Vanguard Tree

From DDO Compendium


Tree For:
Unlock
  • Free
Vanguard Tree.png
Overview

The Vanguard is a frontline fighter, able to heal themselves as they fight, grow stronger the longer combat drags on, and dominate the battlefield. A Vanguard specializes in using a shield and a sword.

Core enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement To the Fore! Icon.png
To the Fore!
  • When you have a shield equipped:
    • +1 to hit
    • +1 damage
    • Applies to:
      • Main hand weapons
      • Shield bash attacks
110
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement Shield Combat I Icon.png
Shield Combat I
  • +10% chance to make a secondary shield bash
115
  • To the Fore!
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Vicious Shield I Icon.png
Vicious Shield I
  • +10% chance to make a secondary shield bash
  • When you have a shield equipped:
    • +5% Combat Style bonus to Melee Attack Speed
1110
  • Shield Combat I
  • Fighter 6
Enhancement Shield Combat II Icon.png
Shield Combat II
  • +10% chance to make a secondary shield bash
  • Shield gains +1[W]
  • When you have a shield equipped:
    • +1[W] to Shield
    • +5% Combat Style bonus to Melee Attack Speed
1120
  • Vicious Shield I
  • Fighter 12
Enhancement Vicious Shield II Icon.png
Vicious Shield II
  • Your shield gains:
    • +1 critical threat range
    • +1 critical multiplier
    • +1[W]
  • When you have a shield equipped
    • +5% Combat Style bonus to Melee Attack Speed
1130
  • Shield Combat II
  • Fighter 18
Enhancement Shield Champion Icon.png
Shield Champion
  • When you have a shield equipped, you gain:
    • +2 Attack
    • +2 Damage
    • +5% Doublestrike
    • +5% Combat Style bonus to Melee Attack Speed
  • Shield gains +1[W]
  • You shield bashes stuns enemies 10% of the time
    • DC: 10 + 1/2 Character Level + Strength Modifier + Stun Bonus negates stun
1140
  • Vicious Shield II
  • Fighter 20
Tier 1 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Shield Specialization I Icon.png
Shield Specialization I
  • While you have a shield equipped, gain:
    • +1 to hit
    • +1 damage
    • +1 armor class
121
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement No Weakness Icon.png
No Weakness
Rank 1:
  • +1 Fortitude Saving Throw
Rank 2:
  • +2 Fortitude Saving Throw
Rank 3:
  • +3 Fortitude Saving Throw
311
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement Shield Smash Icon.png
Shield Smash

While you have a shield equipped:

  • Activate: Melee attack with your shield:
Rank 1:
  • Cooldown: 12 Seconds
  • +1[W]
  • On Damage:
    • +2 PRR
    • +2 MRR
Rank 2:
  • Cooldown: 9 Seconds
  • +2[W]
  • On Damage:
    • +4 PRR
    • +4 MRR
Rank 3:
  • Cooldown: 6 Seconds
  • +3[W]
  • On Damage:
    • +6 PRR
    • +6 MRR
MRR/PRR increase Lasts 12 seconds
311
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement Unbalancing Shove Icon.png
Unbalancing Shove

When you shield bash, damaged enemies:

  • -1 to Saving Throws
Rank 1:
  • Lasts 2 seconds
Rank 2:
  • Lasts 4 seconds
Rank 3:
  • Lasts 6 seconds
311
  • Fighter 1
Enhancement Armor Training Icon.png
Armor Training
Rank 1:
  • +1 Balance
  • +1 Intimidate
  • +1 Jump
  • Reduces total penalty for skills from armor and shield by 1.
Rank 2:
  • +2 Balance
  • +2 Intimidate
  • +2 Jump
  • Reduces total penalty for skills from armor and shield by 2.
Rank 3:
  • +3 Balance
  • +3 Intimidate
  • +3 Jump
  • Reduces total penalty for skills from armor and shield by 3.
311
  • Fighter 1
Tier 2 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Shield Specialization II Icon.png
Shield Specialization II
  • While you have a shield equipped, you gain:
    • +1 to hit
    • +1 damage
    • +1 to armor class
125
  • Shield Specialization I
  • Fighter 2
Enhancement Brutality Icon.png
Brutality
Increase the DC of your Stunning abilities by:
Rank 1:
  • +1
Rank 2:
  • +2
Rank 3:
  • +3
Such as Stunning Blow and Stunning Shield
315
  • Fighter 2
Enhancement Stunning Shield Icon.png
Stunning Shield

While you have a shield equipped:

  • Activate: Melee shield bash attack with your shield, stuns enemies:
  • Fortitude DC: 10 + Character Level + Highest Ability Score Modifier + Stunning Bonus negates stun
Rank 1:
  • Cooldown: 45 Seconds
  • +1[W]
Rank 2:
  • Cooldown: 30 Seconds
  • +2[W]
Rank 3:
  • Cooldown: 15 Seconds
  • +3[W]
315
  • Fighter 2
Enhancement Missile Shield Icon.png
Missile Shield

While you have a shield equipped,

Rank 1:
  • 6 seconds
Rank 2:
  • 4 seconds
Rank 3:
  • 2 seconds
315
  • Fighter 2
Antirequisite
Action Boost- Power Icon.png
Action Boost: Power
Activation Cost: 1 Action Boost
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Activate to gain:
Rank 1:
  • +10 Action Boost bonus to Melee Power
  • +10 Action Boost bonus to Ranged Power
Rank 2:
  • +20 Action Boost bonus to Melee Power
  • +20 Action Boost bonus to Ranged Power
Rank 3:
  • +30 Action Boost bonus to Melee Power
  • +30 Action Boost bonus to Ranged Power
Lasts 20 Seconds
315
  • Fighter 2
Tier 3 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Shield Specialization III Icon.png
Shield Specialization III
  • While you have a shield equipped, gain:
    • +1 to hit
    • +1 to damage
    • +1 to armor class
1210
  • Shield Specialization II
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Follow Up Icon.png
Follow Up
Hitting an enemy with stunning abilities, you gain:
Rank 1:
  • +3 Melee Power
Rank 2:
  • +6 Melee Power
Rank 3:
  • +9 Melee Power
Lasts 12 seconds
3110
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Fatal Bulwark Icon.png
Fatal Bulwark
  • Shield gains:
    • +1 critical threat range
1210
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Shield Riposte Icon.png
Shield Riposte
When missed in melee while wearing a shield, attacker is dealt:
Rank 1:
  • 1d4 Bludgeoning Damage
Rank 2:
  • 1d6 Bludgeoning Damage
Rank 3:
  • 1d8 Bludgeoning Damage
Scales with melee power
3110
  • Fighter 3
Enhancement Strength Icon.png
Strength

Multiple Selection

+1 Strength or Dexterity
1210
  • Fighter 3
Tier 4 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Shield Specialization IV Icon.png
Shield Specialization IV
  • While you have a shield equipped, you gain:
    • +1 to hit
    • +1 damage
    • +1 armor class
1220
  • Shield Specialization III
  • Fighter 4
Enhancement Armor Mastery (Opposite) Icon.png
Vanguard Armor 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
3120
  • Fighter 4
Enhancement Shield Charge Icon.png
Shield Charge
While you have a shield equipped, Activate: Rush forward up to 30 feet to your selected opponent and deliver a shield attack that hits enemies around you.
Rank 1:
  • Cooldown: 36 Seconds
  • +1[W] Damage
Rank 2:
  • Cooldown: 24 Seconds
  • +2[W] Damage
Rank 3:
  • Cooldown: 12 Seconds
  • +3[W] Damage
3120
  • Fighter 4
Enhancement Myrmidon's Edge Icon.png
Myrmidon's Edge
Rank 1:
  • +1 to confirm critical hits
  • +1 critical damage
Rank 2:
  • +2 to confirm critical hits
  • +2 critical damage
Rank 3:
  • +3 to confirm critical hits
  • +3 critical damage
3120
  • Fighter 4
Enhancement Strength Icon.png
Strength

Multiple Selection

+1 Strength or Dexterity
1220
  • Strength (Tier 3)
  • Fighter 4
Tier 5 enhancements
EnhancementBenefitRanksAction
Points
SpentRequirements
Enhancement Shield Specialization IV Icon.png
Shield Specialization V
  • While you have a shield equipped, you gain:
    • +3 to hit
    • +3 damage
    • +3 to armor class
1230
  • Shield Specialization IV
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Disorienting Smash Icon.png
Disorienting Smash

When you shield bash, damaged enemies gain:

  • 1d4 stacks of Vulnerability
Rank 1:
  • Once every 3 seconds
Rank 2:
  • Once every 2 seconds
Rank 3:
  • Once every second
Vulnerability: You take 1% more damage for 3 seconds. This effect stacks up to 20 times, and loses one stack on expiration.
3130
  • Character Level 12
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Shield Rush Icon.png
Shield Rush

While you have a shield equipped,

  • Activate: Move forward in a line, delivering a shield bash attack to every creature hit. Each opponent is:
    • Knocked down
Rank 1:
  • Cooldown: 40 Seconds
  • +2[W]
Rank 2:
  • Cooldown: 3 Seconds
  • +4[W]
Rank 3:
  • Cooldown: 20 Seconds
  • +6[W]
Fortitude DC: 20 + Class Level + Highest Attribute Modifier + Trip Attacks Bonus negates knock down
3130
  • Character Level 12
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Armored Strength Icon.png
Armored Strength
  • +10 Melee Power
  • +10% chance to make a secondary shield bash
1230
  • Character Level 12
  • Fighter 5
Enhancement Brutal Impact Icon.png
Brutal Impact
  • +1 Critical Damage Multiplier on a roll of a 19-20
  • +25% Competence bonus to Maximum Hit Points
1230
  • Fighter 5