Updated 7 Sep 2026
Abilities/Ward Pulse

Ward Pulse fills your Special slot. Guard special ability of the spirit school. Cast 6 ticks, cooldown 100 ticks. Wards 1 ally/allies for 30 in radius 6.

You get it by equipping 23 bases across 7 lines: Dawnsworn Shield, Emberguard Shield, Granite Shield, Gravewall Shield and Oak Shield and 2 more.

The draft can bend it 5 ways — Echo, Reach, Multiplicity, Area and Duration — and cards that ask for guard, ward and support will find it.

Between rooms it can be offered 183 cards: 54 written for it specifically, plus the 129 that any ability can take. Those cards can put Crumble, Brand and Burn on it, and attune it to Stone, Holy and Fire.

3 Uniques are built on gear that hands it to you: The Unopened Door, Rubble Rampart and The Usher's Aegis.

Gear that hands it to you

7 lines · 23 bases
LineSlotTiers, and the item levels they drop atFound in
Dawnsworn ShieldOff Hand
T6 iLvl 80+
MORTAL
Emberguard ShieldOff Hand
T4 iLvl 45–59T5 iLvl 60–79T6 iLvl 80+
DEMON
Granite ShieldOff Hand
T3 iLvl 30–44T4 iLvl 45–59T5 iLvl 60–79T6 iLvl 80+
DEMON
Gravewall ShieldOff Hand
T6 iLvl 80+
NIGHTMARE
Oak ShieldOff Hand
T1 iLvl 1–14T2 iLvl 15–29T3 iLvl 30–44T4 iLvl 45–59T5 iLvl 60–79T6 iLvl 80+
DEMON
Oakfather ShieldOff Hand
T2 iLvl 15–29T3 iLvl 30–44T4 iLvl 45–59T5 iLvl 60–79T6 iLvl 80+
DEMON
Sunpetal ShieldOff Hand
T4 iLvl 45–59T5 iLvl 60–79T6 iLvl 80+
DEMON

How the draft bends it

5 ways to change it
ChangeWhat it does to a guard
Echo
The ability repeats after a short delay at reduced effect.
+1 Repeats
-25% WardAmount
Reach
The ability reaches farther.
+15% Radius
Multiplicity
More projectiles, targets or summons at reduced individual effect.
+1 HealTargets
-10% WardAmount
Area
Wider bursts, arcs and impact zones.
+12% Radius
Duration
Statuses, buffs, summons and channels last longer.
+20% BuffTicks

The fine print

the raw numbers behind it
Damage tags
Fires onwindup → release → barrier
Radius6
RangeUnits6
WardAmount30
HealTargets1
BuffTicks240

Cards it can be offered

183 cards it can see
Written for this ability (54)
Widened Form
Minor · rare
Echoing Will
Minor · rare
Farcaster
Minor · rare
Manifold
Minor · rare
Widening Gyre
Minor · rare
Lingering Grasp
Minor · rare
Resonant Strikes
Minor · common
Echoing Tempo
Minor · common
Refrain Focus
Minor · rare
Spanning Will
Minor · common
Carried Wind
Minor · common
Distant Precision
Minor · rare
Sharper Shards
Minor · common
Manifold Flow
Minor · common
Pressing Volley
Minor · rare
Blooming Edge
Minor · common
Settling Dust
Minor · rare
Rolling Surge
Minor · common
Lingering Will
Minor · common
Enduring Form
Minor · common
Patient Cycle
Minor · rare
Focused Burst
Minor · common
Quickened Focus
Minor · rare
Echoed Form
Major · rare
Echo Pulse
Major · rare
Crushing Blow
Major · rare
Flamebrand Focus
Major · rare
Rimebound Focus
Major · rare
Stormbound Focus
Major · rare
Venombound Focus
Major · rare
Bloodsworn Focus
Major · rare
Stonebound Focus
Major · rare
Lightsworn Focus
Major · rare
Voidtouched Focus
Major · rare
Wildfire
Major · rare
Storm Lash
Major · rare
Frozen Grip
Major · rare
Septic Focus
Major · rare
Arterial Reach
Major · rare
Radiant Echo
Major · rare
Event Horizon
Major · rare
Distant Null
Major · rare
Endless Refrain
Major · legendary
Manifold Resolve
Major · rare
Vast Form
Major · rare
Rolling Expanse
Major · rare
Longshot Form
Major · rare
Horizon Form
Major · rare
Lingering Form
Major · rare
Perpetual Will
Major · rare
Slow Burn
Major · rare
Opening Act
Major · rare
Flowing Finisher
Major · rare
War Rhythm
Major · rare
Plus the ones any ability can take (129)

Nothing on these cards narrows the draft, so every ability can be offered them — see all 183 together →

What it can end up carrying

if the draft goes your way
StatusesCrumble, Brand, Burn
AffinitiesStoneHolyFire

Uniques

built on gear that grants it
The Unopened Door
Your Special grants 40% more Ward and its cooldown is 20% shorter.
Rubble Rampart
Your Special grants 30% more Ward.
The Usher's Aegis
Your Special shoves 60% harder and you carry 40 more Ward.