Path of a Clanless Warrior (True Vagabond) - Final 2010 Version

This is a guide for all those who have chosen to walk the clanless path - The Path of a True Vagabond.

The clanless path is an advanced way to play this game. This role might not be recommended for new players, however, it is not impossible. The only thing a player needs to play this role is patience.

It's recommended to learn the game first in a clan before trying to play a Vagabond.

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Notes
This guide is especially recommended for vagabond novices who need help in form of informations, to ease their hard path a bit.

According to the first 9Dragons US & EU publisher Acclaim and the developer Indy21, there will be an official vagabond role in-game in the future, which shall arrive us before the Advanced Clans (Meaning: The vagabond role will not be one of the advanced clans).

Before you start a Vagabond, you have to know that you have to invest all the time, all your in-game money into your Vagabond character. Otherwise your Vagabond will remain very weak, and the grinding will not be enjoyable. If you don't have any problem with that, start a Vagabond.

To see the most up-to-date list of the Wan Daye defense clothes, check this topic.
To see the most up-to-date list of the Cave Hawker items, check this topic.


Index:

Phase 1 - Basic Knowledge
- Patience
- Ambrosia
- Player vs Player
- Quests
- Mastery Points

Phase 2 - The Keys of a Vagabond
- Vagabond Keys

Phase 3 - Vagabond Skills
- Vagabond Skills

Phase 4 - Chi Points
- Chi Points Skilling
- Elixirs

Phase 5 - Weapons
- What weapon is the best?
- Raising Light Weapon Recommendation
- Golden Blossoms Weapon Recommendation

Phase 6 - Clothes
- Hat
- Jacket & Pants
- Shoes
- Wristbands

Phase 7 - Relics & Accessories
- Dodge Trinket
- Wan Daye's Blue Jade Seal
- Order of Double weapon
- HP Trinket
- Defense Trinket

Phase 8 - Liaodong
- Basic Knowledge

Phase 9 - Ornaments
- Wardrobe Ornaments
- Weapon Ornaments
- Detaching Ornaments

Phase 10 - High Level
- Advanced Knowledge
- Item Mall

Phase 1 - Basic Knowledge

Patience

Vagabonds are masters. They are known for their wisdom and strong will. This is because they walk the hard path. You can only keep this path up if you are patient. Those who keep patience will learn the true meaning of being a vagabond.


Ambrosia

There are many, very useful ambrosia in-game which will help you on your way. The most probably best one is called Crane Herb. It is available in Bamboo Village at the Clinic NPC and recovers the Life by 150 every 3 seconds, for 15 seconds (per pill). Here's a picture of it:


There are other useful ambrosia as well, like Life drain pills, Potions or Korean Ginsengs, either available as rarity in-game or from the Item Mall. Just keep your eyes open and use them wisely.


Player vs Player

Vagabonds are bad for PvP. Vagabonds are mainly for PvE since they only got basic skills and bad statistics. To have a chance against other roles in PvP, you need a much better equipment than they have. Knowledge and wisdom is the power and strength of a True Vagabond.


Quests

Vagabonds do have quests, but very limited. The quests they have are:
- Start quests
- Storage Quests
- Master & Disciple quests
- Heroic Quests (those which don't require black or white clan)
- Some North Sea Icy Palace Quests
- Some Tibet Quests


Mastery Points

Mastery points are irrelevant. Just use your Mastery Points at the mastery of the weapon you are using. With the rest of the Mastery Points, you can either use them at other weapon masteries or keep them, that's up to you.

Phase 2 - The Keys of a Vagabond

Vagabond Keys

Since vagabonds are clanless, they have the ability to enter every clan base without to join the clan itself. To get this ability, all you have to do is all the start quests in every clan map. As soon you could join a clan, you will get a Quest Item which allows you to enter the clan base. These are called by vagabonds "The Keys of a Vagabond" or just short "Vagabond Keys". This is, because those Quest Items are used by vagabonds as keys to enter the clan bases.

Just start somewhere and grind. Do all the start quests in every start map, but not the quests inside the clan bases. If you follow this simple rule, you will be able to enter all clan bases. Only exception: The Sacred Flower clan base for male vagabonds, and the Shaolin clan base for female vagabonds. As long you don't finish any quest within a clanbase, you will remain a vagabond.

Just to make sure you won't do anything wrong, here's a small description on each key and what quest you should not do anymore:

Tianjin - The Land of The League of Beggars
Can be entered by male and female vagabonds
Is an open quest (will be showed as [?])
Map: Tianjin map showing the quest you should not complete
Key Name: Dirty Strip of Clothes
Short Key Description: You will keep this key as long as you don't give up the quest.

Mount Yanmo - The Land of Heavenly Demon
Can be entered by male and female vagabonds
Map: Mount Yanmo map showing the quest you should only accept but not complete
Key Name: Bloodhorned Chimera's Horn
Short Key Description: This key can only be obtained by killing Bloodhorned Chimeras, after accepting the quest and talking with an NPC showing [?] above his head. Talking with this NPC will start a timer. One piece of this Quest Item will suffice to enter the clan base. This is the only temporary key - As soon you die, no matter if through PvP or PvE, you will lose the key again. Just accept the same quest again to enter the clan base of Heavenly Demon.

Wu-Tang Shan - The Land of Wu-Tang
Can be entered by male and female vagabonds
Is an open quest (will be showed as [?])
Map: Wu-Tang Shan map showing the quest you should not complete
Key Name: Qingfeng's Letter
Short Key Description: You will keep this key as long as you don't give up the quest.

Tai Shan - The Land of The Brotherhood of Thieves
Can be entered by male and female vagabonds
Is a new quest (will be showed as ( ! ))
Map: Tai Shan map showing the quest you should not accept
Key Name: Recommendation
Short Key Description: You will always keep this key.

Song Shan - The Land of Shaolin
Can be entered only by male vagabonds
Is a new quest (will be showed as ( ! ))
Map: Song Shan map showing the quest you should not accept
Key Name: Incense
Short Key Description: You will always keep this key.

Zixia Dong - The Land of Sacred Flower
Can be entered only by female vagabonds
Is an open quest (will be showed as [?])
Map: Zixia Dong map showing the quest you should not complete
Key Name: Occult Bead
Short Key Description: You will keep this key as long as you don't give up the quest.

To enter the clan base of Shaolin as female and the clan base of Sacred Flower as male, you need a friend inside and a Summon Pill.

Phase 3 - Vagabond Skills

Vagabond Skills

Here's a list of the skills a vagabond can obtain:

Basic Meditation
The holy skill of a vagabond. Those who disrespect it will not survive. The Basic Meditation is a vagabonds best friend and better than its reputation. It is a long way to master this skill, since it's only at level Sun and Moon 9 possible to learn the 10th Cheng. However; At Cheng 10 will be even better than any clan's basic meditation on Cheng 10. This skill can be learned at every Sifu or through start quests.

Cruising Along
The very first lightfoot technique of every single warrior in The Land. Every beginner learns it in Bamboo Village by doing the first few quests.

Peng You Lightfoot
Many legends and myths are been told about this technique. It is said that it was brought as tome and hidden in The Cave of The Conqueror by The Vagabond himself. Once available in The Land, this skill suddenly disappeared one day. Legend has it that it will return one day, for the glory of the clanless.

Basic Fist Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village, Tianjin, Mount Yanmo, Wu-Tang Shan, Song Shan or through some start quests.

Smashing Fist Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village, Tianjin and Song Shan.

Basic Staff Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Tianjin.

Smashing Staff Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Tianjin.

Basic Axe Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Tai Shan.

Smashing Axe Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Tai Shan.

Basic Spear Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Tai Shan.

Smashing Spear Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Tai Shan.

Basic Sword Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Wu-Tang Shan.

Smashing Sword Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Wu-Tang Shan.

Basic Saber Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Mount Yanmo.

Smashing Saber Attack
This skill can be learned at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Mount Yanmo.

Basic Spade Attack
This skill can be learned only by male vagabonds at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Song Shan.

Smashing Spade Attack
This skill can be learned only by male vagabonds at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Song Shan.

Basic Dagger Attack
This skill can be learned only by female vagabonds at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Zixia Dong.

Smashing Dagger Attack
This skill can be learned only by female vagabonds at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Zixia Dong.

Basic Wheel Attack
This skill can be learned only by female vagabonds at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Zixia Dong.

Smashing Wheel Attack
This skill can be learned only by female vagabonds at Sifus in Bamboo Village and Zixia Dong.

Basic Demon Fists
This skill can only be learned through one of the start quests in Mount Yanmo.

Basic Demon Saber
This skill can only be learned through one of the start quests in Mount Yanmo.

Basic Wu-Tang Fists
This skill can only be learned through one of the start quests in Wu-Tang Shan.

Basic Wu-Tang Sword
This skill can only be learned through one of the start quests in Wu-Tang Shan.

Basic Demon Lightfoot
This skill can only be learned through one of the start quests in Mount Yanmo.

Basic Wu-Tang Lightfoot
This skill can only be learned through one of the start quests in Wu-Tang Shan.

Revealing Hand Maneuver
This skill can be learned at every Sifu.

Phase 4 - Chi Points

Chi Points Skilling

There are 5 attributes which you can skill: Strength, Essence, Wisdom, Constitution and Dexterity. To make it easy, here's a list from the most important to the less important:

Strength
Strength is the most important for vagabonds. The sooner a vagabond maxed his strength, the better. Strength increases Damage and Defense, and a vagabond needs a lot of it.

Dexterity
Dexterity is the second most important. You need dexterity mostly for the weapon requirement, but you also need enough to hit your enemies. If you just miss, then all your Damage and Defense are nothing worth. Dexterity increases Attack Rating and Dodge.

Constitution
Constitution is the third most important. If you got too little life, then your Damage, Defence, Attack Rating and Dodge are nothing worth. Everyone will notice if (s)he got too less life, if (s)he has to run too fast away from creatures. Constitution increases your Health Points (Life). Life should mainly be raised with relics and accessories, since vagabonds don't get a lot Health Points per Constitution point.

Essence
Essence is not really important for a vagabond. Essence increases your Vital Energy (Mana), which a vagabond just needs for lightfoot, skill leveling and smash techniques. Some vagabonds like to have a lot of Vital Energy, but it is recommended to only have the minimum of 8 Essence points, or just the requirement of a karma relic and to increase it instead with relics and/or accessories. More than 8 points on Essense is not recommended because those Chi Points can be invested into other and for a vagabond more important attributes.

Wisdom
Wisdom is not needed at all as vagabond. Wisdom increases Chi Kung Damage, Chi Kung Defence, Chi Kung Attack Rating and Chi Kung Dodge. Only Chi Kung Artists (Nukers) need those. Since vagabonds don't have any chi kung techniques, it is recommended to have only the minimum of 8 Wisdom points, or max. the wisdom requirement of karma relics.


Elixirs

The most important thing to know about elixirs is: You should try to maximize your elixirs, since they can raise your attributes permanently. You can maximize each elixir level, until you got +26 on each attribute.

Level 1 Elixirs:
Are consumable from Losing Self 1 on and give a maximum +2.

Level 2 Elixirs:
Are consumable from Losing Self 1 on and give a maximum +3.

Level 3 Elixirs:
Are consumable from Losing Self 1 on and give a maximum +4.

Level 4 Elixirs:
Are consumable from Gathering Chi 1 on and give a maximum +5.

Level 5 Elixirs:
Are consumable from Opening Chi 1 on and give a maximum +6.

Level 6 Elixirs:
Are consumable from Raising Light 1 on and give a maximum +6.

Elixirs are important, but you don't need to have them maximized too soon. You can take some time for that. If you maximized them on level Sun and Moon, then that's already very early.

Phase 5 - Weapons

What weapon is the best?

Many young vagabonds ask the same question: "What is the best weapon?"

If a vagabond recommends a weapon, then (s)he clearly doesn't know what (s)he's talking about. Every weapon got its advantages and disadvantages. Some say, Axes make the most damage of all weapons, if it is high refined; Some say, Spear is the fastest to grind; Some say, Fists are the best for PvP; Some say, Polearm is the best for PvE & PvP, because of the stun rate of the Polearm mastery.

However; Vagabonds just got basic skills. You may notice a difference as a low level, especially because the Basic Demon or Basic Wu-Tang skills make a bit more damage than the other basics. But at a higher level, you won't notice anything. At a high level it's just about the weapon, the equipment, and the Mastery Points.

As already said, the power and strength of a True Vagabond doesn't come from his technique, but from his knowledge and wisdom. A vagabonds knowledge is what makes him put his equipment together. To get the best items, one has to think about how to get it. Others just waste a lot of money, but the possibilities of a vagabond are limited. A vagabond has to be smart to get the best things while losing or wasting as little as possible.

There are vagabonds who like to have many different weapons, for every situation another one. But in my opinion, a person should only focus oneself on one weapon. This gives more possibilities for the refining, searching and buying weapons. Otherwise you will have to spend more money for different weapons, and this money could be used as a vagabond for better things, for example for elixirs, relics, ornaments or clothes. Vagabonds need the best items to keep up with other players.

Anyway; Fact is, there is no best weapon. Just choose the weapon which fits your character and your personality - And then, stick with it.


Raising Light Weapon Recommendation

Collect level 2 Elixirs (non-dungeon), one of each elixir, and 5 Blood Essences, until Raising Light 4.

Those items are necessary for the Wan Daye's Raising Light Weapon collection. No matter what weapon you will choose - The RL WD weapon will have a 3/1000 damage absorbed into Life attribute. Soon you will see, that life drain is the future of your vagabond. However; Just RL WD bracers do not have life drain, but vagabonds don't use bracers... With this weapon, you own already a good item which will help you a lot on grinding.


Golden Blossoms Weapon Recommendation

Collect level 5 Elixirs (non-dungeon), one of each elixir, and 25 Blood Essences, until Golden Blossoms 4.

Those items are necessary for the Wan Daye's Golden Blossoms Weapon collection. If you chose Saber, Spear, Sword, Wheels, Staff, or Cudgel, the GB WD weapon will have a 2/1000 damage absorbed into Life attribute. Dagger, Axe, Gloves and Bracers will not have any life drain attribute.

Phase 6 - Clothes

Hat

As soon you are Raising Light 12, you can wear a so-called "HP hat". It is the Survivor of the Vault of Death's Hat and got a 1/1000 damage absorbed into Life attribute. Those are the pictures:

The best would be to buy one of these hats with 2 slots to bind ornaments in it. I will get later to ornaments.

Of course you can use a hat from the Cave Hawker with a 2/1000 damage absorbed into Life attribute instead. However, the clothes from the Cave Hawker can't have slots. Without slots, the HP hats from the Cave Hawker may be better, but with slots I recommend the Survivor of the Vault of Death's Hat.

There are of course also VE hats from the Cave Hawker, which absorb 1 or 2/1000 into Vital Energy, but at a high level the most vagabonds just grind without any vital energy, since it is not needed then anymore.


Jacket & Pants

Of course, the best clothes for vagabonds are the defense clothes. There are set's from Wan Daye collections, from the Cave Hawker black market and from the Tibet drapery.

Wan Daye got sets of 100, 120, 160, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 defense (+ some life and vital energy). There is no level requirement for the Wan Dayes defense clothes, but each collection just appears at a certain level. For more informations, visit the link provided in the very first post of this guide.

The Cave Hawker got sets of 100, 200, 400 and 500 defense. The level requirement for the 100 defense set is Five Dragons 4, for the 200 defense set Five Dragons 8, for the 400 defense set Five Dragons 12 and for the 500 defense set Sun and Moon 8. For more informations, visit the link provided in the very first post of this guide.

The Tibetan defense clothes are rather recommended for low vagabonds. Both jacket and pants just have 3 pockets each and give each only +100 defense. Furthermore, they are, with a price of 1'920'000 gold each, pretty expensive and only available at the tibetan drapery NPCs.

If you do not have high level friends who can make the right collection for you, then you should try to buy the defense clothes from the Cave Hawker from another player. They will most probably be cheaper than the tibetan defense clothes.


Shoes

At Raising Light 12 you will also be able to wear the Survivor of the Vault of Death's Shoes. They have a +15% Speed attribute. Try to buy these shoes with 2 slots. You can, of course, also buy normal shoes without any attributes but with 2 slots, if you don't want the +15% speed. However; The two slots of the shoes will help you more than other vagabond shoes from the Cave Hawker, which are unable to have slots. I will get later to ornaments.


Wristbands

Try to save your money for +300 or +400 damage wristbands. There are two kinds of those:

True General Wei's Gongsun Family's Hermit's Wristbands

They can only be dropped by True General Wei. They give +300 damage and can have 2 slots, however, that's rather a rare drop. You can save your money to buy one of those to wear them as soon as possible, since they don't have any level requirement. Here are the pictures:


The Cave Hawker's Master's Wristbands

You can get them an the Cave Hawker, but the level requirement for the +300 damage wristbands is Five Dragons 12 and for the +400 damage wristbands Sun and Moon 8. However; Like all other clothes from the Cave Hawker they are unable to have slots.

Phase 7 - Relics & Accessories

Dodge Trinket

The so-called "Dodge Trinket" is very useful, especially at the beginning. It will give you +100 dodge and +1% Life. You will notice that your enemies will miss you more. Here's a picture of it:


Try to get one as fast as possible, either by buying one or by trying to get one by yourself from the Knife of White Shadow boss. He is in every start map (except Bamboo Village) and has a low chance to drop this item. In The Cave of The Conqueror there are a few bosses who are able to drop this item as well. In the 1st floor, there are the bosses Blade of Black Shadow and Heavenly Claw of White Shadow. In the 2nd floor there's one boss, Ghostly Claw of Blood Shadows. And in the 3rd floor there's one boss as well, Steel Blade The Dark Lord.


Wan Daye's Blue Jade Seal

The collections for Wan Daye's Blue Jade Seal are in-game under Living (shortcut: "L"), in the category Collectibles. The names of the collections, which you have to do first, are the following:
- Remains of Four Nobles
- The Four Calligraphy Books of The Tang Dynasty
- The Statues of Five Generals
- The Eight Statues
- The Three Highest Quality Liquors

Each one of these collections will give you a relic which gives you +4 at an attribute. On the collection The Gold Seals of Five Elements you can collect these 5 relics you gathered from the collections named above to get the Wan Daye's Blue Jade Seal. Here's a picture of it:


You should try to collect all items for this collections as soon as possible.


Order of Double weapon

The collections for the Order of Double weapon are in-game under Living (shortcut: "L"), in the category Resource. Click on Hefei to see the possible collections available in Hefei. Click on the name Crafts Merchant, Gaun Ding, then you will see a few collections from this NPC. Scroll down until you see the following collections which you have to do:
- Order of Blue weapon
- Order of Black weapon
- Order of Red weapon

Each one of these collection will give you a relic which you need to collect again, on the collection called Order of Double weapon to get the item. Here's a picture of it:


You should try to collect all items for this collections as soon as possible.


HP Trinket

As soon as you got most of the important items which are essential for your survival, you can try to save your money to buy a so-called "HP Trinket". It has a 2/1000 of damage absorbed into Life attribute and increases your Life by 2%. Here's a picture of it:


You can, however, also ask your friends for help or try to get it with another character of yours who isn't too high or too low and makes enough damage. The only boss in the whole game who can drop this item is in the 4th floor of The Cave of The Conqueror and is named Dark Sword the Shadow Lord.


Defense Trinket

You should also try to save your money, after gathering more important items, for the so-called "Defense Trinket", or, of course, ask your friends or try to get it with another character of yours as well. It increases your defense by 200 and your Life by 2%. Here's a picture of it:


The only boss in the whole game who can drop this item is in the 3rd floor of The Cave of The Conqueror and is named Vicious Fist the Blood Lord.

Phase 8 - Liaodong

Basic Knowledge

The reason why Liaodong gets its very own phase in this guide is because it will most probably be the map which helps you to get the most money as a vagabond.

As soon as you are Elemental Crown 1, you can start to grind in Liaodong. Don't be affraid - If you did well until now, you will be able to grind there pretty good at this level already. I even believe you will enjoy the grinding much more once again. You will be able to finally make faster money.

Almost all mobs in Liaodong drop the items A Secret Letter of Yakumo, A Piece of Red Clothes and Sorcerer's Amulet. If you want to make money as fast as possible, then just collect the Secret Letter's of Yakumo and trade 10 pieces of them at the merchant of Liaodong for 1 purple Golden Coins dungeon pass. They are more worth than Beast Tower dungeon passes, which need the same items to collect. You can sell the Golden Coins passes to other players and earn money on this way.

The other possibility is to collect the Secret Letter's of Yakumo and the Sorcerer's Amulets and to trade 10 pieces of both items for 1 red Golden Coins pass, and then to keep all the passes until you can do Golden Coins dungeon runs by your own. When you can start to do Golden Coins dungeon runs, you will make a lot of money with the items you can get in there. A lot more than if you would sell the passes.

It is recommended to stay in Liaodong until Golden Lotus 1. The mobs may be already green for you, but you should get the same experience as from a white or yellow mob in North Sea Icy Palace. Furthermore, you can collect further the items to collect Golden Coins passes.

Phase 9 - Ornaments

Wardrobe Ornaments

With the two slots of your hat and the two slots of your shoes you should have at least 4 empty slots now. I recommend to fill the slots with the best dodge ornaments available in-game, which can be get at the Cave Hawker. The best dodge ornaments will give you +130 dodge each. Here's a picture of it:


There is also a Chi Kung Dodge version of this ornament, but I advice you to take the normal dodge ornaments and to focus your grinding mainly on melee creatures instead of chi kung ones. You may, of course, fill your slots with Chi Kung Dodge ornaments instead, if you wish to do so.

With all 4 slots filled with these ornaments, you will have +520 Dodge, which would be equal to 130 Dexterity Chi Points.


Weapon Ornaments

When you are Crimson Snake (at the latest) you should use a new weapon. Since there are no higher level weapons with HP drain attributes, you need to save money for HP drain weapon ornaments. They can be found at the Cave Hawker as well.

Some people get a lot of good items with a little amount of money, while other people waste more money than one of the highest HP drain ornament is worth, and some would still have nothing good. Therefore it's up to you if you want to try your luck to get HP drain ornaments from the Cave Hawker or if you rather want to save your money to buy it from another person.

There are 4 HP drain weapon ornaments: 3/1000 HP drain, 4/1000 HP drain, 6/1000 HP drain and 7/1000 HP drain. Here are the pictures:



As soon as you get one of these, even if it is the lowest one, you can change your weapon to a Blood Dragon weapon with slots or a Hermit weapon. With these ornaments you will be ready for the North Sea Icy Palace.


Detaching Ornaments

If you want to change your weapon or clothes later but want to keep your old ornaments, then just buy a so-called Detachment Tool from the Item Mall. It will detach you 1 ornament from a weapon or a cloth and put it back into your bag.

Phase 10 - High Level

Advanced Knowledge

If you get a high level and start to make a lot of money, save for the following items, which you will enjoy for sure in your vagabond journey:

Plate of Earthly Storm


Bloody Marble of Red Shout


Blood Bead of Earth


There are more good items which are not listed here, and maybe there will be more in the future. You can also exchange Master & Disciple contribution points for some of the best in-game items. However; At the end it's up to you what items you take and use.


Item Mall

There's also the possibility, for Item Mall users, to buy a permanent deco. The permanent deco from the Item Mall should have already 2 slots, therefore you should buy 2 Jade Seperators from the Item Mall as well, to add 2 more slots. You can do that at Yang Yuntai, the Master of Ornaments in Hefei. The best ornaments for it would, of course, be again 4 dodge ornaments, or 4 chi kung dodge ornaments, depending on what you prefer.

Here's an example with my favorite deco:




Note:
Please do not copy my guide.
Feel free to link to the guide in here, or to give at least the right credits.