The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The Relic: First Guardian is an action RPG where attacks do not use stamina, but dodging and defense do. It also replaces conventional character levels with growth through Relics, equipment, and weapon skill trees. For a new Guardian, the practical starting point is to learn enemy patterns, preserve room for defense, and explore for the gear and story that shape your build.
How combat resources work
Project Cloud Games describes combat as freedom in attack and intensity in survival: attacks do not consume stamina, while defensive actions such as dodging and defense do. That changes the resource priority. You can keep attacking without budgeting stamina for each swing, but you should avoid spending your defensive reserve carelessly. Watch opponents and leave yourself options to evade or defend rather than committing every opportunity to offense.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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The Relic: First Guardian - PlayStation 5 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Relic: First Guardian - PS5 | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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First Giants Card Game | $27.49 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Catholic Card Game | $39.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Renegade Game Studios Risk Godstorm Board Game - Ancient Civilization | $70.17 | Buy on Amazon |
Skills and high-power magic are not described with one shared resource rule. Creative Director Inhyuk Park says skills operate on cooldowns without resource costs; Steam separately says high-power magic uses a cooldown and a dedicated meter. Treat those as distinct mechanics, and check each ability’s in-game description. Neither source establishes exact stamina values, parry windows, or punish timings, so follow the tutorial prompts and learn timing from the enemy in front of you.
Choose a weapon style by rhythm
The five named styles are Sword & Shield, Battle Staff, Daggers, Two-Handed Weapons, and Longsword. The developer says they each have a distinct combat rhythm and twelve exclusive skill trees. The available descriptions do not provide a verified ranking or detailed range comparison, so choose by feel rather than assuming one is strongest.
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#1 Best Overall
- Fast Paced Brutal Combat - The Relic approaches combat differently - delivering freedom in attack, intensity in survival. Unleash an unstoppable onslaught with attacks that cost zero resources, allowing you to strike continuously with relentless creativity and consistency. Your stamina gauge is reserved strictly for high-stakes defence like dodging and blocking, while high-power magic operates on cooldowns and a dedicated meter. Attack without limits, defend with absolute precision.
- Explore a Shattered, Semi-Open World - Traverse a vast, interconnected realm filled with forgotten ruins, hidden dungeons, and atmospheric landscapes. The world of Arsilthus rewards curious Guardians who venture off the beaten path with ancient artifacts, secret encounters, and pieces of lost lore buried deep within its ruined regions.
- Confront Up to 80 Tragic Bosses - Step into battle against up to 80 mythic encounters - each a dark, standalone folktale brought to life, bound to a tragic lore that can only be laid to rest through ultimate victory. Adapt or perish: no two legends fight alike, and a strategy that slays one nightmare offers no guarantee of surviving the next.
- Weapons Woven with Narrative - Command five distinct weapon masteries: Sword & Shield, Battle Staff, Daggers, Two-Handed Weapons, or the Longsword. Without a single duplicate weapon to be found - every single item is a bespoke, one-of-a-kind creation with its own tragic history. Discovering a new blade means uncovering a piece of the world's past, transforming your arsenal into a personal collection of living legends.
- Master Ancient Weapon Skill Trees - Forge a deeper bond with your chosen armoury through specialised skill trees powered by relic energy. Channel forgotten power into game-changing passives alongside awe-striking, visually spectacular ultimate abilities.
- Try a style whose pace and defensive demands feel comfortable to you.
- Notice how its rhythm fits your willingness to stay close, wait for openings, or defend; the sources do not establish specific range advantages for each weapon.
- Explore its skill tree before settling on a build. A style has twelve exclusive trees, so your skill choices are part of the weapon decision.
Weapons and armor are presented as unique items rather than repeated near-identical drops: the developer says every piece exists only once and has its own story. Consider equipment as a deliberate build choice, not merely a replacement for a weaker duplicate.
Build a character without conventional levels
The Relic: First Guardian has no conventional character levels, according to the developer. Relics, equipment, and skills instead shape your Guardian. The developer describes Relics as carrying more than 70 passive effects, including effects that can change skill behavior, combat tempo, and weapon styles. Meridiem also describes runes, items, and crafting as ways to strengthen a character.
Rank #2
- Epic Fantasy Action Adventure – Step into a dark fantasy world filled with danger, mystery, and powerful enemies.
- Become the First Guardian – Take on the role of a legendary protector and uncover the secrets behind an ancient relic.
- Intense Combat Gameplay – Battle fierce creatures and challenging foes using skill, strategy, and powerful abilities.
- Atmospheric World to Explore – Discover haunting environments, hidden paths, ancient ruins, and rich fantasy lore.
- Great for Action RPG Fans – Perfect for players who enjoy fantasy combat, exploration, boss battles, and story-driven adventures.
That means progression is not about grinding experience for the next level or assigning conventional stat points. Pay attention to what your equipment and Relics actually change, then configure skills around the combat style you want. Exact upgrade costs, respec rules, and optimal builds are not established by the cited sources, so avoid locking into a supposed best setup based on generic RPG advice.
Explore for more than the next fight
The world is described as a vast, interconnected semi-open realm, with ruins, hidden dungeons, artifacts, secret encounters, and lost lore. Exploration supports both progression and storytelling: the developer points to environmental traces such as damaged walls and personal objects as records of people who lived there. When a route opens away from the obvious path, consider investigating it rather than treating every detour as wasted time.
Rank #3
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- RACE AGAINST RIVALS FOR LIMITED RESOURCES: Compete over dig sites, amber, sets, and news tokens as players jockey for efficiency and advantage.
- ENJOY DEEP STRATEGY WITH STREAMLINED PLAY: Accessible rules paired with meaningful decisions make First Giants ideal for strategy fans and competitive game nights.
Story is also carried by atmosphere and small discoveries. Park described the intended tone as “an old folktale told by a grandfather to a child; gentle, lingering, and quietly profound.” That is a useful expectation for players who prefer environmental storytelling to a constant stream of exposition. No particular optional route or collectible is established as required for progression.
What to expect from bosses
Bosses are framed as distinct encounters with story context, but the published figures differ: Park’s 2025 developer feature says more than 70 bosses, while Steam describes up to 80 mythic encounters. These are source-specific descriptions, not a single settled count. No verified boss-by-boss tactics are available here, so approach early Brutals by observing their patterns and preserving defensive stamina instead of relying on unverified parry or damage-window claims.
Rank #4
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- BELOVED - Thousands of people all around the world are already playing and enjoying the Catholic Card Game!
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Platform and technical-status notes
Release dates differ by platform and edition: PlayStation Blog announced the PS5 launch for May 26, 2026; Steam lists the PC release as July 30, 2026; and Meridiem’s product page lists the PS5 physical release for September 4, 2026. Dates and availability may vary by region.
Steam’s store page said the developer had released 17 patches and was continuing to focus on technical issues and performance, as accessed October 7, 2026. That is a dated developer/store statement, not an independent performance test. The US PlayStation Store showed an average rating of 2.48 out of 5 from 973 ratings on October 7, 2026; ratings are platform-specific and can change, so check the current store page for feedback relevant to your platform and region.
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- Ancient mythology strategy: Command five legendary cultures—Greek, Celtic, Babylonian, Norse, and Egyptian—across Earth and underworld in this reimagined Risk experience
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
