Throne & Liberty Gauntlets Weapon Guide: The New Tank/DPS Hybrid

Last Verified: May 2026

The Gauntlets are the newest weapon type arriving with The Frozen Divide: Nix expansion on June 25, 2026. They are built specifically for front-line play and introduce a unique dual-combat-state mechanic that no other weapon in Throne & Liberty currently uses.

Here is everything confirmed about how Gauntlets work.

What Are Gauntlets?

Gauntlets are heavy close-range weapons that sit in a Tank/DPS hybrid role. Unlike most weapons that commit you to either holding threat or dealing damage, Gauntlets are explicitly designed to let a single player do both, depending on which combat state they are in.

They are made for players who want to dominate the front lines — either by leading guild charges in siege scenarios or crushing enemies through sustained melee pressure in PvE.

The Two Combat Stances

The defining feature of Gauntlets is the ability to switch between two distinct combat states during a fight.

Heavy Combat Stance

The heavy stance is the default tanking mode. It emphasizes:

• Devastating strikes driven by raw force
• High survivability and resilience
• Sustained damage output through brute-force attacks

In this state, Gauntlets function as a traditional tank weapon — you take hits and deal reliable melee damage in return. The heavy stance is likely your go-to for absorbing archboss mechanics, holding aggro in dungeons, and surviving in the front row of siege combat.

Aggressive Combat State

Switching to the aggressive state significantly increases your mobility and transforms the weapon itself: the blunt gauntlet surface shifts into deadly clawed extensions optimized for rapid, relentless attacks.

In this state, Gauntlets feel more like a DPS weapon. The increased mobility lets you reposition quickly, chase down enemies in PvP, and chain combos that the heavy stance cannot execute at the same pace.

The toggle between these two states is what makes Gauntlets genuinely new gameplay for Throne & Liberty. You are not locked into a role for the full fight — you shift based on what the situation demands.

Gauntlets in PvE

For PvE content — particularly the two new Nix dungeons (Cursed Wasteland and Frostbreath Cave) and the incoming Archboss and Colossus encounters — Gauntlets open up a new type of front-line build that was previously impossible.

Guilds running the new content will likely experiment with Gauntlets as:

• Main tank using the heavy stance to absorb boss mechanics
• Off-tank / flex DPS who switches to the aggressive state during burn phases
• Archboss frontliner where high resilience and melee DPS output are both needed simultaneously

The itemization rework arriving with Nix will also directly affect how Gauntlets scale, since the new systems are designed to give players greater control over their progression path.

Gauntlets in PvP and Siege

For large-scale PvP and Castle Siege, the Gauntlets fill a role the current meta is missing: a tanky melee initiator with burst potential.

The current siege meta in Throne & Liberty rewards ranged and sustain builds heavily (see the 2026 PvP Meta Guide). Gauntlets could disrupt this by offering front-line players who can actually survive long enough to reach enemy backlines in the aggressive state.

For Archboss world PvP — specifically the new Archboss encounter arriving in July — Gauntlets are well-positioned for contested-spawn fights where raw melee resilience is at a premium.

See also: Throne & Liberty Vorax Archboss Guide | Throne & Liberty Nix Expansion Complete Guide

What Weapon Should You Pair With Gauntlets?

Full pairing information will arrive with the June 8 official Gauntlets deep dive from the developers. However, based on the weapon’s role, strong early pairing candidates include:

• Sword & Shield: Classic tank pairing for maximum front-line survivability in the heavy stance
• Dagger: Switching to aggressive state + Dagger burst would mirror the old Dagger dive meta in a tankier package
• Wand: Hybrid tank-healer setups for players who want maximum survivability while still threatening enemies up close

The June 8 deep dive will include much more detail. Set a reminder for that week.

When Do Gauntlets Release?

Gauntlets launch with The Frozen Divide: Nix on June 25, 2026. You will not be able to obtain or test them before the expansion goes live.

The developers have confirmed a full Gauntlets deep dive during the week of June 8, and a comprehensive content showcase on June 15. If you want to be ready at launch, check those previews for skill details, best-in-slot equipment, and recommended builds.