Throne and Liberty has done away with the traditional class systems that many MMORPGs use, instead opting to give its players multiple weapon classes to choose from. This allows you to create a unique character identity by combining 2 weapons together, making a playstyle that’s right for you. However, with so many options, players may feel overwhelmed, and instead go with the more tried and true classes of old, such as the classic tank, healer, and DPS roles. For those who like tanks, this guide has put together the best build for this class, in terms of drawing aggro and soaking up damage, in Throne and Liberty.
Table of Contents
Great Sword / Sword and Shield
This build emulates the classic melee tank role that MMO players love, as the Sword and Shield provide all the damage mitigation skills in Throne and Liberty while the Greatsword deals massive bursts of damage at close range.
For the Defensive skill, Shield Survival Technique is mandatory for blocking Fury Attacks and gaining some bonus health regen and damage reduction on the fly.
GS / SnS Active Skills
For your active skills and their specializations, take the following for the Sword and Shield tree:
- Gaia Crash
- Attack Speed Increase
- Critical Hit Chance Increase
- Shield Strike
- Piercing Strike
- Aggro Increased
- Valiant Brawl
- Cruel Smite
- Damage Increased
- Aggro Increased
- Guillotine Blade
- Charges Damage
- Cooldown Reduced
- DaVinci’s Courage
- Duration Increased
- Damage Reduction
- Instant Healing
- Blood Devotion
- Devoted Sanctuary
- Duration Increased
- Damage Transfer Increased
- Damage Increased
- Provoking Roar
- Effect Duration
- Cooldown Reduced
- Counter Barrier
- Cooldown
- Damage Increased
- Chain Hook
- Stalwart Bastion
- Strategic Rush
- Willbreaker
- Damage Area Change
Passive Skill Build
For some extra durability, put your points in the following passives:
- Robust Constitution
- Vital Force
- Indomitable Armor
- Resilient Mind
- Spectrum of Agony
- Aegis Shield
- Impenetrable
- Victor’s Morale
As for the weapon masteries, start with the Sword and Shield tree and put all your points into the top path, and stop at the Damage Reduction node before “Indomitable Spirit.” After that, place all your remaining points into the middle path.
Next, head to the Greatsword tree and put your first point at the starting middle node. Then, dump all your points into the bottom path and finally put the rest into the top path.
Skill Damage Rotation
There are a few skill rotations to keep in mind when playing this build, as not only are they the most optimal use for DPS, but they’ll allow you to perform the best as an actual tank player.
When pulling a group of mobs or engaging in PvP, use this skill rotation:
DaVinci’s Courage > Shield Strike (Piercing Strike) > Blood Devotion (Devoted Sanctuary) > Provoking Roar > Willbreaker > Gaia Crash > Guillotine Blade > Shield Strike (Piercing Strike) > Valiant Brawl (Cruel Smite)
DaVinci’s Courage buffs the entire team while Shield Strike lets you draw aggro reliably. Devoted Sanctuary follows to soak up AoE attacks for your party and Provoking Roar to taunt enemies further. The rest are attacks to buff yourself and to set up your DPS rotation.
For single-target damage, follow the flowchart:
Gaia Crash > Guillotine Blade > Piercing Strike > Cruel Smite
The rest of your skills are for utility purposes. Strategic Rush not only grants you a burst of mobility but it can also be used for crowd control (if you can rush enemies into a wall). Chain Hook lets you isolate targets by pulling them into the party. Lastly, Counter Barrier, Provoking Roar, and Stalwart Bastion are your defensive mitigation skills for tankbusters.
Best In Slot Gear
When looking for the BiS gear for this build, consider looking for Karnix’s Netherblade with the traits Max Health, Hit Chance, and Heavy Attack Chance. As for your Greatsword, get Duke Magna’s Provoking Warblade with the same traits as the ones above.
For the armor and accessories, use the following:
- Gloom Guard Winged Helmet
- Max Health
- Melee Evasion
- Cooldown Speed
- Supreme Devotion
- Mana Regen
- Skill Damage Resist
- Debuff Duration
- Shock Commander Plate Armor
- Max Health
- Melee Evasion
- Ranged Evasion
- Gloom Guard Gauntlets
- Mana Regen
- Melee Evasion
- Added Attack Speed
- Gloom Guard Greaves
- Mana Regen
- Melee Evasion
- Debuff Duration
- Gloom Guard Sabatons
- Mana Regen
- Melee Evasion
- Ranged Evasion
- Clasp of the Conqueror
- Max Health
- Skill Damage Boost
- Buff Duration
- Ancient Saurodoma Bracers
- Mana Regen
- Skill Damage Resistance
- Debuff Duration
- Etched Alabaster Band
- Max Health
- Skill Damage Boost
- Buff Duration
- Amber Dimensional Band
- Max Health
- Skill Damage Boost
- Buff Duration
- Belt of Endless Slaughter
- Mana Regen
- Skill Damage Resistance
- Debuff Duration
Best Guardian
Shade Revenant Stheno has one of the highest ranged burst damage in the game as she can launch 5 projectiles that home in on nearby targets. She’s a great option since she supplements the ranged gap in this melee-focused build.
