Daggerheart class
Guardian
Guardian is a class in Daggerheart: Stalwart defenders who protect allies with shield and steel.
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Key facts
- Primary Trait
- strength
- Domains
- Valor, Blade
Overview
Guardians are the shield-bearers and protectors of the party, standing between their allies and harm. They are defined by their unwavering commitment to defending others, using heavy armor, shields, and defensive techniques to absorb punishment that would fell lesser warriors. Guardian characters in Daggerheart draw from the Valor and Blade domains, combining protective abilities with martial skill. Their primary trait is Strength, reflecting their physical power and endurance. When a Guardian plants their feet and raises their shield, enemies know they must go through them to reach anyone else.
How it works
Primary Trait: Strength Domains: Valor, Blade Role: Tank and protector. Guardians excel at absorbing damage, protecting allies, and controlling enemy movement through positioning and defensive abilities. Key Features: Valor domain cards grant protective auras, shield techniques, and abilities that redirect damage away from allies. Blade domain cards provide weapon mastery and martial techniques for when offense is the best defense. HP and Stress: High HP slots, among the highest of all classes. Guardians are built to take hits and keep standing. Evasion: Lower base evasion, compensated by high armor scores and damage reduction abilities.
Tips and playstyle
Character Concepts: Sworn protector, shield knight, bodyguard, community defender, retired soldier, oath-bound sentinel, wall breaker. Playstyle: Your job is to stand between danger and your allies. Use Valor domain cards to protect the party and Blade cards to punish enemies who try to get past you. You generate and spend Hope by taking hits meant for others and standing firm when others would fall. Synergies: Strength is your core trait. Pair with high Instinct to better read battlefields and react to threats, or with Presence to be an inspiring leader in addition to a defender. Heavy armor and shields maximize your protective capabilities.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Guardian protect allies mechanically?
Guardians use Valor domain cards that include abilities to redirect attacks to themselves, create defensive zones, grant armor bonuses to nearby allies, and absorb damage meant for others. The specifics depend on your chosen domain cards.
Can Guardians deal good damage?
Guardians are primarily defenders, but their Blade domain gives them solid martial techniques. They deal less damage than Warriors or Rangers but make up for it with unmatched survivability and the ability to keep allies alive.
What is the difference between a Guardian and a Warrior?
Guardians focus on defense, protection, and controlling the battlefield through Valor and Blade domains. Warriors focus on offensive martial mastery through Blade and Bone domains. Guardians protect, Warriors destroy.