Bishop in Lineage 2 — Bishop and Cardinal guide

The Bishop at a glance

A Human Mystic starts with INT 41, WIT 20 and MEN 39: plenty of MP and debuff resistance, but slow casting — set bonuses, the weapon SA and dyes are what speed it up.

How to get the Bishop classes

Besides the class itself, Saga of the Cardinal pays out XP, adena and a Secret Book of Giants — you need that book for the first step of skill enchanting.

Bishop heals: what to press and when

The table lists the main Bishop heals. Values are for the last 2nd-class level. In the aCis build the heal power also gets a bonus from M. Atk. and, with spiritshots, a bonus from the skill's MP cost; other builds may use a different formula.

In a fight: keep the tank up with Major Heal and weave Greater Battle Heal in between when damage comes in bursts. For the party, use Major Group Heal, and switch to Greater Group Heal once you run out of Spirit Ore. Restore Life and Benediction are your emergency buttons for when everything else is on cooldown.

Benediction does not always fire. It has a condition on the Bishop's own MP: current MP must be 25% of max or lower. Keep 214 MP for the cast itself — Benediction is the answer to "I'm out of MP and the party is about to die".

Prayer and healing. Prayer gives the party "healing received ×1.12" for 20 minutes. The multiplier boosts regular heals, but not Restore Life, Benediction or Body of Avatar: those heal a percentage of max HP.

How to play a Bishop in Interlude

In a party and on raids

The Bishop stands at the back, within his 600 heal range, and watches the HP bars. His 1st-class buffs are weak: Might, Shield and Acumen stay at Cleric level (Acumen level 2 — casting speed ×1.23). With a Prophet in the party you can skip them: the Prophet's versions are higher level, and his Blessed Body shares a type with Body Of Avatar. The Bishop's own buff is Prayer.

Body Of Avatar — party max HP ×1.35 for 20 minutes plus an instant heal for 35% HP; 600-second reuse, MP 530. Without a Prophet it stays on the party at all times; with one, it becomes an emergency heal.

Resurrection: Resurrection restores 70% of lost XP, Mass Resurrection gives back 55% to every dead clan member and alliance ally within 600, 600-second reuse; a party from outside your clan will not be raised. In the aCis build the percentage also grows with the Bishop's WIT, capped at 90%.

MP. The Bishop has no MP recovery of his own except Invocation: 126 MP every 3 seconds for up to 30 seconds, and the whole time you stay rooted with P. Def. ×0.1; the first hit on you cancels the whole effect — both the root and the MP regen; 900-second reuse. For long fights you want an Elven or Shillien Elder with Recharge.

Saving an ally. Celestial Shield makes the target invulnerable for 10 seconds, 2,400-second reuse. Heals do not land on a shielded target, so heal first and shield second. From level 79 there is Salvation for 2 Einhasad's Holy Water: if the target dies within 60 minutes, it gets an instant offer to stand up with full HP and MP and no XP loss, and buffs are not lost on death.

Solo on undead

The Bishop deals damage only to undead. Might of Heaven is holy magic with power 87, a 2.5-second cast and a 4-second reuse, and it does nothing to other monsters. Undead control: Hold Undead — 120-second paralysis, Turn Undead — 6-second fear for 5 Spirit Ore, Requiem — every undead within 1000 drops its aggro on you.

A few casts of Might of Heaven and you have to sit down to regen MP. That is why solo leveling is slow for a Bishop, while in a party from level 40 he gets the Greater heals and Mass Resurrection.

PvP and control

Trance — a 15-second sleep with a 3-second cast and 5-second reuse; the old Sleep takes 10 seconds to cast and is close to useless in PvP. Against mages — Mana Burn (range 900), Mana Storm on everyone within 200, and Magical Backfire: the target's MP cost for magic and physical skills ×3 for 30 seconds. Against summoners — Erase: removes the pet for 5 Spirit Ore.

Which buffs don't stack

Interlude resolves this by stackType and stackOrder: the higher order replaces the lower one regardless of cast order, and with equal order the last one applied stays.

Bishop skills by level

1–20 · Human Mystic

20–40 · Cleric

The full Cleric tree costs 738,800 SP. Get the heals and Resurrection first, then Disrupt Undead for solo play.

40–76 · Bishop

The full 2nd-class tree costs 83,214,000 SP. Order: heals → Major Heal and Major Group Heal as soon as they unlock → Body Of Avatar and Prayer → PvP control. Level Might of Heaven only if you solo on undead.

By default level 1 of almost every skill needs a spellbook; some servers turn that requirement off. Almost all the books drop from monsters: Spellbook: Major Heal — from Lost Gargoyle Youngling lv. 56 at 1.9%, Spellbook: Benediction — from Spiteful Soul Leader lv. 65 at 0.771%. Spellbook: Celestial Shield is sold for 9,720 adena by Rupert and Natasha, Spellbook: Invocation — for 7,500 adena by the same two, and for more by Wesley.

Cardinal skills — the Bishop's 3rd class

📖 — the skill needs a spellbook (by default). The whole 3rd class costs 513,020,000 SP, and 300 million of that goes on Purification Field and Miracle at level 80. The Balance Life book drops from Lilim Slayer lv. 75, Mass Block Shield and Mass Block Wind Walk books — from Ketra Orc Shaman lv. 79. Four books drop only from dinosaurs: Spellbook: Cleanse — from Pterosaur lv. 87, Spellbook: Salvation — from Ornithomimus lv. 84 (1.72%), Ancient Spellbook: Purification Field — from Tyrannosaurus lv. 87, Ancient Spellbook: Miracle — from Velociraptor lv. 86 (0.614%). Purification Field and Miracle do not work in the Olympiad.

Mass Block Shield and Mass Block Wind Walk are the Cardinal's main PvP tools. They have the highest order in their type: the debuff knocks Shield, Chant of Shielding, Blessings of Pa'agrio, Wind Walk and Sprint off enemies, and while it is up those buffs cannot be reapplied. Turn Arcane Wisdom on in long fights, when MP matters more than casting speed.

Bishop skill enchanting

From level 76, 2nd-class skills can be enchanted up to +30 along one of two routes: power or MP cost. The first steps succeed often, while +30 has a 3% chance at level 80. Cardinal skills cannot be enchanted.

For raids, enchant Prayer or Body Of Avatar for duration first; for the Olympiad, Major Heal for MP.

Bishop gear

Grades open at levels 20, 40, 52, 61 and 76. Armor means a robe: Spellcraft cuts casting speed ×0.5 in anything that isn't a robe; in light armor Light Armor Mastery almost gives it back (×1.91). Weapon — one-handed with SA Acumen for casting speed.

1–20 · no grade

20–40 · D grade

40–52 · C grade

52–61 · B grade

61–76 · A grade

76–80 · S grade

Jewelry goes for M. Def.: Necklace of Mermaid at C, Necklace of Black Ore at B, Majestic Necklace at A, Tateossian Necklace at S. Stay away from bows and polearms: with them Weapon Mastery gives casting speed ×0.7.

Where to level a Bishop

The Bishop only hurts undead, so the zones are picked around them: "Best for a Bishop" lists places where the table has undead or where Bishop spellbooks drop; the rest are for leveling in a party. The tables show the monsters with the best XP per HP and two valuable drops each; chances are at x1 rate.

Level 20–40 · Cleric

Best for a Bishop: Ruins of Agony — undead skeletons for Disrupt Undead; Dion Arena — two undead skeletons; Execution Grounds — the undead Ghoul lv. 32.

4 more zones

Zone	Monster	Drop (chance at x1 rate)
Breka's Stronghold	Breka Orc Overlord lv. 35	Oriharukon Ore 0.82%, Bone Arrow 16.67%
	Breka Orc Archer lv. 32	Scroll: Enchant Armor (Grade D) 0.41%, Elven Bow Shaft 0.17%
	Breka Orc Warrior lv. 33	Tiger's Eye Earring Stone 1.18%, Oriharukon Ore 0.47%
Crypts of Disgrace	Grave Robber Ranger lv. 28	Steel 1.14%, Adamantite Nugget 0.41%
	Grim Wolf lv. 25	Leather 1.14%, Recipe: Enchanted Necklace 0.79%
	Grave Robber Guard lv. 29	Compound Braid 0.67%, Oriharukon Ore 0.5%
Catacomb of the Heretic	Catacomb Stakato Soldier lv. 38	Sword of Revolution Blade 0.58%, Recipe: Durable Metal Plate(100%) 1.03%
	Grave Sentinel lv. 35	Metal Hardener 0.56%, Oriharukon Ore 0.94%
	Grave Monk lv. 37	Strengthened Long Bow Shaft 0.58%, Greater Magic Haste Potion 0.78%
The Pilgrim's Necropolis	Vault Sentinel lv. 35	Shilen Knife Edge 0.23%, Stone of Purity 1.23%
	Vault Monk lv. 37	Crucifix of Blood Piece 0.47%, High Grade Suede 1.43%
	Catacomb Shadow lv. 34	Helmet 0.12%, Hoplon 0.17%

Level 40–52

Best for a Bishop: Dragon Valley — all three monsters are undead; Catacomb of the Branded — undead with high XP per HP; The Enchanted Valley — the Body of Avatar spellbook from Unicorn lv. 49.

3 more zones

Zone	Monster	Drop (chance at x1 rate)
Necropolis of Worship	Vault Overlord lv. 45	Chain Mail Shirt Material 0.96%, Chain Gaiters Part 1.96%
	Catacomb Gargoyle lv. 43	Scallop Jamadhr Edge 0.57%, Recipe: Battle Axe 0.16%
	Vault Priest lv. 47	Spellbook: Servitor Empowerment 7.7%, Spellbook: Servitor Cure 12.99%
Garden of Eva	Garden Guard Leader lv. 50	Fisted Blade Piece 0.4%, Mold Glue 0.74%
	Doll Master lv. 50	Grace Dagger Edge 0.19%, Dark Screamer Edge 0.19%
	Blade Stakato Drone lv. 44	Durable Metal Plate 0.69%, Recipe: Rind Leather Armor 0.52%
Hardin's Academy	Headless Knight lv. 50	Tower Shield Fragment 0.4%, Composite Shield Fragment 0.4%

Unicorn lv. 49 also drops Spellbook: Repose — 3.72%. Nearby, the level 53 Valley Treant Elder lv. 53 drops Spellbook: Vitalize and Spellbook: Hold Undead — 3.27% each.

Level 52–61

Best for a Bishop: The Cemetery — two of the three monsters are undead; Tower of Insolence — the undead Ghost of the Tower lv. 60, the best XP per HP among the zones in the main table; Fields of Massacre — the undead Doom Servant lv. 60, and the same zone also makes the "Best" list of the next range.

2 more zones

Zone	Monster	Drop (chance at x1 rate)
Catacomb of the Apostate	Purgatory Serpent lv. 56	Zubei's Gaiter Material 0.49%, Avadon Gaiters Material 0.49%
	Tomb Archon lv. 55	Nassen's Earring Gemstone 1.22%, Necklace of Binding Chain 0.96%
	Hell Keeper Medusa lv. 58	Amulet: Ritual of Life 2.15%, Spellbook: Aqua Splash 2.61%
Blazing Swamp	Wretched Archer lv. 55	Eminence Bow Shaft 0.16%, Enria 0.19%

Level 61–76

Best for a Bishop: Fields of Massacre — all three are undead, and Spiteful Soul Leader lv. 65 drops the Benediction spellbook too; Catacomb of the Witch — two undead, with better XP per HP than Fields of Massacre; Necropolis of Martyrdom — two undead out of three.

2 more zones

Zone	Monster	Drop (chance at x1 rate)
Devastated Castle	Doom Warrior lv. 64	Bellion Cestus Edge 0.14%, Life Stone: level 64 0.11%
Catacomb of Dark Omens	Tomb Guard lv. 75	Spellbook - Curse of Doom 4.54%, Spellbook - Curse of Abyss 4.54%
	Lesser Ancient Scout lv. 74	Sealed Dark Crystal Leather Armor Pattern 0.34%, Sealed Tallum Leather Armor Pattern 0.24%
	Crypt Preacher lv. 72	Sealed Dark Crystal Robe Fabric 0.23%, Sealed Tallum Tunic Texture 0.32%

Level 76–80 · Cardinal

Best for a Bishop: Imperial Tomb — undead with the best XP per HP; Catacomb of the Forbidden Path — the Divine Protection spellbook from Tomb Preacher lv. 77 (4.83%); Chapel Guards — the undead Temple Guard lv. 80 by the Pagan Temple. The undead here are level 77–80, so a Bishop has an easier time in a party.

1 more zone

Zone	Monster	Drop (chance at x1 rate)
The Disciple's Necropolis	Sepulcher Preacher lv. 77	Sealed Dark Crystal Shield Fragment 0.93%, Sealed Dark Crystal Helmet Design 0.68%

Bishop dyes

There are no INT dyes for a Bishop — only WIT, MEN, CON, DEX and STR. WIT raises casting speed and the XP percentage from resurrection; MEN raises MP, MP regen and resistance to sleep, paralysis and fear. The Bishop has no use for STR at all, and it's better not to cut DEX (run speed) or CON (HP).

Subclasses for a Bishop

A subclass can be taken from level 75 — on the main class and on every subclass you already have. By default you need the Mimir's Elixir and Fate's Whisper quests; the limit is three subclasses.

• Bishop as the main class. Any 2nd class works as a subclass except your own, Overlord and Warsmith. The Bishop barely kills anything himself, so a nuker sub gives him solo leveling and farming.
• Bishop as a subclass. No restrictions — people take it for resurrection and heals on their own character.

Subclass skills only work while that subclass is active; Interlude has no shared skills for subclasses.

Bishop in the Olympiad

Only nobles can enter the Olympiad, and only on the main class — not with a subclass active. The Bishop plays for a long fight: he keeps healing himself and burns through the opponent's MP and time.

• Against a mage: Magical Backfire (MP cost ×3), then Mana Burn and Mana Storm — the mage runs dry before you do.
• Against a fighter: Trance while he runs at you, and Mass Block Wind Walk once he is close (200 radius); Celestial Shield on yourself — 10 seconds of invulnerability; heals do not land through it, so heal up first.
• Against debuffers: Cleanse removes debuffs from you for Einhasad's Holy Water, and Wisdom already gives +20% resistance to sleep and hold.

Purification Field and Miracle do not work in the Olympiad. Enchanting Major Heal for MP is exactly what pays off in long matches.

All Bishop skills

The full Bishop and Cardinal tree — skill levels, SP and MP:

Other classes are in the Lineage 2 classes section. A party is easier to put together on a fresh server: check rates and launch dates in the Interlude server list and on Interlude+ servers, other chronicles are in new L2 server openings.