Guardian

Guardians are elite defensive warriors whose strengths shine while fighting side by side with their allies. Though trained to use weapons of all types, Guardians are especially effective when using a protective style of fighting with a weapon and shield. Alone, a Guardian is a small threat, but when fighting alongside their allies they are impenetrable walls of steel.

Warrior Smith

You gain the skills to maintain your arms and armor so that you may better defend your allies. Also at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with leatherworker's tools and smith's tools.

At the end of a long rest, you can use either set of tools to reinforce a shield or a set of armor you touch. The object grants its wearer an additional +1 bonus to Armor Class. This Armor Class bonus lasts until the end of your next long rest, at which point it's Armor Class returns to normal.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Guardian Stance

Beginning at 3rd level, so long as you are wielding a shield, you can use a bonus action on your turn to enter a Guardian Stance. This Stance lasts indefinitely and ends early if you are incapacitated, you doff your shield, or you end it as a free action. While in this Stance, you gain the following features:

Rallying Wind

Beginning at 7th level, your presence in battle inspires your allies to hold their position against all odds. When you use Second Wind while in your Guardian Stance, creatures of your choice within the range of your Stance's features gain temporary hit points equal to your fighter level.

Stalwart Defender

You are strongest when amongst your allies. Upon reaching 10th level in this class, you gain the following benefits:

Improved Guardian Stance

At 15th level, you improve your defensive technique to better defend those who stand beside you. While in your Guardian Stance, you grant friendly creatures within 5 feet of you the benefits of half cover, in place of the +1 Armor Class bonus.

Unshakable Bastion

You are a master amongst Guardians. Starting at 18th level, your Guardian Stance and Stalwart Defender features can affect creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you.