Guardian

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Class Difficulty: Basic
Role: Tank/Damage
Available to races: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe
Gameplay: Guardians are the shields of the Free Peoples. They stand at the forefront of the battle in order to win great victories in the name of the Kings of Middle-Earth. Guardians must be focused in the fights they wage, managing to capitalize off of their own parrying and blocking of enemy attacks. As a Tank, Guardians excel in managing large amounts of enemies and surviving without support from their allies from the usage of their strong defensive abilities. With the building of Fortifications from their Shield skills, they can support the Fellowship, but at a cost to their own defence. Guardians can also specialize to deal damage by maintaining a series of devastating bleeds on their foes.
Lore: The Guardians are the stout protectors of the weak, and defenders of those in need. They are loyal companions to the end. True Guardians stand in the forefront of battle, shielding allies from enemy assaults.
This class was inspired by the hobbit Samwise Gamgee, whose loyalty to Frodo Baggins knew no bounds.


A male Dwarf Guardian
Class-infobox
Classes
Skills
Traits
Deeds
Traceries
Effects

Gameplay

Guardians use  Parry Responses and  Block Responses to cycle through their most powerful skills. They are incredibly tanky in both of their specializations, and provide valuable support to their fellowship. They are masters of debuff applications, using  Bastion of Light to spread various debuffs from their target to all nearby enemies.

  • Blue-line (Tank): Guardians specialized in the Defender of the Free trait tree cycle through their Shield skills via  Block Responses to maintain strong  Fortifications on themselves, and can cache them out to provide  Break Ranks to the fellowship. They are masters of blocking incoming enemy attacks with cooldowns such  Juggernaut and  Guardian's Pledge. As Tanks, they specialize in tanking large numbers of enemies.
  • Red-line (Damage): Guardians specialized in the Keen Blade trait tree cycle through their Blade skills via  Parry Response to keep up a multitude of strong bleed effects, applied by skills such as  Thrust and  Overwhelm. When several bleeds have been built up,  Hammer Down can be used to consume the bleeds to deal big damage and debuff the enemy's incoming damage.

This class is recommended for players who want to experience tanking in LotRO, as the Blue-line specialization is a well-rounded and fairly simple-to-learn tank. However, this class is difficult to play at the higher end, due to its complicated skill set and high reaction time requirement.

Block & Parry Response

Guardians have the ability to generate  Block Response and  Parry Response effects, which are especially important for their general rotation. While these effects can be gained by successfully blocking or parrying respectively, there are some skills that immediately generate response effects, like  Breach and  Force Opening. Guardians work through the Parry and Block chains of skills to deal major damage in Red-line, and provide self protection in Blue-line.

For more information, see Block Response and Parry Response.

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.

Skills Category CD Level
 Guardian's Ward Melee + Buff + Power 3s 1
 Sting Melee 2.5s 1
 Retaliation Melee 5s 1
 Shield-swipe Melee 5s 1
 Sweeping Cut Melee + AoE 9s 4
 Whirling Retaliation Melee + AoE 5s 6
 Let Fly Ranged 9s 8
 Vexing Blow Melee + AoE 4s 10
 Charge Run Speed 1m 14
 Challenge Force Attack 1m 16
 Ignore the Pain Cure 5s 18
 Improved Sting Melee + Corruption 2.5s 20
 Turn the Tables CC removal + AoE Stun 1m 15s 20
 Bash Melee + Stun 5s 22
 Fray the Edge Force Attack + Fellowship Manoeuvre 10s 24
 Shield-blow Melee 10s 26
 Stagger Melee + Debuff 5s 28
 Catch a Breath Self-heal 45s 30
 Warrior's Heart Buff + Self-heal 2m 32
 Stamp Melee + Interrupt 20s 34
 Guardian's Promise Utility 15s 36
 Engage Force Attack + Debuff 30s 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.

Skills Category CD Source
 Shield-taunt Threat 10s Specialization Skill
 Litany of Defiance Buff + Debuff 1m 30s Specialization Skill
 Guardian's Pledge Buff 3m Trait:  Guardian's Pledge
 Shield-smash Melee + Stun + Interrupt 5s Trait:  Shield-smash
 Smashing Stab Melee + Fellowship Manoeuvre 30s Trait:  Smashing Stab
 Protection by the Shield Buff 8s Set:  Protection by the Shield
 Shield Wall Buff 20s Trait:  Shield Wall
 Juggernaut Melee + Buff 3m Trait  Juggernaut


The Keen Blade

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

Skills Category CD Source
 Breach Melee + Buff 5s Specialization Skill
 Whirling Breach Melee AoE + Buff 5s Specialization Skill
 Overwhelm Melee + Bleed 10s Specialization Skill
 Thrust Melee + Bleed 5s Trait:  Thrust
 Brutal Assault Melee 20s Trait:  Brutal Assault
 Protection by the Sword Buff 10s Set:  Protection by the Sword
 To The King Melee + Stun 5s Trait:  To The King
 Relentless Fury Buff 2m Set:  Relentless Fury
 Brutal Charge Run Speed + Buff 1m Set:  Brutal Charge
 Hammer Down Melee + Stun 40s Trait:  Hammer Down


The Fighter of Shadow

These skills are acquired by spending trait points in the Fighter of Shadow (yellow) trait tree. Guardians cannot specialize in the yellow trait tree.

Skills Category CD Source
 Force Opening Melee + Buff 10s  Force Opening
 Bastion of Light Debuff 15s  Bastion of Light
 War-chant AoE + Debuff 10s  War-chant
 Thrill of Danger Self-heal + Power 1m  Thrill of Danger
 Redirect Melee + Buff 30s  Redirect
 Cataclysmic Shout Debuff + AoE Bleed 3m  Cataclysmic Shout


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
 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
 Bassoon Use 5
 Fiddle Use 5

Other Passive Skills

Proficiency Level
 Bolster 1
 Shield Spike Use
 Hammer Affinity 5
 Critical Defence 20

Specialization Sets & Traits

The Defender of the Free

The Defender of the Free
Uses mitigations and defence to protect allies.
A true defender of allies, using taunts to protect allies and a broad shield for protection and survival.
Skills Earned:
 Shield-taunt
 Litany of Defiance
Your shield skills have a 25% chance to apply a Fortification effect that will increase your mitigations by 1%. This effect may stack up to five times.
Set Traits Description Source
 Guardian's Defence Buff 5+ total ranks
 Adaptability Buff 10+ total ranks
 Protection by the Shield Gain skill Protection by the Shield 15+ total ranks
 Challenge the Darkness Improves skill Challenge 20+ total ranks
 Strengthen the Bulwark Improves effect Fortification 25+ total ranks
 Bolstering Blocks Self-heal 30+ total ranks
 Shield the People Improves effect Fortification 35+ total ranks
Tree Traits Description Source
 Relentless Assault Buff; Improves skills: Sting, Improved Sting Row 1 (0+ ranks)
 Tireless Defender Improves skill Guardian's Ward Row 1 (0+ ranks)
 Guardian's Ward: Tactics Improves skill Guardian's Ward Row 1 (0+ ranks)
 Guardian's Pledge Gain skill Guardian's Pledge Row 2 (5+ ranks)
 Bellow Improves skills: Challenge, Fray the Edge Row 2 (5+ ranks)
 Shield-smash Gain skill Shield-smash Row 3 (10+ ranks)
 Reversal Improves skill Turn the Tables Row 3 (10+ ranks)
 Smashing Stab Gain skill Smashing Stab Row 3 (10+ ranks)
 Follow Through Improves skill Shield-smash Row 4 (15+ ranks),
Shield-smash (1)
 Shield Wall Gain skill Shield Wall Row 4 (15+ ranks)
 Shield of Light Buff; Improves skills: Shield-taunt, Protection by the Shield Row 4 (15+ ranks)
 Improved Shield Spikes Buff Row 5 (20+ ranks)
 High-spirited Buff Row 5 (20+ ranks)
 Disorientation Improves skills: Shield-smash, Shield-blow Row 5 (20+ ranks)
 Warrior's Fortitude Buff Row 6 (25+ ranks)
 Stoic Improves skill Warrior's Heart Row 6 (25+ ranks)
 Juggernaut Gain skill Juggernaut Capstone (30+ ranks)
 Break Ranks Buff; Improves skill Shield-taunt Capstone (30+ ranks)


The Keen Blade

The Keen Blade
Uses Bleeds and high-damage attacks to defeat foes.
Focuses on dealing damage. Skills have high base damage, bleeds, and powerful finishing skills.
Skills Earned:
 Breach
 Overwhelm
Retaliation and Whirling Retaliation become Breach and Whirling Breach; these skills allow the use of Parry and Block response chains.
Set Traits Description Source
 Valorous Strength Buff 5+ total ranks
 Bleed Them Dry Improves effects: Deep Wound, Terrible Wound, Slashing Wound, Haemorrhaging Wound 10+ total ranks
 Protection by the Sword Gain skill Protection by the Sword 15+ total ranks
 Relentless Fury Gain skill Relentless Fury 20+ total ranks
 Brutal Charge Changes Charge to become Brutal Charge 25+ total ranks
 Heavy Blows Buff 30+ total ranks
 Prey on the Weak Buff 35+ total ranks
Tree Traits Description Source
 Thrill of Battle Buff Row 1 (0+ ranks)
 Heavy Weapons Training Buff Row 1 (0+ ranks)
 Broad Strokes Improves skill Sweeping Cut Row 2 (5+ ranks)
 Thrust Gain skill Thrust Row 2 (5+ ranks)
 Brutal Assault Gain skill Brutal Assault Row 3 (10+ ranks)
 Tireless Blows Improves skill Brutal Assault Row 3 (10+ ranks),
Brutal Assault (1)
 Invigourating Response Power Row 3 (10+ ranks)
 Deeper Wounds Improves skills: Thrust, Overwhelm Row 4 (15+ ranks),
Thrust (1)
 To The King Gain skill To The King Row 4 (15+ ranks)
 Haemorrhage Buff, Improves skill Brutal Assault Row 5 (20+ ranks),
Brutal Assault (1)
 Into the Fray Improves skills: Charge, Brutal Charge Row 5 (20+ ranks)
 Warrior's Advantage Buff Row 6 (25+ ranks)
 Blind Rage Improves skill To The King Row 6 (25+ ranks),
To The King (1)
 Hammer Down Gain skill Hammer Down Capstone (30+ ranks)
 Rupture Improves skill Hammer Down Capstone (30+ ranks),
Hammer Down (1)


The Fighter of Shadow

The Fighter of Shadow
Uses Light damage and two-handed tanking in combat.
Though the Guardian cannot specialize in The Fighter of Shadow, it supports itself and allies with debuffs and modifiers to strengthen its ability to sustain damage and threat against all enemies.

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
 Force Opening Gain skill Force Opening Row 1 (0+ ranks) 2 Points
 Insult to Injury Buff Row 1 (0+ ranks) 1 Point
 Bastion of Light Gain skill Bastion of Light Row 1 (0+ ranks) 2 Points
 Radiate Improves skill Bastion of Light Row 1 (0+ ranks),
Bastion of Light (1)
1 Point
 Tenderize Buff Row 2 (5+ ranks) 1 Point
 Warrior's Guile Buff Row 2 (5+ ranks) 1 Point
 Flash of Light Improves skill Bastion of Light Row 2 (5+ ranks),
Bastion of Light (1)
1 Point
 Defensive Expertise Buff Row 2 (5+ ranks) 1 Point
 Singular Focus Buff Row 3 (10+ ranks) 1 Point
 Light-touched Buff Row 3 (10+ ranks) 1 Point
 Numbed Senses Improves skill Ignore the Pain Row 3 (10+ ranks) 1 Point
 Bolster Buff Row 3 (10+ ranks) 1 Point
 War-chant Gain skill War-chant Row 4 (15+ ranks) 2 Points
 Thrill of Danger Gain skill Thrill of Danger Row 4 (15+ ranks) 2 Points
 Redirect Gain skill Redirect Row 4 (15+ ranks) 2 Points
 Disabling Strikes Buff Row 4 (15+ ranks) 1 Point
 Demoralizing Anthem Improves skill War-chant Row 5 (20+ ranks),
War-chant (1)
1 Point
 Bring on the Pain Improves skill Thrill of Danger Row 5 (20+ ranks),
Thrill of Danger (1)
1 Point
 Vicious Rebuttal Improves skill Redirect Row 5 (20+ ranks), Redirect (1) 1 Point
 Strong Bursts Buff Row 6 (25+ ranks) 1 Point
 Protected by the Light Improves skills: Protection by the Shield, Protection by the Sword Row 6 (25+ ranks) 2 Points
 Cataclysmic Shout Gain skill Cataclysmic Shout Row 7 (30+ ranks) 4 Points


Trait Tree

The Defender of the Free
Uses mitigations and defence to protect allies.
A true defender of allies, using taunts to protect allies and a broad shield for protection and survival.
Skills Earned:
 Shield-taunt
 Litany of Defiance
Your shield skills have a 25% chance to apply a Fortification effect that will increase your mitigations by 1%. This effect may stack up to five times.
The Keen Blade
Uses Bleeds and high-damage attacks to defeat foes.
Focuses on dealing damage. Skills have high base damage, bleeds, and powerful finishing skills.
Skills Earned:
 Breach
 Overwhelm
Retaliation and Whirling Retaliation become Breach and Whirling Breach; these skills allow the use of Parry and Block response chains.
The Fighter of Shadow
Uses Light damage and two-handed tanking in combat.
Though the Guardian cannot specialize in The Fighter of Shadow, it supports itself and allies with debuffs and modifiers to strengthen its ability to sustain damage and threat against all enemies.

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Class Quests

See Also