Thane

AVAILABLE ON: Eden, Blackthorn, Live

When thunder cracks the sky and lightning flickers in the distance, the denizens of Midgard know that Thor is riding his chariot across the sky.

When thunder cracks the sky and lightning strikes too close for comfort, the dogs of Albion and Hibernia shiver at the approaching storm. The Thanes of Midgard, esteemed warriors blessed by Thor himself with a fraction of his power, are the heralds of Midgard’s arrival on foreign shores. Skies dark and lightning whips from the skies onto would-be defenders, and when stone walls bar the way, a mighty hammer makes quick work of puny fortifications.

Thanes are Midgard’s offensively minded hybrid class, with access to strong self-buffs and powerful damaging spells, themed after the god of lightning himself.

PvE:

Thanes are decent in sol0 PvE. They are able to significantly damage enemies with their lightning spells, leaving little risk of death should the enemy manage to get within melee distance. It can be slow due to still needing frequent rests to regain power but overall very safe.

In groups, Thanes are typically found as off-tanks guarding the group’s main tank while casting area-of-effect spells when not required to help maintain aggro. Depending on how you’ve spent your skill points, Thanes can also be played primarily as spellcasters within a group (assuming you did not spent the requisite amount of skill points into the Shield skill line to receive Guard)

RvR:

Thanes are very strong duellists. They have access to the Shield skill line which gives them on-demand stuns, powerful ranged spells, strong self-buffs, as well as Chain Armour and good health pools.

In groups, Thanes are great because they can provide excellent ranged pressure when not required to peel for their group. Interrupting enemies with damaging spells from a safe distance while being less at risk when the enemy does decide to try and take you down makes Thanes a strong addition to any group but especially spell-caster-focused groups since there will always be someone nearby who can provide stuns, snares and Guard.

Character planners:

Eden: https://eden-daoc.net/charplan?c=Thane

Blackthorn: https://blackthorn-daoc.com/class/Thane

Live: https://daoc.gg/charplanner/overview#c=THANE

Suggested starting stat point distribution:

15 Dexterity / 10 Piety (Spell-caster)

10 Constitution or Dexterity / 10 Strength / 10 Quickness (Melee)

Suggested class skills:

50 Stormcalling, 42 Shield, 39 Weapon, 6 Parry (Standard / Caster / Support)

50 Stormcalling, 50 Weapon, 23 Shield, 17 Parry (Variant / Caster / Solo)

50 Weapon, 42 Shield, 39 Stormcalling, 6 Parry (Melee)

46 Stormcalling, 44 Weapon, 42 Shield, 3 Parry (Hybrid)

Suggested realm skills:

Long Wind 1

Determination

Purge

Static Tempest

Wild Power*

Mastery of Focus**

Passives to fill stat gaps (Augmented Str, Dex, Con, Mastery of Parrying etc.)

*if playing with high Stormcalling

**if playing sub-50 Stormcalling