1 What is Highguard?
Highguard is a free-to-play PvP raid shooter developed by Wildlight Entertainment—a studio founded by veterans who worked on Apex Legends and Titanfall. Released on January 26, 2026 for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, the game features 3v3 team battles where players take on the role of Wardens—arcane gunslingers fighting for control of a mythical continent.
Unlike traditional shooters, Highguard combines gunplay with base building, mounted exploration, and raid mechanics. Each match is a dynamic cycle of looting, battling for the legendary Shieldbreaker sword, and ultimately destroying the enemy team's base.
The game supports full cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms, meaning you can team up with friends regardless of their system and carry your progress everywhere.
2 Core Game Loop
Every Highguard match follows a structured loop with distinct phases. Understanding this flow is crucial for new players:
Reinforce Phase
Choose your Warden, select a Stronghold (base), and reinforce up to 5 walls. Customize your starting loadout with two weapons and one raid tool before heading out.
Gear Up Phase
Mount up and ride across the map. Gather upgraded weapons, armor, amulets, and saddles. Mine Vesper (the in-game currency) from nodes and trade with the vendor Flynn for better gear.
Shieldbreaker Battle
When magical storms appear, a legendary sword called the Shieldbreaker spawns at its center. Both teams fight to claim it—this is the pivotal moment of every match.
The Raid
Carry the Shieldbreaker to the enemy base and plunge it into their shields. This summons a Siege Tower as your respawn point. Breach the base and plant bombs on generators or destroy the Anchor Stone.
Victory or Escalation
Destroy the enemy base (reduce health to 0) to win. If the raid fails, shields regenerate, loot quality escalates, and a new Shieldbreaker spawns elsewhere. The cycle continues until one base falls.
3 All 8 Wardens & Classes
Wardens are the playable characters in Highguard. Each is an arcane gunslinger with three unique abilities: a Passive (always active), Tactical (cooldown-based), and Ultimate (charges over time).
Highguard launched with 8 Wardens across 5 classes. New Wardens are added with monthly Episode updates—all free for players.
Warden Classes
Redmane
Destruction ClassAggressive breacher who tears through defenses with raw power.
Condor
Recon ClassScouting specialist using a trained bird for enemy detection.
Atticus
Assault ClassLightning-powered attacker with strong area pressure.
Kai
Defensive ClassIce-based defender who repairs and fortifies structures.
Slade
Assault ClassFire-based brawler with area denial and zone control.
Scarlet
Assault ClassStealth assassin with mobility and flanking abilities.
Una
Defensive ClassSpirit summoner with utility and disruption abilities.
Mara
Support ClassTeam-focused support with shields and respawn utility.
4 Choosing Your Stronghold
Before each match, your team votes on a Stronghold—your base of operations. Each stronghold has different layouts, advantages, and vulnerabilities.
Stronghold Considerations
- ▸ Layout: Some have open designs, others maze-like corridors
- ▸ Generator Placement: Affects how easy they are to defend
- ▸ Anchor Stone Location: Central vs hidden positions
- ▸ Wall Reinforcement: Choose 5 walls to fortify at match start
- ▸ Team Composition: Match your base to your Warden abilities
5 How Raids Work
Raiding is the heart of Highguard. Here's the step-by-step breakdown:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Wait for a magical storm to appear on the map |
| 2 | Race to the storm's center to claim the Shieldbreaker |
| 3 | Fight the enemy team—if you die carrying it, they can pick it up |
| 4 | Carry the Shieldbreaker to the enemy base perimeter (carrier is visible on map) |
| 5 | Plunge the sword into their outer shield to weaken it (deals 30 damage) |
| 6 | A Siege Tower spawns as your forward respawn point |
| 7 | Breach using guns, raid tools (Blast Hammer, Rocket Launcher), or abilities |
| 8 | Plant bombs on generators (2 total) OR destroy the Anchor Stone directly |
🎯 Anchor Stone
Destroying the Anchor Stone instantly wins the match but it's usually the most heavily defended spot.
⚙️ Generators
There are 2 generators. Destroying both wins, or damaging one chips away at base health. Often the safer strategy.
6 Your First Match: 7 Essential Tips
1. Prioritize Looting Early—But Not Too Long
Better gear = better odds. Spend the first minutes gathering weapons and armor, but stop when you have blue armor and a decent weapon. Don't miss the Shieldbreaker spawn.
2. Stay With Your Team
3v1 fights are unwinnable. In a 3v3 format, every player matters. Always move and fight as a unit—coordinate via voice chat if possible.
3. Master Mount Mechanics
Mounts aren't just transport—they're tactical tools. Practice mounting/dismounting smoothly. Bind mount summon to an easily accessible key.
4. Watch the Storm
When the magical storm appears, be ready to rotate. Position near the Shieldbreaker spawn with time to spare—don't be caught looting.
5. Know Your Role
If the enemy has the Shieldbreaker, consider whether to intercept or fall back to defend. Sometimes setting up an ambush route beats a direct chase.
6. Use Raid Tools Effectively
Bring a Blast Hammer for walls or Rocket Launcher for structures. Coordinate with teammates—use tools in combination with abilities for maximum impact.
7. Don't Give Up After One Failed Raid
If your raid fails, the match isn't over. Loot escalates each cycle. Regroup, gear up again, and prepare for the next Shieldbreaker spawn.
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
| ❌ Don't | ✅ Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Rush fights with starter gear | Loot until you have blue armor minimum |
| Loot the entire gear phase | Stop looting and rotate to Shieldbreaker early |
| Solo push into enemy base | Coordinate team pushes—communicate constantly |
| Ignore the Shieldbreaker spawns | Contest every storm—it's the match's pivot point |
| Leave your base completely undefended | Rotate one player back when enemy has Shieldbreaker |
| Forget to reinforce walls at start | Spend 30 seconds on base prep—fortify 5 walls |
| Chase kills over objectives | Every death should serve the objective—trade strategically |
8 System Requirements (PC)
⚙️ Minimum
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: GTX 1060 6GB / RX 580 8GB
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 25 GB SSD
- Network: Broadband connection
🚀 Recommended
- OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel i5-9600K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- RAM: 12 GB
- GPU: RTX 2080 8GB / RX 6650 XT 8GB
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 25 GB NVMe SSD
- Network: Broadband connection
9 Frequently Asked Questions
What is Highguard?
Is Highguard completely free?
How many Wardens are in Highguard?
Can I play solo?
Is there cross-play?
What are the PC requirements?
Recommended: Windows 11, i5-9600K, 12GB RAM, RTX 2080, NVMe SSD.
Note: Requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 enabled.