Swordguard

Swordguard is a unique Executioner Sword that takes an unusual approach by prioritizing defensive stats over raw damage. This exceptional two-handed sword offers significant survivability bonuses and reduced requirements, making it a viable budget option for defensive melee builds in Nightmare difficulty.

Defensive Specialist

Unlike most weapons that focus purely on offense, Swordguard excels at keeping you alive. It provides +200 Defense vs. Melee, +100 Defense vs. Missile, and a scaling +(5 Per Character Level) 5-495 Defense bonus. The 20% Increased Chance of Blocking and 20% Faster Hit Recovery enhance survivability significantly. Perhaps most valuable is the 30% Damage Taken Goes To Mana, which converts incoming damage into mana rather than depleting your health.

Budget Barbarian Weapon

Swordguard finds its niche with Concentrate Barbarians and budget PitZerkers in early Hell difficulty. The Requirements -50% modifier makes it accessible, while All Resistances +10-20 provides elemental protection. However, the modest +170-180% Enhanced Damage means it lacks the offensive power for endgame content. It's best viewed as a transitional weapon until you can acquire runewords like Grief or Oath. The weapon can be upgraded to Colossus Blade for improved damage, though even upgraded versions rarely see endgame play.