Guardian

Role: Tank

The Guardian's ability to wear Heavy Armour, use a Heavy Shield and the highly defensive skills available to the class enable him to face creatures that would make other heroes' morale fail. He also has the ability to draw the foes' attention away from his allies and to himself.

In terms of other MMORPGs, the Guardian fulfills the role of Heavy Tank, with lower overall damage output in exchange for improved survivability. It is one of the hardiest classes, with high morale (health) and a number of abilities which mitigate damage taken.

Fellowship: As a tank, the Guardian is at the front line directly taking the wrath of the enemies and keeping the enemies' attention (aggro) focused on him/herself. This allows the other fellowship members the freedom to carry out their jobs without taking hits that would be devastating to them. The Guardian also has reactive abilities that can only be used after blocking or parrying incoming attacks.

Aggro management with the Guardian underwent major changes recently with the last few updates to LotRO from 12 forward. It focuses on a certain skillset of tactical skills that force enemies to abandon their current target, and also the Guardians who use the Blue and Yellow traitline can build aggro to damage ratio of 3:1.

Solo: The Guardian is a good soloing class, with superior defense but lower damage output, meaning enemies may take longer to defeat compared to some other classes. Guardians who want improved offense can trait red line for many benefits including damage over time bleeds, and a few hard hitting skills like Hammer Down, but in red line loose the aggro to damage boost making them less effective at controlling aggro when a group does come up.

Skills

Default Skills

These skills are granted automatically as you gain levels. The effects of many of these skills are improved in various ways by your choice of specialization and how you spend your trait points. Some skills may also be replaced by an improved version of the same skill as you increase in level.

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Guardian's Ward	Melee + Buff	3s	2.5m	Level:	1
Sting	Melee	3s	2.5m	Level:	1
Retaliation	Melee	5s	2.5m	Level:	2
Shield-swipe	Melee	5s	2.5m	Level:	2
Sweeping Cut	Melee + AoE	9s	5m	Level:	4
Whirling Retaliation	Melee + AoE	5s	5m	Level:	6
Let Fly	Ranged	9s	30m	Level:	8
Vexing Blow	Melee + AoE	4s	5.2m	Level:	10
Charge	Buff	1m 30s	Self	Level:	14
Challenge	Forced Attack	30s	7m	Level:	16
Ignore the Pain	Cure	5s	Self	Level:	18
Turn the Tables	Melee + Fellowship Manoeuvre	1m 30s	2.5m	Level:	20
Bash	Melee + Interrupt/Stun	5s	2.5m	Level:	22
Fray the Edge	Forced Attack + Fellowship Manoeuvre	10s	25m	Level:	24
Shield-blow	Melee	10s	2.5m	Level:	26
Stagger	Melee + Debuff	5s	2.5m	Level:	28
Catch a Breath	Self-heal	45s	Self	Level:	30
Warrior's Heart	Buff + Self-heal	2m	Self	Level:	32
Stamp	Melee + Interrupt	20s	2.5m	Level:	34
Guardian's Promise	Utility	15s	Self	Level:	36
Engage	Forced Attack + Debuff	30s	3m	Level:	38

The Defender of the Free

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

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Shield-taunt	Taunt	10s	10m	Set:	Initial Skill
Litany of Defiance	Buff + Debuff	1m 30s	7m	Set:	Initial Skill
Shield Wall	Buff	20s	15m	Set:	Shield Wall
Guardian's Pledge	Buff	3s	Self	Trait:	Guardian's Pledge
Shield-smash	Melee	5s	2.5m	Trait:	Shield-smash
Smashing Stab	Melee	30s	2.5m	Trait:	Smashing Stab
Juggernaut	Melee + Buff	3m	Self	Trait	Juggernaut

The Keen Blade

These skills are only acquired by specializing in The Keen Blade (red) trait tree and spending trait points. Note that points spent outside the red trait tree will still advance The Keen Blade if you are specialized in it, but at a slower rate.

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Force Opening	Melee	10s	2.5m	Set:	Initial Skill
Overwhelm	Melee + Bleed	10s	2.5m	Set:	Initial Skill
Protection by the Sword	Buff	10s	25m	Set:	Protection by the Sword
Thrust	Melee + Bleed	5s	2.5m	Trait:	Thrust
Brutal Assault	Melee + Bleed	15s	2.5m	Trait:	Brutal Assault
To The King	Melee + Buff + Fellowship Manoeuvre	5s	2.5m	Trait:	To The King
Hammer Down	Melee + Buff	1m	2.5m	Trait:	Hammer Down
Honourable Combat	Melee + Heal	45s	2.5m	Trait:	Honourable Combat

The Fighter of Shadow

These skills are acquired by spending trait points in The Fighter of Shadow (yellow) trait tree. You can only obtain the Set skills if you specialize in this tree.

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Force Opening	Melee	10s	2.5m	Set:	Initial Skill
Take to Heart	Debuff	None	40m	Set:	Initial Skill
Protection	Buff	10s	25m	Set:	Protection
War-chant	Debuff	10s	10.2m	Trait:	War-chant
Thrill of Danger	Self-heal	1m	10.2m	Trait:	Thrill of Danger
Redirect	Melee + Buff	30s	2.5m	Trait:	Redirect
Cataclysmic Shout	Melee + AoE + Debuff	2m	7.2m	Trait:	Cataclysmic Shout

Mounted Combat Skills

These skills can be used only while riding a war-steed, and only while in the regions of East Rohan, Wildermore, and West Rohan. Passive skills which improve the war-steed's defensive capabilities remain effective even in other regions, but serve only to prevent forced dismount due to enemy attacks.

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Discipline: Red Dawn	Stance	1s	-	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Discipline: Riddermark	Stance	1s	-	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Discipline: Rohirrim	Stance	1s	-	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Clash of Arms	Melee + Debuff	30s	4.2m	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Driving Slash	Melee + Debuff	3s	4.2m	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Pledge to Rohan	Buff	24s	Self	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Rohan's Edge	Melee + Buff	15s	4.2m	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Serrated Edge	Melee + Bleed	16s	4.2m	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Staggering Slash	Melee + Debuff	8s	4.2m	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1

Passive Skills

Armour Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Light Armour	1
Medium Armour	1
Heavy Armour	1
Shields	1
Heavy Shields	1

Weapon Proficiencies

Proficiency	Level
Daggers	1
One-handed Axes	1
One-handed Clubs	1
One-handed Hammers	1
One-handed Maces	1
One-handed Swords	1
Spear	1
Two-handed Axes	1
Two-handed Clubs	1
Two-handed Hammers	1
Two-handed Swords	1
Bows	7
Crossbows	7

Instrument Proficiencies

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

Other Passive Skills

Proficiency	Level
Shield Spike Use	1
Critical Defence	20