I’ve played both Kalikke and Val KKnight (and a full Kknight on Depths). You can see the difference clear as day if you’ve been thru the leveling yourself. Same with being able to wear Heavy and Shield with DR from Earth letting you start out in melee where you can even just do some straight up Tripping if you want. Feats you need: Weapon Focus, Dazzling, Shatter, Outflank, Fury’s Fall, Tandem Trip, Trip, Greater Trip along with the usual nice things to have like Improved Initiative, Shake it Off etc. You can pick up the regular Trips via bonus Feats (at the cost of talents) and even Dazzling from Fire if you want but that’s still five minimum* on a class that gets no bonus feats.
The Feat tax for DEX-based is too high on classes with no bonus Feats that also want CMs because you also need Agile Maneuvers. Especially when you’ve got an archetype right there that gives you Heavy and a Shield. Either you’re playing Core where that should be enough AC or you’re going to need AoE AC on higher difficulties anyway.