Guard Skill

When a physical attack is successfully guarded by a hand-to-hand weapon, the damage taken from the attack is significantly reduced.

Overview

Guard skill is a combat skill that determines a player's ability to block a significant portion of the damage from an incoming physical attack while using a Hand-to-Hand weapon. The activation of guard is determined by the enemy's level and the player's guard skill. Unlike a shield block, guard can only activate while engaged to an enemy, but guard can activate on any attacking enemy in front of the player, not just the one currently targeted. When an attack is successfully guarded, the attacker's pDIF is lowered by 1.0, usually greatly reducing damage.

The job trait Tactical Guard allows a successful guard to generate additional TP return for the player.

Guard Skill Caps

Job	Grade	Level 49	Level 99
MNK	A	150	417
PUP	B	144	398

Equipment Bonuses

Note that nearly all level 99 Hand-to-Hand weapons with Item Levels 100 or higher have a significant amount of Guard Skill on the weapon, with the value proportional to the Item Level. These weapons are not listed in the tables below.

Item	Level	Slot	Jobs	Amount
Anchorite's Hose +3	99	Legs	MNK	26
Anchorite's Hose +2	99	Legs	MNK	24
Anchorite's Hose +1	99	Legs	MNK	22
Anchorite's Hose	99	Legs	MNK	20
Temple Hose +1	74	Legs	MNK	15
Melee Gaiters +1	75	Feet	MNK	14
Melee Gaiters	71	Feet	MNK	12
Boxer's Mantle	70	Back	All jobs	10
Smilodon Mask	98	Head	WAR MNK THF BST NIN DNC	10
Temple Hose	60	Legs	MNK	10
Gnole Crown	72	Head	WAR MNK THF BST NIN DNC	8
Guarding Torque	65	Neck	All jobs	7
Feral Mask	70	Head	WAR MNK THF BST NIN DNC	6
Black Adargas +1	60	Weapon	MNK PUP	5
Portus Annulet	94	Ring	All jobs	5
Tiger Mask	70	Head	WAR MNK THF BST NIN DNC	5
Busker's Earring	60	Earring	All jobs	5 (PUP sub job)
Black Adargas	60	Weapon	MNK PUP	4
Oatixur	99	Weapon	MNK PUP	4
Adargas +1	47	Weapon	MNK PUP	3
Guarding Earring	35	Earring	All jobs	3
Adargas	47	Weapon	MNK PUP	2
Decimus Torque	99	Neck	All jobs	15
Combatant's Torque	99	Neck	All jobs	15