Man-at-Arms (Darkest Dungeon II)

Base = Upgraded =

"A resolute defender, tempered by the merciless blows of innumerable assaults."

The Man-at-Arms is one of 11 Heroes in Darkest Dungeon II.

Class Description

 * Front Rank
 * Guard
 * Durable
 * Riposte

Combat Skills
🔸The Man-at-Arms will always start each run equipped with Crush,  Rampart,  Defender,  Bolster, and  Hold the Line. All other skills must be unlocked through the Shrine of Reflection, after which they are permanently unlocked and available for subsequent playthroughs.

























Unique Trinkets
🔸Each Hero has their own 3 unique Trinkets, exclusive only to them. All unique Trinkets for Heroes have Indelible rarity, Bauble cost of 70 and stack limit of 1.

Hero Paths
🔸All Heroes Start The Game with No Hero Path. Each Hero has access to 3 unique Paths available only to them once they Invest into The Living City. Wanderer serves as the default path for every character and gives a candle reward. The following Paths are unique to the Man-at-Arms.

Strategy
🔸The Man-at-Arms is essentially a tanker whose tactics mainly revolves around putting up his defenses and taking punishments to protect his more fragile teammates. With access to certain skills, the Man-at-Arms can be effective at dealing damage as well, depending on the protection he has. His entire skillset is highly flexible; allowing him to adapt to any Rank, stay in the back or front to support allies or rush right to the front to attack and hold his position depending on various situations. Because of his toughness and ability to protect a certain Hero, the Man-at-Arms can become the backbone of any team composition, increasing the survival capability in combat.

🔸Offense: The Man-at-Arms' skillset does not have much focus on damage. Most of his offensive skills have fairly average damage output, but offer solid benefits from Combo Tokens.


 * The Man-at-Arms can use Dd2 ability strategicwithdrawal.png Strategic Withdrawal to apply Dd2 token combo.png Combo on a target, then follow up with other attacks such as Dd2 ability crush.png Crush to heal himself or Dd2 ability rampart.png Rampart and Dd2 ability holdtheline.png Hold the Line to inflict Stun dd2.png Stun and disable a target. The Man-at-Arms synergizes well with Heroes who can inflict Dd2 token combo.png Combo to make the most out of his skills such asPortraits-jester.pngr (with Dd2 ability razorswit.png Razor's Wit and upgraded Dd2 ability fadetoblack.png Fade to Black) orPortraits-highwayman.pngayman (with Dd2 ability pointblankshot.png Point Blank Shot and upgraded Dd2 ability trackingshot.png Tracking Shot). The Dd2 token combo.png Combo from Dd2 ability strategicwithdrawal.png Strategic Withdrawal can considerably increase the efficiency of other Heroes, whose skills benefit greatly from Dd2 token combo.png Combo, such asPortraits-graverobber.png Robber (massive CRIT bonus) andPortraits-leper.png (bypass Dd2 token blind.png Blind ). Moreover, Dd2 ability strategicwithdrawal.png Strategic Withdrawal helps the Man-at-Arms retreat to the back and regain a decent amount of HP should he suffer too much damage from the front and be put into Deathsdoor dd2.png Death's Door condition.


 * Maa Courageous Abandon on Librarian.png Courageous Abandon]]Dd2 ability courageousabandon.png Courageous Abandon is the Man-at-Arms' strongest offensive skill, capable of ignoring Dd2 token block.png Block to maintain its damage output. Since the skill's damage is effectively doubled if the Man-at-Arms has Dd2 token block.png Block or Dd2 token blockplus.png Block+ ; it synergizes well with Dd2 ability defender.png Defender, Dd2 ability holdtheline.png Hold the Line or Dd2 ability standfast.png Stand Fast, which provide the said Tokens for a large damage bonus. Furthermore, the damage bonus for having a Dd2 token block.png Block Token and a Dd2 token blockplus.png Block+ Token stacks - having both Tokens through a combination of skills, combat items, or trinkets, can triple the damage dealt. Keep in mind that these Tokens can be expended relatively fast through enemies' attacks (especially if the Man-at-Arms has Dd2 token taunt.png Taunt from Dd2 ability retribution.png Retribution), before the Man-at-Arms has a chance to unleash Dd2 ability courageousabandon.png Courageous Abandon. Therefore, using Dd2 ability standfast.png Stand Fast is strongly recommended as it provides the Man-at-Arms with Dd2 token block.png Block or Dd2 token blockplus.png Block+ more consistently on a turn basis. A Man-at-Arms' unique trinket Maa-price-of-pride.png Price of Pride can also remedy the said issue by adding a chance to give him a Dd2 token blockplus.png Block+ Token whenever he is targeted by enemies. The high damage potential of Dd2 ability courageousabandon.png Courageous Abandon comes at the cost of applying a Dd2 token vulnerable.png Vulnerable Token to the Man-at-Arms and removing all of his Dd2 token block.png Block and Dd2 token blockplus.png Block+ . which exposes him to greater harm. Another downside of the skill is its very strict Rank requirement, being only usable on Rank 1 against Rank 1. Thus, it does not go well with other useful skills with similarly strict requirements such asPortraits-hellion.pngon's Dd2 ability bleedout.png Bleed Out orPortraits-leper.png's Dd2 ability purge.png Purge.

🔸Survivability: The Man-at-Arms is particularly durable thanks to the generous amount of Block and  Block+ Tokens he can gain from many of his skills such as  Hold the Line and  Stand Fast.


 * Maa Defends Pd.png Defender to protect allies that are fragile or on Deathsdoor dd2.png's Door.]]Using Dd2 ability defender.png Defender, the Man-at-Arms can simultaneously gain solid defense with Dd2 token block.png Block or Dd2 token blockplus.png Block+ and guard vulnerable allies, particular ones that are on low Icon HP dd2.png.


 * Maa Retribution.png Retribution, the Man-at-Arms can simultaneously defend himself and attack]]Dd2 ability retribution.png Retribution is also effective at protecting allies, applying Dd2 token taunt.png Taunt to the Man-at-Arms, allowing him to direct attacks to himself, and dealing damage to any Rank at the same time with Dd2 token riposte.png Riposte . If this skill is to be used regularly, it is advised to upgrade it so that the Man-at-Arms can additionally gain Dd2 token block.png Block to weather more devastating attacks and avoid losing too much Icon HP dd2.png. With the Dd2 token taunt.png Taunt effects from Dd2 ability retribution.png Retribution, the Man-at-Arms can make good use of his unique trinket Maa-price-of-pride.png Price of Pride for a chance to gain extra Dd2 token blockplus.png Block+ Tokens or any other trinkets that give benefits on being hit. It is worth noting that an upgraded Dd2 ability retribution.png Retribution gives the Man-at-Arms a total amount of 6 Tokens, which allows him to gain back a massive percentage of his Icon HP dd2.png through thePortraits-plaguedoctor.pnge Doctor's Dd2 ability indiscriminatescience.png Indiscriminate Science (up to 70% of Icon HP dd2.png provided that he manages to keep all of the said Tokens prior to being healed).

🔸Support: The Man-at-Arms possesses several valuable supporting skills, most of which (such as Bellow,  Bolster,  Command, etc.) would still be usable even if he stays in the back. As such, he has the option to become a back-Rank supporter.


 * Bellow dealing burn.gif Bellow]]The Man-at-Arms can put the enemy team at a disadvantage by using Dd2 ability bellow.png Bellow to debuff their Icon speed dd2.png, gaining the upper hand for his team. In addition, its Dd2 token riposte.png Riposte removal is very useful against enemies such as Flayer or Knight. Since Dd2 ability bellow.png Bellow targets the entire enemy team, it can remove multiple Dd2 token dodge.png Dodge Tokens at the same time. Moreover, Dd2 ability bellow.png Bellow can be combined with thePortraits-runaway.pngay's Dd2 ability firestarter.png Firestarter to additionally apply Burn dd2.png Burn on all enemies at once.


 * The Man-at-Arms functions quite well as a Dd2 token stress.png Stress healer. Using an upgraded Dd2 ability bolster.png Bolster, he can reduce a decent amount of Dd2 token stress.png Stress for himself and and a teammate, apply Dd2 token block.png Block to him and remove the teammate's Dd2 token vulnerable.png Vulnerable and Dd2 token weak.png Weak Tokens.


 * Command on Leper.gifDd2 ability command.png Command applies Dd2 token strength.png Strength and removes Dd2 token blind.png Blind from an ally. This skill is highly useful onPortraits-leper.png, as he is extremely susceptible to Dd2 token blind.png Blind effects and can make use of the Dd2 token strength.png Strength Token to raise his huge damage output.

Sergeant (Support role)

 * The Sergeant path enhances the team’s survivability for less damage output in turn. Though infrequent, the increased DoT res allies gain is great in many scenarios and regions, relieving skill slots and combat items in a similar vein, like Dd2 ability ounceofprevention.pngOunce of Prevention and Clotting powders.png clotting powders, as well as preventing self-inflicted DoTs on heroes like Burn dd2.png Burn from Dd2 token uncheckedpower.pngUnchecked Power onPortraits-occultist.pngtist and theDd2 path arsonist.pngArsonist andDd2 path ravager.png Ravager Paths. The massive move res increase keeps Man-at-Arms from being moved from knockback or pulls, and paired with ways to force attacks on him makes this path an excellent choice against the Shroud and Foetor regions, as well as the Third Rampart’s Miniboss. On the contrary, such buffs can be detrimental to setups that require DoTs staying on the heroes. Runaway’s Dd2 ability cauterize.pngCauterize or the Dd2 Bandages.pngBandages requires a bleeding target to heal, and trinkets like Trinket coast boss carved bodkin.pngCarved Bodkin, Hellion-empty-stein.pngEmpty Stein, or Snappy swig.png Snappy Swig are often unable to activate their more powerful effects. Although Dd2 ability bolster.pngBolster has the benefit of removing Dd2 token weak.png Weak on himself, his damage usually is best used to finish off low health enemies or on Deathsdoor dd2.png Death's Door.

Bulwark (Tank+Stun Role)
Bulwark amplifies Man-At-Arms Rampart and Hold the Line Damage and their Stun chances, as well as gives another option to funnel damage through  Taunts. The path’s downside of reduced crush and Riposte damage should not sway users to unequipping either skill and miss out on sustain and more taunts respectively, whereas one can alternate between Retribution and mastered Standfast on the others cooldown to keep the pressure off his allies. This increased likelihood of taking hits vastly improves “When hit” and “Apply to Attacker” activations from The Jinx and Disarmer quirks and Sickening Silence or Reverberating Redoubt Trinkets. However, the nature of both improved skills moving forward may limit the option for another front rank-dependent hero like Hellion or Leper, and the alternative means of protecting allies cannot reap the affinity gains or coverage of rank-dependent attacks from Defender. If being a victim of stuns being resisted and Vanguard melting from DoTs sound too familiar, Bulwark is an excellent middle-ground path with a well-rounded offense and defense.



Vanguard (Tank+Dmg role)
Vanguard’s higher HP makes him somewhat less reliant on  Block  to protect effectively, while also able to dish out much more damage through  Riposte and Crush. With a higher damage range and reach beyond the front two ranks, the path is a great supplement for teams with good backline damage or those without. The only drawback is that most if not all of his DoT resistance is gone, whereas careless soaking status effects of that nature may cripple him quickly. From specific encounters to the Confession Boss, one must choose carefully when to start drawing aggro and who to bring him with. Plague Doctor offers resistance and removal withOunce of Prevention and Battlefield Medicine, as well as mastered Ministrations from Vestal. In addition, the latter’s Sanctuary is a great means of switching off targeting to allow Man-at-Arms to self-heal. For a slightly more risk, the reward of Vanguard exponentially outweighs it.

Shrine of Reflection
🔸The Man-at-Arms gains access to 6 skills over 5 Chapters through accessing memories in the Shrine of Reflection.

Barks
Combat =

Landing a CRIT

 * TBA'

Stalling

 * TBA

Bleed

 * TBA

Blight

 * TBA

Burn

 * TBA

Horror

 * TBA

Stress

 * TBA

Torch Decrease

 * TBA

Entering Death's Door

 * TBA

Ally On Death's Door

 * TBA

Guarding Ally On Death's Door

 * Retreat if ye' can!

Surviving Hit on Death's Door

 * TBA

Ally Surviving Hit on Death's Door

 * TBA

Hit by CRIT

 * TBA

Ally Hit by CRIT

 * TBA

Pushed by Enemy

 * TBA

Meltdown (Phased out)

 * TBA

Fog Appears (Shroud)

 * TBA

Fog Fades (Shroud)
Positive Act Outs=
 * TBA

Stress Healing Partner - General

 * TBA

Buffing Partner - General

 * TBA

Healing Partner - General

 * TBA

Combo Attack - General

 * TBA

Retaliation - General

 * TBA

Protection - General

 * TBA

Attacking Ally - General

 * TBA

Praise for Support Skill - General

 * TBA

Praise for Attack - General

 * TBA

Stress Heal in Coach - General

 * TBA

Stress Self in Coach - General

 * TBA

Stress Healing Partner - Hopeful

 * TBA

Buffing Partner - Hopeful

 * TBA

Praise for Support Skill - Hopeful

 * TBA

Praise for Attack - Hopeful

 * TBA

Stress Heal in Coach - Hopeful

 * TBA

Stress Healing Partner - Amorous

 * TBA

Healing Partner - Amorous

 * TBA

Protection - Amorous

 * TBA

Praise for Support Skill - Amorous

 * TBA

Praise for Attack - Amorous

 * TBA

Stress Heal in Coach - Amorous

 * TBA

Stress Healing Partner - Respectful

 * TBA

Retaliation After Partner is Attacked - Respectful

 * TBA

Combo Attack with Partner - Respectful

 * TBA

Praise for Support Skill - Respectful

 * TBA

Praise for Attack - Respectful

 * TBA

Stress Heal in Coach - Respectful
Negative Act Outs=
 * ''TBA'

Dealing Stress Partner - General

 * TBA

Insult for Support Skill - General

 * TBA

Insult for Attack - General

 * TBA

Attacking Ally - Hateful

 * ''TBA'

Stress Damage on Ally - Hateful

 * ''TBA'

Insult for Support Skill - Hateful

 * ''TBA'

Insult for Attack - Hateful

 * ''TBA'

Stress Damage on Ally - Suspicious

 * ''TBA'

Stress Damage on Ally on Road - Suspicious

 * ''TBA'

Insult for Support Skill - Suspicious

 * ''TBA'

Insult for Attack - Suspicious

 * ''TBA'

Stress Damage on Ally - Resentful

 * ''TBA'

Stress Damage on Ally on Road - Resentful

 * ''TBA'

Insult for Support Skill - Resentful

 * ''TBA'

Insult for Attack - Resentful
Affinity=
 * ''TBA'

Adding Buff

 * ''TBA'

Guarding Ally

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Adding Token

 * ''TBA'

Follow Up Attack

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Follow Up on Debuffed Enemy

 * ''TBA'

Healing Ally

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Revenge Attack on Enemy

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Moving Positions - Positive

 * ''TBA'

Removing DoTs

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Stress Healing

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Jealous of Buff

 * ''TBA'

Jealous of Guarded Ally

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Jealous of Token

 * ''TBA'

Jealous of Food (Unused)

 * ''TBA'

Jealous of Healing

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Moving Positions - Negative

 * ''TBA'

Jealous of DoT Removal

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Positive Road Banter

 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Negative Road Banter
Inn Items=
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'
 * ''TBA'

Armor Repair Kit

 * TBA

Blasphemous Idol

 * TBA

Book of Bawdy Tales

 * TBA

BOOK: My time in the Desert

 * TBA

Book of Creative Insults

 * TBA

Poetry

 * TBA

Boxing Gloves

 * TBA

Calming Incense

 * TBA

Candles and Chocolate

 * TBA

Clarifying Poultice

 * TBA

Clotting Poultice

 * TBA

Dartboard

 * TBA

Slime Mold

 * TBA

Stale Bread

 * TBA

Apple and Cheese

 * TBA

Steak and Spuds

 * TBA

Flapjacks

 * TBA

Invigorating Stew

 * TBA

Holy Beads

 * TBA

Impermeable Poultice

 * TBA

Leeches

 * TBA

Meditative Totem

 * TBA

Mop and Bucket

 * TBA

Nightshade Concoction

 * TBA

Pipeweed

 * TBA

Restorative Herbs

 * TBA

Roast Pig

 * TBA

Songbook of Amorous Ballads

 * TBA

Songbook of Touching Dirges

 * TBA

Songbook of Rousing Tunes

 * TBA

Soothing Poultice

 * TBA

Speed Bag

 * TBA

Stimulating Poultice

 * TBA

Stitching Kit

 * TBA

The Wine

 * TBA

Knotted Tug Rope

 * TBA

Wax Inoculant

 * TBA

Whetstone

 * TBA

Whiskey Barrel

 * TBA

Whiskey Bottle

 * TBA

Whiskey Flask

 * TBA

Whittling Tools

 * TBA

Wild Tea

 * TBA

Morbid Joke

 * TBA

Improvised Strategy

 * TBA

The Very Best

 * TBA

Experimental Remedy

 * TBA

War Paint

 * TBA

Tar-Filled Colambre

 * ''TBA'

Oddly-Tuned Lute

 * TBA

Precious Collection

 * TBA

Guided Meditation
Hero Shrines=
 * TBA

Shrine 1

 * TBA

Shrine 2

 * TBA

Shrine 3

 * TBA

Shrine 4

 * TBA

Shrine 5

 * TBA

Shrine 6
Locations=
 * TBA

Oasis

 * TBA

Creature Den

 * TBA

Resistance Encounter

 * TBA

Resistance Encounter Success

 * TBA

Resistance Encounter Retreat

 * TBA

Assistance Encounter

 * TBA

Exiting Assistance Encounter

 * TBA

Valley Assistance Encounter

 * TBA

Region Gate

 * TBA

Exiting Crossroads

 * TBA

Exiting Hospital

 * TBA

Exiting Hoarder

 * TBA

Exiting Valley Hoarder

 * TBA

Exiting Watchtower

 * TBA

Exiting Hoarder

 * TBA

Exiting Academic's Study

 * TBA

Cultist Encounter Success

 * TBA

Cultist Encounter Retreat

 * TBA

Tangle Lair Success

 * TBA

Tangle Lair Retreat

 * TBA

Foetor Lair Success

 * TBA

Foetor Lair Retreat

 * TBA

Sprawl Lair Success

 * TBA

Sprawl Lair Retreat

 * TBA

Shroud Lair Success

 * TBA

Shroud Lair Retreat

 * TBA

Exiting Oblivion's Ingress

 * TBA

Exiting Academic's Cache
Quirks/Diseases= TBA Travelling Stress=
 * TBA

Travelling Stress Heal

 * Perhaps there is hope for us yet...
 * We are not so dissimilar...
 * I accept you. We all do.
 * Chin up, shoulders back. We can do this.
 * The road is tough but we're going to make it.
 * Let us share tales of merrier times.
 * Come what may, we are united!
 * Hang in there. 
 * Can I get you anything?
 * It's a long road, but we've got each other.
 * Want to share? I've got extra...
 * You're even tougher than you look.
 * I'm glad you're here, for what it's worth.
 * You're going to live. I won't hear otherwise.
 * At least we aren't facing this alone.
 * Maybe all hope is not lost...
 * There are times I almost feel hopeful.
 * I had a pleasant dream, for once...
 * Whatever comes, we are united.
 * Perhaps we'll find glory after all...
 * This world is worth saving.
 * We are making a difference out there.
 * Hope is seductive, isn't it?
 * We're making good time.
 * If this is my fate, I'm content.
 * All is not lost.
 * We will best these fiends!

Travelling Stress Heal

 * 'Buffoon!
 * 'We're not going to make it, are we?
 * 'Everywhere, the world comes undone...
 * 'Stuck in a coach with the likes of you - feh.
 * 'I'm hungry and tired!
 * 'This cursed coach is a bouncing racket!
 * 'Let me out of this blasted coach!
 * 'Here we are, four corpses in a rolling coffin...
 * 'I can't bear to look out the window...
 * 'It's like a nightmare out there.
 * 'Like rats in a trap...
 * 'What if it's all for nothing...?
 * 'Can I really trust you to have my back...?
 * 'Can't sleep. Awful food. Worse company.
 * 'A waking nightmare...
 * 'We never seem to make any progress...
 * 'Just leave me by the roadside.
 * 'This was all a mistake...!
 * 'We're driving in circles...
 * 'Are we lost?
 * 'This is not the life I dreamt for myself...
 * 'Everywhere we pass - ruin, destruction...
 * 'Fools, fools we are...
 * 'We were damned before we set off.
 * 'Why us? Why me?
 * 'I'm not crying...! Look away!
 * 'I grow so weary of this fight.
 * 'Would it be so bad to give in...?

Trivia

 * The Man-at-Arms is one of the ten Heroes returning from Darkest Dungeon, and one of the first eleven Heroes to be available in the sequel.
 * The predetermined name of the Man-at-Arms is Barristan, a reference to a character from the book series A Song of Ice and Fire.