Guardian

Guardians are elite defensive warriors whose strengths shine while fighting side by side with their allies. Though trained to use weapons of all types, Guardians are especially effective when using a protective style of fighting with a weapon and shield. Alone, a Guardian is a small threat, but when fighting alongside their allies they are impenetrable walls of steel.

Guardian Exploits

3rd-level Fighter (Guardian) Feature

You learn certain Exploits at the Fighter levels noted in the table below. They don't count against your total number of Exploits Known and can't be switched upon gaining a level.

Fighter Level	Exploit
3rd	reposition, shield impact
5th	defensive stance, immovable stance
9th	mythic resilience

Guardian Stance

3rd-level Fighter (Guardian) Feature

So long as you are wielding a shield, you can use a bonus action to enter a Guardian Stance that lasts indefinitely. It ends if you are incapacitated, you doff your shield, or you end it as a free action. It imposes the following effects:

• Your speed is reduced by 10 feet.
• Both you and creatures of your choice within 5 feet of you gain a +1 bonus to their Armor Class.
• As a reaction, when a creature within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can become the target of that attack, taking the damage if the attack would hit you.
• You can make a Shove attack as a bonus action.

Warrior Smith

3rd-level Fighter (Guardian) Feature

You gain proficiency in leatherworker's and smith's tools.
Over the course of 1 hour, you can use these tools to reinforce a shield or set of armor you touch, granting it a +1 Armor Class bonus until the end of your next long rest.

Rallying Wind

7th-level Fighter (Guardian) Feature

You inspire others to stand their ground. When you use Second Wind while in your Guardian Stance, creatures of your choice within 5 feet of you that can see or hear you gain temporary hit points equal to your Fighter level.

Stalwart Defender

10th-level Fighter (Guardian) Feature

You are strongest when standing side by side, and shield by shield with your allies. You gain the following benefits:

• You gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class for each allied creature within 5 feet that isn't incapacitated.
• You cannot be moved against your will or knocked prone while you are in your Guardian stance.
• You and allied creatures within 5 feet have advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws while you are in your Guardian Stance.
• When you roll initiative you can instantly enter your Guardian Stance as long as you are not surprised.

Improved Stance

15th-level Fighter (Guardian) Feature

You improve your defensive technique to better defend those who stand beside you. The range of your Guardian Stance, and all its features, now extends to creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you. Moreover, your Guardian Stance grants creatures half cover, in place of the +1 bonus to Armor Class.

Legendary Guardian

18th-level Fighter (Guardian) Feature

You are a master Guardian and a near-supernatural shield to defend the weak. The range of all your Guardian Stance and its features include creatures of your choice within 15 feet of you.