How early can you get a WS? (ie: when do merits kick in)

[Mohican]

I'm looking to get Guillotine early with merits. I'm wondering if i need to worry with more then 4 merits to get it as early as possible.

I thought merits kicked in one every 10 lvls... then the 8th at 75. Is this true?

If so skillcap for scythe on DRK is:
lvl skillcap
56 183
57 188
58 193
59 198
60 203

So if I had 6 merits in scythe all active I could get guillotine at 57 right? 188+ 6 merits (12 skill) = 200. But if no merits above the 5th count until 60 then i'd only be able to get guillotine at 58 and would just need 4 merits.

Is this correct? do i need 4 merits to get it at 58, or can i have 6 merits and get guillotine at 57?

save the "why not just put 8 merits into it and be done"... b/c i have 8 in sword for my blu and put 6 into evasion while lvlng NIN. not sure I want to remove too many merits if i don't have to right now.

[Ryko]

Skill merits kick in every 10 levels with the 8th being at 75. This means that it depends on the WS (but usually lies somewhere in the 1-3 level range depending on your skill grade), as I got savage blade on PLD like 5 levels early (compared to when you're supposed to unlock it, only 3 levels ahead of when I would have unlocked it otherwise assuming I already had it) because of it at 66.

To answer your question, it would be 4 merits to get it at 58, you don't get the 6th merit till 60.

[Tythera]

I just tested it myself against the list on the badwiki

1-9 0
10-19 1
20-29 2
30-39 3
40-49 4
50-54 5
55-59 6
60-64 7
65-75 8

and my 57 BLM has 12 sword skill (full sword merits) so 6 are active, which means then that they could get guillotine at 57.

[Thorny]

I can also confirm that, my Thief got Dancing Edge at 57. Also, how do you put 6 merits into evasion?

[Resin]

I can also confirm that, my Thief got Dancing Edge at 57. Also, how do you put 6 merits into evasion?

You can't. 4 max into defensive combat abilities (evasion, parrying, guard, shield).

[Shinryuu]

That's kinda what he meant, yo

And the last merit is definitely not at 75. You'd know that if you'd delevel as often as I do ;_;

[Zilong]

Skill merits kick in every 10 levels with the 8th being at 75. This means that it depends on the WS (but usually lies somewhere in the 1-3 level range depending on your skill grade), as I got savage blade on PLD like 5 levels early (compared to when you're supposed to unlock it, only 3 levels ahead of when I would have unlocked it otherwise assuming I already had it) because of it at 66.

To answer your question, it would be 4 merits to get it at 58, you don't get the 6th merit till 60.

Actually, it's 10 level per merit until 50, then 5 level afterward giving your 8th merit at 65

So yea, 6 merit give you 200 skill on A at 57, 4 at 58.