Lost Ark: Gunlancer (Warrior) - character class Lost Ark guide, walkthrough

On this page of the Lost Ark guide we have described the class of one of the game characters - Gunlancer (Warrior). It's based on the version of the game from 2022.

Last update: 22 March 2022

On this page of the guide you'll learn of the traits and skills of a Warrior of the Gunlancer subclass. This page lists Gunlancer's skills and engravings using terminology and builds relevant in 2022. You'll learn of two possible builds: Combat Readiness and Lone Knight.

• Gunlancer class description
• Combat Readiness / Blue Build
• Lone Knight / Red Build

Gunlancer class description

Gender: Male

Combat style: Melee

Specialization: Shield Meter - increases defense of yourself or your allies - depending on use (one of two buttons), entering Defensive Stance. This causes enemy attacks to deplete your shield meter instead of HP.

The Gunlancer's shield is not just for show - he's the best tank in the game. Not only can he soak a lot of damage but he can also protect his allies. He's very slow, which means taking damage is an inevitability for him.

Gunlancer has two more interesting features: he's good against bosses thanks to his staggering abilities which make it more difficult for the enemy to attack. Additionally, unlike other classes, the Space button doesn't make him perform a regular dodge - he performs a backstep instead, which lets him avoid AoE attacks and mortal blows. His attacks are slow and have a short range.

Combat Readiness / Blue Build

The first described build focuses on improving the Gunlancer's defenses. Combat Readiness - or Blue Build, since it mainly uses skills with a blue background - is an engraving increasing your character's damage when taking hits (only in Defensive stance after filling the Shield Meter) and passively increases how much damage your shield can take.

Engravings:

1. Combat Readiness - Damage increased by 20% with an extra bonus when in Defensive Stance. Additionally increases Shield Meter by at least 30% when the stance is active.
2. Barricade - When using a shield your damage increases by 3-16%, depending on the skill's level. Synergizes with Combat Readiness.

Optional engravings:

1. Spirit Absorption - increases your attack and movement speed without any drawbacks.
2. Stabilized Status - Using your shield properly should ensure you'll always be at nearly full health. This engraving gives you a damage bonus when your health is above 80%.
3. Adrenaline - after executing an attack increase the strength of the next one (stacks up to 6 times), resulting in a high bonus if you start a combo with quick attacks.
4. Awakening - an optional engraving which reduces the cooldown of Awakening Skill and thus makes the Shield Meter regenerate faster.

Combat stats

1. Crit - chance to execute a critical hit. Assign around 25% of the points here - this doesn't matter much for the Blue Build.
2. Specialization - 75% of the points - improves shield parameters and significantly improves Normal skills.

Skills, tripods, and runes:

Skill	1st Tripod	2nd Tripod	3rd Tripod	Rune
Dash Upper Fire (4)	Ready Attack	Weak Point Detection		Overwhelm
Shield Bash (4 )	Nimble Movement	Weak Point Detection	Additional Hit	Quick Recharge
Bash (4 )	Armor Destruction	Ready Attack	Bell Strike	Bleed
Leap Attack (10 )	Direct Hit	Electric Field	Low Shock	Galewind
Guardian's Thunderbolt (10 )	Damage Luck	Tough Strike	Lightning Stalk	Galewind
Shield Charge (10 )	Enhanced Strike	Shield	Destruction Charger	Galewind
Shout of Hatred (10)	Quick Prep	Shield	Open Weakness	Focus
Nellasia's Energy (10)	Quick Prep	Effectiveness	Survive	Focus
Guardian's Protection (Awakening Skill)

Playstyle:

The Combat Readiness Gunlancer can waltz into battle without any care in the world. He trades blows with enemies (in Defensive Stance) and taking hits increases the damage he deals. He can do so thanks to his high health. His reduced mobility makes it more difficult for him to avoid the enemy's special attacks and chase more agile enemies. It doesn't mean you'll be bored when standing still though: Nellasia's Energy lets you protect your teammates while reducing damage taken while Shout of Hatred distracts enemies. Using Dash Upper Fire and Bash lets you counter your opponent's attacks. This build has a serious drawback though, as it runs out of stamina / mana very quickly.

Lone Knight / Red Build

The Lone Knight is the complete opposite of the Combat Readiness build - it tries to turn the tank into a DPS and is designed specifically for fighting strong bosses. The build described below still lets you use support skills while your offensive skills are excellent at staggering enemies. You no longer have a shield, which means it's more difficult to keep your health at full and you'll need to be mobile to avoid certain attacks. This build is geared towards dealing high Crit damage to a single target.

Engravings:

1. Lone Knight - increases crit rate and crit damage at the expense of a shield in Defensive Stance (which you can still use) - it also halves its duration.
2. Super Charge - reduces charge time of the build's most important skills and increases their damage.

Optional engravings:

1. Master Brawler - improves frontal attacks you should be focusing on when using this class.
2. Spirit Absorption - increases your attack and movement speed without any drawbacks.
3. Adrenaline - after executing an attack increase the strength of the next one (stacks up to 6 times), resulting in a high bonus if you start a combo with quick attacks.
4. Keen Blunt Weapon - increases crit damage but regular attacks have a chance to deal -20% damage.

Combat stats

1. Crit - chance to execute a critical hit. Assign around 75% of the points here - this stat is key for the Lone Knight.
2. Swiftness - 25% of the points - increases attack, movement and skill activation speed.

Skills, tripods, and runes:

Skill	1st Tripod	2nd Tripod	3rd Tripod	Rune
Dash Upper Fire (4 )	Ready Attack	Weak Point Detection	Extra Shell	Overwhelm
Fire Bullet (10 )	Lucky Chance	Enhanced Strike	Attack Creation	Quick Recharge
Charged Stinger (10 )	Weak Point Detection	Charge Enhancement	Last Charge	Galewind
Counter Gunlance (4)	Nimble Movement	Weak Point Detection	Close Explosion	Galewind
Surge Cannon (10 )	High Explosive Shot	Overcharge	Focus Fire	Galewind
Bash (4)	Armor Destruction	Ready Attack		Bleed
Shout of Hatred (10)	Quick Prep	Shield	Open Weakness	Focus
Nellasia's Energy (10)	Quick Prep	Effectiveness	Survive	Focus
Guardian's Protection (Awakening Skill)

Playstyle:

Playing as the Lone Knight is very satisfying as it lets you deal immense damage with singular attacks. Lack of a shield is problematic and you must attack enemies from the front, which means you'll be vulnerable to powerful attacks by the bosses while being unable to reliably dodge them because of your reduced mobility. Your main high-damage attacks are Surge Cannon, Gunlance Shot and Charged Stinger. When you're not using them, you're mostly waiting for them to become available again. During this time you can support your allies.