The Blackguard: Dark Elf Sentinel of Hatred

The Blackguard in Warhammer Online: Return of Reckoning is a specialized tank class, functioning primarily as a “bodyguard” tank. Unlike other tanks that might spread their buffs broadly, the Blackguard excels at protecting and buffing a single target at a time. Their unique “Hatred” mechanic fuels their most powerful abilities, making them a formidable, if sometimes niche, presence in Realm vs. Realm (RVR) combat, especially with their specialization in magical defense.

RVR Strengths: Focused Protection and Magical Resilience

• “Bodyguard” Specialization: The Blackguard’s core strength lies in their exceptional ability to protect one chosen ally. Their Guard skill allows them to absorb 50% of the guarded target’s incoming damage, which they can block. Mastering Guard Switch is essential for dynamic protection, making them ideal for keeping a high-value target alive through focused enemy fire. This makes the Blackguard a perfect tank for small groups such as duos or 6v6 parties in roaming, scenarios, and ranked scenarios.
• Hatred Mechanic: Blackguards generate Hatred to activate their most potent skills. This mechanic reflects their intense antipathy towards everything, transforming that raw emotion into powerful abilities. This system often imbues their skills with offensive and defensive benefits, making them a proactive and dangerous tank.
• Magical Defense Specialization: A key differentiator for the Blackguard is their specialization in magical defense. In a game with significant magical damage sources, this inherent resilience against spells makes them particularly effective at mitigating damage from classes like Bright Wizards, Sorcerers, and Shamans.
• Comprehensive Tanking Toolkit: Beyond their unique mechanics, Blackguards possess the essential skills of any tank:
  • Challenge: Reduces incoming damage for their party by 50%, a vital defensive cooldown.
  • Crowd Control: A robust array of crowd control abilities, including Punt, Root, and Knockdown, vital for controlling the flow of battle, disrupting enemy plans, and peeling for their guarded ally.
• Versatile Offense (2-Handed DPS): As a 2-handed “DPS,” the Blackguard has “good damage output,” offering more offensive presence than some other tanks. Crucially, as a 2-handed tank, they still retain all their utility skills, such as Guard. “Tanks never lose the ‘protector’ role,” meaning they can contribute damage while still fulfilling their primary function.

RVR Challenges: Niche in Warbands

• Limited Warband Applicability: For standard warband play (24-man groups), the Blackguard is “not very welcomed” due to their inability to provide widespread protection and buffs for the entire party/warband. Their single-target focus makes them less universally desirable in large-scale engagements where AoE protection and debuffs often take precedence.
• Niche Warband Role: However, there is a spot for them when the Warband is organized and aims for a specific playstyle. This could include a more aggressive melee profile where the Blackguard is accepted as a 2-handed DPS (due to their good damage and some AoE utility), or crucially, to guard a specific class/player (e.g., a high-priority DPS or a crucial healer) in a highly coordinated setup.

The Blackguard in RVR: The Focused Protector

The Blackguard in Warhammer Online: Return of Reckoning is a highly effective, if specialized, tank. Their unparalleled “bodyguard” capabilities, fueled by the Hatred mechanic and bolstered by strong magical defenses, make them an excellent choice for small-scale RVR and a valuable, albeit niche, asset in organized warbands. While not the broad AoE buff tank, the Blackguard’s ability to lock down and protect a single target with brutal efficiency ensures their vital role in the Dark Elf arsenal.