Guardian

Guardians are devoted fighters who protect their allies and smite their enemies by drawing from the power of their virtues. True guardians are brilliant tacticians and selfless defenders who know when to sacrifice their own defenses to empower their allies to achieve victory. — GuildWars2.com Guardian

Guardians  specialize in protective and defensive magic. A deep sense of loyalty to their allies fuels their passion and power. As a soldier profession, guardians wear heavy armor.

Profession mechanic
The Guardians unique abilities are Virtues, virtues provide passive effects to the guardian and when activated provides various effects for nearby allies as well. Guardians have 3 distinct virtues which can be further augmented through traits for more powerful effects. Activate: You and your allies inflict burning on the next attack. Activate: Heal yourself and nearby allies. Activate: Grant aegis to yourself and nearby allies. The Guardian has a reputation for being the most durable profession in the game, thanks to their virtues and many utility and elite skills which focus on use of boons and active defense and protecting of allies in general.
 * Virtue of Justice - Burn foes every few attacks.
 * Virtue of Resolve - Regenerates health.
 * Virtue of Courage - Grants aegis every few seconds.

Virtues have been said to help balance the guardian; for example, they have a lower base health than the warrior profession but compensate for this with their higher health regeneration granted by Virtue of Resolve.

Weapon skills
{| class="guardian skills table" Time time
 * Number
 * Skill 1
 * Type
 * Activation
 * Recharge
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Greatsword

 * 1
 * Strike
 * Strike your foe.
 * 1
 * Vengeful Strike
 * Strike your foe again.
 * 1
 * Wrathful Strike
 * Attack with a final, powerful strike that applies might for each foe you strike.
 * 2
 * Whirling Wrath
 * 10
 * Spin in place and swing your greatsword while hurling powerful projectiles.
 * 3
 * Leap of Faith
 * 15
 * Leap at your foe. On hit, blind nearby foes.
 * 4
 * Symbol of Wrath
 * Symbol
 * 20
 * Pierce the ground with a mystic symbol that damages foes while grantingretaliation to allies.
 * 5
 * Binding Blade
 * 30
 * Throw blades at your foes, causing damage over time. Bound foes can be pulledto you. The effect ends when a foe moves out of range.
 * 5
 * Pull
 * Pull your foes to you.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Leap of Faith
 * 15
 * Leap at your foe. On hit, blind nearby foes.
 * 4
 * Symbol of Wrath
 * Symbol
 * 20
 * Pierce the ground with a mystic symbol that damages foes while grantingretaliation to allies.
 * 5
 * Binding Blade
 * 30
 * Throw blades at your foes, causing damage over time. Bound foes can be pulledto you. The effect ends when a foe moves out of range.
 * 5
 * Pull
 * Pull your foes to you.
 * colspan="6" |
 * 30
 * Throw blades at your foes, causing damage over time. Bound foes can be pulledto you. The effect ends when a foe moves out of range.
 * 5
 * Pull
 * Pull your foes to you.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Pull your foes to you.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Pull your foes to you.
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Hammer

 * 1
 * Hammer Swing
 * Strike your foe.
 * 1
 * Hammer Bash
 * Bash your foe.
 * 1
 * Symbol of Protection
 * Symbol
 * 1 ¼
 * Smash a mystic symbol onto the ground that gives protection to you and your allies.
 * 2
 * Mighty Blow
 * 5
 * Damage nearby foes with a mighty ground slam.
 * 3
 * Zealot's Embrace
 * 1
 * 15
 * Send a wave toward your foe that immobilizes foes in a line.
 * 4
 * Banish
 * 1
 * 25
 * Launch your foe with a powerful smash.
 * 5
 * Ring of Warding
 * Ward
 * 40
 * Create a ring around you that foes cannot cross. Trapped enemies cannot exit the ring while it is active.
 * colspan="6" |
 * 1
 * 15
 * Send a wave toward your foe that immobilizes foes in a line.
 * 4
 * Banish
 * 1
 * 25
 * Launch your foe with a powerful smash.
 * 5
 * Ring of Warding
 * Ward
 * 40
 * Create a ring around you that foes cannot cross. Trapped enemies cannot exit the ring while it is active.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Ward
 * 40
 * Create a ring around you that foes cannot cross. Trapped enemies cannot exit the ring while it is active.
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Staff
{| class="guardian skills table"
 * 1
 * Wave of Wrath
 * Make a powerful shock wave, hitting up to five foes.
 * 2
 * Orb of Light
 * 3
 * Fire a moving orb of light that damages enemies and heals allies it touches. Detonate the orb to heal nearby allies.
 * 2
 * Detonate Orb of Light
 * Detonate the orb to heal nearby allies. Orb of Light takes four times longer torecharge if detonated.
 * 3
 * Symbol of Swiftness
 * Symbol
 * 15
 * Sear a mystic symbol into the target area, damaging foes and granting swiftnessto allies.
 * 4
 * Empower
 * 2 ½
 * 20
 * Channel might to yourself and allies around you. Heal nearby allies when it ends.
 * 5
 * Line of Warding
 * Ward
 * 1
 * 40
 * Create a line in front of you that foes cannot cross.
 * }
 * Sear a mystic symbol into the target area, damaging foes and granting swiftnessto allies.
 * 4
 * Empower
 * 2 ½
 * 20
 * Channel might to yourself and allies around you. Heal nearby allies when it ends.
 * 5
 * Line of Warding
 * Ward
 * 1
 * 40
 * Create a line in front of you that foes cannot cross.
 * }
 * 40
 * Create a line in front of you that foes cannot cross.
 * }
 * colspan="6" |

Mace

 * 1
 * True Strike
 * Smash your foe.
 * 1
 * Pure Strike
 * Bash your foe.
 * 1
 * Faithful Strike
 * 1
 * Hit your foe with a final strike and heal nearby allies.
 * 2
 * Symbol of Faith
 * Symbol
 * 1 ¼
 * 8
 * Smash a mystic symbol onto the ground that damages foes and regeneratesallies.
 * 3
 * Protector's Strike
 * 3 ¾
 * 15
 * Surround yourself and nearby allies with a shield. Damage foes that strike protected allies. Grant protection to yourself and nearby allies if you are not struck.
 * colspan="6" |
 * 2
 * Symbol of Faith
 * Symbol
 * 1 ¼
 * 8
 * Smash a mystic symbol onto the ground that damages foes and regeneratesallies.
 * 3
 * Protector's Strike
 * 3 ¾
 * 15
 * Surround yourself and nearby allies with a shield. Damage foes that strike protected allies. Grant protection to yourself and nearby allies if you are not struck.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Surround yourself and nearby allies with a shield. Damage foes that strike protected allies. Grant protection to yourself and nearby allies if you are not struck.
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Scepter

 * 1
 * Orb of Wrath
 * Fire a slow-moving orb at your foe.
 * 2
 * Smite
 * 6
 * Strike foes in the target area repeatedly.
 * 3
 * Chains of Light
 * 20
 * Immobilize and make your foe vulnerable with ethereal chains.
 * colspan="6" |
 * 6
 * Strike foes in the target area repeatedly.
 * 3
 * Chains of Light
 * 20
 * Immobilize and make your foe vulnerable with ethereal chains.
 * colspan="6" |
 * 20
 * Immobilize and make your foe vulnerable with ethereal chains.
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Sword
{| class="guardian skills table"
 * 1
 * Sword of Wrath
 * Slash your foe once.
 * 1
 * Sword Arc
 * Slash your foe again.
 * 1
 * Sword Wave
 * Send out a cone attack, striking up to three foes.
 * 2
 * Flashing Blade
 * 10
 * Teleport to your target, striking them and blinding nearby foes.
 * 3
 * Zealot's Defense
 * 15
 * Destroy ranged attacks while casting magical projectiles.
 * }
 * Send out a cone attack, striking up to three foes.
 * 2
 * Flashing Blade
 * 10
 * Teleport to your target, striking them and blinding nearby foes.
 * 3
 * Zealot's Defense
 * 15
 * Destroy ranged attacks while casting magical projectiles.
 * }
 * 3
 * Zealot's Defense
 * 15
 * Destroy ranged attacks while casting magical projectiles.
 * }
 * 15
 * Destroy ranged attacks while casting magical projectiles.
 * }
 * colspan="6" |

Focus

 * 4
 * Ray of Judgment
 * 20
 * Pass a ray over foes and allies. Foes are damaged and blinded. Allies gainregeneration and cure one condition.
 * 5
 * Shield of Wrath
 * 36
 * Create a shield to block the next three attacks. If the shield is not destroyed, it explodes and damages nearby foes.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Shield of Wrath
 * 36
 * Create a shield to block the next three attacks. If the shield is not destroyed, it explodes and damages nearby foes.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Create a shield to block the next three attacks. If the shield is not destroyed, it explodes and damages nearby foes.
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Shield

 * 4
 * Shield of Judgment
 * 20
 * Create a shielding wave in front of you that damages foes while giving protectionand aegis to you and up to five allies.
 * 5
 * Shield of Absorption
 * 4
 * 24
 * Create a dome around you that pushes foes back and absorbs projectiles.
 * 5
 * Shield of Absorption
 * Detonate the dome to heal nearby allies.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Create a dome around you that pushes foes back and absorbs projectiles.
 * 5
 * Shield of Absorption
 * Detonate the dome to heal nearby allies.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Detonate the dome to heal nearby allies.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Detonate the dome to heal nearby allies.
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Torch
{| class="guardian skills table"
 * 4
 * Zealot's Flame
 * 15
 * Set yourself alight, periodically burning up to three nearby foes.
 * 4
 * Zealot's Fire
 * Throw your Zealot's Flame to damage the targeted foe.
 * 5
 * Cleansing Flame
 * 4 ¼
 * 15
 * Breathe magical flames that damage foes and cure conditions on allies.
 * }
 * Throw your Zealot's Flame to damage the targeted foe.
 * 5
 * Cleansing Flame
 * 4 ¼
 * 15
 * Breathe magical flames that damage foes and cure conditions on allies.
 * }
 * Breathe magical flames that damage foes and cure conditions on allies.
 * }
 * colspan="6" |

Spear

 * 1
 * Spear of Light
 * Throw a spear that makes your foe vulnerable.
 * 2
 * Zealot's Flurry
 * 1 ¼
 * 6
 * Strike foes in front of you with a storm of jabs.
 * 3
 * Brilliance
 * 15
 * Blind all nearby foes.
 * 4
 * Spear Wall
 * 20
 * Create a spear wall in front of you that damages foes passing through it.
 * 5
 * Wrathful Grasp
 * 25
 * Throw a spear and pull your foe to you, burning them.
 * colspan="6" |
 * 4
 * Spear Wall
 * 20
 * Create a spear wall in front of you that damages foes passing through it.
 * 5
 * Wrathful Grasp
 * 25
 * Throw a spear and pull your foe to you, burning them.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Wrathful Grasp
 * 25
 * Throw a spear and pull your foe to you, burning them.
 * colspan="6" |
 * Throw a spear and pull your foe to you, burning them.
 * colspan="6" |
 * colspan="6" |

Trident
Heals utility Elite downed drwoning
 * 1
 * Light of Judgment
 * Fire a ball of light that heals allies and damages foes.
 * 2
 * Purify
 * 12
 * Release an orb of cleansing light that cures conditions on allies it passes through. Detonate it to burn foes and cure conditions on allies in the blast radius.
 * 2
 * Purifying Blast
 * 8
 * Detonate the orb to burn foes and cure conditions on allies in the blast radius.
 * 3
 * Pillar of Light
 * 15
 * Create a pillar of light that does damage every second at your foe's location.
 * 4
 * Refraction
 * 20
 * Create a bubble that absorbs hostile projectiles and grant retaliation to allies.
 * 5
 * Weight of Justice
 * 1
 * 25
 * Sink your foe with the weight of justice.
 * }
 * 15
 * Create a pillar of light that does damage every second at your foe's location.
 * 4
 * Refraction
 * 20
 * Create a bubble that absorbs hostile projectiles and grant retaliation to allies.
 * 5
 * Weight of Justice
 * 1
 * 25
 * Sink your foe with the weight of justice.
 * }
 * Weight of Justice
 * 1
 * 25
 * Sink your foe with the weight of justice.
 * }
 * }

Unique skill types

 * Symbols — these ground-based skills inflict damage to enemies and deliver a benefit to allies. Symbols persist for a few seconds and then dissipate. All symbols provide Combo Field: Light.
 * Wards — a temporary line or ring on the ground that only pushes enemies that attempt to cross it (negated by Stability).
 * Spirit Weapons — summon weapons that follow the guardian and can fight or aid, while also being able to be commanded for an additional effect.
 * Consecration — these abilities focus on providing condition removal, projectile reflection and control for the guardian and its allies.
 * Meditations — a type of utility skill that involves teleportation, healing, condition removal and AoE damage.

Specializations
The guardian has five core specializations, and one elite specialization:
 * Zeal - focuses on improving symbols and spirit weapons.
 * Radiance - focuses on improving signets, burning, and blinding.
 * Valor - focuses on improving blocking and meditations.
 * Honor - focuses on improving dodging, symbols, and shouts.
 * Virtues - focuses on improving consecrations and virtues.

Elite

 * Dragonhunter — Gains access to longbows, a set of trap skills, and replaces the passive virtues with ones that manifest in a physical form.

Weapons
There are twelve possible weapon sets for this profession and two weapon sets while underwater. The guardian can equip and alternate between two weapon sets during combat starting at level 15.
 * Two-handed
 * Longbow — Focus on firing massive, single projectiles at a ferocious velocity having lots of potential in assisting allies. (Dragonhunter specialization only)
 * Greatsword — High-damage, AoE, melee attacks combined with retaliation and positioning.
 * Hammer — High-damage, AoE, melee attacks combined with protection and control abilities.
 * Staff — Supportive weapon with mid range AoE attacks, healing and boons.


 * Main-hand
 * Mace — Supportive melee weapon that provides AoE regeneration and blocking.
 * Scepter — Offensive, long-range, spell casting weapon used to immobilize and smite enemies.
 * Sword — Balanced melee weapon with offense, defense and mobility.


 * Off-hand
 * Focus — Balanced weapon that provides supportive spells for both offense and self-defense, including condition removal.
 * Shield — Supportive weapon that provides local AoE projectile defense and protection.
 * Torch — Offensive weapon that burns enemies while cleansing allies of conditions.


 * Aquatic
 * Spear — High-damage, rapid, close range attacks combined with positioning and control abilities.
 * Trident — Supportive weapon with long range attacks that provides local AoE projectile defense, healing and condition removal.

Crafting
The following crafting disciplines can create items that are useful to the guardian:
 * Weaponsmith — Greatswords, hammers, maces, shields, spears, swords.
 * Artificer — Foci, scepters, staves, tridents.
 * Huntsman — Longbows, torches.
 * Armorsmith — Heavy armor.
 * Jeweler — Jewelry.
 * Chef — Food.

Personal story
As a symbol of my dedication, I wear _____.''Conqueror's Pauldrons ("conqueror's pauldrons") — When I was young, a famed hero returning from battle stopped and gave me his pauldrons. Ever since, I've worn them as my own, and I make every attempt to live up to his legend. I too will be a conqueror.''

''Fanatic's Pauldrons ("fanatic's pauldrons") — Long ago, I determined my path, and nothing will sway me from it. I'm stalwart in my beliefs and immovable in my loyalties. The weight of my pauldrons reminds me of the burden I carry.''

''Visionary's Helm ("a visionary's helm") — Tyria is bigger than we know and filled with mystery. This helm is open, allowing me to see with clarity. With it, I will seek out the world's greater truths that others fear to explore.''

Background
With the turmoil in Elona and the spread of the Order of Whispers into other lands, more Paragon teaching showed elsewhere in Tyria. These teachings melded with other traditions, and over time, the guardians and their abilities can be found throughout the world and among all the races. They are not tied to a particular race, philosophy, or group of gods but rather to a larger concept of proactive defense, of taking the fight to a foe and protecting those you fight alongside while appealing equally to humanity's defensive nature and the charr's desire to rule the battlefield. — Jeff Grubb

It's a pile of Elonian protection magic, mixed with a little monk training, wrapped up in some crazy ritualist hoo-ha from Cantha. A real grab bag of "you can't hurt me". They're called  guardians, and simply put, they mean trouble. — Macha

Trivia

 * The guardian was previewed under this image until its unveiling on the 27th January 2011.
 * The guardian was widely known among fans as "Blue Mace Lady" (or simply "BML") prior to being revealed, due to this concept art.
 * The guardian was the first profession unveiled that is not present in the original Guild Wars.
 * It borrows themes from a couple of the Guild Wars professions. Many of their skills share names with those used by the monk profession in Guild Wars, such as the Healing Prayers, Protection Prayers, andSmiting Prayers skills. The paragon was a heavily armored profession which also focused on party-wide buffs.
 * During early development the guardian had less magical ability and was called a "knight". As the other professions became more defined, the guardian received more magical type abilities, pulling in aspects of the Guild Wars monk and paragon professions.