Guardian

- Class Difficulty: Basic
- Role: Tank/Damage
- 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.
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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 |
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Melee + Buff + Power | 3s | 1 |
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Melee | 2.5s | 1 |
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Melee | 5s | 1 |
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Melee | 5s | 1 |
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Melee + AoE | 9s | 4 |
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Melee + AoE | 5s | 6 |
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Ranged | 9s | 8 |
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Melee + AoE | 4s | 10 |
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Run Speed | 1m | 14 |
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Force Attack | 1m | 16 |
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Cure | 5s | 18 |
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Melee + Corruption | 2.5s | 20 |
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CC removal + AoE Stun | 1m 15s | 20 |
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Melee + Stun | 5s | 22 |
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Force Attack + Fellowship Manoeuvre | 10s | 24 |
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Melee | 10s | 26 |
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Melee + Debuff | 5s | 28 |
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Self-heal | 45s | 30 |
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Buff + Self-heal | 2m | 32 |
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Melee + Interrupt | 20s | 34 |
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Utility | 15s | 36 |
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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 | |
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Threat | 10s | Specialization Skill | |
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Buff + Debuff | 1m 30s | Specialization Skill | |
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Buff | 3m | Trait: | ![]() |
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Melee + Stun + Interrupt | 5s | Trait: | ![]() |
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Melee + Fellowship Manoeuvre | 30s | Trait: | ![]() |
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Buff | 8s | Set: | ![]() |
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Buff | 20s | Trait: | ![]() |
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Melee + Buff | 3m | Trait | ![]() |
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 | |
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Melee + Buff | 5s | Specialization Skill | |
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Melee AoE + Buff | 5s | Specialization Skill | |
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Melee + Bleed | 10s | Specialization Skill | |
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Melee + Bleed | 5s | Trait: | ![]() |
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Melee | 20s | Trait: | ![]() |
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Buff | 10s | Set: | ![]() |
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Melee + Stun | 5s | Trait: | ![]() |
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Buff | 2m | Set: | ![]() |
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Run Speed + Buff | 1m | Set: | ![]() |
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Melee + Stun | 40s | Trait: | ![]() |
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 |
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Melee + Buff | 10s | ![]() |
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Debuff | 15s | ![]() |
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AoE + Debuff | 10s | ![]() |
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Self-heal + Power | 1m | ![]() |
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Melee + Buff | 30s | ![]() |
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Debuff + AoE Bleed | 3m | ![]() |
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.
Mounted Combat Skills |
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Passive Skills
Base Passive Skills
Armour Proficiencies
Proficiency | Level |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
Weapon Proficiencies
Proficiency | Level |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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7 |
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7 |
Instrument Proficiencies
Proficiency | Level |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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5 |
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5 |
Other Passive Skills
Proficiency | Level |
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1 |
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5 |
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20 |
Specialization Sets & Traits
The Defender of the Free
Uses mitigations and defence to protect allies.
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Set Traits | Description | Source |
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Buff | 5+ total ranks |
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Buff | 10+ total ranks |
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Gain skill Protection by the Shield | 15+ total ranks |
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Improves skill Challenge | 20+ total ranks |
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Improves effect Fortification | 25+ total ranks |
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Self-heal | 30+ total ranks |
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Improves effect Fortification | 35+ total ranks |
Tree Traits | Description | Source |
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Buff; Improves skills: Sting, Improved Sting | Row 1 (0+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Guardian's Ward | Row 1 (0+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Guardian's Ward | Row 1 (0+ ranks) |
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Gain skill Guardian's Pledge | Row 2 (5+ ranks) |
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Improves skills: Challenge, Fray the Edge | Row 2 (5+ ranks) |
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Gain skill Shield-smash | Row 3 (10+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Turn the Tables | Row 3 (10+ ranks) |
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Gain skill Smashing Stab | Row 3 (10+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Shield-smash | Row 4 (15+ ranks), Shield-smash (1) |
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Gain skill Shield Wall | Row 4 (15+ ranks) |
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Buff; Improves skills: Shield-taunt, Protection by the Shield | Row 4 (15+ ranks) |
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Buff | Row 5 (20+ ranks) |
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Buff | Row 5 (20+ ranks) |
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Improves skills: Shield-smash, Shield-blow | Row 5 (20+ ranks) |
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Buff | Row 6 (25+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Warrior's Heart | Row 6 (25+ ranks) |
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Gain skill Juggernaut | Capstone (30+ ranks) |
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Buff; Improves skill Shield-taunt | Capstone (30+ ranks) |
The Keen Blade
Uses Bleeds and high-damage attacks to defeat foes.
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Set Traits | Description | Source |
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Buff | 5+ total ranks |
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Improves effects: Deep Wound, Terrible Wound, Slashing Wound, Haemorrhaging Wound | 10+ total ranks |
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Gain skill Protection by the Sword | 15+ total ranks |
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Gain skill Relentless Fury | 20+ total ranks |
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Changes Charge to become Brutal Charge | 25+ total ranks |
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Buff | 30+ total ranks |
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Buff | 35+ total ranks |
Tree Traits | Description | Source |
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Buff | Row 1 (0+ ranks) |
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Buff | Row 1 (0+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Sweeping Cut | Row 2 (5+ ranks) |
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Gain skill Thrust | Row 2 (5+ ranks) |
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Gain skill Brutal Assault | Row 3 (10+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Brutal Assault | Row 3 (10+ ranks), Brutal Assault (1) |
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Power | Row 3 (10+ ranks) |
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Improves skills: Thrust, Overwhelm | Row 4 (15+ ranks), Thrust (1) |
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Gain skill To The King | Row 4 (15+ ranks) |
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Buff, Improves skill Brutal Assault | Row 5 (20+ ranks), Brutal Assault (1) |
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Improves skills: Charge, Brutal Charge | Row 5 (20+ ranks) |
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Buff | Row 6 (25+ ranks) |
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Improves skill To The King | Row 6 (25+ ranks), To The King (1) |
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Gain skill Hammer Down | Capstone (30+ ranks) |
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Improves skill Hammer Down | Capstone (30+ ranks), Hammer Down (1) |
The Fighter of Shadow
Uses Light damage and two-handed tanking in combat.
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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 |
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Gain skill Force Opening | Row 1 (0+ ranks) | 2 Points |
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Buff | Row 1 (0+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Gain skill Bastion of Light | Row 1 (0+ ranks) | 2 Points |
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Improves skill Bastion of Light | Row 1 (0+ ranks), Bastion of Light (1) |
1 Point |
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Buff | Row 2 (5+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Buff | Row 2 (5+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Improves skill Bastion of Light | Row 2 (5+ ranks), Bastion of Light (1) |
1 Point |
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Buff | Row 2 (5+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Buff | Row 3 (10+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Buff | Row 3 (10+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Improves skill Ignore the Pain | Row 3 (10+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Buff | Row 3 (10+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Gain skill War-chant | Row 4 (15+ ranks) | 2 Points |
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Gain skill Thrill of Danger | Row 4 (15+ ranks) | 2 Points |
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Gain skill Redirect | Row 4 (15+ ranks) | 2 Points |
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Buff | Row 4 (15+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Improves skill War-chant | Row 5 (20+ ranks), War-chant (1) |
1 Point |
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Improves skill Thrill of Danger | Row 5 (20+ ranks), Thrill of Danger (1) |
1 Point |
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Improves skill Redirect | Row 5 (20+ ranks), Redirect (1) | 1 Point |
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Buff | Row 6 (25+ ranks) | 1 Point |
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Improves skills: Protection by the Shield, Protection by the Sword | Row 6 (25+ ranks) | 2 Points |
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Gain skill Cataclysmic Shout | Row 7 (30+ ranks) | 4 Points |
Trait Tree
Uses mitigations and defence to protect allies.
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Uses Bleeds and high-damage attacks to defeat foes.
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Uses Light damage and two-handed tanking in combat.
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Class Quests
Guardian Class Quests |
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