[LadyLightning]

#1: WIL ~ Mages' offensive stat also lets them melee effectively with classes like Monk, and even contributes to a Magick Gunner's weapon damage. More FP for everyone, so even a Kensei wants at least 15 WIL.
#2: LUC ~ More crits means more chainshells. LUC also contributes the most to your crit evade, which means less enemy chainshells against you.
#3: SKI ~ More crits means more chainshells. SKI also contributes to your hit, which can help you face off against dodgers who don't use VA in their build.
#4: CEL ~ Going first is very important, but not as important as dealing high damage. Thankfully, CEL makes Rapid Kick amazing, so CEL is also a damage stat. It doesn't help in as many ways as the ones above though.
#5: FAI ~ Easy enough to get, though not in any sort of plentiful amount. Every character should have 5 ranks in Devotion, which procs often enough to be valuable. FAI also directly increases your hit, through use of a blessed weapon.
#6: DEF ~ At very high base DEF values, such as 50 or more, it's great for PvE against most things, or PvP against... other Black Knights. Not Kensei, because they have Power Gradation. Good idea, but too many ways to ignore it.
#7: VIT ~ High HP can be very useful, though against certain things it can be a detriment. Poison was nerfed recently, though, so high VIT is only really a detriment against vampires and liches now, who can Life Drain 10% of your HP.
#8: STR ~ High STR is a necessity for melee. However, melee gets the short end of the stick in literally everything. Plus, STR has no 50% class to make it a viable growth option either, compared to WIL.
#9: RES ~ We are Lexy of Borg. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.