Stalwart Defender Tree

From DDO Compendium


Tree For:
Unlock
  • Free
Stalwart Defender Tree.png
Overview

Drawn from the ranks of guards, knights, mercenaries, and thugs alike, stalwart defenders are masters of claiming an area and refusing to relinquish it. This behavior is more than a tactical decision for stalwart defenders; it's an obsessive, stubborn expression of the need to be undefeated. When stalwart defenders set themselves in a defensive stance, they place their whole effort into weathering whatever foe, conflict, or threat comes their way.

Most stalwart defenders come those desiring to be better guards for friends and allies. Dwarves are particularly suited to the role, though stalwart defenders of all races exist.

Stalwart defenders are masters of melee combat, striving to prove that the best offense is a good defense. Stalwart defenders are normally found on the front lines of battle, holding a position to cover their allies, leaping into breaches of opposing formations and holding them open for others, and guarding more vulnerable allies by acting as mobile fortifications, stable points in the ever-changing chaos of battle.

Core enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Toughness Icon.png
Toughness
110
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement Stalwart Defense Icon.png
Stalwart Defense

Cooldown: 6 Seconds

Defensive Combat Stance: You gain:

  • +10 Physical Resistance
  • +10 Magical Resistance
  • +150% bonus to melee threat generation.
  • Cannot be used while raged


Passive:

115
  • Toughness
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Overbalance Icon.png
Overbalance
  • Equipped shields gain:
    • On Vorpal: Knock an opponent to the ground
  • +3% Fortification
1110
  • Stalwart Defense
  • Fighter 6
Enhancement Stand Fast Icon.png
Stand Fast

Cooldown: 30 Seconds

While in Stalwart Defense:

  • Immune to Fear
  • Immune to most forms of being knocked down


Passive:

1110
  • Overbalance
  • Fighter 12
Enhancement Defensive Footwork Icon.png
Defensive Footwork
  • +15% Exceptional bonus to Armor Class
  • +20 Physical Resistance Rating
  • +50% Melee Threat
  • +3% Fortification
1130
  • Stand Fast
  • Fighter 18
Enhancement Last Stand Icon.png
Last Stand

Cooldown: 2 Minutes

Action Boost:

  • +100% Maximum hit points
  • +50 Physical Resistance Rating
  • +50 Magical Resistance Rating
  • On Attacked:
    • +1d10 positive energy healing

This Action Boost does not share a cooldown with other Action Boost abilities, and can be used while helpless.


Passive:

  • +10 Physical Resistance Rating
  • +10 Magical Resistance Rating
  • +2 Strength
  • +6 Constitution
  • +2 to the DCs of all Tactical feats
  • +3% Fortification
1140
  • Defensive Sweep
  • Fighter 20
Tier 1 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Item Defense Icon.png
Item Defense
Chance to negate item wear:
Rank 1:
  • +25%
Rank 2:
  • +50%
Rank 3:
  • +75%
311
  • Fighter 1
Antirequisite
  • Item Defense in other trees
Enhancement Improved Stalwart Defense Icon.png
Improved Stalwart Defense

Multiple Selection

Choose between +5/10/15 MRR/PRR, +150/300/400 Thread, or +1/2/3 Saving Throws
311
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement Armor Mastery Icon.png
Stalwart Defensive Mastery
Rank 1:
  • +1 Armor Class
  • +1 Armor Maximum Dexterity Bonus
Rank 2:
  • +2 Armor Class
  • +2 Armor Maximum Dexterity Bonus
Rank 3:
  • +3 Armor Class
  • +3 Armor Maximum Dexterity Bonus
311
  • Fighter 1
Antirequisite
  • Armor Mastery in the Half-Elf tree
Action Boost- Defense2 Icon.png
Defense Boost
Activation Cost: 1 Action Boost
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Action Boost: Defense: Activate to gain:
Rank 1:
  • +5 Action Boost bonus to Armor Class
  • +5 Action Boost bonus to Physical Resistance Rating
Rank 2:
  • +10 Action Boost bonus to Armor Class
  • +10 Action Boost bonus to Physical Resistance Rating
Rank 3:
  • +15 Action Boost bonus to Armor Class
  • +15 Action Boost bonus to Physical Resistance Rating
Lasts 20 Seconds
311
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement Threatening Countenance Icon.png
Threatening Countenance
Rank 1:
  • +1 Haggle
  • +1 Intimidate
  • +60% melee threat generation
Rank 2:
  • +1 Haggle
  • +1 Intimidate
  • +120% melee threat generation
Rank 3:
  • +3 Haggle
  • +3 Intimidate
  • +180% melee threat generation
311
  • Fighter 1
Tier 2 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Improved Stalwart Defense Icon.png
Improved Stalwart Defense

Multiple Selection

Choose between +5/10/15 MRR/PRR, +150/300/400 Thread, or +1/2/3 Saving Throws, different than Tier 1
315
  • Improved Stalwart Defense (Tier 1)
  • Fighter 2
Enhancement Shield Mastery Icon.png
Stalwart Shield Mastery
Rank 1:
  • +5% Shield Armor Class
  • +1 Tower Shield Maximum Dexterity Bonus
Rank 2:
  • +10% Shield Armor Class
  • +2 Tower Shield Maximum Dexterity Bonus
Rank 3:
  • +15% Shield Armor Class
  • +3 Tower Shield Maximum Dexterity Bonus
315
  • Stalwart Defensive Mastery
  • Fighter 2
Enhancement Armor Expertise Icon.png
Armor Expertise
Armor you equip gains:
Rank 1:
  • +1 Enhancement Bonus
Rank 2:
  • +2 Enhancement Bonus
Rank 3:
  • +3 Enhancement Bonus
315
  • Fighter 2
Enhancement Natural Shielding Icon.png
Instinctive Defense
While helpless, you take:
Rank 1:
  • -5% Damage
Rank 2:
  • -10% Damage
Rank 3:
  • -15% Damage
315
  • Fighter 2
Tier 3 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Improved Stalwart Defense Icon.png
Improved Stalwart Defense

Multiple Selection

Choose between +5/10/15 MRR/PRR, +150/300/400 Thread, or +1/2/3 Saving Throws, different than Tier 1 and Tier 2.
3110
  • Improved Stalwart Defense (Tier 2)
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Greater Stalwart Defense Icon.png
Greater Stalwart Defense

Multiple Selection

Choose between +2/4/6 Constitution, +2/4/6 Strength, or +10/15/20% Max Hit Points while wearing medium or heavy armor, or wielding a shield.
3110
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Shield Expertise Icon.png
Shield Expertise
Shields and weapons you equip gain:
Rank 1:
  • +1 Enhancement Bonus
Rank 2:
  • +2 Enhancement Bonus
Rank 3:
  • +3 Enhancement Bonus
3110
  • Armor Expertise
  • Fighter 3
Increase Ability (Constitution-Strength) Icon.png
Strength or Constitution

Multiple Selection

+1 Strength or Constitution
1210
  • Fighter 3
Tier 4 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Counterattack Icon.png
Counterattack
Activation Cost: 1 Action Boost
Cooldown: 30 Seconds

Action Boost: Gain:

  • On Shield Block: Your next attack:
    • +1[W]
    • Must occur within 3 Seconds
Rank 1:
  • Stacks 1 Time
Rank 2:
  • Stacks 2 Time
Rank 3:
  • Stacks 3 Time
3120
  • Fighter 4
Enhancement Swift Defense Icon.png
Swift Defense

While Stalwart Defense is active:

  • +10% Action Boost bonus to Movement Speed.
1120
  • Fighter 4
Enhancement Greater Stalwart Defense Icon.png
Greater Stalwart Defense

Multiple Selection

Choose between +2/4/6 Constitution, +2/4/6 Strength, or +10/15/20% Max Hit Points while wearing medium or heavy armor, or wielding a shield, different than tier 3.
3120
  • Greater Stalwart Defense (Tier 3)
  • Fighter 4
Enhancement Reinforced Armor Icon.png
Reinforced Defense

Multiple Selection

+15/30/50% AC for Shields or Armor
3120
  • Fighter 4
Increase Ability (Constitution-Strength) Icon.png
Strength or Constitution

Multiple Selection

+1 Strength or Constitution
1220
  • Strength or Constitution (Tier 3)
  • Fighter 4
Tier 5 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Hardy Rage Icon.png
The Thick of Battle
  • +100% Melee Threat
  • +60 Maximum Hit Points
1130
  • Character Level 12
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Block and Cut Icon.png
Block and Cut
Cooldown: 10 Seconds
Melee Attack: Performs a melee attack with your main hand weapons:
Rank 1:
  • +2[W]
  • On Damage:
    • +10% Morale bonus to doublestrike
    • +10 Armor Class
Rank 2:
  • +4[W]
  • On Damage:
    • +15% Morale bonus to doublestrike
    • +15 Armor Class
Rank 3:
  • +6[W]
  • On Damage:
    • +25% Morale bonus to doublestrike
    • +25 Armor Class
Lasts 5 Seconds
3130
  • Character Level 12
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Greater Stalwart Defense Icon.png
Greater Stalwart Defense

Multiple Selection

Choose between +2/4/6 Constitution, +2/4/6 Strength, or +10/15/20% Max Hit Points while wearing medium or heavy armor, or wielding a shield, different than tier 3 and 4.
3130
  • Greater Stalwart Defense (Tier 5)
  • Character Level 12
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Reinforced Armor Icon.png
Reinforced Defense

Multiple Selection

+15/30/50% AC for Shields or Armor, different than chosen in tier 4
3130
  • Character Level 12
  • Reinforced Defense (Tier 4)
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Courage of Heaven Icon.png
Against All Odds
  • +5 Armor Bonus
  • +60 Maximum Hit Points
  • Upon taking damage gain:
    • +2 Armor Class
    • Lasts for 1 Minute
    • Stacks up to 10 times
1130
  • Character Level 12
  • Fighter 5