Guardian

Sam did not wait to wonder what was to be done, or whether he was brave, or loyal, or filled with rage. He sprang forward with a yell, and seized his master's sword in his left hand. Then he charged. –J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Return of the King".

Summary

A sturdy fighter and the protector of the weak, the Guardian is the defender of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. Usually equipped with a heavy shield, the Guardian is able to withstand blows that would incapacitate his fellows, making him a natural in the defensive arts. In addition with his ability to taunt enemies, making them more likely to attack him than his allies, the Guardian is quite proficient in parrying and blocking incoming blows. The Guardian's prowess with parrying and blocking provides windows of opportunity for him to retaliate with devastating force, strengthening the enemy's aggression towards him.

Races: Dwarf, Elf, Man, Hobbit

Role: Heavy Tank

Should I Play A Guardian?

The Guardian will be the class of choice for players who enjoy hard-fought battles and heavy hand-to-hand combat. A master of the defensive arts, a Guardian uses taxing attacks and irksome taunts to draw and the hold the attention of his opponent(s), and relying on his sword and board to turn aside incoming attacks with blocks and parries. His combat style depends on creating openings during an opponent's attack to produce consequential counterattacks.

Guardian Pros & Cons

(+) Strengths	(-) Weaknesses
+ Strong survivability for solo play	- Low damage puts solo play a bit on the slow side
+ High Morale	- Power must be conserved (usually have low reserves)
+ Ability to use all weapons and shields	- High repair costs
+ Heavy Armour at Level 15

Skills & Combat

Reactive Skills. The Guardian is the master of reacting and counter-attacking in combat. A sizable number of your skills are dependent on certain combat situations. As you are attacked, you will see the appropriate counter-maneuvers unlock for use against your foe. For example, the skill Retaliation can be used after you parry an attack

Guardian combat in Lord of the Rings Online is a series of single attacks that can lead to a string of attacks. There are two sets of skills—block response skills and parry response skills—that you will have to concentrate on. Most of your other skills fall into one of these two categories. The block and parry skill trees contain higher-level skills that you can use only after these base abilities are triggered. A successful block activates one skill, and then successful use of that skill opens up three other skills. The same goes for parry.

Active Skills

^{See full list: Guardian Skills}

Passive Skills

^{See full list: Guardian Skills}

Traits & Deeds

^{See: Guardian Traits; also Guardian Deeds}

As you gain levels and complete class deeds you will acquire an arsenal of traits to flesh out your build. Feel free to mix and match as you find a build that works for you. Guardian deeds have a number of effects including reduced attack duration, increased healing, decreased cooldowns, and increased threat modifiers.

Class Quests

Your best rewards will come from your class quests, and your gear will be improved admirably with a few of these quest goodies. When you hit levels 15 and 30, visit your local Guardian trainer to begin these special tasks. Unless you have some quests to complete with other fellows or in your kinship, you should prioritize your class quest to enjoy the benefits of these heightened rewards as soon as possible.

Articles of Fortitude and Implements of Battle (Level 45)

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Burglar

Captain

Champion

Guardian

Hunter

Lore-master

Minstrel