Alchemist

This is the most straightforward combat bridge from Merchant. It stays centered on Cart Revolution for AoE pulls, while Mammonite remains your single-target finisher. It is the cleanest choice if you want a second class that still levels like an aggressive Merchant but gains utility on top.

This path is generally the least setup-heavy way to enter Alchemist while you decide whether to stay combat-oriented or branch harder into Homunculus and brewing later.

This is the practical low-cost route for players who want to melee quickly while building into the class systems. It uses high attack speed, some FLEE support from gear, and straightforward weapons while gradually adding Bioethics and Call Homunculus into the build. It is also the cleaner fit for AoY's roaming rule, because Homunculus EXP stops after 30 seconds of standing still.

It is the least punishing entry point for players who want to learn the class without immediately paying for high consumable usage. Since Alchemist does not get a native FLEE steroid, it helps to pair this route with gear such as Snake Head [1], Chick Hat, and a FLEE garment like a whisper-carded manteau.

This is the higher-cost offensive route for players who want faster burst and are comfortable maintaining bottles. It relies on Acid Terror for focused ranged pressure and Demonstration for persistent fire-zone damage.

It is strong, but it is also the most resource-intensive Alchemist leveling path. If you do not want regular bottle costs, the melee or Cart Revolution routes are easier to sustain.

This route trades some direct damage for steadier front-line presence and stronger party utility. It uses higher VIT, enough AGI to stay comfortable, and leans more heavily on Potion Pitcher and the chemical protection suite.

It is the best fit if you want Alchemist to function as a durable support bridge instead of purely a leveling damage class.

This route exists to reach stable Homunculus play as efficiently as possible. You keep personal combat investment low, push survivability and AGI high enough to reach the class systems, then let the Homunculus carry more of the long-term farming load. On AoY, though, it is not truly an idle AFK route because Homunculus EXP stops after 30 seconds without roaming.

It is not the fastest early combat route, but it is the most direct path for players whose main goal is long-term Homunculus utility.

This is the dedicated potion-creation route. It pushes brewing success rates as hard as possible, but in return it is one of the least comfortable leveling builds and usually depends on outside support or later-stage progression.

If you have access to support from Gypsy or Clown, especially with Marionette Control support, the stat pressure becomes easier to manage. Without that support, it is usually better to treat brewing as a later specialization instead of your first Alchemist experience.