Defender: Talents

Overview

Defender Talents is the deep-dive into the Protector / Defender talent tree breakdown — covering all three talent branches (Diamond, Rock, Granite) with skill-by-skill analysis, point-allocation recommendations, and PvE/PvP build paths. Companion article to Protector Skills (Defender Skills).

This article catalogs the skills/talents, mechanics, and progression strategy.

Diamond:

Name	Description	Rune Enhancement
	Increases damage of "Power of Anger" skill by 1/2/3/4/5% and additional damage by 5/10/15/20/25 points per Rage point.	No
	Critical Strike Power	Increases damage of "Heavy Strike" skill by 2/4/6/8/10% and additional damage by 20/40/60/80/100% of the Defender's Earth Mastery.
	Restoration	Increases the healing effect of "Aura of Life" by 10/20/30/40/50%.
	Defender's Power Burst	Increases damage of "Counter Strike" skill by 15/30/45%.
	Will of the Earth	Increases the chance to gain a Rage point when attacked in "Concentration" state by 5/10/15%. Each Rage point increases movement speed by 1/2/3%.
	Stone Split
	Splitting Anger	Each Rage point increases the critical strike chance of "Stone Split" skill by 1/2/3/4%.
	Legacy of the Stone God	Increases duration of "Stone Spirit" skill by 1/2/3/4/5 seconds.
	Strength of the Stone God
	Mystery of Anger	Reduces cooldown of "Power of Anger" skill by 2/4/6/8 seconds.
	Mother Earth	Increases Earth resistance by 20/30/40 points.
	Mystery of Earth Split	Reduces cooldown of "Earth Rift" skill by 1/2/3 seconds and increases its accuracy by 20/40/60 points.
	Split	"Earth Rift" skill has a 20/35/50% chance to stun the enemy for 1-3 seconds.
	Mockery of Magic	"Taunt" skill steals 100/200/300 MP from the target and additionally reduces its max MP by 400/800/1200 points.
	Earth Pulse	Increases Earth Mastery by 20/30/40/50 points.
	Wind	Increases speed boost effect of "Wind Protection" skill by 5/10/15/20% and reduces its cooldown by 5/10/15/20 seconds.
	Soul of the Wind
	Raw Power	Increases the duration of dizziness caused by "Power of Anger" and "Earth Rift" skills by 1/2/3 seconds. There is a chance not to receive this effect when using skills.
	Earth Conservation	Reduces MP cost of Earth attack skills by 10/20/30%.
	Wild Plunder	Increases the chance to disarm the target when using "Light's Anger" skill by 20/40/60%.
	Reliable Frontier
	Time of Counterattack	Reduces cooldown of "Reliable Frontier" skill by 5/10/15 seconds. Under the effect of "Reliable Frontier," max HP of the Defender increases by 10/20/30%.
	Life Path	Increases max HP of the Defender by 2/4/6% and additionally by 200/400/600 points.
	Earth's Anger	Using Earth attack skills has a 6/12/18% chance to gain an additional Rage point.
	Faithful Heart	Reduces HP cost when using "Faithful Guardian" skill by 50%.
	Strength of the Earth	Increases base damage of "Heavy Strike," "Power of Anger," "Stone Split," "Earth's Wrath" skills by 10/15/20%.
	Soul of the Earth
	Weak Spot	"Earth's Wrath" skill additionally reduces the target's critical strike chance by 3-6% and increases its duration by 5 seconds.
	Firm Will	Using "Concentration" skill, each Rage point gives a 5/10% chance to remove paralysis and slowing effects. At the second level of the talent, it additionally removes the last negative effect applied to the Defender.
	Cursed Heart	Applies an effect on the target that increases damage dealt to it by 2/4/6/8%.
	Roaring Mountains	Reduces the cooldown of "Mountain Avalanche" by 5/10/15 seconds.
	Sharp Thorn	Additionally increases attack power by 10/20% of the defense stat.
	Ancestral Grace	Reduces casting time of "Soul of the Earth" by 1 second and reduces its cooldown by 15 seconds, additionally increasing its accuracy by 50 points.

Rock:

Name	Description	Rune Enhancement
	Will Protection	Under "Concentration" effect, increases "Counter Strike" skill damage by 10/20/30/40/50%. At level 5, reduces target's attack by 10% for 9 seconds.
	Spirit Defender	Increases protection state duration by 2/4/6 seconds.
	Will's Anger	Increases "Concentration" effect duration by 60/120/180/240/300/360 seconds. Each Rage point increases Defender's attack by 0.2/0.4/0.6/0.8/1/1.2%.
	Rage Block	"Power of Anger" skill has a 15/30/50/60% chance not to consume Rage points.
	Light Support	Group members under "Aura of Light" effect restore an additional 20/40/60/80/100% of HP restored by "Aura of Light" when taking damage.
	Stone God's Protection	"Stone Spirit" skill removes all negative effects from group members within 20m and grants them immunity to damage and negative effects for 1/3/5/7 seconds.
	Ring of Natural Light
	Gift of Light	Increases Defender's accuracy by 11/16/21/26 points. Using "Ring of Icy Fire," "Ring of Natural Light," or "Ring of Chaos" applies "Gift of the Heavens" effect on all party members (except the Defender), increasing their accuracy by 11/16/21/26 points.
	General Protection	Increases "Aura of Protection" effect duration by 60/120/180/240/300 seconds. Reduces MP cost of skill casting by 15/30/45%.
	Ring of Icy Fire
	Light Defense	Increases light resistance by 20/30/40 points, defense by 10/15/20 points.
	Ring of Chaos
	Mastery of Light	Increases Light Mastery by 20/30/40/50 points.
	Tailwind	Increases speed bonus from "Wind Protection" skill by 10/20/30%.
	Light Concentration	Defender's auras increase his Evasion by 4/8/12/16 points and Critical Evasion by 1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0%.
	Wisdom of the Light Ring	When aura is active, max MP of the Defender increases by 20/30/40%.
	Light's Fury	"Light's Anger" skill reduces target's critical evasion by 1/2/3/4%. If target's HP is below 50%, healing effect applied to it is reduced by 10/20/30/40%. Duration 15 seconds.
	Rage Control	Reduces cooldown of "Light's Anger" skill by 1.5/3.0/4.5 seconds.
	Energy of the Light Ring	Reduces MP cost of Defender's auras by 15/30/45/60%.
	Wind of Freedom	Increases "Wind Protection" skill radius by 5/10 meters. Has a 50/100% chance to dispel paralysis and slowing effects from group members.
	Light Strike	Active Skill. Element - Light.
	Destroying Light	Increases damage of "Light's Anger" and "Light Strike" skills by 10/20/30%. "Light Strike" reduces target's resistance and healing effect by 10/20/15%. Effect stacks up to 3 times.
	Frenzy	Using Light skills has an 8/16/24% chance to gain an additional Rage point.
	Soul of Heavenly Wrath	Reduces cooldown of "Heavenly Wrath" skill by 5/10 seconds.
	Greatness of Light	Reduces cooldown of Light damage skills by 1/2 seconds and increases their critical strike chance by 3/6%.
	Defender's Impulse	All Defender's auras increase his critical evasion by 1/2%.
	Protection Assistance	Active Skill.
	Miraculous Salvation	During "Protection Assistance" skill, targets under its effect restore HP every 2 seconds equal to 30/60/90/120% of the Defender's defense stat.
	Light's Anger	Increases attack power bonus of Light skills by 3/6/9%.
	Devotion	Increases healing effectiveness on targets under "Ring of Protection" skill by 3/6%.
	Body of the Gods

Granite:

Name	Description	Rune Enhancement
	Mystery of Protection	Reduces cooldown of "Counter Strike" skill by 1/2/3/4/5 seconds. Increases damage absorption effect in protection state by 1/2/3/4/5%.
	Crushing Critical Strike	"Heavy Strike" skill has a 10/20/30/40/50% chance to reduce target's base attack by 1/2/3/4/5%. Duration 20 seconds. Effect stacks up to 3 times.
	Mystery of Taunt	Reduces cooldown of "Taunt" skill by 4/6/8 seconds.
	Will of Hatred	"Concentration" skill increases Defender's accuracy by 6/12/18 points and threat level by 20/40/60%.
	Source of Restoration	Increases healing effect under "Aura of Life" skill by 1/2/3/4/5%. Increases HP restored when taking damage by 20/40/60/80/100%.
	Mass Taunt	Active Skill. Element - Earth.
	Chaos Taunt	"Taunt" reduces target's evasion by 15/30/45 points, "Mass Taunt" reduces opponents' accuracy by 30/60/90 points. Duration 8 seconds.
	Brazen Provoker	Reduces cooldown of "Mass Taunt" skill by 20/40/60 seconds.
	Soul of the Stone God	Reduces cooldown of "Stone Spirit" skill by 15/30/45/60 seconds. During the skill's effect, increases healing received by the Defender by 10/20/30/40%. Every 2 seconds, the Defender restores 2/4/6/8% of max HP.
	Faith in Protection	When taking damage under "Aura of Protection" effect, increases max HP by 1% and 50/100/150 points. Effect stacks up to 10 times. Duration 15 seconds.
	Light of Faith	Increases duration of "Faith in Protection" effect by 5/10/15 seconds.
	Attraction of Fire Power	Increases threat level when attacking by 50/100%.
	Tough Skin	Increases Physical Resistance by 20/30/40 points.
	Defense Enhancement	Increases defense by 16/24/32/40 points.
	Mountain Collapse	"Earth Rift" skill additionally affects 2/4/6 targets. Increases skill radius by 2/4/6 meters.
	Earth Rift	"Earth Rift" skill additionally reduces targets' speed by 3.5/7/10.5/14%. From level 2, increases slow duration by 1/2/3 seconds.
	Wind Protection	Increases duration of "Wind Protection" skill by 2/4/6 seconds.
	Rock Protection	In protection state, increases defense by 2/4/6% and damage absorption by 2/4/6%.
	Defender's Victory	In protection state, reduces attack reduction effect by 30/60/100%.
	Wisdom	Reduces MP cost when using "Concentration," "Taunt," "Mass Taunt," and "Aura of Protection" skills.
	Earth Dragon	Active Skill. Element - Earth.
	Dragon Hunter	Increases additional damage from "Earth Dragon" skill by 15/30% and threat level generated by "Earth Dragon" and "Earth Rift" skills by 50/100%.
	Guardian's Heart	Increases duration of "Faithful Guardian" skill by 3/6 seconds and range by 15/30%.
	Faith
	Stone's Resilience	Increases chance to dodge critical strikes by 1/2/3%.
	Earth's Forces	Each Rage point increases damage of "Earth Rift" and "Earth's Wrath" skills by 2/3%.
	Defensive Power	Increases additional damage from "Heavy Strike," "Counter Strike," "Light's Anger," "Earth's Wrath" skills and damage returned by "Ring of Counter Strike" skill by 10/20/30% of Defender's defense stat.
	Petrified Skin
	Tempering	"Petrified Skin" additionally increases Defender's defense by 300/600/900/1200 points.
	Firm Determination	If Defender's HP is below 30%, instantly restores 10/20/30% HP and MP. Prevents direct damage from the next attack for 5 seconds. Usable once every 10 minutes.
	Frenzy	Using "Taunt" and "Mass Taunt" skills has a 50/100% chance to gain several Rage points.
	Unyielding	"Petrified Skin" no longer reduces movement speed; each "Faith in Protection" effect increases PvE resilience by 45 points.

See Also:

• Defender: Runes
• Defender

FAQ

Q: Diamond, Rock, or Granite — which to pick? A: Diamond = pure tank (highest mitigation). Rock = hybrid tank-DPS (slightly less defense, more threat). Granite = control-focused (best for PvP main-tank and arena lockdown).

Q: Best Defender talent build for raids? A: Diamond branch with all 71 points. Sacrifice slight DPS for maximum survivability — your job is to not die, not to top damage meters.

Q: PvP Defender talent path? A: Granite — control + peel for healers and DPS. Hybrid Granite/Diamond if you want survival back-up beyond just CC.

See Also

• Protector Skills (Defender Skills)
• Protector
• Defender Runes
• Talents
• Main site: Class guides