An in-depth analysis of the High-Guard stance
Written by gyl on Monday, September 10, 2007
High-Guard
Melee ATK
A defensive stance for fencing together with the use of a shield. Greatly improves Block.
Melee ATK
A defensive stance for fencing together with the use of a shield. Greatly improves Block.
Sword (or Sword + Shield)
Characters that can use this stance:
Catherine of STR/DEX/INT, Coimbra Trooper, Idge the Battlesmith, Reboldoeux Soldier, Stock Fighter
Granadosource's take:
High-Guard is the stance that separates the stock Fighter from the rest of other melee type rNPCs. High Guard, a stance that allows you to equip a sword and a shield can be acquired when you hit level 12. This stance allows your fighter to be able to tank more which is a great combination with his personal skill - Provoke. High-Guard is a defensive stance that offers a a little more offense than the Back-Guard stance. It got 3 Offensive skill that deals 500%-1000% damage. Slash down is almost an instant knock down skill that deals decent damage and is very spammable. Pommel is a very good skill that ignores the defense of small and medium sized targets (which is almost a good number of monsters in GE). Stunning Skewer is a rather pricey skill but complements this defensive stance allowing you to inflict stun status on your target. The skill, Guardian, is the stance's bread-and-butter. The max bonus you can get from this stance is +24 Block and with Guardian it gives you +30 more which can allow you to hit the max Block rate which is 75. Block rates are better when mobbing because it does not have any penalty per additional mob attacking you (which is a plus over evasion rate). Also, Shields automatically gives you +1 DR and another from a level 11/12 Guardian that gives you +2 easy DR.
High-Guard is commonly used almost in every occasion that needs tanking. Raid, PvP, PvE or Boss hunting, High-Guard fits the bill for a fighter to shine in this instances. With his provoke skill, he can lure monsters to target him while other characters can unleash their attacks on the monster. It might be argued that High-Guard looses out later on on Sabre Garde because of a rapier's damage capability and the stance's evasion rate. High-Guard still shines early to late level games. Granadosource gives High-Guard two thumb and toes up. XD
Stance Bonus:
1: Slashdown
2:Block +1
3:Block +2
4: Block +3, Guardian
5: Block +4
6: Block +5
7: Block +6
8: Block +7, Pommel
9: Block +8
10: Block +9
11: Block +10
12: Block +11
13: Block +12
14: Block +13
15: Block +14
16: Block +15, Stunning Skewer
17: Block +16
18: Block +17
19: Block +18
20: Block +19
21: Block +20
22: Block +21
23: Block +22
24: Block +23
25: Block +24
Slash Down - Delivers downward slashes.Required Stance Level: 1
Shared Stance: Defending Guard, Heaven and Hell, Flame Guard
Required Skill Points: 1
Range: Adjacent
Area Type: None
Knock Back: 4m
Number of Targets: 1
Effects: None
SP Consumption: 100
Cast Time: 2.37 Seconds
Duration: None
Recovery Time: None
Damage per skill level:
1: 251%
2: 274%
3: 297%
4: 320%
5: 343%
6: 366%
7: 389%
8: 411%
9: 434%
10: 457%
11: 480%
12: 503%
Guardian - Greatly increases the chances of blocking the enemy's attack.Required Stance Level: 4
Shared Stance: Defending Guard, Defending Shot
Required Skill Points: 1
Range: Self
Area Type: Self
Knockback: None
Number of Targets: 1
Effects: -30% Movement Speed, Character cannot use skills.
SP Consumption: 150
Cast Time: 2.02 Seconds
Duration: 10 Seconds
Recovery Time: None
Block Bonus per skill level:
1: Block +8
2: Block +11
3: Block +14
4: Block +17
5: Block +20
6: Block +23
7: Block +26
8: Block +29
9: Block +32
10: Block +35
11: Block +38, Def Rating +1
12: Block +41, Def Rating +1
Pommel - Strikes the enemy's head with the sword's pommel repeatedly. It overwhelms the DEF of small or medium enemies, but is ineffective on large enemies.Required Stance Level: 8
Shared Stance: None
Required Skill Points: 2
Range: Adjacent
Area Type: None
Knockback: 3m
Number of Targets: 1
Effects: Ignore defense of Small and Medium targets
SP Consumption: 200
Cast Time: 3.68 Seconds
Duration: None
Recovery Time: 10 Seconds
Damage per skill level:
1: 588%
2: 642%
3: 695%
4: 748%
5: 802%
6: 855%
7: 909%
8: 962%
9: 1016%
10: 1069%
11: 1123%
12: 1176%
Stunning Skewer - Stuns the enemy with a blow from the shield before advancing upon with a sword.Required Stance Level: 16
Shared Stance: Defending Guard
Required Skill Points: 3
Range: Adjacent
Area Type: None
Knockback: 4.5m
Number of Targets: 1
Effects: 25% to cause Stun on Target, Character moves forward notably during the skill animation.
SP Consumption: 300
Cast Time: 4.45 Seconds
Duration: None
Recovery Time: 20 Seconds
Damage per skill level:
1: 688%
2: 751%
3: 814%
4: 876%
5: 939%
6: 1001%
7: 1064%
8: 1126%
9: 1189%
10: 1252%
11: 1314%
12: 1377%
Data taken from X-Calibre of the GE Forums.
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