Abilities
The guardian's special ability is the use of three virtues. Each virtue provides a passive on-going benefit to the guardian; Virtue of Courage periodically provides Aegis to block against an attack, Virtue of Justice periodically allows an attack to cause burning, and Virtue of Resolve gives health regeneration. The virtues may also be activated by the guardian to bestow a temporary benefit to all nearby allies (including themselves), at the cost of being disabled for a long period, similar to how signet skills are used.
The Guardian has a reputation of being the most durable profession in the game, thanks to their virtues and many utility and elite skills which focus on use of boons and active defense and protecting of allies in general.
Virtues have been said to help balance the guardian; for example, they have a lower base health than the warrior profession but compensate for this with their higher health regeneration granted by Virtue of Resolve.[1]
Skills: See list of guardian skills.
Special skill types
Traits
The guardian has five general trait lines:
Equipment
Armor: The guardian is a soldier profession, and thus wears heavy armor.
Weapons
Crafting
The following crafting disciplines can create items that are useful to the guardian:
The guardian's special ability is the use of three virtues. Each virtue provides a passive on-going benefit to the guardian; Virtue of Courage periodically provides Aegis to block against an attack, Virtue of Justice periodically allows an attack to cause burning, and Virtue of Resolve gives health regeneration. The virtues may also be activated by the guardian to bestow a temporary benefit to all nearby allies (including themselves), at the cost of being disabled for a long period, similar to how signet skills are used.
The Guardian has a reputation of being the most durable profession in the game, thanks to their virtues and many utility and elite skills which focus on use of boons and active defense and protecting of allies in general.
Virtues have been said to help balance the guardian; for example, they have a lower base health than the warrior profession but compensate for this with their higher health regeneration granted by Virtue of Resolve.[1]
Skills: See list of guardian skills.
Special skill types
- Chains — A chain of attacks which occupy only one skill slot.
- Shouts — motivational phrases which instantly aid nearby allies.
- Spirit Weapons — summon ephemeral weapons to fight alongside the guardian. Spirit weapons can be attacked by enemies and can be commanded to inflict a powerful attack before disappearing.
- Consecration — these abilities focus on providing safe areas of benefit to allies around the guardian.
- Symbols — these ground-based skills inflict damage to enemies and deliver a benefit to allies. Symbols persist for a few seconds and then dissipate. All symbols provide Combo Field:Light
- Wards — a temporary marked area on the ground in shape of a line or ring that pushes enemies attempting to cross them back while allowing allies to move freely.
- Meditations — a type of utility skill that involves teleportation and condition removal.
Traits
The guardian has five general trait lines:
- Zeal is an offensive line that increases Power and Condition Duration.
- Minor traits benefit the offensive use of symbols.
- Major traits favor the use of greatswords, scepters, foci, and spirit weapons.
- Radiance is an offensive line that increases Precision and Condition Damage.
- Minor traits benefit Virtue of Justice and conditions.
- Major traits favor the use of one-handed weapons, swords, spears, torches, signets and burning.
- Valor is a defensive line that increases Toughness and Critical Damage.
- Minor traits benefit Virtue of Courage and blocking.
- Major traits favor the use of maces, hammers, shields, meditations, and toughness.
- Honor is a supportive line that increases Vitality and Healing Power.
- Virtues is a utility line that increases Boon Duration and Virtue Recharge Rate.
- Minor traits benefit virtues and boons.
- Major traits favor the use of consecrations, retaliation, spirit weapons, and elite skills as well as the specialization of virtues.
Equipment
Armor: The guardian is a soldier profession, and thus wears heavy armor.
Weapons
- Two-handed
- Hammer — High-damage, AoE, melee attacks combined with protection and control abilities.
- Greatsword — High-damage, AoE, melee attacks combined with retaliation and positioning.
- Staff — Supportive weapon with short range, AoE attacks that provides healing and boons.
Crafting
The following crafting disciplines can create items that are useful to the guardian:
- Weaponsmith — Greatswords, hammers, maces, shields, spears, swords.
- Artificer — Focus, scepters, staves, tridents.
- Huntsman — Torches.
- Armorsmith — Heavy armor.
- Jeweler — Jewelry.
- Chef — Food.