Merit Points

Just like last time, in this corner of the census, we’ll be putting the spotlight on merit points. This data was accumulated after the May 2011 version update, in which the limits on certain merit point categories were raised. Let’s start out by looking at the upgrades.

Max HP
Max MP

	Upgrade 1		Upgrade 2		Upgrade 3		Upgrade 4		Upgrade 5		Upgrade 6
	Upgrade 7		Upgrade 8		Upgrade 9		Upgrade 10		Upgrade 11		Upgrade 12

The maximum number of HP and MP upgrades was raised to twelve levels. In the previous census, Max HP and Max MP were divided about 40/60, but this year it came closer to 50/50. When you consider the numerous MP restoration methods and the new ways to bolster HP and MP via means such as Atma, it makes sense that upgrades would even out in this manner.

STR
DEX
VIT
AGI
INT
MND
CHR

	Upgrade 1		Upgrade 2		Upgrade 3		Upgrade 4
	Upgrade 5		Upgrade 6		Upgrade 7		Upgrade 8

The maximum number of attribute upgrades was raised from five to eight. Like the previous census, over half of the players allocated their merit points to strength, followed by other popular attributes such as dexterity and intelligence. Agility has increased considerably from the previous census, most likely due to the December 2010 adjustment where the amount of TP given to an enemy may now be reduced based upon the player’s agility.

Hand-to-hand
Dagger
Sword
Great Sword
Axe
Great Axe
Scythe
Polearm
Katana
Great Katana
Club
Staff
Bow
Gun
Throwing

Guarding
Evasion
Shield
Parrying

	Upgrade 1		Upgrade 2		Upgrade 3		Upgrade 4
	Upgrade 5		Upgrade 6		Upgrade 7		Upgrade 8

The maximum number of combat skill upgrades was raised from twenty to thirty-two. To get the most out of weapon skills, the majority of players have allocated their merit points to every upgrade available for their respective weapons.

The reason daggers have moved from second place to first place since last time can probably be attributed to the popularity of thieves and dancers. It is thought that great axes have grown in popularity due to their increase in powerful weapon skills. The staff, which very few people had upgraded last census, has been upgraded by a considerable number of players, possibly due to the addition of useful weapon skills and the influence of the Weakness system.

For defensive skills, evasion is once again the single most popular upgrade. We believe that this is due to evasion being the only defensive skill shared by all jobs. Additionally, the selection of equipment that enhances evasion is wider than for any other defensive skill. Many players most likely chose to further upgrade evasion after the maximum number of upgrades was increased.

Divine Magic
Healing Magic
Enhancing Magic
Enfeebling Magic
Elemental Magic
Dark Magic
Summoning Magic
Ninjutsu
Singing
Stringed Instrument
Wind Instrument
Blue Magic

	Upgrade 1		Upgrade 2		Upgrade 3		Upgrade 4
	Upgrade 5		Upgrade 6		Upgrade 7		Upgrade 8

Like last time, the majority of the upgrades are focused on enfeebling and elemental magic. Still, it seems that many of the differences from the last census in upgrade choice can be attributed to personal taste.

Enmity Increase
Enmity Decrease
Critical hit rate
Enemy critical hit rate
Spell interruption rate

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

Upgrade 3

Upgrade 4

Upgrade 5

The maximum total number of upgrades was raised from eight to ten and the maximum per item from four to five.
Once again, critical hit rate was the most chosen upgrade, but spell interruption rate and enemy critical hit rate are quickly catching up. Depending on job and position, the Enmity Increase upgrade can be difficult to use and, as such, has been decreasing in popularity relative to the other upgrades.

Lastly, we will take a look at job-specific merit point breakdowns. With the experiences of so many players through trial and error reflected, we believe that these results are representative of the latest trends in playing styles. Feel free to use this data for reference in upgrading a new job or in pursuing your own unique approach!

Group 1 Maximum total number of upgrades: 10 levels Maximum per item: 5 levels Points necessary for each upgrade: 1/2/3/4/5

Group 2 Maximum total number of upgrades: 10 levels Maximum per item: 5 levels Points necessary for each upgrade: 3/4/5/5/5

[ Warrior ]

Group 1	Berserk Recast
	Defender Recast
	Warcry Recast
	Aggressor Recast
	Double Attack Rate

Group 2	Warrior's Charge
	Tomahawk
	Savagery
	Aggressive Aim

Upgrade 1

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[ Monk ]

Group 1	Focus Recast
	Dodge Recast
	Chakra Recast
	Counter Rate
	Kick Attack Rate

Group 2	Mantra
	Formless Strikes
	Invigorate
	Penance

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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Upgrade 5

[ White Mage ]

Group 1	Divine Seal Recast
	Cure Cast Time
	Bar Spell Effect
	Banish Effect
	Regen Spell Effect

Group 2	Martyr
	Devotion
	Protectra V
	Shellra V

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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[ Black Mage ]

Group 1	Elemental Seal Recast
	Fire Magic Potency
	Ice Magic Potency
	Wind Magic Potency
	Earth Magic Potency
	Lightning Magic Potency
	Water Magic Potency

Group 2	Flare II
	Freeze II
	Tornado II
	Quake II
	Burst II
	Flood II

Upgrade 1

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[ Red Mage ]

Group 1	Convert Recast
	Fire Magic Accuracy
	Ice Magic Accuracy
	Wind Magic Accuracy
	Earth Magic Accuracy
	Lightning Magic Accuracy
	Water Magic Accuracy

Group 2	Dia III
	Slow II
	Paralyze II
	Phalanx II
	Bio III
	Blind II

Upgrade 1

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[ Thief ]

Group 1	Flee Recast
	Hide Recast
	Sneak Attack Recast
	Trick Attack Recast
	Triple Attack Rate

Group 2	Assassin's Charge
	Feint
	Aura Steal
	Ambush

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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Upgrade 5

[ Paladin ]

Group 1	Shield Bash Recast
	Holy Circle Recast
	Sentinel Recast
	Cover Effect Length
	Rampart Recast

Group 2	Fealty
	Chivalry
	Iron Will
	Guardian

Upgrade 1

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[ Dark Knight ]

Group 1	Souleater Recast
	Arcane Circle Recast
	Last Resort Recast
	Last Resort Effect
	Weapon Bash Recast

Group 2	Dark Seal
	Diabolic Eye
	Muted Soul
	Desperate Blows

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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Upgrade 5

[ Beastmaster ]

Group 1	Killer Effects
	Reward Recast
	Call Beast Recast
	Sic Recast
	Tame Recast

Group 2	Feral Howl
	Killer Instinct
	Beast Affinity
	Beast Healer

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

Upgrade 3

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Upgrade 5

[ Bard ]

Group 1	Lullaby Recast
	Finale Recast
	Minne Effect
	Minuet Effect
	Madrigal Effect

Group 2	Nightingale
	Troubadour
	Foe Sirvente
	Adventurer's Dirge

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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Upgrade 5

[ Ranger ]

Group 1	Scavenge Recast
	Camouflage Recast
	Sharpshot Recast
	Unlimited Shot Recast
	Rapid Shot Rate

Group 2	Stealth Shot
	Flashy Shot
	Snapshot
	Recycle

Upgrade 1

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Upgrade 5

[ Samurai ]

Group 1	Third Eye Recast
	Warding Circle Recast
	Store TP Effect
	Meditate Recast
	Zanshin Attack Rate

Group 2	Shikikoyo
	Blade Bash
	Ikishoten
	Overwhelm

Upgrade 1

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[ Ninja ]

Group 1	Subtle Blow Effect
	Katon Effect
	Hyoton Effect
	Huton Effect
	Doton Effect
	Raiton Effect
	Suiton Effect

Group 2	Sange
	Ninja Tool Expertise
	Katon: San
	Hyoton: San
	Huton: San
	Doton: San
	Raiton: San
	Suiton: San

Upgrade 1

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[ Dragoon ]

Group 1	Ancient Circle Recast
	Jump Recast
	High Jump Recast
	Super Jump Recast
	Spirit Link Recast

Group 2	Deep Breathing
	Angon
	Empathy
	Strafe

Upgrade 1

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[ Summoner ]

Group 1	Avatar Physical Accuracy
	Avatar Physical Attack
	Avatar Magical Accuracy
	Avatar Magical Attack
	Elemental MP Cost

Group 2	Meteor Strike
	Heavenly Strike
	Wind Blade
	Geocrush
	Thunderstorm
	Grand Fall

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

Upgrade 3

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Upgrade 5

[ Blue Mage ]

Group 1	Chain Affinity Recast
	Burst Affinity Recast
	Monster Correlation
	Physical Potency
	Magical Accuracy

Group 2	Convergence
	Diffusion
	Enchainment
	Assimilation

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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Upgrade 5

[ Corsair ]

Group 1	Phantom Roll Recast
	Quick Draw Recast
	Quick Draw Accuracy
	Random Deal Recast
	Bust Duration

Group 2	Snake Eye
	Fold
	Winning Streak
	Loaded Deck

Upgrade 1

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[ Puppetmaster ]

Group 1	Automaton Melee Skill
	Automaton Ranged Skill
	Automaton Magic Skill
	Activate Recast
	Repair Recast

Group 2	Role Reversal
	Ventriloquy
	Fine Tuning
	Optimization

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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Upgrade 5

[ Dancer ]

Group 1	Steps Accuracy
	Haste Samba Effect
	Reverse Flourish Effect
	Building Flourish Effect

Group 2	Saber Dance
	Fan Dance
	No Foot Rise
	Closed Position

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

Upgrade 3

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Upgrade 5

[ Scholar ]

Group 1	Grimoire Recast
	Modus Veritas Duration
	Helix Magic Acc./Atk.
	Max Sublimation

Group 2	Altruism
	Focalization
	Tranquility
	Equanimity
	Enlightenment
	Stormsurge

Upgrade 1

Upgrade 2

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Upgrade 4

Upgrade 5