Rgarding your question. Powerstrike ofc.
About athletics:
The most indirect, yet equally important buff for both, offensive and defensive abilities.
With equal or better athletics you can decide to go in or out of somebodies weaponrange.
You ofc dictate if somebody is in your weaponrange.
You reach ranged personal faster, every point is a 5% smaller chance to get hit by a projectile (exageration)
IF always is a nice addition, but believe me, lack of athletics is by far a bigger loss.