this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2025
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I don't know if Guardian is a better tank than a Paladin, but it's definitely a better brute-force damage-sponge than one (or 'classic tank', as [ProfessorOwl_PhD [any]](https://wanderingadventure.party/user/professorowl_phd%40hexbear.net) said). Since tanking is really about managing party damage, not just taking it, there are a fairly wide variety of potential tank builds in the game.
Guardian is just the WoW Warrior version of that, right down to the taunt function.
I feel that since taunt is an action rather than a reaction it allows more options especially once they can get reactive strike and then so many of the feats let them take more hits and can protect party members so well. I mean giving an adjacent party member cover. wow.
Sure, but the Champion gives resistances, and even the ability to just move for free. Plus, it has a significantly higher offensive output, which means it can both protect their ally and punish the attacker.
The Guardian inserts itself between the ally and the attacker and says "you're wasting your time attacking them". The Champion sees the attacker targeting the ally and says "I'm going to make you wish you didn't do that".
There are a lot of tradeoffs there. I agree with the resitances but its not like they get the strike and the move. Its resistances plus an extra effect and the guardian can get reactive strike. Granted that means the champions reaction is essentially two things were as the guardian has to use an action and a reaction to get a similar level of effect. I will have to mull this but its starting to make me thing guardian with champion archetype.