Blackguard

The Black Guard of Naggarond are the favored warriors of the Witch King Malekith, and are given the sacred task of not only serving as his personal bodyguard, but as his heartless enforcers on the field of battle. Those who become Black Guards are taken from their mothers at birth. With no family ties to distract them, they are raised from infancy in battle and blood. Each Black Guard swears an oath of undying devotion at the Witch King’s feet. This oath lights the fires of hatred and scorn in their hearts, for no warrior can be greater than the one Malekith himself has chosen.

Blackguard Specialty

Living a life of constant battle, Black Guards are psychologically incapable of believing that anyone can defeat them, and they take a personal grievance against any foe who stands against them. These elite warriors do not let their hatred consume them. Instead, they embrace and focus their rage, allowing them to lash out with even greater force. A Black Guard is resolute in their duty, unyielding to any force, physical or arcane. It is for this reason that even the most powerful of assaults will always break against the shield of hate that each Black Guard wields.

Playing as a Blackguard

A Black Guard generally considers the best defense to be a good offense and will always be found on the front line leading the charge. A Black Guard will relentlessly assault his or her desired opponent, and will slowly become enraged should that opponent have the audacity not to die with the first swing of their glaive. Properly harnessing the hatred that flows from their scorn of others is the key to winning any battle, allowing them to wear down their opponents under an unyielding and unending assault that grows stronger with every passing second.

Fighting against a Blackguard

The only way to truly defeat a Black Guard is to crush them as quickly as possible. The longer a Black Guard survives, the more enraged they become. This hatred is their greatest advantage: it strengthens their assault and helps them withstand powerful arcane magic. Unlike many heavy fighters, the Black Guard can hold their own against a mage’s arcane attacks in a prolonged fight.

Career Masteries

Black Guards are offensive tanks who use a Hate mechanic similar to the Ironbreaker’s Grudge mechanic. Taking damage or spending Action Points enables certain abilities, which can be attacks, buffs, or debuffs.

In a group, the Black Guard has a very clear tanking role which will put them right in the mix. They can be specced for a variety of play styles, including builds that increase block or parry, or focus on debuffs and damage. They will pull their weight as well as any Chosen or Black Orc.

The Black Guard has a very simple role in RvR, to rush the enemy with a focus on ranged casters and healers. While they will need a healer themselves to be effective, pairing up with a Chosen or Black Orc could prove to be a very dangerous combination.

In a keep siege, a Black Guard will likely find themselves trying to hold a doorway or keeping ranged classes busy by charging. In more open situations, a solid tank like this can occupy a number of DPS which would have normally targeted weaker classes. Plan to make room in your warband for plenty of these as they are sure to be popular.

Path of Malice

Following the path of Malice means mastering one’s rage and molding it into a powerful weapon. Black Guards who embrace Malice are capable of unleashing powerful attacks fueled by their Hatred. Frequently seen on the front lines, these Black Guard traditionally wield powerful halberds which allow them to cleave through steel and flesh alike.

Path of Loathing

The Path of Loathing is one of disdain for others, and embracing the belief that none can defeat you on the field of battle. As such, Black Guards who follow this mastery become unconquerable obstacles that even the most potent of offense will break against. Those who embrace Loathing prefer to work with a tall shield and a strong sword so they can relish in the ringing sound of futile blows falling on hardened steel.

Path of Anguish

Those who master the Path of Anguish master pain itself. This allows the Black Guard to shrug off even the most potent of magical attacks that would normally pierce their finely crafted armor. Masters of Anguish are traditionally chosen to serve as the Witch King's personal executioners seeking out and destroying the arcane powers that would wish to strike their liege down.

Class Changes

• Path of Malice's 9 point ability Get Down! is removed and replaced with Halt, Fool!, which costs 30 hatred, has a 20s cooldown, is a 3s KD and 3s snare (runs concurrently) on enemies and gives a 5s speed buff to self; if Exile is used while this buff is active, it will reduce Exile's cooldown by half.

• Rebounding Hatred is the 15pt ability for Path of Malice and it is a 20s channel which increases parry, dodge, and disrupt avoidance by 50% and reflects damage back at attackers. Blast of Hatred is moved to core and using this ability puts all morales on a 5min cooldown.

• None Shall Pass is now the 5pt ability in the Loathing tree (link)

• Force of Fury is now the 13pt ability in the Loathing tree and the armor increase will now stack with everything; it will also be granted to your Dark Protector. (link)

• In the Loathing Tree: Terrifying Foe is back to 3pt, Feeding on Pain is back to 7pt, Force of Fury is back to 9pt, Anger Drives Me is back to 11pt, and Wave of Scorn is back to 13pt (link)