Guardian Traits

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Guardian Specialization Sets and 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	Buff	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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