Warden

Class Difficulty: Advanced

Role: Damage/Tank

Available to races: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Gameplay: Wardens are mobile melee combatants who use Javelins for initiating combat and against ranged foes. Their unique Warden Shield and a variety of defensive skills allow them to stay in the fight longer than most. Basic Warden skills build up their Gambit chain, which can be spent to unleash special Gambit skills. In Fellowships, a Warden forces enemies to attack themself, so their more fragile allies will not be harmed by the foes.

Lore: The Warden patrols the borders of civilized lands, preventing the encroachment of fell creatures from the Wild. They limit themselves to medium armour, so they can travel swiftly and silently to defend those they protect from threats. Wardens all have some military training, and have mastered a style of combat that uses combinations of basic attacks to create masterful Gambits.

The class was inspired by the marchwarden of Lothlórien, Haldir, and his brothers Rúmil and Orophin.

A female Hobbit Warden

Class-infobox Classes Skills Traits Deeds Traceries Effects

Overview

Lore

The Warden patrols the borders of civilized lands, preventing the encroachment of fell creatures from the Wild. They limit themselves to medium armour so that they can travel swiftly and silently to defend those they protect from threats. Wardens all have some military training and have mastered a style of combat that uses combinations of basic attacks to create masterful Gambits. The class was inspired by the marchwarden of Lothlórien, Haldir, and his brothers Rúmil and Orophin.

Development Background

Turbine has explained that "the Warden's gameplay mechanics owe a debt to Tekken as much as to any Elf-lord." LotRO Executive director Jeffrey Steefel described the Warden as a character "for players [that] want to anticipate what they'll need 10 seconds from now as opposed to right this second." Creative Director Cardell Kerr describes the Warden as "the local beat cop of Middle earth ... he has this kind of utility about him."

Warden's Role in Groups

A Warden's role depends on the specialization chosen. Wardens can assume one of the following three roles:

• Tank: When a Warden specializes in the blue Determination line, they assume the role of a tank. In this role you want to draw the attention of enemies to yourself by gaining threat or aggro, to prevent harm to your allies. You are also responsible for placement of your enemies within the environment, to optimize the outgoing damage of your allies and to prevent them from standing in harmful puddles. Wardens use only medium armour, and this plays an essential part in the tanking role and the related trait tree. What the wardens lack in armour is compensated with various buffs obtained from their skills. These range from self-heals, increased avoidances and improved mitigations. Threat or aggro is primarily gained from Light-type attacks and heals. Forced taunts are only very sparsely available in the warden class. In the blue line, your threat generation from damage follows a ratio of 3:1, so you can keep up with the threat generated by DPS classes. Tanking is the warden's primary role they originally were designed for, and since their release with the Mines of Moria expansion they have always been promoted as a tank. However, due to scaling issues and lack of threat copy skills, Heavy Armour classes such as the Guardian, Captain or Beorning are currently better tanks at endgame.
• DPS (Damage Dealer): When a Warden specializes in the red Recklessness line, they focus on dealing stronger damage. When in this role, a Warden's main strength are damage over time effects or DoTs: single target bleeds and Light-type DoTs, which can be both single target and AoE. The many AoE's are a blessing, but also a curse for many challenges that often require adds not to be killed. This is especially the case in the original content of the game: Shadows of Angmar. The sustained damage of the warden is considered strong, but the burst damage of other DPS classes is higher.
• Ranged Damage and Debuffing: While no longer available as a main specialization, the yellow Assailment line, focuses on moderate damage from distance and weakening or debuffing enemies, through the use of javelins. Although it is possible to play this role, you will be seriously outclassed by nukers or other debuffing classes such as Burglars and Lore-masters. However, a hybrid yellow/red build, in which the offensive capabilities of the red line and debuffs of the yellow line are combined, can be viable.

Gambits

Gambit panel with no Gambit Icons.

Gambit panel with the Power Attack Gambit.

A Warden's most powerful abilities are achieved through the use of Gambits -- advanced skills built from special sequences of basic attacks or Gambit Builders. These builders add a Fist, Shield, Spear or Javelin icon at the end of the sequence in the Gambit Panel on the player's screen. At level 1, these sequences are limited to two icons, but sequences of up to five icons are learnt as the Warden levels up.

As they level up, Wardens obtain skills which interact with gambits. From level 24, Battle Preparation allows a Gambit to be pre-built before combat, enabling the Warden to execute a complete gambit immediately upon entering combat. The gambit can be built using either the standard builders or mastery skills.

From level 30, Wardens build Advanced Technique by completing gambits. A chain of four gambits will contribute one count of Advanced Technique up to a maximum of three. Advanced Technique enhances several of the Warden's skills such as The Way of the Spear, Desperate Combat and For the Free Peoples. Executing a skill that uses Advanced Technique will consume all counts. Advanced Technique expires out of combat. Potency skills (Defensive Strike, Deft Strike, Goad, and Ranged Deft Strike) do not contribute to gambit chains.

From level 38, the four dual-icon gambits grant the Potency effect, which stores the next gambit executed into Battle Memory. The Warden can then execute the stored gambit without having to rebuild it. Battle Memory expires out of combat.

From level 39, the Warden can make use of mastery skills to build gambit sequences faster. These are special skills that immediately grant two gambit icons without using the basic builder attacks.

Stats

Agility is the most important attribute for a Warden. It affects Physical Mastery, parry and evade ratings and Critical Rating slightly.

Agility used to give Tactical Mastery as well (which increased your Outgoing Healing), but this was removed. Vitality is also important for its Morale benefit. Prior to Update 10, a Warden's most important attribute was Might. After the change, players were given a grace period where Might and Agility would grant the same class benefits in order to update their equipment. Currently, Might gives less Physical Mastery than Agility, but it converts to the same amount of parry rating and also gives Block rating.

Equipment

Wardens are able to wear Light Armour, Medium Armour, Shields and Warden's Shields (but not Heavy Shields). Wardens get bonuses for using clubs, swords, spears, and javelins, but are also able to use daggers, one-handed axes, one-handed hammers and one-handed maces.

From level 20 onwards, they are able to use Shield-spikes and Oils, to change the Damage type of some of their skills. They can then also equip a carving in their Class Slot, which lowers the Power cost of certain gambit skills and offers stat buffs.

Skills

Default Skills

These skills are granted automatically as you gain levels. Some skills have an improved version that can be obtained by leveling further or by equipping certain traits, traceries, or armour sets.

Stance	Skills	Category	CD	Level	Builders Added
	Gambit Default	Executes Gambits	0.1s	1
	Quick Thrust	Melee Builder	0.5s	1
	Shield-bash	Melee Builder	0.5s	1
	Warden's Taunt	Melee Builder	0.5s	1
	Hampering Javelin	Ranged + Debuff	20s	2
	Ambush	Ranged + Knockout + Buff	30s	5
	In the Fray - Stance	Melee Stance	1s	10
	Assailment - Stance	Ranged Stance	1s	10
	Quick Toss	Ranged Builder	0.5s	10
	Behind the Shield	Ranged Builder	0.5s	10
	Warden's Aim	Ranged Builder	0.5s	10
	Recovery	Resets Gambits	2s	10
	Careful Step	Stealth	3m	14
	Forced March	Run Speed	1.5s	14
	First Aid	Cure	5s	16
	Shield-slam	Melee + Interrupt	20s	20
	Steadfast	CC Removal	1m	20
	Battle Preparation	Builds Gambits	15s	24
	Prepare Fist	Builder	0s	24
	Prepare Javelin	Builder	0s	24
	Prepare Shield	Builder	0s	24
	Prepare Spear	Builder	0s	24
	Quick Recovery	Resets Gambits	0.1s	25
	The Way of the Fist	Buff	10s	30
	The Way of the Shield	Buff	10s	30
	The Way of the Spear	Buff	10s	30
	Battle Memory	Executes Gambits	1s	38
	Never Surrender	Heal + Buff	5m	38
	Fist and Fist	Mastery	15s	39
	Fist and Javelin	Mastery	15s	39
	Fist and Shield	Mastery	15s	39
	Fist and Spear	Mastery	15s	39
	Javelin and Fist	Mastery	15s	39
	Javelin and Javelin	Mastery	15s	39
	Javelin and Shield	Mastery	15s	39
	Shield and Fist	Mastery	15s	39
	Shield and Javelin	Mastery	15s	39
	Shield and Shield	Mastery	15s	39
	Shield and Spear	Mastery	15s	39
	Spear and Fist	Mastery	15s	39
	Spear and Shield	Mastery	15s	39
	Spear and Spear	Mastery	15s	39

Gambits

These skills are granted automatically as you gain levels. All gambits require a certain combination of builders to be able to be used. All gambits are accessed through using the  Gambit Default skill.

Melee Gambit	Ranged Gambit	Category	Level	Builder Cost
Deft Strike	Ranged Deft Strike	Damage + Potency	1
Defensive Strike		Damage + Potency	1
Goad		AoE Damage + Potency	1
Offensive Strike	Ranged Offensive Strike	AoE Damage	2
The Boot	Ranged Boot	Damage + Interrupt	3
Persevere	Ranged Persevere	Damage + Heal + HoT + Buff	5
Impressive Flourish		Damage + Buff	5
Precise Blow	Precise Throw	Damage + DoT	7
War-cry		AoE Damage + DoT	7
Power Attack	Ranged Power Attack	Damage + DoT	12
Combination Strike	Ranged Combination Strike	AoE Damage	12
Safeguard	Ranged Safeguard	Damage + Heal + HoT	14
Maddening Strike		Damage + Buff	14
Piercing Strike	Piercing Toss	Damage + DoT	16
Brink of Victory		AoE Damage + DoT	16
Shield Up		Buff	18
Readied Blade		Buff	18
Reversal	Ranged Reversal	Damage + Corruption	20
Fierce Resolve	Ranged Fierce Resolve	AoE Morale-tap	20
Onslaught	Ranged Onslaught	Damage	22
Deflection		AoE Threat Reduction	22
Mighty Blow	Ranged Mighty Blow	Damage + DoT	25
Boar's Rush	Ranged Boar's Rush	AoE Damage	25
Spear of Virtue	Javelin of Virtue	Damage + DoT	27
Resounding Challenge	Ranged Resounding Challenge	AoE Damage + DoT	27
Shield Mastery		Buff	30
Shield Tactics		Buff + Stun Immunity	30
Wall of Steel	Ranged Wall of Steel	Damage	32
Adroit Manoeuvre	Ranged Adroit Manoeuvre	Damage + Buff	32
Resolution	Ranged Resolution	AoE Morale-tap	34
Surety of Death		AoE Damage + DoT	34
Celebration of Skill	Ranged Celebration of Skill	Damage + Heal	36
Dance of War		Buff	36
Unerring Strike	Ranged Unerring Strike	Damage + DoT	40
Warden's Triumph	Ranged Warden's Triumph	Damage + Buff	42
Conviction		AoE Heal + HoT + Buff	43
The Dark Before Dawn	Ranged The Dark Before Dawn	Damage + Power	44
Restoration	Ranged Restoration	Damage + Heal + HoT	45
Desolation		AoE Damage + DoT	46
Cauterizing Steel	Ranged Cauterizing Steel	Damage + Cashout	47
Spear of Fate	Javelin of Fate	Damage + DoT	48
Unseen Strikes	Ranged Unseen Strikes	AoE Damage + Cashout	49
Exultation of Battle	Ranged Exultation of Battle	AoE Morale-tap	50

Determination

These skills are acquired by spending trait points in the Determination (blue) trait tree. You can only obtain the Set skills if you specialize in this tree.

Skills	Category	CD	Source
Restorative Shield-work	Buff + Heal	1m 30s	Specialization Skill
Warning Shot	Damage + Force Attack	10s	Specialization Skill
Defiant Challenge	AoE Force Attack + Buff	30s	Trait:	Warden's Challenge
For the Free Peoples	Fellowship Buff	1m 30s	Trait:	For the Free Peoples
Desperate Combat	Buff	1m 30s	Set:	Desperate Combat
Desperate Spear	AoE Damage + Debuff	2s	Set:	Desperate Combat
Desperate Shield	AoE Damage + Force Attack + Heal	2s	Set:	Desperate Combat
Desperate Fist	AoE Damage + Stun	2s	Set:	Desperate Combat

Recklessness

These skills are acquired by spending trait points in the Recklessness (red) trait tree. You can only obtain the Set skills if you specialize in this tree.

Skills	Category	CD	Source
Recklessness	Buff	1m 30s	Trait:	Recklessness

Assailment

These skills are acquired by spending points in the Assailment (yellow) trait tree. Wardens cannot specialize in the yellow trait tree.

Skills	Category	CD	Source
Javelin of Deadly Force	AoE Damage + Buff + Debuff	1m	Trait:	Javelin of Deadly Force
Fire at Will	Fellowship Buff	1m	Trait:	Fire at Will
Rapid Techniques	Buff	1m 30s	Trait:	Rapid Technique

Travel Skills

Hunters have the ability to travel quickly to many locations while taking their entire fellowship with them. Most skills have a required level, as well as an additional requirement that can be satisfied in the location's region.

Mounted Combat Skills

These skills can be used only while riding a war-steed, and in regions where horses are allowed and where the enemies are above level 75.

Passive Skills

Base Passive Skills

For details see Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, River Hobbit, Man, or Stout-axe

Armour Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Light Armour	1
Medium Armour	1
Shields	1
Warden's Shields	1

Weapon Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Club Training	1
Daggers	1
Javelins	1
One-handed Axes	1
One-handed Hammers	1
One-handed Maces	1
Spear Training	1
Sword Training	1
Expert Club Training	15
Expert Spear Training	15
Expert Sword Training	15
Master Club Training	30
Master Spear Training	30
Master Sword Training	30

Combat Characteristics

Proficiency	Level
2 Icon Gambits	1
3 Icon Gambits	12
4 Icon Gambits	25
5 Icon Gambits	40
Critical Defence	20
Improved Defensive Strike	38
Improved Deft Strike	38
Improved Goad Strike	38

Misc. Passive Skills

Proficiency	Level
Carving Use	20
Shield Spike Use	20
Use of Fire	20
Use of Light	30

Instrument Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Horn Use	1
Lute Use	1
Specialized Equipment	1
Fiddle Use	5
Bassoon Use	5

Specialization Sets & Traits

Determination

Determination Wields Shield and Fist to protect allies from harm. A protective focus which boosts defences while healing, able to survive attacks from many foes at once. Skills Earned:  Restorative Shield-work  Warning Shot +25% Shield Gambit Healing Potency +7% Physical Mitigation +7% Tactical Mitigation +20% Morale -10% Power Cost

Set Traits	Description	Source
Thrill of Battle	Buff	5+ total ranks
Shield Mastery	Improves skill Shield Mastery and Shield Tactics	10+ total ranks
Close Call	Self-heal	15+ total ranks
Shield Tactics	Buff	20+ total ranks
Proactive Defence	Buff	25+ total ranks
Exultation of Battle	Buff	30+ total ranks
Desperate Combat	Gain skill Desperate Combat	35+ total ranks

Tree Traits	Description	Source
War-cry	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)
Persevere	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)
Warden's Challenge	Gain skill Defiant Challenge	Row 2 (5+ ranks)
Careful Shield-work	Improves skill Shield Up	Row 2 (5+ ranks)
Redirect Ire	Improves skill Deflection	Row 3 (10+ ranks)
Critical Protection	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)
Careful Blade-work	Improves skill Readied Blade	Row 3 (10+ ranks)
Unassailable	Buff	Row 4 (15+ ranks)
Undeniable Challenge	Improves skill Resounding Challenge	Row 4 (15+ ranks)
Stand Your Ground	Buff	Row 4 (15+ ranks)
Practiced Fundamentals	Buff	Row 5 (20+ ranks)
Indefatigable	Buff	Row 5 (20+ ranks)
Lasting Hope	Buff	Row 5 (20+ ranks)
Never Surrender	Improves skill Never Surrender	Row 6 (25+ ranks)
Fear No Darkness	Buff	Row 6 (25+ ranks)
For the Free Peoples	Gain skill For the Free Peoples	Capstone (30+ ranks)
Fellowship Protector	Buff	Capstone (30+ ranks)

Recklessness

Recklessness Wields deadly, war-like techniques to defeat foes. A powerful damaging focus that stacks single-target bleeds with resonant shouts. +5% Warden DoT Damage -10% Attack Duration -40% Persevere Gambit Line Healing

Set Traits	Description	Source
Sharpened Spears	Buff	5+ total ranks
Unconventional Strikes	Buff	10+ total ranks
Precision Training	Buff	15+ total ranks
Taking Advantage	Buff	20+ total ranks
One After Another	Buff + Self-heal	25+ total ranks
Grand Master Weapons Training	Buff	30+ total ranks
Martial Fury	Buff	35+ total ranks

Tree Traits	Description	Source
Close Quarters Combatant	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)
Vital Points	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)
Tempered Spear Tips	Improves skills Mighty Blow, Power Attack and Unerring Strike	Row 2 (5+ ranks)
Physical Mastery	Buff	Row 2 (5+ ranks)
Way of the Spear	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)
Foe of the Darkness	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)
On the Offence	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)
No Respite for the Wicked	Buff	Row 4 (15+ ranks)
Aggravating Wounds	Buff	Row 4 (15+ ranks)
Deep Wounds	Buff	Row 5 (20+ ranks)
Warden's Triumph	Improves skills Adroit Manoeuvre and Warden's Triumph	Row 6 (25+ ranks)
Lasting Impression	Buff	Row 6 (25+ ranks)
Recklessness	Gain skill Recklessness	Capstone (30+ ranks)
Muscle Memory	Improves skill Battle Memory	Capstone (30+ ranks)

Assailment

Assailment Wields Javelin and clever tactics to harm and hinder foes. Though the Warden can not specialize in Assailment, the ability to harry enemies when needed can be invaluable. Assailment techniques are focused on increasing javelin damage, debuffing enemies, and augmenting your core gambits, useful when fighting either alone or in a fellowship.

Note: Some traits in this tree have an increased cost in Trait Points in order to acquire and/or rank up, regardless of specialization.

Tree Traits	Description	Source	Cost per Rank
Ranged Damage	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)	1 Point
Bane of Shadow	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)	1 point
Movement Training	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)	1 Point
Marked Targets	Buff	Row 1 (0+ ranks)	2 Points (1) 1 Point (2-5)
Endurance Training	Improves skill Assailment - Stance	Row 2 (5+ ranks)	1 Point
Bulls-eye	Buff	Row 2 (5+ ranks)	1 Point
Finesse	Buff	Row 2 (5+ ranks)	1 Point
Diminished Targets	Buff	Row 2 (5+ ranks)	2 Points (1) 1 Point (2-5)
Throwing Arm	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)	1 Point
Battering Strikes	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)	2 Points (1) 1 Point (2-5)
Strong Foundations	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)	2 Points
Enduring Assailment	Buff	Row 3 (10+ ranks)	1 Point
Piercing Javelins	Buff	Row 4 (15+ ranks)	1 Point
Suppression	Buff	Row 4 (15+ ranks)	2 Points (1) 1 Point (2-5)
Javelin of Deadly Force	Gain skill Javelin of Deadly Force	Row 5 (20+ ranks)	3 Points
Adroit Ambush	Improves skill Adroit Manoeuvre	Row 5 (20+ ranks)	2 Points
Snap Shot	Buff	Row 6 (25+ ranks), Javelin of Deadly Force (1)	2 Points
Fire at Will	Gain skill Fire at Will	Row 6 (25+ ranks)	2 Points
Rapid Technique	Gain skill Rapid Techniques	Row 7 (30+ ranks)	3 Points

Trait Tree

Determination Wields Shield and Fist to protect allies from harm. A protective focus which boosts defences while healing, able to survive attacks from many foes at once. Skills Earned:  Restorative Shield-work  Warning Shot +25% Shield Gambit Healing Potency +7% Physical Mitigation +7% Tactical Mitigation +20% Morale -10% Power Cost	Recklessness Wields deadly, war-like techniques to defeat foes. A powerful damaging focus that stacks single-target bleeds with resonant shouts. +5% Warden DoT Damage -10% Attack Duration -40% Persevere Gambit Line Healing	Assailment Wields Javelin and clever tactics to harm and hinder foes. Though the Warden can not specialize in Assailment, the ability to harry enemies when needed can be invaluable. Assailment techniques are focused on increasing javelin damage, debuffing enemies, and augmenting your core gambits, useful when fighting either alone or in a fellowship.
0/5 0/5 0/1 0/3 0/4 0/5 0/3 0/3 0/1 0/4 0/4 0/4 0/3 0/1 0/5 0/1 0/1	0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/3 0/5 0/5 0/3 0/5 0/5 0/3 0/2 0/1 0/1	0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/6 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/2 0/5 0/3 0/5 0/1 0/1 ↓ (1) 0/1 0/1 0/1

See Also

• Guide to the Warden
• Warden Deeds
• Warden Gambit Quick Reference
• Warden Items Index
• Warden Traceries