~@~ Guardian ~@~
WARNING: It is advisable that a Beginner should not play this class due to the high "Restriction" in gear.
Starting Gear & Stats:
Weapons: Club and All Heavy Weapons.
Charms: Heal type ONLY.
Stats: 30 Strength / 10 Dexterity / 55 Intelligence / 55 Vitality
"TIP(s)" If you want to begin with this "Class". 'With' or 'Without' FG, read further.
'With':
Create your Guardian, go to town and purchase the BEST Tier III Club / Armor / Main Charm (depending on build) that you can afford.
'Without':
#1 Once you create your Guardian, also create a Barbarian Mule.
#2 Re-roll your Barbarian click on him again and Select Barbarian
#3 With Barbarian, go to town, click Marketplace, Transfer and click on Guardian and send him the Armor.
Note: Guardian will now have an Armor to go with the starting Club & Heal charm.
#1 Melee-Tank Build:
The "Melee-Tank Build" reference is more for other classes and "Group" play. Guardian has lower DPS vs other classes, yet they start with more Intelligence, so they are more optimal as a Tank/Healer in groups. More information #2 Tank-Healer further below.
Note: Ask the group for advice what Ability to use and placement for catacomb. Their input may change your setup slightly dependent on what gear you have available.
Weapon: Best Enhanced Effect
Armor: Best Enhanced Effect
Main Charm: Highest Stat for your Weapon (Club : Strength)
ACC Charm: Highest Enhanced Effect Heal type. (Focus & Regular are the norm, Wild Heal is cheap.)
TIP(s): Class level & Tier level of Weapon & Armor is based on the best Damage / Defense total shown 'Character Screen" or when hovering over them from your inventory. ACC charm is optional in "Group", but required for "Solo"
Abilities: Choice of 1-3 from ANY Class (Penalties apply off Class & unlocked). When to use Ability charge(s)? Personally 75% as long as you have 100% or more enhanced effect.
Group: Multistrike #1 (5pts = 39% @ lvl 35 or 8pts = 52% @ lvl 55) ... Knockdown #2 (Optional: 4pts = 34%) or Powerstrike.
Note: No point having a third ability.
Solo: Salvation to 72% and rest to Retribution (Based on using stat armor only and Tier level to character level) Note: Using EE then Powerstrike instead of Retribution.
Stats: Left this for last because it depends on Core, Group & Availability of items.
Examples;
Softcore + Whistle Group as a Tanker = Use EE Clubs & Armor / Stat Main Charm while only adding stat points to Strength while using the ability Multistrike ONLY.
Hardcore + Whistle Group as a Tanker = Use EE Clubs & Armor / Stat Main Charm while adding 20 points to Vitality and the rest to Strength while using the ability Multistrike ONLY.
Softcore + Explore Group as a Tanker = Use EE Clubs & Armor / Stat Main Charm while adding 5 stat points to Vitality and rest to Strength while using the ability Multistrike ONLY.
Hardcore + Explore Group as a Tanker = Use EE Clubs & Armor / Stat Main Charm while adding 25-35 stat points to Vitality and rest to Strength while using the ability Multistrike ONLY.
It is also dependent on the group healer as well, with Hardcore, a majority of the time the healer in the group will not (NOT) let your health bar go below 50%, whereas in Softcore, they may let it go lower, maybe around 33% ... since I don't play SC, I don't know how low they are willing to let it go.
WILL CONTINUE WITH THIS GUIDE AT A LATER TIME
#1 The Typical Build:
The "Typical" build reference is more for other melee-tank classes in comparison to Guardian. Yet it is still viable in a "Group" & "Solo". The "DPS" is lower than others.
Note: Alternative: Stat for Highest Weapon Ratio (i.e. Club 90 str / 10 dex)
Guardian Melee / Tank Build (Solo or Group):
Note: Your position in group is Front. Concentrate on damage while tanking.
Stats:
... 75-95 Vitality (Core & Gear related) : Rest of the points towards your MQ Weapon Ratio Highest Stat
Weapons: preferably 100% or more Enhanced Effect and Club being main weapon.
... Club (90str/10dex ratio) | Battleaxe (50/50 ratio) | Longswords (75str/25dex ratio)
... Spears (10str/90dex ratio) | Polearms (25str/75dex ratio) & Warhammers (90str/10dex ratio) are secondary options.
... Note: Since you start with more Strength, I would opt for Strength Ratio weapons.
Armor: 100% Enhanced Effect or more.
... Plates/Chain Mail as stated 100% or more enhanced effect and within the Tier Level of your toon Level.
... Note: Enhanced Effect and damage stat combination armor is better.
Main Charms:
... Heal Type ONLY with Stats to suit your Weapons Ratio.
... Note: If you do NOT have any Damage stat charms, you can use Vitality &/or Intelligence charm here for defense.
ACC Slot Charms:
... Focus Heals (1st option) / Regular Heals (2nd option) with 80% or more Enhanced Effect as long as Tier Lvl = Toon Lvl
Abilities: Full Group 1:
... Knockdown: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% (total 5 points = level 20 achieved)
... Bottomsup: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% (total 5 points = level 45 achieved with Knockdown)
... Note: Increase any ability to help with faster charge rate for damage. Third Ability = Backstab, problem is that you will be level 70 by the time you get to 40% charge.
Abilities: Full Group 2:
... Multistrike: 06% / 12% / 17% / 22% / 27% / 31% / 35% / 39% (total 5 points = level 35 achieved)
... Knockdown: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% (total 5 points = level 55 achieved with Multistrike)
... Note : You can opt for only Multistrike = 52% @ level 55
Abilities: Solo:
... Salvation: 20% / 36% / 48% (total 3 points = level 10 achieved)
... Powerstrike: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% (total 5 points = level 35 achieved with Salvation)
... Retribution: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% (total 4 points = level 55 achieved with Salvation & Powerstrike)
... Note: Increase any ability to help with faster charge rate for damage or healing.
Guardian Melee / Heal Build (Solo / Group):
Note: Group dynamic, role, positioning and gear availability lead to many variations. The following information will be Basic:
Solo 1: = Using Stat Armor
... Stats: 75 (SC) | 95 (HC) Vitality / 75 Intelligence : Rest of the points towards your MQ Weapon Ratio Highest Stat
... Weapon: 100% Enhanced Effect or more Club. (Heavy Weapons refer to Guardian Heavy Weapon build)
... Armor: Chain or Plate: Strength Stat with either Intelligence or Heal Mastery combination is best, but Strength Stat will suffice ensure Tier level is the same as toon level
... Main Charm: Strength Stat with either Intelligence or Heal Mastery combination is best, but Strength Stat or 50+ Intelligence will suffice
... Acc Slot: 85% Enhanced Effect or more healing type charm. Preferably Focus or Regular, otherwise 100% enhanced effect or more Wild Heal.
... Abilities: You can choose which ones to increase first and which needs improvement after level 55
... ... Salvation 20% / 36% / 48% / 58% / 66% = 5 points = Level 20
... ... Retribution 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% / 46% / 51% = 7 points = level 55 including Salvation
... END NOTE: if you are finding it hard to heal more life than damage being taken, either increase Salvation or switch your Heal charm to Main Slot ONLY if you are NOT using +50 or more Intelligence in main slot, as it won't make a difference in heal capacity.
Solo 2: = Using Enhanced Effect Armor
... Stats: 75 (SC) | 95 (HC) Vitality / 75 Intelligence : Rest of the points towards your MQ Weapon Ratio Highest Stat
... Weapon: 100% Enhanced Effect or more Club. (Heavy Weapons refer to Guardian Heavy Weapon build & Armor info below)
... Armor: Chain or Plate: 100% Enhanced Effect or more. Combination of Strength / Intelligence or Heal Mastery is best. Ensure Tier level is the same as toon level
... Main Charm: Strength Stat with either Intelligence or Heal Mastery combination is best, but Strength Stat or 50+ Intelligence will suffice
... Acc Slot: 85% Enhanced Effect or more healing type charm. Preferably Focus or Regular, otherwise 100% enhanced effect or more Wild Heal.
... Abilities: You can choose which ones to increase first and which needs improvement after level 55
... ... Salvation 20% / 36% / 48% / 58% / 66% = 5 points = Level 20
... ... Powerstrike 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% / 46% / 51% = 7 points = level 55 including Salvation
... END NOTE: if you are finding it hard to heal more life than damage being taken, either increase Salvation or switch your Heal charm to Main Slot ONLY if you are NOT using +50 or more Intelligence in main slot, as it won't make a difference in heal capacity.
Guardian Solo Heavy Weapon Build:
Note: If your gear has a combined 20% or more Quick Draw, it can interrupt your next action whether it is Healing or Exiting game.
Stats:
... 75-90 Vitality / 50-75 Intelligence : Rest of the points towards your MQ Weapon Ratio Highest Stat
Weapons: preferably 75% or more Enhanced Effect
... Battleaxe (50/50 ratio) | Longswords (75str/25dex ratio) | Spears (10str/90dex ratio)
... Polearms (25str/75dex ratio) & Warhammers (90str/10dex ratio) are secondary options.
... Note: Since you start with more Strength, I would opt for Strength Ratio weapons.
Armor:
... Plates/Chain Mail with Stats to suit your Weapons Ratio and try to stay within the Tier Level of your toon Level.
... Note: Maybe have spare Intelligence armor for some of those dicey EPs that cast dmg.
Main Charms:
... Heal Type ONLY with Stats to suit your Weapons Ratio.
... Note: Stat plus HM are better, or Dual stat damage / intelligence for some of those dicey EPs that cast dmg.
ACC Slot Charms:
... Focus Heals (1st option) / Regular Heals (2nd option) with 80% or more Enhanced Effect as long as Tier Lvl = Toon Lvl
Abilities:
... Salvation: 20% / 36% / 48% / 58% (total 4 points = level 15 achieved)
... Retribution: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% (total 5 points = level 40 achieved with Salvation)
... Note: Increase any ability to help with either faster dmg or heal... 1 more point Salvation = 66%
Guardian Group Melee Build:
Note: This character will most likely be in the BACK row unless requested for Middle (dependent on group setup)
Stats:
... 75 Vitality : Rest of the points towards your MQ Weapon Ratio Highest Stat
... Note: Ask group whether they are exploring (if so what level from / to) and ask them IF you need more than 75 Vitality.
Weapons: preferably 100% or more Enhanced Effect
... Club (90str/10dex ratio) | Battleaxe (50/50 ratio) | Longswords (75str/25dex ratio)
... Spears (10str/90dex ratio) | Polearms (25str/75dex ratio) & Warhammers (90str/10dex ratio) are secondary options.
... Note: Since you start with more Strength, I would opt for Strength Ratio weapons.
Armor:
... Plates/Chain Mail with Stats to suit your Weapons Ratio and try to stay within the Tier Level of your toon Level.
Main Charms:
... Heal Type ONLY with Stats to suit your Weapons Ratio.
... Note: Dual Damage Stat are better, or Dual stat damage / intelligence &/or Vitality for defense.
ACC Slot Charms:
Note: Using enhanced effect heal type charm can come in handy to backup caster / healer in group IF needed.
... Focus Heals (1st option) / Regular Heals (2nd option) with 80% or more Enhanced Effect as long as Tier Lvl = Toon Lvl
Abilities: Full Group 1
... Knockdown: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% (total 5 points = level 20 achieved)
... Bottomsup: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% / 40% (total 5 points = level 45 achieved with Knockdown)
... Note: Increase any ability to help with faster charge rate for damage. Third Ability = Backstab, problem is that you will be level 70 by the time you get to 40% charge.
Abilities: Full Group 2:
... Multistrike: 06% / 12% / 17% / 22% / 27% / 31% / 35% / 39% (total 5 8 points = level 35 achieved)
... Knockdown: 10% / 19% / 27% / 34% (total 5 4 points = level 55 achieved with Multistrike)
... Note : You can choose Multistrike all the way to level 55 for 52%
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Excess info... may use later on:
Guardian Builds
Following information referring to build and items to use