Blade: Jin

[Shirai]

Re: Blade: Jin

I'll add some not overly difficult to get gear as suggestion.

Head: Anwig Salade ( STR +4, DEX +4, WS ACCU +15, Increased WS DMG) or Maat's Cap (STR and DEX +7)

Both are decent option, though my preference goes out to Anwig because of the WS accuracy.
Personally I own neither, I use Voyager Sallet on lower evasion mobs and O-hat on higher evasion.
I haven't considered my options for 80 gear though, since I'm not sure if I'll take nin any further.

Neck: Chiv Torque

Alternatives:
PCC/PCA
Hope Torque
Breeze/Thunder Gorget

Ear 1: Pixie Earring
Ear 2: Brutal Earring

Brutal is a keeper, Aesir earring for the other.

Body: Haub

Keeper, replace with +1 if you get the gil.

Hand: Ochi Kote

Alternatives:
Ninja tekko +1
Koga Tekko (+1) at night

Ring1: Flame Ring
Ring2: Rajas Ring

Keepers, though Strigoi ring if you can get your mitts on them.
There's also the STR+6 "HQ'" Ring now, Vulcan's Ring.
On high evasion mobs I stick to Accuracy rings.

Back: Anment Mantle +1

Alternatives:
Forager's mantle
Cerberus Mantle (+1)
Cuchulain's Mantle
Aesir mantle

Waist: Warwolf Belt

I believe this has finally met its replacement too, cannot remember what it's called though.
Seems to be an Abyssea NM drop.

Legs: Byakko

Keeper, although I personally use Usukane Hizayoroi for the STR and +10 Attack.

Feet: Usu or the pink feet?

I personally wouldn't use anything from the Aurore set at all on nin, it's not a bad set, but there's a lot better for nin.
Usukane feet are a much better choice, if you have them.
Another option is Rutter sabatons.
You can also try for Agrona's Leggings - FFXIclopedia, the Final Fantasy XI wiki - Characters, items, jobs, and more, only downside is, Yilbegan's droprate on these sucks.

At night you can try to go all DEX built by using Koga feet, but from my own experience Attack and STR give more consitent numbers with the occasional spike when Double attack procs during the WS.

Also even with 8/8 Katana merits, Accuracy stays one of the most important stats.
Especially when it comes to Blade: Jin.
As much as I enjoy the quote "I stack strength so I can whiff harder" I hate to see it happen in my parties.

[Zempten]

Re: Blade: Jin

Awesome, thanks. I like the Ninja Tekko +1 alternative. How is Hope torque easy to get btw? Also what about the magian trial things?

I'm going to keep pushing NIN in hopes that by 99 there is a new Utsusemi and more Dual Wield love ^ ^

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Blade: Jin

I'm going to keep pushing NIN in hopes that by 99 there is a new Utsusemi and more Dual Wield love ^ ^

There is indeed a new, player-usable Utsusemi: San in the .dat files. Odds are Ninja will see one more level of the Dual Wield job trait by 99, as well.