Protectors

Basics[]

Who are they?[]

Protectors are a group of early mid game bosses that drop the Protector's set; a high-level A/A/A armor set with maximum stats of 0 Dex, 100 Block Chance, and around 40 Damage Reduction. The following shows which piece of armor each Protector will drop:

Helm: Protector of the Mountains (ProtM)

Chest Piece: Protector of the Plains (ProtP)

Bracers: Protector of the River (ProtR)

Leggings: Protector of the Jungle (ProtJ)

Boots: Protector of the Swamp (ProtS)

As well, there is a Protector's Sword. It usually isn't too spectacular, but it does boast high defenses, so there's that.

Sword: Protector of the Dunes (ProtD)

Protectors can be found in locations that are easy to get to. Once you got paths to the three towns, It isn't too hard to find where they spawn. They aren't easy to find, however. The Jungle Protector is the easiest, as you only have to deal with Rattlesnake and Panther. ProtD is the hardest, as most locations that he is found at have at least 1 other boss and very dangerous enemies. The locations are as follows:

ProtM: Nors Mountain

ProtP: Mountain Plains

ProtR: Winding River (5)

ProtJ: Dense Jungle (1)

ProtS: Taelhollow Swamp

ProtD: Rolling Dunes (4)

Some locations around the ones listed might also have a Protector spawn there. However, I listed these ones as they also house a shrine. Shrines house instance protectors. They function exactly the same as a regular one except they have different art and if you run away from one they will recover all health.

Strategy[]

Instance Protectors need to be defeated in one go.

If you're fighting a normal protector, run when you hit 30 or less hp. A runner is really nice here. A second main would also not be bad.

Pumps are night and day when fighting prots. If you can maintain them, you can knock off 50% or more of their hp.

Make sure your dexterity is 6.5 or higher. Low dex armor is rare at this point in the game so it is excusable if it is lower.

Weapons and armor.[]

Make sure that you have the following:

An armor set totaling less than 23% dex pen with good or excellent resistance to slashing with a high block chance and damage reduction.
A slashing weapon that does at least 48 max and 10 average damage. The important thing is that it resists slashing and does high damage.
(Optional) A runner.
(Optional) A shield with good or excellent resistance to slashing.
(Optional) Good food.

Items that fit these categories are:

Good scale mail+Scale Leggings.
A good Full-Plate of most types with low DP works well.
A low dex 90% BC Snakeskin Shirt.
Good Padded Plate Boots or great Steel Greaves.
Most helmets work fine as long as they have average slash resist, but a good Masked Knight's Helm, Helm of the Troll King, Lizard Helm, or Helm of the Mutant Eel will do decent.
Lizard Fists or good Plated Steel Vambraces.
Emerald Sword or, if you're strong, Knight's Longsword.
Heavy Steel Shield or a well-rolled Tower Shield/Steel Kite Shield.
If you have any jewelry at this point in the game, you're either doing something really right or really wrong. Well rolled Raptor Eye Ring or Jewel of the Sea (dr 5 and above would be a waste) would help you in some way.

Later on you might use:

Aseridian Heavy Plate and Aphelion Plate are just better full plates as long as they don't roll poodoo.
Dragon Blood Shirt or Night-Touched Shirt are the best shirt options that aren't wastes.
Almost everyone by this point uses Knight's Longswords or Dragon Blood Greatsword to defeat Prots.
Either another sword or a great slash resist shield.
Low Tier Gladiator's Armor.
Well rolled Masked Knight's Helms.
Amulet of the Howling Sands is the only weekly item that isn't a complete waste. Give this to your runner.
Remember that unless you use stupid op items, Prots will still take a while to take down. Be patient.

Other things that are too expensive to fit there are:

Epics (These are a waste against protectors.)
High Tier Arena Armors (Also a waste.)
Protector Armor (Most of the time there would be a net loss.)
Any weekly boss Armor or Weapon (If you beat a weekly then Prots shouldn't be an issue.)

Rewards[]

Depending on which protector you defeat, you receive different rewards. However, all of them are key to fighting many mid-end game bosses. A full set of protector armor is recommended for General Roxex, and is almost necessary for any other boss deals all 3 damage types. Well rolled ones can even work for The Imperial Desert Prince and god rolls can work for Il'Kalet. If you find a god roll prot, experienced players would trade many items to take it off your hands.

Updated Art for Roaming Version[]