Guardian (Vocation)

Stock art of human Guardians

The Guardian (ガーディアン) is a recurring advanced vocation in the Dragon Quest series. In terms of gameplay its an upgraded version of the Paladin vocation in every appearance, being the ultimate defensive wall to protect the party from harm. Note that the vocation has not been given an official English-language name and that the Guardian term is merely a placeholder based on the literal reading of the katakana name.

Characteristics

Guardians are depicted as wearing armour a step above that of Paladins and Warriors, having golden trim in nearly every region of the body. Their heads are protected with jousting helmets with large panaches to signify high status and the shoulders are covered by flanged pauldrons. Guardians do not wear rerebraces but their the elbows are protected by thin couters and their forearms and hands wear gauntlets. The legs are protected by faulds, cuisse, poleyns, and greaves, with the feet being covered by short-spike sabatons. For accessories, the Guardians wear a red cape with golden trim and matching tassets.

Appearances

Dragon Quest X

Guardians are the first advanced vocation to be added to the MMO, debuting in the version 6.4 update. Players may become Guardians by reaching level 100 with the Paladin and Warrior vocations as well as completing all associated quests with those prerequisite professions. Guardians start off at level 100 and may equip greatswords, one-handed swords, spears, and shields. Their exclusive skill tree is Barricade (てっぺき, Teppeki), featuring a set of abilities that are immediately useful, focusing on defending the entire party at once and damaging enemies with a variety of Light-elemental attacks. Guardians also have superior healing magic compared to Paladins, allowing them to ease the burden of dedicated healers when the party is in a pinch.

Pep Power

Guardians introduced the pep system of DQ XI to the game, forgoing the singular Coup de Grâce ability for stat boosts and access to a variety of skills. Pep is unlocked by completing a quest line and triggers randomly in battle, raising the Guardian's movement speed by 10%, lowering the waiting period before an action can be taken in battle, temporarily increasing max HP by +20%, temporarily increasing strength (not the attack stat) by 20%, and negating 30 points of damage in all situations. Guardians are also able to use the following abilities when pepped up:

Japanese name	Description
ブーストオーラ (Buusuto oora)	Reduces casting time for spells & skills by 10 seconds for five minutes Increases damage dealt to enemies by 50% for 45 seconds
防塞領域 (Bōsai ryōiki)	Generates a golden circle around the Guardian, voiding all damage for party members within it Does not affect non-damaging spells & skills such as Dazzle

Barricade

NOTE:The quoted translations of the Japanese names are merely placeholders for convenience and are not to be taken as official Square Enix terms

Japanese name	English name	Description	MP	Required points
全職業でちから+5	Natural strength +5	Permanently increases strength by 5 in all vocations	N/A	8
全職業でみのまもり+10	Natural resilience +10	Permanently increases resilience by 10 in all vocations	N/A	16
ブラスターフィスト Burasutaa fisuto "Blaster Fist"	N/A	Deals Light-elemental damage based on maximum HP to all enemies within 7 meters Algorithm is (Current HP - 600) x 0.5 + 570~630	8	28
全職業でみのまもり+10	Natural resilience +10	Permanently increases resilience by 10 in all vocations	N/A	40
退魔の鏡 Taima no kagami "Exorcism Mirror"	N/A	Casts Bound on all allies within 10 meters for 60 seconds	10	48
全職業で最大HP+20	Natural HP +20	Permanently increases max HP by 20 in all vocations	N/A	56
活性の祈り Kassei no inori "Prayer of Vitality"	N/A	Temporarily increases Guardian's max HP by 200 for 120 seconds, also heals 200 when activated	10	70
全職業でみのまもり+10	Natural resilience +10	Permanently increases resilience by 10 in all vocations	N/A	80
天光の護り Ten hikari no mamori "Heavenly Light Protection"	N/A	Reduces all damage by 100 raw points for Guardian and allies within 10 meters for 120 seconds	12	90
天光連斬 Tenkou renzan "Heavenly Light Continuous Slash"	N/A	Generate a beam of light and slash one enemy within 3 meters four times Damage calculation is a normal attack with the Light attribute added	4	100
武器ガード率+3% Buki gādo-ritsu +3%	Block chance +3%	Increases weapon block chance by +3% in all vocations	N/A	110
たまにHP1生き残り Tamani HP 1 ikinokori	N/A	Guardian has a low chance to survive a fatal attack with 1 HP	N/A	120
プラーナソード Puraana soodo "Prana Sword"	N/A	Cuts one enemy within 3 meters six times with a sword of light, lowering Light-resistance by 50% for 45 seconds Damage calculation is the same as a normal attack +10%, with the Light element	8	130
1.0%ターン消費なし 1.0% tān shōhi nashi	N/A	Guardian has a 1% chance to instantly get another turn after performing an action	N/A	140
メガザル Megazaru	Kerplunk	Sacrifice self to fully heal all allies	100	150
不屈の鼓動 Fukutsu no kodo "Indomitable Pulse"	N/A	Renders the Guardian totally invincible for 10 seconds	15	180
ディバインピルム "Divine Pirum"	N/A	Damages one enemy and its surrounding allies with a spear made of light energy dependent on the user's HP.	10	200

Spells

Name	MP	Level	Target	Description
Midheal	4	100	One ally	Restores at least 80 HP
Snub	4	102	Self	Voids all magic targeting cast for 60 seconds
Kabuff	4	109	All allies	Increases party's defence by one stage (20) for 120 seconds
Moreheal	10	114	One ally	Restores at least 164 HP
Kerplunk	100	180 skill points	All allies	Sacrifices self to fully heal party

Dragon Quest of the Stars

Guardians were among advanced vocations added to the game in 2019. A character can become a Guardian by reaching level 99 as a Paladin and possessing the vocation's scroll.

Trivia

• Guardians in DQ X have a spell list nearly identical to Hendrik's, missing Buff and swapping Magic Barrier for Snub

Gallery

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  A male human, male Poppet, and female Ogre as Guardians