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.

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."^[1] Creative Director Cardell Kerr describes the Warden as "the local beat cop of Middle earth ... he has this kind of utility about him."^[2]

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

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. 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
Gambit Default	Executes Gambits	0.1s	30m	Level	1
Quick Thrust	Melee Builder	0.5s	4m	Level	1
Shield-bash	Melee Builder	0.5s	4m	Level	1
Warden's Taunt	Melee Builder	0.5s	10m	Level	1
Hampering Javelin	Ranged + Debuff	20s	30m	Level	2
Ambush	Ranged + Knockout + Buff	30s	30m	Level	5
In the Fray - Stance	Melee Stance	1s	Self	Level	10
Assailment - Stance	Ranged Stance	1s	Self	Level	10
Quick Toss	Ranged Builder	0.5s	30m	Level	10
Behind the Shield	Ranged Builder	0.5s	30m	Level	10
Warden's Aim	Ranged Builder	0.5s	30m	Level	10
Recovery	Resets Gambits	2s	Self	Level	10
Careful Step	Stealth	3m	Self	Level	14
Forced March	Run Speed	1.5s	Self	Level	14
First Aid	Cure	5s	Self	Level	16
Shield-slam	Melee + Interrupt	20s	4m	Level	20
Steadfast	CC Removal	1m	Self	Level	20
Battle Preparation	Builds Gambits	15s	Self	Level	24
Prepare Fist	Builder	0s	Self	Level	24
Prepare Javelin	Builder	0s	Self	Level	24
Prepare Shield	Builder	0s	Self	Level	24
Prepare Spear	Builder	0s	Self	Level	24
Quick Recovery	Resets Gambits	0.1s	Self	Level	25
The Way of the Fist	Buff	10s	Self	Level	30
The Way of the Shield	Buff	10s	Self	Level	30
The Way of the Spear	Buff	10s	Self	Level	30
Battle Memory	Executes Gambits	1s	4m	Level	38
Never Surrender	Heal + Buff	5m	Self	Level	38
Fist and Fist	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Fist and Javelin	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Fist and Shield	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Fist and Spear	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Javelin and Fist	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Javelin and Javelin	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Javelin and Shield	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Shield and Fist	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Shield and Javelin	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Shield and Shield	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Shield and Spear	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Spear and Fist	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Spear and Shield	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39
Spear and Spear	Mastery	15s	Self	Level	39

Default Gambits

Melee Gambit	Ranged Gambit	Category	Range	Source
Deft Strike	Ranged Deft Strike	Damage + Potency	4m 30m	Level	1 10
Defensive Strike		Damage + Potency	4m	Level	1
Goad		AoE Damage + Potency	6.2m	Level	1
Offensive Strike	Ranged Offensive Strike	AoE Damage	6.0m 30m	Level	2 10
The Boot	Ranged Boot	Damage + Interrupt	4m 30m	Level	3 10
Persevere	Ranged Persevere	Damage + Heal + HoT + Buff	4m 30m	Level	5 10
Impressive Flourish		Damage + Buff	5.2m	Level	5
Precise Blow	Precise Throw	Damage + DoT	4m 30m	Level	7 10
War-cry		AoE Damage + DoT	10.2m	Level	7
Power Attack	Ranged Power Attack	Damage + DoT	4m 30m	Level	12
Combination Strike	Ranged Combination Strike	AoE Damage	6.0m 30m	Level	12
Safeguard	Ranged Safeguard	Damage + Heal + HoT	4m 30m	Level	14
Maddening Strike		Damage + Buff	4m	Level	14
Piercing Strike	Piercing Toss	Damage + DoT	4m 30m	Level	16
Brink of Victory		AoE Damage + DoT	6.0m	Level	16
Shield Up		Buff	Self	Level	18
Readied Blade		Buff	Self	Level	18
Reversal	Ranged Reversal	Damage + Corruption	4m 30m	Level	20
Fierce Resolve	Ranged Fierce Resolve	AoE Morale-tap	6.2m 30m	Level	20
Onslaught	Ranged Onslaught	Damage	4m 30m	Level	22
Deflection		AoE Threat Reduction	20.2m 30m	Level	22
Mighty Blow	Ranged Mighty Blow	Damage + DoT	4m 30m	Level	25
Boar's Rush	Ranged Boar's Rush	AoE Damage	6.0m 30m	Level	25
Spear of Virtue	Javelin of Virtue	Damage + DoT	4m 30m	Level	27
Resounding Challenge	Ranged Resounding Challenge	AoE Damage + DoT	20.2m 30m	Level	27
Shield Mastery		Buff	Self	Level	30
Shield Tactics		Buff + Stun Immunity	Self	Level	30
Wall of Steel	Ranged Wall of Steel	Damage	4m 30m	Level	32
Adroit Manoeuvre	Ranged Adroit Manoeuvre	Damage + Buff	4m 30m	Level	32
Resolution	Ranged Resolution	AoE Morale-tap	6.2m 30m	Level	34
Surety of Death		AoE Damage + DoT	6.0m	Level	34
Celebration of Skill	Ranged Celebration of Skill	Damage + Heal	4m 30m	Level	36
Dance of War		Buff	Self	Level	36
Unerring Strike	Ranged Unerring Strike	Damage + DoT	4m 30m	Level	40
Warden's Triumph	Ranged Warden's Triumph	Damage + Buff	4m 30m	Level	42
Conviction		AoE Heal + HoT + Buff	30.2m	Level	43
The Dark Before Dawn	Ranged The Dark Before Dawn	Damage + Power	4m 30m	Level	44
Restoration	Ranged Restoration	Damage + Heal + HoT	4m 30m	Level	45
Desolation		AoE Damage + DoT	6.0m	Level	46
Cauterizing Steel	Ranged Cauterizing Steel	Damage + Cashout	4m 30m	Level	47
Spear of Fate	Javelin of Fate	Damage + DoT	4m 30m	Level	48
Unseen Strikes	Ranged Unseen Strikes	AoE Damage + Cashout	4m 30m	Level	49
Exultation of Battle	Ranged Exultation of Battle	AoE Morale-tap	6.2m 30m	Level	50

Travel Skills

Wardens have the ability to travel quickly to many locations. Unlike Hunters, Wardens can only transport themselves and cannot take others with them. Skills with a required level in parentheses can be purchased with Mithril Coins and learned at that level.

Ability	Lvl	Requirement	Port Location
Muster at Andrath	20	Acquaintance standing with Dúnedain of Cardolan	[37.6S, 49.8W]
Muster in Annâk-khurfu	20		[32.8N, 60.9W]
Muster at the Bloody Eagle Tavern	20		[19.7S, 97.6W]
Muster to Bej Mâghda	20	Neutral standing with Citizens of Umbar Baharbêl	^{[19.9S, 105.7W]}
Muster at Cardolan	20	Acquaintance standing with Dúnedain of Cardolan	[50.1S, 44.7W]
Muster at Clegur	20	Acquaintance standing with Dúnedain of Cardolan	[64.9S, 29.3W]
Muster at Swanfleet	20	Acquaintance standing with Dúnedain of Cardolan	[55.2S, 27.1W]
Muster at Nobottle	20	Acquaintance standing with the Yonder-watch	[27.0S, 78.9W]
Muster in Ost Guruth	26		[31.7S, 29.5W]
Muster in Esteldín	32		[9.6S, 42.2W]
Muster in Evendim	38		[12.5S, 67.3W]
Muster at Tornhad	38	Acquaintance standing with Defenders of the Angle	[42.4S, 23.2W]
Muster in the Misty Mountains	40	Acquaintance Standing with Elves of Rivendell	[24.4S, 6.9E]
Muster in Trader's Wharf	40	Neutral standing with the League of the Axe	[21.3S, 61.4W]
Muster in Trestlebridge	40	Acquaintance standing with the Woodcutter's Brotherhood	[17.7S, 54.5W]
Muster in Rivendell	44		[30.5S, 4.6W]
Muster to Carn Dûm	45	Neutral standing with Stewards of the Iron-home	^{[70.3N, 28.1W]}.
Muster in Sûri-kylä	48	Acquaintance Standing with the Lossoth of Forochel	[19.1N, 70.3W]
Muster in the Twenty-first Hall	56 (51)	Acquaintance Standing with the Iron Garrison Miners	[5.8S, 105.4W]
Muster in Caras Galadhon	60	Acquaintance Standing with the Galadhrim	[16.1S, 67.1W]
Muster in Mirk-eaves	62 (51)	Acquaintance Standing with the Malledhrim	[15.3S, 61.2W]
Muster in Harndirion	62	Friend Standing with The Grey Company	[69.6S, 13.7W]
Muster in Galtrev	70	Acquaintance Standing with the Men of Dunland	[80.1S, 16.6W]
Muster in Stangard	70	Acquaintance Standing with the Riders of Stangard	[26.4S, 63.1W]
Muster in Snowbourn	80	Acquaintance Standing with the Men of the Sutcrofts	[60.5S, 61.3W]
Muster in Aldburg	85	Friend Standing with The Eorlingas	[68.5S, 64.0W]
Muster in Forlaw	85	Acquaintance Standing with the People of Wildermore	[39.4S, 60.9W]
Muster in Helm's Deep	90	Friend Standing with The Helmingas	[63.8S, 89.4W]
Muster in Dol Amroth	95	Friend Standing with Dol Amroth	[74.7S, 71.3W]
Muster in Arnach	100	Friend Standing with Rangers of Ithilien	[76.8S, 24.6W]
Muster in Minas Tirith	100	Friend Standing with Defenders of Minas Tirith	[65.5S, 16.7W]
Muster in the War-stead	100	Friend Standing with Riders of Rohan	[45.4S, 26.0W]
Muster in after-battle Minas Tirith	100	Friend Standing with Defenders of Minas Tirith	[ 65.5S, 16.7W]
Muster in after-battle Osgiliath	100	Friend Standing with Host of the West	[63.0S, 6.5W]
Muster in Henneth Annûn	100	Friend Standing with Host of the West	[48.1S, 8.1W]
Muster in the Camp of the Host	100	Kindred Standing with Host of the West	[40.8S, 10.3W]
Muster in Haerondir	100	Respected Standing with Host of the West	[36.6S, 9.2W]
Muster in the Udûn Foothold	105	Friend Standing with Conquest of Gorgoroth	[41.2S, 0.6W]
Muster in Dale	115	Acquaintance Standing with Men of Dale	[23.8N, 26.3W]
Muster in Járnfast	116	Friend Standing with Grey Mountains Expedition	[28.3N, 3.9W]
Muster in Skarháld	116	Friend Standing with Grey Mountains Expedition	[36.4N, 45.3W]
Muster in Hultvís	116	Acquaintance Standing with Wilderfolk	[5.0N, 55.1W]
Muster in Beorninghús	116	Acquaintance Standing with Wilderfolk	[14.1N, 53.3W]
Muster in Estolad Lân	121	Acquaintance Standing with the White Company	[64.5S, 2.2W]
Muster in Limlók	130	Acquaintance Standing with Protectors of Wilderland	[20.7N, 55.9W]
Muster in Akrâz-zahar	130	Neutral standing with Kharum-ubnâr	[14.6N, 136.1W]
Muster in Azanulbizar	130	Dumul (Acquaintance) standing with the Haban'akkâ of Thráin	[62.6N, 135.2W]
Muster at the Noble Gate	131	Friend standing with Reclaimers of the Mountain-hold	[49.5S, 111.2W]
Muster at Leitstáth	135	Friend standing with Reclaimers of the Mountain-hold	[47.0N, 64.9W]
Muster at Dol Amroth	135	Acquaintance standing with The Renewal of Gondor	[75.5S, 72.4W]
Muster at Lond Cirion	135	Acquaintance standing with The Renewal of Gondor	[69.0S, 88.8W]
Muster at Pelargir	135	Acquaintance standing with The Renewal of Gondor	[83.0S, 34.8W]
Muster at Halrax	140	Neutral standing with Citizens of Umbar Baharbêl	[9.7S, 126.8W]
Muster at Jax Phanâl	140	Neutral standing with Citizens of Umbar Baharbêl	[14.4S, 114.7W]
Muster at Umbar	140	Neutral standing with Citizens of Umbar Baharbêl	[18.5S, 100.7W]

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.

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Restorative Shield-work	Buff + Heal	1m 30s	Self	Set:	Initial Skill
Warning Shot	Damage + Force Attack	10s	30m	Set:	Initial Skill
Defiant Challenge	AoE Force Attack + Buff	30s	10.2m	Trait:	Warden's Challenge
For the Free Peoples	Fellowship Buff	1m 30s	40m	Trait:	For the Free Peoples
Desperate Combat	Buff	1m 30s	Self	Set:	Desperate Combat
Desperate Spear	AoE Damage + Debuff	2s	6.0m	Set:	Desperate Combat
Desperate Shield	AoE Damage + Force Attack + Heal	2s	6.0m	Set:	Desperate Combat
Desperate Fist	AoE Damage + Stun	2s	6.0m	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.

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Recklessness	Buff	1m 30s	Self	Trait:	Recklessness

Assailment

These skills are acquired by spending points in the Warden Assailment (Yellow) trait tree.

Active Skills	Category	Cooldown	Range	Source
Javelin of Deadly Force	AoE Damage + Buff + Debuff	1m	30.2m	Trait:	Javelin of Deadly Force
Fire at Will	Fellowship Buff	1m	40m	Trait:	Fire at Will
Rapid Techniques	Buff	1m 30s	Self	Trait:	Rapid Technique

Mounted Combat Skills

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

Skills Unaffected by Stance/Discipline

Skill	Category	Cooldown	Source
Sacrifice	Buff	Quest:	Devastation in the North
A Warden's Resolve	Buff	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Shield the Flank	Buff	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Halt the Charge	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Lancer's Charge	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1

Red Dawn

Skill	Category	Source
Discipline: Red Dawn	Stance	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Defence of the Eorlingas	Buff	Trait:	Devastation in the North
Clash of Steel and Will	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Call of the Cavalry	DoT + Debuff	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Strike with Power	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Assault of the Eorlingas	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Roar of the Eorlingas	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Skill of the Eorlingas	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1

Riddermark

Skill	Category	Source
Discipline: Riddermark	Stance	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Defence of the Eorlingas	Buff	Trait:	Devastation in the North
Clash of Steel and Will	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Call of the Cavalry	DoT + Debuff	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Strike with Power	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Assault of the Eorlingas	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Roar of the Eorlingas	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Skill of the Eorlingas	DoT	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1

Rohirrim

Skill	Category	Source
Discipline: Rohirrim	Stance	Quest:	Devastation in the North
Defence of the Eorlingas	Buff	Trait:	Devastation in the North
Clash of Steel and Will	DoT + Heal	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Call of the Cavalry	DoT + Debuff	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Strike with Power	DoT+ Heal	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Assault of the Eorlingas	DoT+ Heal	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Roar of the Eorlingas	DoT+ Heal	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1
Skill of the Eorlingas	DoT + Heal	Quest:	Vol. III, Book 8, Ch. 1

Passive Skills

Base Passive Skills

For details see Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, or Man

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