid build, but in 3rd Job you will want to SP reset your 1st Job skills as well, so you kinda get double the bonuses by SP resetting. You will also be losing a small bit of single target DPM in bossing by skipping FA.
SP resets should be tradable/giftable so F2P players can just buy them with mesos.
Can I choose to go Spear over Polearm, if I like them better?
Again, you definitely CAN choose to play Spear in 2nd Job, but you will be giving up a meaningful amount of leveling speed, strength, and quality of life.