Roy’s Mod 10 Iron Vanguard DPS/Tank

Welcome to my Guardian Fighter page. I don’t want to assert that this build is any more or less viable than any other builds. It should be considered instead, as a viable alternative to plethora of Sword Master builds that have been recommended. Although this build is aimed primarily at DPS I have personally tanked CN and FBI without issue using this build.

Ability Scores

Ability Scores offer a flat increase to various stats. Each ability score effects different stats depending on your character. Additionally you will only receive a bonus once an ability score increases past 10. For example. If you have 12 strength you will receive a 2% bonus to damage, and not 12%.

Strength –

1% Damage Increase, 1% Guard Meter Total, 1% Damage over Time (DOT) Resistance

Dexterity –

1% Resistance Ignored, 1% Area of Effect (AOE) resist, 0.5% deflect chance.

Constitution –

4% Max Hit Points, 1% Action Point (AP) Gain

Wisdom –

1% Control Bonus, 1% Control Resistance

Intelligence –

1% Recharge Speed

Charisma –

1% Combat Advantage Damage, 1% Companion Influence

For This Build:

Although a pure DPS build should choose Charisma and Strength and a Pure Tank Build shoukd Choose Dexterity and Constitution. I focused my points on Strength and Constitution. The Raw Damage, Guard Meter, Max Hitpoints and Action Point gain all work together to create a versatile and high damaging and tough character with enough Hit Points to still keep me competitive when tanking Orcus and FBI.

My Scores:

16 Strength
12 Dex
16 (18) Con (+2 Human)
10 Wisdom
10 Intelligence
10 Charisma

Race Selection

Human

• +2 to any Ability Score
• Versatile Defense: Increase your Defense by 3%.
• Heroic Effort: You gain an additional Heroic Feat point at levels 10, 15, and 20.

Humans are a great race for just about any class, and they are my choice for Guardian Fighter. The bonus defense is gold, and the extra 3 feats give you great feat versatility. The +2 stat should go into either strength or constitution. I personally chose constitution.

Half Orc

• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Constitution or +2 Strength
• Furious Assault: Your Critical Severity is 5% higher than that of other races
• Swift Charge: You gain a 10% bonus to run speed for 3 seconds when you enter combat. This effect can only occur once every 20 seconds.

Half-Orcs are another great choice that offers both Offense and Defensive choices. Furious Assault further increases the damage of your critical strikes and Swift Charge can help with positioning and getting those first few hits to build agro. +2 Dexterity is a good defensive stat and your choice of Strength of Constitution fit right with the build. Choose Strength for more damage or Constitution for more hit points.

Halfling

• +2 Dexterity
• +2 Charisma or +2 Constitution
• Nimble Reaction: Your small stature and quick movements grant 3% chance to deflect incoming attacks.
• Bold: Your fearless nature increases your resistance to Crowd Control effects by 10%

Halfings are great for a more defensive oriented build. Dexterity offers deflection chance that stacks with Nimble Reaction, and the control resistance will keep you fighting and maintaining agro while others may have been rooted or stunned. Choose Charisma for more Damage or Constitution for more hit points.

Dwarf

• +2 Constitution
• +2 Strength or +2 Wisdom
• Stand Your Ground: You have 20% increased resistance to Knock and Repel effects
• Cast Iron Stomach: You have 10%  increased damage resistance to Damage over Time(DoT) effects

Dwarves are a solid pick. Although their bonuses are a little boring Stand Your Ground is useful. Their stats are amazing for this build with innate Constitution bonus and I would choose Strength over Wisdom.

Dragonborn Available from the Zen Market

• Ability Scores: Grants you +2 to any two stats.
• Dragonborn Fury: Your Power and Critical Strike are increased by 3%.
• Draconic Heritage: You receive 5% more healing from all spells and abilities.

A powerhouse choice, if a little expensive (and ugly) I would Pick +2 Strength and Constitution, Dragonborn Fury is amazing for DPS and your Draconic Heritage will help your cleric keep you alive.

Metallic Dragonborn Available from the Glorious Resurgence Lockbox and Dragonforged Lockbox(PC and Xbox only)

• Ability Scores: Grants you +2 to any two stats.
• Dragonborn Fury: Your Power and Critical Strike are increased by 3%.
• Metallic Ancestry: You receive 3% more healing from all spells and abilities. Your Hit Points are increased by 3%

Feats

I chose the Iron Vanguard, over sword master, and personally feel it is the superior DPS choice.

DPS

Although both builds are fairly similar in focusing on Conqueror path, a more DPS oriented build explores the tactician tree further, Adding Crushing Pin and Battle Trample for bonus damage. Battle Trample and Crushing Pin are why I feel Iron Vanguard is the superior DPS choice. Your daily power will be Indomitable Strength, which will proc your crushing Pin regularly. Battle Trample is far more reliable than the Swordmaster’s Counterpart Steel Blitz. Trample the Fallen deals 20% bonus damage to any controlled NPC. Plus the Battle Trample Feat deals 25% additional weapon damage to any controlled NPC, where as Steel Blitz offers only a 5% chance to deal 80% weapon damage. As such Trample the fallen combined with Battle Trample offers a significantly higher damage potential with the combined effect of added hate generation.

Heroic Feats

• 3/3 Toughness: Increases your maximum Hit Points by 3/6/9%
• 3/3 Strength Focus: Increase the effectiveness of Strength by 5/10/15%
• 3/3 Armor Spec: Increase the effectiveness of Armor Class and Defense by 5/10/15%.
• 1/3 Shielded Resurgence: When affected by a control power regenerate 2/3/4% of your hit points over 10 seconds.
• 5/5 Powerful Attack: Increase the damage of your Encounter and At will powers by 2/4/6/8/10%.
• 3/3 Weapon Mastery: Increased your Critical Chance by 1/2/3%.
• 2/5 (5/5 if Human) Ubiquitous Shield: Reduce the effects of Combat Advantage against you by 5/10/15/20/25%

Conqueror

• 5/5Take Measure:  When you are crit, gain Temporary Hit Points equal to 1/2/3/4/5% of your maximum Hit Points.
• 5/5 Wrathful Warrior: When you have Temporary Hit points, you deal 3/6/9/12/15% more damage.
• 5/5 Jagged Blades: When you critically strike a foe they begin bleeding. This bleed lasts 10 Seconds and deals                      150%/300%/450%/600%750% of your weapon damage over it’s Duration.5/5
• 5/5 Cruel Cut Style: Cleave now deals 3/6/9/12/15% more damage.
• 5/5 Tactical superiority: Deal 1/2/3/4/5% more damage and Combat Superiority Grants an Additional 1/2/3/4/5% Damage. 5/5
• 1/1 Reckless Attacker: When struck in combat you gain Reckless Attacker. Reckless Attacker increases your damage by 5% and Critical chance by 2%. Reckless Attacker lasts 10 seconds and stacks up to 5 times.

Tactician

• 5/5 Fight On: Encounter Cooldowns Reduced by 10%. 5/5
• 5/5 Crushing Pin: Your Control Powers cause the target to take 10% bonus damage for 10 seconds.
• 5/5 Battle Trample: When your Trample the Fallen would cause you to deal more damage, you deal 25% of your weapon damage as additional damage and threat.

Tank

Although still a DPS build at heart, this option gives you just a little more umph in terms of survivability. I’d recommend this build for lesser geared players still struggling to tank CN and other Epic Dungeons. However once sufficiently geared you should be able to switch to the DPS variation without losing your ability to tank effectively.

Heroic Feats

• 3/3 Toughness: Increases your maximum Hit Points by 3/6/9%
• 3/3 Strength Focus: Increase the effectiveness of Strength by 5/10/15%
• 3/3 Armor Spec: Increase the effectiveness of Armor Class and Defense by 5/10/15%.
• 1/3 Shielded Resurgence: When affected by a control power regenerate 2/3/4% of your hit points over 10 seconds.
• 5/5 Powerful Attack: Increase the damage of your Encounter and At will powers by 2/4/6/8/10%.
• 3/3 Weapon Mastery: Increased your Critical Chance by 1/2/3%.
• 2/5 (5/5 if Human) Ubiquitous Shield: Reduce the effects of Combat Advantage against you by 5/10/15/20/25%

Conqueror

• 5/5Take Measure:  When you are crit, gain Temporary Hit Points equal to 1/2/3/4/5% of your maximum Hit Points.
• 5/5 Wrathful Warrior: When you have Temporary Hit points, you deal 3/6/9/12/15% more damage.
• 5/5 Jagged Blades: When you critically strike a foe they begin bleeding. This bleed lasts 10 Seconds and deals                      150%/300%/450%/600%750% of your weapon damage over it’s Duration.5/5
• 5/5 Cruel Cut Style: Cleave now deals 3/6/9/12/15% more damage.
• 5/5 Tactical superiority: Deal 1/2/3/4/5% more damage and Combat Superiority Grants an Additional 1/2/3/4/5% Damage. 5/5
• 1/1 Reckless Attacker: When struck in combat you gain Reckless Attacker. Reckless Attacker increases your damage by 5% and Critical chance by 2%. Reckless Attacker lasts 10 seconds and stacks up to 5 times.

Protector

• 5/5 Plate Agility:  You gain 1/2/3/4/5% chance to deflect attacks
• 5/5 Shield Defense: You gain 1/2/3/4/5 to AC

Tactician

• 5/5 Fight On: Encounter Cooldowns Reduced by 10%. 5/5

Powers

Your powers are going to be fluid. You should be willing to change them frequently and often depending on the situation. As to what powers should you put to rank 4 first. I would Recommend Into the Fray, Enforced Threat, followed by your At Wills. Then to other Encounter Powers such as Commander Strike, Knight’s Valor and Anvil of Doom. Save your Dailies for last.

At-wills

• Cleave – Swing through your foes, the third attack deals bonus damage. Also restores 5% stamina.
• Crushing Surge-Bash your foe with a series of slow, satisfying attacks. The third strike deals additional damage and will Heal you.

Class Features

Standard

• Trample the Fallen – When a foe is affected by control powers deal 5/10/15/20% more damage to it.
• Combat Superiority- When a foe hits you, you deal 5% Additional Damage to them and they deal 5% less damage to you.

Fangbreaker Island

• Enhanced Mark – Marked targets now build threat while marked, and you generate an additional 75/150/225/300% more threat while striking them.
• Combat Superiority- When a foe hits you, you deal 5% Additional Damage to them and they deal 5% less damage to you

Encounters

DPS Rotation

• Commanders Strike
• Anvil of Doom
• Into the Fray

Tank Rotation

• Knights Valor
• Enforced Threat
• Into the Fray

Dailies

• Fighters Recovery-You steady yourself and gain vigor for the fight to come by temporarily Healing for a large portion of the damage you deal.
• Villains Menace-With valiant fury you smash the ground, damaging foes around you. In your temporary fervor, you deal increased damage and gain immunity to disabling effects.
• Indomitable Strength: Pummel your target with a fury of blows knocking them away and leaving them prone.

Boons

Tyranny Of Dragons

Tyranny of Dragons Campaign unlocks once you reach Level 26 Speak to Sgt. Knox who will give you the quest Cult on the Rise

• Dragon’s Claws Grants 400 Power
• Dragon’s Gaze Grants 400 Critical Strike
• Draconic Defenser Grants 400 Defense
• Dragon’s Greed Grants 400 Life Steal
• Dragon’s Fury Grants 5 increased Critical Severity 1/3
• Dragon’s Thirst Grants 3% increased Life Steal 1/3
• Dragon’s Revival Grants 10% incoming Healing 1/3

The Maze Engine

Available from Level 60 Speak to Bruenor Battlehammer in Mantol-Derith

Notes: The quest line takes place after Underdark story however because was cannot get any boons from that campaign until 70 I placed this here like the campaign window guides you.

• Abyssal Siphoning You gain 5% Life Steal Severity
• Demonic Resilience Control Affects will now have 5% shorter durations when applied to you
• Demonic Swiftness You gain Action Points 3% Faster
• Baphomet’s Might When Striking a foe you have a chance to gain 2000 Critical Strike bonus for 6 seconds

Elemental Evil

Elemental Evil Unlocks at Level 60 Speak to Archdruid Morningdawn in Protectors Enclave

• Unassailable Tide: +300 Defense and +2000 Maximum Hit Points
• Heart of Stone: +4% Life Steal Severity Power and +2000 Maximum Hit Points
• Searing Aggression: +400 Crit and +2000 Maximum Hit Points
• Gale of Retribution: When taking damage you have a chance to heal up to 24000 Hit Points over a few seconds. After this effect ends, your Critical Strike is increased by 1000 for 10 seconds

Sharandar

Unlocks at 64 Talk to IIIyasha Guldlngstar in Protectors Enclave

• Dark Fey Warden You Gain 400 Defense
• Fey Precision You Gain 400 Critical Strike
• Elven Haste You now Gain Action Points 3% Faster
• Elven Tranquillity When Being struck by a foe you have a chance to heal yourself for up to 20000 Hit Point
• Fey Thistle When you deflect an attack you deal 3000 damage

Underdark

Unlocks at 60 Speak to Captain Belgold in Protectors Enclave, Notes: You Cant earn boons till Level 70

• Primordial Vitality You gain 400 Defense and 1600 Hit points
• Primordial Focus You Gain 400 Critical Strike and 1600 Hit Points
• Drow Ambush Tactics Combat Advantage damage bonus is increased by 10%
• Dwarven Footing Control Effects will now have 5% shorter durations when applied to you
• Abyssal Strikes Gain 10% damage versus demons

Dread Ring

Unlocks at 70 Talk to Sgt. Knox and pick up the quest Conquering our Dread

• Conjurers Gambit Gain 250 Critical Strike and movement
• Evoker’s thirst Gain 400 Life Steal
• Illusion Shimmer You gain 3% Deflect Chance
• Enraged Growth When taking damage you have a chance to heal up to 20000 Hit Points over a few seconds. After this effect ends you have 4000 more defense for 10 seconds.
• Endless Consumption  When you steal health from your lifesteal stat, it has a chance to steal 3 times as much.

Icewind Dale

Unlocks at Level 70 talk to Sgt. Knox and complete the quest A Chill Wind

• Weathering the storm You gain 400 AoE Resist
• Refreshing Chill You Gain 400 stamina Gain
• Sleet Skills You gain 2% Crit Severity
• Cold Shoulder When Damaged by a foe you have a chance to proc Cold Shoulder on them, which will reduce the damage of their next attack by up to 2000.
• Winter’s Bounty When you kill a target you have a chance to gain 10% action points.

Storm Kings Thunder

• Cold Hearted You Gain 2% Life Steal Severity and 1000 Hit Points
• Hardy Constitution  Gain 400 Stamina Gain and 2% Everfrost Damage Resist
• Icy Wrath Chance when taking damage to gain up to 2000 Bonus damage on the next attack.
• Glacial Strengtht 2% Everfrost Damage Resist, 3200 HP
• Frozen Reflection When You deflect an attack you deal up 5000 Damage

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Stronghold

The Stronghold boon will be dictated by which boons your guild has unlocked. However I prefer the Power and Defense boons.

Gear

I will list the gear that I utilize but I think it’s more important to list the stat priority as not everyone can get all the gear at once.

As a general rule I prioritized Defense, Crit, Power, Recovery. If at all possible I avoided Armor Pen as I get 4k from my mount and the rest from my companion.

Weapons:

Twisted Weapon Set

For artifact features I run the improved Combat Superiority Relic Feature and +400 AoE Resist on the off hand.
And I run the and I run Improved Cleave on the Main Hand.

Armor:

Elemental Dragon Flight Head
Elemental Dragon Flgiht Chest
Elemental Dragon Flight Boots
Elemental Drow Craft Gloves

Please In FBI I run Full Shieldbearer set empowered to Tier 3. The extra HP and Everfrost Resistance makes surviving much easier.

Necklace & Belt

Baphomet Infernal Talisman

Demogorgon’s Girdle of Might

Rings:

Ring of Dod x2

Artifacts:

Shard Wand of Orcus – 1000 Power, 1000 Movement 20% Damage Bonus
Heart of Red Dragon – 1000 Power 1000 Defense
Sigil of the Devoted Cleric – 1000 Power 1000 Defense (This is currently my active artifact)
Symbol of Fire – 1000 Power 1000 Defense

Companion Equipment: (offense)

Ring of Precision
Ring of Dod x2

Companion Equipment: (defense)

Ring of Sudden Deflect
Ring of Stein x2

If you cannot obtain the Orcus set the Lost Mouth set will work for DPS or the Upcoming Valhalla set in 10.5 will be great for tanking. You can also mix and match pieces such as the Greater Belt of Constitution, Lathander Necklace and Another Artifact such as the Guardian Sigil, Horn of Valhalla or Oghma’s Token.

Enchantments

I don’t think I need to say you want rank 12 Enchantments. Obviously use the best rank you can afford/obtain and work on gearing up. You should also increase your bonding stones to 12 before worrying about ranking up other enchantments.

Weapon

Vorpal – Increases the Crit Severity for all attacks including at wills, encounters and dailies. Use the highest rank you can afford to deal the most damage possible.

Fey – When you hit a foe with an encounter power you debuff the target so they deal 18% less damage you deal 18% more damage. Great option for both tanking and dealing damage. I would not recommend a Fey enchant unless you can get Transcendent.

Armor

Soul Forge – Upon death you are automatically revived. No need to level past lesser. My preferred choice.

Negation – Stack damage resistance upon hit. My standing defense is 28k so the extra DR doesnt really benefit me here.

Offense

Azures: + Critical – Crit will always deal more damage per point than power until you reach 100% crit. I would recommend you always use azures until your crit is capped.

Radiant: +Power –  Only if your crit is capped.

Defense

Azures: + Defense -You want to stack defense until your Damage Reduction reaches 80%

Silvery: + Deflect – After defense is capped switch focus to Deflect

Utility Only

• Fey Blessing: You have a % chance after killing a foe to spawn a will o’ the wisp to find an enchantment for you.
• Dragon hoard: You have a % Chance after killing a foe to find a Refining Stone at your feet.
• Quartermaster’s: You have a % chance after killing a foe to find a bag of goods, Higher ranks improve the quality of the Bag.
• Dark Enchant: Increased Run Speed – Switch to these once all your refinement has been completed.

Overload Slots

• Greater Corrupt Black Ice Enchantment: when dealing damage you have a chance to empower yourself with corrupt black ice, granting 800 power for 8 seconds, Additionally you Generate 1.25% of your AP each seconds while affected by this buff.
• Greater Corrupt Lethal Enchantment:  when dealing damage you have a chance to empower yourself with corrupt black ice, granting 800 Critical Strike for 8 seconds, Additionally you Generate 1.25% of your AP each seconds while affected by this buff.

Companions

I use a Con Artist as my Active companion. When I go into FBI I switch his offensive rings to defensive rings for added survivability. I also switch my other pets for more tank oriented active bonuses. This can be tedious but will pay dividends when tanking in top tier content. You’ll want to use the highest rank bonding stones you can obtain. Rank your bonding stones up before worrying about increasing other enchants. Once you obtain bonding stones rank 8 or higher you’ll no longer want to use Augment pets as the bondings will net you a higher total stat value on an active companion.

Offensive Companions

• Fire Archon Active Bonus: Increases your damage against targets below 50% health by 7%. Each additional active Archon increases this bonus by .5%,
• Air Archon increases your damage against targets not at full health by +2/3/5.% Each additional active Archon increases this bonus by .5%
• Siegemaster – Increases damage by 4%. 8% if in your stronghold
• Eriynes of Belial – Increases crit severity by 10%
  
• Con Artist – 3 Rings, 2x offense 1 times defense (switch rings when DPSing)
  

Defensive Companions

• Rust Monster – When struck by a foe there is a 25% chance to reduce their damage by 5%. Stacks 3 times.
• Psuedo Dragon – Chance on hit to restore Stamina or Guard Meter
• Phase Spider – Reduces the effect of combat advantage by 25%
• Shadow Demon – Increases Deflection seerity by 100% once every 30 seconds.
  
• Con Artist – 3 Rings, 2x offense 1 times defense (switch rings when tanking)
  

 Mounts

• Axe Beak (Legacy) – The 4k armor pen is essential for this build as I do not gain armor pen anywhere else. besides my companions base stats. These two alone are sufficient to push you over the 60% resistance ignored bench mark.

Stats

Base Stats

With Companion (DPS Gear)

With Companion (Tank Gear)

Screenshots and Stuff