Warranty Deed
A deed in which the grantor guarantees title against defects, giving the buyer the strongest assurance of clean ownership; can be general or special.
A warranty deed is a conveyance in which the grantor doesn't just transfer the property — they promise (warrant) that the title is good and agree to defend the grantee against valid claims. For a buyer of minerals or royalty, it is the strongest form of assurance because it puts the seller on the hook if a title problem surfaces later.
There are two common flavors. A general warranty deed warrants title against all defects, even ones arising before the grantor owned it. A special (or limited) warranty deed warrants only against defects created during the grantor's own ownership — common when sellers won't stand behind earlier links in the chain of title.
A warranty is only as good as the grantor's solvency, so buyers still rely on a title opinion and good marketable title rather than the warranty alone. Contrast this with a quitclaim deed, which carries no warranty at all.