Shield Guardian

Steel Guardians Wall the front lines, man the gates, or expertly use the phalanx formation. They are known for their ability to use shields for both attacking and protecting, bringing new meaning to the phrase "Offence is the best defence".

The Best Defense

While you have a Shield donned, it counts as a simple weapon you are proficient in. The shield's damage die is based on its size(shown below), any shield you wield also gains the shoving property. Magical shields that would add a bonus to the shields ac also apply that bonus to attack and damage rolls with the shield.
Small = d6
Medium = d8
Large = d10

Shield Maneuvers

Also at 3rd level, you gain greater control and utility out of your shield when defending allies. You gain the following reaction options that you may now use:
- Mitigate: When a creature you can see within 5 ft of you is hit with a melee attack, you may interpose your shield as a reaction. Doing so reduces the damage the creature takes by d10+ your proficiency bonus
- Cover: When a creature you can see within 5 feet of you is forced to make a Dexterity saving throw, you can take a reaction to interpose your shield against the effect. The creature gains a bonus to the Dexterity saving throw equal to your shield’s AC bonus + half your Vanguard level (rounded up). You can use this reaction after the creature rolls but before the result is declared.
- Deflect: When a creature you can see within 5 ft of you is targeted with a melee attack, you may cover them with your shield as a reaction. The creature gains a bonus to their AC equal to the bonus to ac the shield provides to you (Including any magical increases)

Shield Style

At 6th level, you choose one of the following "options" to enhance how you wield a shield
- Dueling: You can duel wield shields as long as the primary shield is M and the offhand is small, functions as if you had the dual wielding fighting style, you may add the second shields bonus to your ac
- Launching: You can Throw shields of medium or smaller, they return to your hand at the end of your turn. (20/60) range
- Bashing: You automatically make a shove attack in addition to a melee attack. You can wield large shields in 2 hands to apply additional damage, you can push planted shields half you movement.

Bash Mastery

Also at 6th level, you gain the ability to impose stronger penalties on your foes, Once per turn when you hit a melee attack, you may spend a focus die to inflict on of the following debuffs on the target of the attack:
- Distracting Bash: The creature can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn. Additionally, the creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on any attack roll that isn’t against you until the start of its next turn. Creatures immune to the charmed condition automatically succeed on the saving throw.
- Pushing Bash: The creature must make a Strength saving throw. A creature is pushed 15 feet on a failed save, or only 5 feet on a successful save. Creatures two sizes larger than you automatically succeed on the saving throw.
- Staggering Bash: The creature speed is reduced by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. Additionally, the creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. Creatures two sizes larger than you automatically succeed on the saving throw.

Enhanced Maneuvers

At 11th level, you perfected your ability to protect. The reactions of your Protective Maneuvers are enhanced as follows:
- Deflect: You impose disadvantage on the attack roll in addition to the AC bonus.
- Cover: If the creature was subjected to an effect that allowed to take only half damage on a success, instead take no damage if they succeed on the saving throw.
- Mitigate: If the damage of the attack is reduced to 0, you can attempt to make an attack with your shield as part of the same reaction against the attack, provided it’s within range.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 17th level, when you take the attack action, you may make 2 attacks instead of 1. Both of these attacks apply a debuff from your bash mastery trait.