Elden Ring Nightreign introduces a fascinating array of eight unique character classes, each offering distinct gameplay experiences. As players progress through the game, mastering the nuances of each Nightfarer can be challenging, making it essential to understand their individual playstyles.
Among these classes, the Guardian has emerged as my personal favorite. After countless runs utilizing this character, I’ve come to appreciate his remarkable utility and gameplay mechanics even more. If you value survivability, damage output, support capabilities, or simply have an affinity for birds, you may find that Guardian is the ideal Nightfarer for your adventures.
Now, let’s explore how to optimize the strengths of our feathered champion!
Guardian’s Abilities
| Ability | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Steel Guard | Passive | Enhances defensive abilities by sacrificing mobility for improved blocking. |
| Whirlwind | Character Skill | Creates a tornado that lifts and slams smaller enemies, dealing area damage. |
| Wings Of Salvation | Ultimate Art | Leaps into the air and crashes down, inflicting area damage on nearby foes. |
Passive Ability: Steel Guard
The Steel Guard passive ability elevates Guardian’s status as the top tank within Nightreign. By adopting a more defensive stance, Guardian can absorb significant enemy damage using his shield, albeit at the cost of losing mobility during this time. While I tend to favor wielding two weapons at once, players who prefer a traditional sword-and-board style will find Steel Guard to be an invaluable asset.
Character Skill: Whirlwind
Whirlwind serves as a versatile character skill, useful in specific scenarios but not among the standout abilities of the game. This skill summons a mini-tornado that can launch smaller enemies into the sky, making it ideal for quick skirmishes. Although it may not affect larger foes like bosses, it still inflicts damage on all enemies within range and can even deflect projectiles with well-timed execution.
Ultimate Art: Wings Of Salvation
Guardian’s Wings Of Salvation stands out as one of my preferred ultimate arts within the game. This attack not only delivers significant area damage but also supports allies effectively. Guardian ascends into the air before crashing down, delivering AOE damage upon impact. Players can even steer Guardian mid-flight, allowing for precise targeting. Holding R2 after landing activates a protective area that shields any allies within its radius, making it a key utility for both offense and defense. Most importantly, this move can instantly revive any teammate in Near Death, making it essential for keeping the team in the fight.
Optimal Weapons for Guardian
Guardian begins his journey wielding a halberd but has the opportunity to acquire various other weapon types, such as axes, colossals, and greatswords. However, the halberd remains Guardian’s quintessential weapon.
Your focus should be to continuously upgrade to more powerful halberds throughout your gameplay, prioritizing weapons with higher damage output or elemental advantages tailored to the Nightlord you are facing. Ensure you pay attention to each Nightlord’s weaknesses to maximize your effectiveness.
For those in search of specific weapons, I recommend seeking out Loretta’s War Sickle, Nightrider Glaive, or Gargoyle’s Halberd if available.
One notable exception to Guardian’s halberd preference is the Godskin Stitcher, which maintains the thrusting attack style of a halberd while delivering faster strikes compared to standard halberds.
Recommended Relics
Choosing the right relics for Guardian ultimately comes down to personal preferences; however, there are particular relics worth considering to amplify Guardian’s effectiveness. Due to some randomness in unlocking relics, acquiring top-tier options might take a bit of effort.
Guardian begins with one red relic slot and two yellow slots. Focus on relics that enhance the charge rate of Guardian’s ultimate art, allowing for frequent use of Wings Of Salvation. Additionally, search for relics that boost melee damage or grant bonuses such as increased critical hit damage or enhanced rune counts after defeating enemies.
An optimal approach is to purchase Guardian’s goblet from the Small Jar Bazaar at Roundtable Hold, which offers two blue relic slots and one green slot in lieu of his starting layout.
Within this new arrangement, one standout option is the Night Of The Baron, a relic obtained after completing the Gaping Jaw expedition. This relic specializes in boosting critical hit capabilities, hastening ultimate art charge rates, and enhancing stamina recovery post-crit.
Expedition Strategies for Guardian
Below are some key strategies to maximize Guardian’s potential in expeditions:
- Assume the Tank Role: With the highest HP in the game, Guardian is your go-to tank. Leverage this durability to draw enemy attention away from teammates, allowing you to absorb extra hits when necessary.
- Strategic Use of Ultimate Art: While Wings Of Salvation is excellent for dealing AOE damage, consider saving it for moments when allies require revival, ensuring you can turn the tide in challenging battles.
- Prioritize Grease Collection: As a melee-oriented class, stock up on weapon grease that targets the Nightlord’s weaknesses to ensure your weapon is as effective as possible for pivotal confrontations.
- Leverage Charged Attacks: Avoid spamming R1; instead, capitalize on Guardian’s charged R2 wild attack with the halberd, which can strike twice and stagger opponents effectively.
Optimal Team Composition
Guardian’s versatility allows him to pair well with a variety of characters in the game. His ability to tank and support makes him a valuable asset alongside other Nightfarers. However, it’s crucial to include at least one ranged class in your team, as Guardian struggles against airborne foes alone.
Ironeye
In terms of synergy, Ironeye is a top-tier choice for collaborating with Guardian. His focus on ranged attacks via an unlimited bow is critical, especially during encounters with aerial bosses like Sentient Pest or Augur. During these fights, Guardian can focus on support and reviving allies while Ironeye provides consistent chip damage.
Ironeye’s Marking skill enhances Guardian’s capabilities by increasing damage dealt to marked enemies, prompting Guardian to unleash maximum damage. Additionally, Ironeye’s Eagle Eye passive reveals nearby items, easing the hunt for damage-type weapons required against specific foes.
Executor
Executor possesses the ability to inflict significant damage through Bleed mechanics, which can synergize effectively with Guardian’s melee strengths. Executor’s ultimate art, Aspects Of The Crucible: Beast, grants impressive damage output while transformed, although caution is needed as he remains vulnerable during this state.
Overall, Executor fits well with various team strategies, but his high-risk playstyle aligns best with Guardian’s capabilities to revive allies and maintain team momentum.
Leave a Reply