How to play Warden? For Honor Warden Guide
This chapter contains detailed description of the Warden. You will find here information about his strengths and weaknesses, full moveset and combat tips.
Last update: 17 February 2017
Wardens wear heavy plated armor and wield a massive two-handed longsword. A perfect choice for a novice player because this class has good offensive and defensive capabilities giving them the access to some interesting feats and special attacks that can be used on a battlefield. This class can be selected from the beginning, you don't have to buy it.
Class description - strengths and weaknesses
It may seem that a massive sword is better suited for a fighting style focused on powerful heavy attacks. It is partially true because those attacks deal a lot of damage but they are rather slow and, because of that, it is hard to start an attack by using them as first. Light attacks are a better choice - fast, precise cuts that still deal a good amount of damage. What is more, light attacks can be mixed with heavy ones which allows you to use deadly combinations that can reduce half of enemy's health bar (or the entire bar if you fight against an Assassin class enemy). You should also remember that this class has a lot of health points - your enemies must put a lot of effort if they want to hurt you.
If you want to use this class the most important things that you must learn are the reach of your attacks and how fast they are done. Heavy attacks are powerful but most of the classes can block or even parry them. This means that there is no point in blindly attacking your enemies - this class is useless when it comes to that. It is better to focus on blocking enemy's attacks and wait for a perfect moment to counterattack - feats, that this class has, are helpful in this strategy. More information about the feats in the next chapter.
Versatility - the greatest advantage is also the biggest flaw of this class. It doesn't stand out when it comes to offensive, defensive or speed but it shouldn't be judge by those merits. The Warden is not as deadly as the Peacekeeper or Berserker but it can defeat those classes just by using a few swings.
Moveset and hero-specific abilities
The Warden may not have as much feats and moves as other classes but it is good enough. A proper use can decide about the fate of a battle and allows you to defeat an enemy (class) which caused you problems in the past.
Hero Specific moveset
The Warden has 4 Hero Specific moves:
- Renown - gain more points when you are outnumbered, taking checkpoints and for killing enemy soldiers
- Light Attack Combo - the second light attack (left or right) will automatically reach an enemy if the previous one hit them.
- Shoulder Bash - allows you to hit an enemy using your shoulder after hitting them with a light attack
- Crushing Counterstrike - allows you to parry enemy's attack by using a light attack in the upper stance and automatically use a powerful counter.
Feats
Like all classes in the game, the Warden has 12 available feats divided into 4 slots (3 per each) and you can use 4 of them - one per each slot. Below, you can find the table with each feat's description.
Slot | Description |
1 | Body Count - killing enemy soldiers gives you health and stamina. Can be used from the beginning. Conqueror - capture and upgrade checkpoints faster. Requires level 5. Come at me - gain more Renown from killing. Requires level 7. |
2 | Inspire - allied players deal more damage, nearby soldiers fight faster. Can be used from the beginning. Fiat Lux - throw a flash grenade that blinds enemies for a few seconds. Requires level 9. Thick Blood - immunity from bleed damage. Requires level 11. |
3 | Second Wind - you regenerate some of your health. Available from the beginning. Pugno Mortis - an explosive projectile that deals medium damage on a small area. Requires level 13. Takedown - your throws make your enemies fall to the ground. Requires level 15. |
4 | Catapult - catapult strike that deals a lot of damage on a large area. Available from the beginning. Stalwart Banner - nearby allies continuously regenerate health. Requires level 17. Morale Booster - nearby allies deal more damage for a short period of time. Requires level 19. |
Hero Specific moveset
This class doesn't have a lot of fancy special attacks but you can still find something interesting here. The table below contains information about all of the moves for this class.
Name | How to use | Description |
Crushing Counterstrike | Counter an upper attack by using a light upper stance hit. Doesn't work against attacks from left or right stance. | This attack allows you to parry enemy's attacks by using light attack instead of heavy attacks, as it is with other classes. This makes things easier because light attacks are faster. Your character not only parries an attack but also uses a devastating counterattack that deals a tremendous amount of damage. But you must remember that this move allows you to parry attacks from the upper stance. |
Shoulder Bash | Press the dodge button and then press Guard Break button | The Warden takes a small step back and then charges at an enemy pushing them backwards, making them lose their balance which allows you to use more attacks. What is more, this attack can easily push enemies into the abyss, if there is one behind them or make them fall to the ground if an enemy's stamina bar is empty when the attack hits them. After this attack you can use Light Attack Combo. |
Running Slash | Use heavy attack during sprint. | This attack can only be used when you are not in the Lock Mode. You character uses a powerful cut that is perfect for beginning a duel. |
Chain I | Light, light, heavy attack. | A standard combination that, thanks to the speed of light attacks, allows you to reach your enemy easier when compared with only heavy attacks. |
Chain II | Light, heavy attack. | A short combination that is primary used as a surprise attack. The light and fast attack is followed by a heavy overhead cut - most enemies will expect another light attack so there is almost no chances that they will try to parry it. |
Chain III | Heavy, heavy attack. | A standard combination of two heavy attacks. Deals a lot of damage but is useless against fast and agile enemies. |
Zone attack | Press light and heavy attack buttons at the same time. | A strong attack that allows you to hit all enemies around you. Its biggest strength is its deadly speed - the attack is used immediately after you press both buttons which means that, in most cases, your enemy won't be able to counter it. This attack is useful when you face an enemy that is good at blocking your attacks. This attack always comes from the right (right stance). Its biggest flaw is the stamina cost - one hit costs almost 50% of your stamina. |
Tips and Tricks
Some tips that may be useful when using this character:
- Remember about the guaranteed hit when using Light Attack Combo. When you hit an enemy (they won't block it) using light attack from left or right side the next attack (also from left or right side) will always hit your target, regardless of what your enemy will do. The second attack immediately follows the first one and doesn't allow your enemy to do anything. This attack can't be done in the upper stance.
- After doing Light Attack Combo you can use Shoulder Bash that stuns your enemy and allows you to use Light Attack Combo again. You can chain this attacks endlessly and your enemy will have almost zero time to react. However, they deal a small amount of damage so you should mix them with other attacks.
- Remember to use the deadly parry by using the light attack. You can parry every attack that comes from the upper stance and deal a lot of damage - depending on the character, you can take up to 1/3 of enemy's health points. But remember that you can only parry upper attacks and you can't parry attacks from an enemy that is in Revenge mode.
- Use Feints. Warden's attacks are one of the slowest in the game, especially the heavy ones. For example, you can use a heavy overhead attack (upper stance), cancel it half-way by using Feint and then use light attack from right or left side adding the next light attack which will always hit the enemy. After that, you can use Shoulder Bash and use another series of attacks. With a bit of a luck, this chain can deplete almost all of your enemy's health points.
- Feints can be chained with the zone attack. If your enemy is good at blocking your attacks you can use an overhead slash (upper stance), stop it half-way through by using the Feint and then use the zone attack. There is no chance that an enemy can block this type of attack and a sudden hit "from nowhere" can stun them and cause them to do mistakes - which, obviously, must be used without mercy.
- Try to avoid using Dash because it is the slowest move that can be done by this character.
- After Guard Break you can use Light Attack Combo but you must use left or right stance. After hitting your enemy with this combo you can use another attacks just like with the "normal" variant of this move.
- Control your character's stamina meter. Warden's attacks are powerful and can take a lot of health points in a short period of time but can also very quickly deplete your stamina meter, especially when you use a lot of zone attacks. This makes things easier for your enemy. When your stamina starts to deplete (about 1/3 of its length) stop attacking for a few seconds so it can regenerate.