One Hand and Shield

Activating Shield Wall allows you to automatically block all attacks for no cost for a short time. It’s important to note that this effect grants you all the benefits from blocking, with none of the penalties. With Shield Wall you can move at full speed and continue using abilities.

Although the available morphs do add a bit of utility, Shield Wall is most certainly a defensive ability. It’s a powerful tool—and it has a fairly low casting cost—but even a dedicated Tank might consider swapping in a different Ultimate Ability for day-to-day adventuring.

Spell Wall

You also reflect all projectiles cast at you.

Shield Discipline

Your One Hand and Shield ability costs are reduced while active.

It does a bit of direct damage, but the fact that it’s one of the game’s only taunts is what makes Puncture such a valuable tanking ability—of course, the inclusion of Major Fracture is a nice bonus.

Ransack

You also gain Minor Resolve, increasing your Physical Resistance.

Pierce Armor

Also afflicts the enemy with Major Breach, reducing their Spell Resistance.

If you’re dedicated to the One Hand and Shield skill line, Low Slash will likely be your primary damage ability. If not, it still offers enough utility to warrant consideration—there’s a lot to be said for a skill that afflicts targets with Minor Maim and a significant Snare effect.

Deep Slash

Hits up to two additional targets near the enemy.

Heroic Slash

You gain Minor Heriosim, increasing your Ultimate generation.

Defensive Posture is useful as a spell-reflect, but its slotted bonus is what makes it an excellent tanking ability. As long as Defensive Posture is on your Action Bar, your blocks are more effective and more efficient.

Defensive Stance

The reflected spell projectile also stuns the attacker.

Absorb Magic

Absorb the spell projectile and heal yourself instead of reflecting it.

Shield Charge is a standard gap closer. It does a bit of damage, but primarily it offers shield bearers some welcome mobility. Follow it up with a Low Slash to keep your target from escaping.

Shielded Assault

Gain a damage shield after the attack.

Invasion

Stuns longer based on the distance traveled.

Power Bash serves as a low-damage interrupt, but the available morphs dramatically change the nature of this ability:

• Reverberating Bash afflicts your target with Major Defile, making this ability one of the skill line’s most useful debuffs.
• Power Slam replaces the Stun effect with increased damage, making this ability one of the skill line’s better damage options.

If either of these morphs appeals to you, consider unlocking and ranking up Power Bash as soon as it becomes available.

Reverberating Bash

Also afflicts the enemy with Major Defile, reducing their healing received.

Power Slam

Deals significantly increased damage, but no longer stuns. Blocking any attack increases the damage of your next Power Slam.