Revision : 1.05
Date :
28-09-2007 23h40
Created by : Talissa
Aura
skills
General category comments :
The only problem to keep in mind with aura's, is that besides
Grand Aura, they do not stack with one another. So choose wisely
and don't waste points into an aura you won't use later. You'll
regret it.
Aura of Renewal :
Description: Through meditation and the
channeling of holy energy, the natural healing abilities of a
Templar are greatly increased. SKill effects cap at 8
enemies.
Ranks: up to 10
Effect at rank 1 :
Renegerates X(scales with lvl) hitponts per minute per enemy in
the Holy Aura radius.
Comments : This skill is useful
until you get Aura of Defense, then you will stop using it. It
starts being a little to weak at level 9. 1 rank in this skill
should get you to level 5, at which time you will stop using it
completely. You MAY bypass this skill, though you will need a
good shield to compensate.
Aura of Power :
Description : When placed in greater danger,
the Guardian's faith increases, fueling and regenerating Holy
power.
Skill effects cap at 8 enemies
Ranks: up to
10.
Effect at rank 1 : Power regeneration increased by
X(scales with lvl) per minute per enemy in the Holy Aura
radius.
Comments : This skill may seem useful, but
once you get Aura of defense you will seldom use it. It may be a
good skill to invest maybe 1 point. When out of immediate danger
but surrounded by mobs you can handle, you turn it on until you
get filled up. Then, you restart Aura of Defense. Only drawback
is that you will find yourself out of HP very quick in this kind
of situation. So its a love or hate.
Caldwyn's comments:
Nice writeup but I heavily disagree on AoP. I will try AoD once
again but I have very very seldom used it in Alpha and I
honestly don't expect to use it that much now. You can get up to
6 just fine without it and then it's energy > all especially
with the now insta-cast PoH, Shield Turn and Shield of
Faith.
Cvett12321's comments: Agreed, I found AoP to
be quite useful in certain circumstances, and in many cases made
progress through certain levels much quicker. At times when you
find your character is having few problems with the monsters at
hand, AoP will allow you to cut through them even faster. As
Caldwhyn noted the usefulness is enhanced even more by the fact
that skills are more fast paced now, I understand this is a
pre-beta guide however.
When all is said and done, AoP is
more for Guardians that will focus on using more abilities,
control, and offense at the cost of survivability. AoD does have
its uses especially with abilities like anchor, where the
tanking nature of the guardian really comes into play.
Aura of Defense :
Description : Having been specially trained
to combat multiple enemies at once, the Guaridan draws upon
supernatural protections.
Skill effects cap at 8
enemies.
Ranks : up to 10
Effect at rank 1 :
Armor increased by 9% per enemy in the Holy Aura
radius.
Prerequs : Character level 10.
Comments
: Take it, max it, love it. This is your armor skill, what
makes you a tank, what compensates your lack of DPS. Though you
will need from time to time to switch to Aura of Salvation if
you encounter several ranged enemies that do Special effects
damage.
Aura of Salvation :
Description : The Guardian offers a prayer
for salvation and gains protection against the very elements
themselves.
Skill effects cap at 8 enemies.
Ranks : up
to 10
Effect at rank 1 : Defense against Stun, Ignite,
Shock, Phase, and Poison increased by X(scales with lvl) per
enemy in the Holy Aura radius.
Prerequs : Character
level 15.
Comments : Again, take it, max it, love it.
This is your defense skill against special effects damage. Only
drawback is that you have to lose the effects of Aura of Defense
while this is on. Not a big problem as most of the times,
enemies are either ranged or melee. The only mob that is
annoying in this regards is the imps, as they always have a mix
of sniper and melee guys.
Aura of Thorns :
Description : The Guardian calls the
embattled spirit of Nature to the defense.
Ranks : up
to 10
Effect at rank 1 : Thorns damage increased by
20% per enemy in the Holy Aura radius.
Prerequs :
Character level 15
Comments : You get hit, a small
AoE bursts around you. I would not recommendit, as it implies
removing Aura of Defense. If someone finds a good strategy that
uses this tell me I'll update the description.
Aura of Deflection :
Decription : This templar invocation calls
upon heavenly spirits to turn aside ranged attacks that enter
the Holy Aura.
Ranks : up to 4
Effect at rank 1
: Grants a 30% chance to destroy projectiles.
Prerequs
: Character level 20
Comments : Good if you have
snipers attacking you, though you will need to invest in this
skill a lot. Put 3 points in this if you want Aura of Vengeance
or nothing if you don't
Aura of Vengeance :
Description : Turning their own dark powers
against them, the Templar calls upon the divine to reflect
ranged attacks entering the Holy Aura.
Ranks : up to
4
Effects at rank 1 : Grants a 20% chance to reflect
projectiles
Prerequs : AUra of Delfection rank : 3 and
Character level : 30.
Comments : Again, if you want to
use this skill, then max it to get the greatest percentage. Will
return damage at the enemy instead of applying it to you.
Grand Aura :
Description : Diligence in studying the
tactics of demons increases the radius of the Guardian's Holy
Aura
Ranks : up to 5
Effects at rank 1 :
Holy Aura radius increased by 20%
Comments : Thanks to
a nifty sword, I managed to test this. This is the ONLY aura
that stacks with the others. Get this, it increases the radius
of your aura's so you have more chance of having 8 mobs in them,
thus maxing the effect of the aura in use.
Shield
Skills
General category comments :
Shield skills are what makes the guardian's life fun and
easy. I strongly suggest investing heavily into this and getting
used to the skills very early in your career as a guardian. I
usually place my shield bash skill on the left side of my
character (left hand item) and the standard sword attack on the
right side (right hand). I would suggest placing healing items
on the Q key quickslot and Mana items on the E key quickslot
(beta build). This will save your life more then once.
Shield
Bash :
Description : The Guardian slams a shield
into the enemy. While doing only a small amount of damage, this
attack can stun foes.
Power Cost : 10.0
Ranks :
Up to 10
Effect at rank 1 : Stun, Ignite, Shock,
Phase, and poison attacks increased 30%
Comments : Take
it, love it, put only 3 points in it
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Don't waste too many points at the start, you want the later
skills and 3 points is more then enough for 1 mob. Puting more
will not make the stun part longer, only enhance the attack
increase of special effects (from weapons in your case usually).
Shield Turn :
Description : The Guardian rapidly spins in
place, smashing any surrounding enemies with a shield.
Rate
of use : every 12.0 seconds
Power Cost : 30
Ranks
: up to 10
Effect at rank 1 : Stun, Ignite, Shock,
Phase and poison attack increased by 90%
Prerequs :
Shield Bash rank : 3 and Character Level : 10
Comments :
Again, take it, love it, put only 3 points in it
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Don't waste too many points at the start, you want the later
skills and 3 points is more then enough. Puting more again will
not make the stun part longer.
Shield Charge :
Description : The Guardian puts the strength
of conviction into a headlong assault against the forces of
darkness.
Power Cost : 30.0
Skill Rage : 22.0
meters
Ranks : up to 10
Effect at rank 1 :
Stun attack increased by 200%
Rate of use : Every 15.0
seconds
Prerequs : Shield Turn rank : 3 and Character
Level : 20
Comments : AAH Finally you have a charge.
Put a minimum of 2 ranks in it to unlock the 2 skills dependent
on it. You may put more later if you have spare skill points,
the more the better against though mobs (specials, bosses who
are very resistant to stunning, etc).
Stampede :
Description : The Guardian charges forward.
Using a shield to bash every enemy within reach.
Rate of
use : 8.0 seconds
Power cost : 36.0 at rank
1
Ranks : Up to 10
Prerequs : Shield Charge
rank : 2 and Character level : 30
Comments : Though I
haven't used this skill at all and it has no description as of
righting this walkthrough, having been stuck in big mobs, I
would recomment this skill. Will update when information becomes
available.
Shield Master :
Description : Advanced training in using
shields as weapons increases the effectiveness of the Guardian's
shield bash attacks.
Ranks : up to 7
Effect at
rank 1 : Stun, Ignite, Shock, Phase and poison duration
increased for all shield attacks by 25%. Shield damage increased
by 12%.
Prereqs : Shield Charge rank : 2 and Character
Level : 25
Comments : Remember when I said not to put
more then 3 points in Shield Bash and Shield Turn? Well its
because of this skill. Take it, love it, Max it. It enhances
many skills and is a good investment.
Anchor :
Description : The Guaridan uses heightened
strength drived from armor to stand firm, granting better
leverage against foes. Activating this skill anchors the
Guardian, h lating movement. Deactivating the skill or moving
cancels the stance.
Power Cost : 45.0
Rate of
use : every 10 seconds.
Ranks : up to 10
Effect
at rank 1: Damage increased by 60%
Prerequs :
Character level : 5
Comments : The damage this skill
does is insane compared to your standard damage. Only drawback
is that you can only use this skill realistically with melee
opponents that stay close to you. Take it and invest spare
points in it, they will not be wasted.
Comments by
Raskolnikov
Maybe add on the anchor description that it
affects ranged weapons, some people don't know / expect this I
think.
Shield Wall :
Description : The Guardian stands firmly in
place, focusing Templar spirit and will on blocking
attacks.
Power Cost : 60.0
Rate of use :
every 15.0 seconds
Ranks : up to 10
Effects at
rank 1 : Shields increased by X(scales with lvl).
Prerequs
: Shield of Faith rank 2 and Character level : 25
Comments
: Though this skill seems powerful, shielding as a guardian
has proven to be not so effecient. Armor is a net reduction in
damage points per hit. Shielding on the other end, substracts
all damage you get and damages your total shield value instead.
When the shield is down to zero, all damage according to your
armor value. If you want to take this skill, consider it a skill
that will save your behind when you are stuck in a tight spot,
but not something you will depend on regularly.
Swordsmanship
skills
Sword of Reckoning
Description : Rising high above the minions
of darkness, the Templar brings down the heavy hand of final
judgment against a single foe.
Power Cost : 20.0
Ranks : up to 7
Effect at rank 1 : Damage
increased by 100%
Comments : Put at least 2 points in
this skill if you want Hamper. I personnaly made heavy use of
this skill especially against though named/bosses. I usually put
at least 1 point and from time to time, when nothing else seems
interesting to invest on, I put another point in it.
Hamper :
Descirption : An attack designed to cripple
the target, reducing both its movement speed and armor.
Power
Cost : 22.7
Ranks : up to 10
Effect at rank
1 : Reduces enemy movement by 25%. Decreases enemy armor by
20%.
Prerequs : Sword of Reckoning rank : 2 AND
Character level : 10
Comments : Though I haven't used
it yet, I can easily see the value of it. Its one of your only
debuff skill and against tough mobs (bosses and nameds), it will
be a very good skill. Any points you can spare it this will be
appreciated later when you need it, as your enemy will be slower
and will have less armor.
Heaven's Arc
Description : The Templar leaps into the Air
and takes the battle directly to those demons that call thei
skies their home. Can only be used against flying enemies.
Power
cost : 10.0
Ranks : up to 7
Effect at rank 1
: Damage increased by 100%.
Comments : This is a
love or hate skill. As a templar you will have only 3 options to
take flyers down, your grappler to bring them in melee range
(though they will try to return to fly range), one of the few
templar guns (not very letal but fairly enjoyed when faced with
a pack of flyers) or this skill. Its a choice you have to make
fairly early in your career. I personnaly prefer getting a gun
and placing it in one of the 3 weapon configurations with a
shield. I switch to that config on a need basis. Though this
skill will finish off flyers much quicker then the gun will.
Your choice here, sacrifice a few points or suffer the slowness
of the gun.
Taunt
skills
General category comments :
This is it, the taunt line. Though I'm not a big fan of it
myself, in grouping its what will save the behind of your glass
canons. Aggro is sometimes very severe for them and a good
placed taunt will make the group's life much easier. You will
want Grand Aura if you take this line of skill.
Challenge
:
Description : Decrying their very presence in
the realm of mankind, the Templar draws enemies within the Holy
Aura into melee range.
Power cost : 20.0
Skill
range : 1.5 meters
Rate of use : every 2.0
seconds
Ranks : up to 7
Effect at rank 1 :
Taunt effect lasts for 5 seconds
Comments : If you
want to taunt, invest at least 3 ranks to unlock the following
taunt skills. More is up to your taste and available
points.
Nyarlathotep comments : You may want to note
that you can also use taunt as a means to bring flyers into
close combat with you. It's always been the only skill I've used
against them on my guardian (with only an item-based point
invested).
Denounce :
Description : The Guardian condems a single
demon, diminishing its armor by 25%. This causes the targeted
enemy to attack!
Power cost : 30.0
Skill range :
30.0 meters
Rate of use : every 10.0 seconds
Ranks
: up to 10
Effect at rank 1 : Taunt effectiveness
increased by 300%
Prerequs : Challenge rank : 3 and
Character level : 15
Comments : Againt, invest 3 ranks
into this if you went this far, you want either of the 2 skills
at this point. If you are going to invest in the taunt line, go
for it all the way or don't. As the further you will go, the
more mobs will resist your feable unboosted taunts.
Heavenly Condemnation :
Description : When denouncing a demon, the
fervor of the Guardian's words strikes at the very core of the
monster's being, weakening its defenses even more.
Ranks :
up to 7
Effect at rank 1 : (Passive, stacks with
Denounce) Reduces enemy armor by 5%
Prerequs :
Denounce rank : 2 and Character level : 20
Comments :
Now you are at the boosting skills, Passive that will enhance
the first 2 taunt skills. I'd say invest a lot in this skill, as
its your PBAoE taunt. Also make sure you have invested a maximum
of points in Grand Aura to extend it as much as possible.
Provoke :
Description : The Challenge of the Guardian
is more effective against intelligent demons which could
otherwise ignore a taunt.
Ranks : up to 10
Effect
at rank 1 : (Passive, stacks with Challenge) Challenge
strength is 125.
Prerequs : Heavenly condemnation rank
: 1 and Character level : 25.
Comments : Increasing
the strength of your single target taunt will be a must against
late game bosses, so I'd invest available points into this if
you envision yourself as being a group taunter. Good taunts,
lots of defense will more then make you a decent tank in this
game. Though your dps will suffer from it a bit, as you won't
have enough points to compensate. Make up for it with good
weapons. The more damage you do, the more chance you got to
remove a monster from a fellow glass canon who did one spell to
many
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.
Prayer
Skills
General category comments :
Prayers are instants and therefore pseudo spammable (as they
have a cooldown). I am not sure if Grand Aura affects this
skill, but I suspect that yes it does. I will revisit this if
every I get confirmation.
Prayer of Healing :
Description : The healing power of prayer
grants 25% health to the templar and nearby allies
Power
cost : 40.0
Ranks : up to 10
Effects :
Cooldown reduced at each rank.
Prerequs : Character
level : 10
Comments : Take it, love it, max it. Its
THE only PBAoE healing effect in the game. Has a Its instant
cast, and a small cooldown. Heals 25% of your total hitpoints to
everyone in the effect. Its a MUST.
Prayer of retribution :
Description : All enemies within the radius
receive a powerful spectral attack - probably phasing them. Does
x-y(scales with level) spectral damage.
Power Cost :
25.0
Rate of use : Every 10.0 seconds
Ranks :
up to 10
Effect at rank 1 : Does X(scales with level)
to all enemies within the Templar's Holy Aura
Prerequs :
Prayer of Healing rank : 3 and Character level : 20
Comments
: Though I haven't had the chance to use it yet, the
description speaks for itself and its instant cast. Phasing
enemies makes them more vulnerable to all attacks (take double
damage) and reduces their attacks by 50%. Will have the added
advantage of annoying all within the PBAoE and make them attack
you instead of the group. Good Initial Alpha strike type of
attack. THough it won't replace a good Denounce if you are in a
group (if you are alone who cares about aggro anyways
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).
Great Defender :
Description : Calling for celestial aid in a
righteous cause, the Guardian and allies enjoy divine protection
and renewing health. Lasts for 20 seconds
Power cost :
50.0
Rate of use : every 180.0 seconds
Ranks :
up to 7
Effect at rank 1: Armor increased by 100%.
Regenerate X(scales with level) hit points per minute.
Prerequs
: Prayer of retribution rank 3 and Character level
30.
Comments : Again, I haven't had the chance to use
this skill, but 100% armor increas and a fair regenerate per
minute (11hp per minute at level 1 and it scales), is a boon in
case of tough mobs. Your group will LOVE you for doing this
against tough mobs. Even solo its a great buff skill.
Other
skills
Shield of Faith :
Description : This invocation creates a
protective shield around the Guardian
Rate of use :
every 60.0 seconds
Power cost : 32
Ranks :
up to 10
Effect at rank 1: Shields increased by
X(scales with level). The effect lasts for 13 seconds
Comments
: Frankly everyone hates this skill as of writing this
walktrough. It doesn't give a large enough boost to shielding to
be worth the spending of even 1 point. Skip it, if you really
want it, I would suggest maxing it to maximise its
output.
Caldwhyn's Comments : here's an experienced
Guardian player who doesn't hate it, it is just another way of
getting a def boost. You just have to know what to expect, but I
always invested heavily in this skill and I found it quite
useful up until level 22 during the last builds (although I had
+2 skill items for it so it gave me about 1000 shield at lvl 20)
But this might also have to do with the "energy route"
I used to skill. But I will try to get 2 guardians up and
running during the beta now and find out whether the defense
rout is really superior or more a matter of personal likes and
dislikes.
Spiritual Strength :
Description : Through intense physical and
spiritual training, a Guardian can carry much more then a
human's strength should allow.
Ranks : up to 7
Effect
at rank 1 : Decreases Strength feed by 12.
Requirements
: Character level : 15
Explanation : Each item has
a certain amount of stats requirements. For example lets say you
have an armor that requires strength 15 and a sword that
requires strength of 10. So in total you need to have a strength
of 25 in order to weild both items simultaneously. BUT, with
this skill, it gives you a bonus of 20 at rank 1. SO, instead of
requiring a strength of 25 for those two items you would only
require a strength of 5 (if you have the skill at rank
1).
Comments : Invest a skill point into this when
your feed strength becomes too thight. Its much better g to put
a point her as it saves your 15 points of stats to put somewhere
else.