Gladiator StanceA shield, an aggressive stance, a sharper tradeoff

Your shield need not be a signal to hold back. Gladiator Stance is an aggressive stance that gives you a reason to bring it into the attack, pairing offensive benefits with defensive tradeoffs.

While wearing a shield in this stance, you may use all abilities restricted to other stances. That freedom remains part of its appeal: you can choose your next move without letting a stance restriction make the decision for you.

How you get it

We have not recorded how you learn Gladiator Stance yet.

What changed in Forever

From Classic Era 1.15.9 to Forever 1.60.1, the damage increase while wearing a shield and the block chance increase both move from 11% to 10%. The armor and threat reductions both move from 29% to 30%. Together, those changes make the bargain more pronounced: you receive slightly smaller bonuses while giving up more armor and generating less threat. The latter belongs on the benefit side when your aim is to keep an enemy’s attention elsewhere.

The increased Rage gained when your auto-attack damages an enemy not targeting you moves from 51% to 50%. That condition is worth watching during a fight. It rewards attacking an enemy whose attention is elsewhere, rather than simply swinging whenever a target is within reach. The adjustment trims the reward without changing the situation that activates it.

Who uses it

If you enjoy taking an offensive approach with a shield, this stance speaks your language. Its tradeoffs suit a player who pays attention to enemy targeting and is comfortable weighing aggression against protection. Choosing when to commit matters as much as choosing what to press.