WAR: A Look at the Black Guard
MMORPG.com Warhammer Online Correspondent Pat Buckley writes this overview of the new Black Guard class recently introduced into the game and provides some helpful tips for playing the class.
The Dark Elf Black Guard is one of the new classes released with the end of the recent Heavy Metal event. He utilizes a "hate" system to fuel many of his abilities as well as increase or decrease the effectiveness of these abilities. Being what would be considered a tank class, the Dark Elf Black Guard has two things he must take into consideration before reaching level ten: sword and shield combination, or pole arm? This choice can be made for you based on one of the three specialized paths for the Black Guard. No matter which path is chosen, remember that as a Black Guard, your place is in the front lines helping to hold sway over the armies of Order.
What I have for you is a guide on building your Dark Elf Black Guard through all three of his chosen paths: the path of Malice, Loathing, and Anguish. Each one of these paths will also include some suggestions for leveling renown skills to improve your effectiveness as a Black Guard as well as a weapon suggestion.
The Path of Malice
The path of Malice is one of true hatred. The use of a pole arm is highly suggested so that you can utilize all the skills along this path. By giving up the shield and sword and concentrating on damaging strikes and ability reducing techniques, the Malicious Dark Elf is best suited for DPS in NPC boss fights, or as a protector for spell casters in RvR. To start things off, don't be afraid to take skills that are considered to be in either the Loathing or Anguish skill trees. These skills can be used freely by any Dark Elf Black Guard after learning them and should be used whenever needed. Just remember that you can still purchase any skills later on in the game, but you want to skip over skill you won't necessarily need. For the path of Malice, these ignored skills are ones that would require a shield or effect status not related to a CC class such as Spiteful Slam, Hold The Line!, and Mind Killer. Skills such as Exile, Crushing Anger, and Brutal Smash are good skills to have to disorient or disrupt an enemy player trying to get to the spell caster you are protecting.
Since a Malicious Dark Elf is best used as a last line of defense for spell casters, his health and ability to absorb wounds shouldn't be a primary concern when levelling renown abilities. Your primary concern is to be able to break through heavy armor and cause damage. To do this, all renown abilities should be ignored except for the Blade Master ability. This ability will effectively increase your Weapon skill by 102 points when maxed. Once you reach renown level 20, you can then start placing points into the Assault ability. This will also grant you a 102 point boost in your Weapon skill and give you a 102 point boost in Strength. The Weapon and Strength boosts will increase your CC DPS, your ability to break through armor, and increase the amount of damage done by your skills. After renown level 40, it is best to put any more points into the Opportunist skill. This will give you a 12% boost in CC critical hits. Any points afterwards should be used wherever you think is needed, but I would suggest abilities used to increase your own survival rate or further increase the damage you do.
The Path of Loathing
The path of Loathing is one of true antipathy. The use of a sword and shield is highly suggested so that you can utilize all the skills along this path. By giving up the pole arm and concentrating on self defense and constant hate, the Loathsome Dark Elf is best suited for being a tank NPC boss fights as well as in RvR. To start things off, don't be afraid to take skills that are considered to be in either the Malice or Anguish skill trees. These skills can be used freely by any Dark Elf Black Guard after learning them and should be used whenever needed. Just remember that you can still purchase any skills later on in the game, but you want to skip over skill you won't necessarily need. For the path of Loathing, these ignored skills are ones that would require a pole arm or greatly reduce the hate meter such as Furious Howl and Horrific Wound. Skills such as Pitiless Strike, Monstrous Rending, and Shield of Rage are good skills to have to quickly defeat enemies and increase your own survival rate.
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Since a Loathsome Dark Elf is best used as a front line tank class, his long range damage and DPS shouldn't be a primary concern when levelling renown abilities. Your primary concern is to be able to withstand heavy amounts of damage from multiple sources. To do this, all renown abilities should be ignored except for the Fortitude ability. This ability will effectively increase your Toughness stat by 102 points when maxed. Once you reach renown level 20, you can then start placing points into the Vigor ability. This will also grant you a 54 point boost in to your Wounds stat. The Toughness boost will greatly reduce the amount of damage you take and the added Wounds stat will make sure you're around long enough to get healed. After renown level 40, it is best to put any more points into the Reinforcement skill. This will give you a 12% boost to your over all armor. Any points afterwards should be used wherever you think is needed, but I would suggest abilities used to further increase your ability to avoid damage.
The Path of Anguish
The path of Anguish is one of inner pain. There are no recommended weapons for this path, but it should reflect your playing style. By focusing on inner pain and distributing it to others, the Anguished Dark Elf is best suited for disrupting spell casters in both PvE and RvR play. To start things off, don't be afraid to take skills that are considered to be in either the Malice or Loathing skill trees. These skills can be used freely by any Dark Elf Black Guard after learning them and should be used whenever needed. Just remember that you can still purchase any skills later on in the game, but you want to skip over skill you won't necessarily need. For the path of Anguish, these ignored skills are ones that would not cause any penalties or disrupting side effects such as Guard, Hold The Line!, and Monstrous Rending. Skills such as Horrific Wound, Spiteful Slam, and Exile are good skills to have to disrupt any type of spell caster.
Since an Anguished Dark Elf is best used as a support class killer, his ability to absorb CC damage should not be a primary concern when levelling renown abilities. Your primary concern is to be able to disrupt spell being cast by the enemy. To do this, all renown abilities should be ignored except for the Resolve ability. This ability will effectively increase your Willpower stat by 102 points when maxed. Once you reach renown level 20, you can then start placing points into the Discipline ability. This will also grant you a 102 point boost in your Willpower stat and give you a 102 point boost in your Initiative stat. The Willpower boost will greatly increase your chance of disrupting any type of enemy spell and the added Initiative stat will help you dodge any of them that might fire off. After renown level 40, it is best to put any more points into the Arcane Dismissal skill. This will give you an additional 12% boost to disrupting spells. Any points afterwards should be used wherever you think is needed, but I would suggest abilities used to survive damage from physical attacks.
