[darkshroud]

If you want to know how to become a blade, check out at least one of the following guides, Micheal's "Str and Dex Blade GUide"
"Blades 102" or just try to find a build that u like on the forums. Also, the skills u max need as a merc to be blade, are... Sword mastery, Blazingsword, Smiteaxe(i think...), axe mastery, some people have said u will need pan barrier as a blade and some haven't(ur choice), sneaker to 19 or maxed, basically all the self buff skills besides sneaker. The set u will need is panggril set at lvl 45 and for money after u get past ur 2nd job as a blade, kill giants like mushelizer (this is talking to both you and ur friend)