- The Relic First Guardian classes are defined by five distinct weapon styles rather than traditional character archetypes.
- No traditional leveling: Progression relies on weapon skills, Relics, and equipment upgrades.
- Stamina-free attacks: Light and heavy attacks cost zero stamina; stamina is reserved for blocking and dodging.
- Best beginner class: Sword and Shield offers the safest learning experience for new players.
- 12 skill trees: Each weapon class connects to its own dedicated skill tree with active, passive, and ultimate abilities.
Understanding Weapon Classes in The Relic First Guardian
In The Relic First Guardian, the concept of "classes" is entirely tied to your equipped weapon style. Instead of selecting a permanent character archetype at character creation, you choose a starting weapon that defines your initial combat abilities, defensive options, and available skill tree. As you explore the shattered realm of Arsilthus, you can discover and switch to any of the five weapon styles, allowing flexible progression.
The game features five primary weapon classes: Sword and Shield, Longsword, Daggers, Battle Staff, and Two-Handed Weapons. Each class offers a unique approach to stamina management, damage output, and defensive utility. Because attacks do not consume stamina, the combat rhythm differs from traditional Soulslike games—your stamina bar is a defensive resource used for blocking, dodging, and repositioning.
You are not locked into your starting weapon class. Exploration unlocks new weapons, and campsites allow you to swap loadouts freely. Test each style against early enemies before committing upgrade materials.
| Weapon Class | Primary Role | Difficulty | Key Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword and Shield | Defensive / Counter | Easy | Defensive Stamina |
| Longsword | Balanced / Versatile | Easy | Stamina Recovery |
| Daggers | Fast / Aggressive | Medium | Positioning |
| Battle Staff | Spacing / Crowd Control | Medium | Magic Meter |
| Two-Handed Weapons | Heavy Damage / Stagger | Hard | Stamina Efficiency |
Sword and Shield: The Guardian Class
The Sword and Shield is the most forgiving weapon class in The Relic First Guardian. It provides reliable protection through shield blocking, balanced attack speed, and strong control over combat tempo. For players unfamiliar with the game's stamina-free attack system, this class offers the safest environment to learn enemy patterns and defensive timing.
The Sword and Shield skill tree contains twelve upgrade nodes focused on shield stability, defensive stamina recovery, counterattack damage, and cooldown skills that activate after successful blocks. The core gameplay loop involves absorbing enemy attacks with the shield, releasing the block to recover stamina, and responding with a short, controlled punish chain.
If this is your first playthrough, Sword and Shield provides the highest margin for error. The shield absorbs damage from mistimed dodges, and the counterattack window is generous enough to learn boss patterns without repeated deaths.
Key Strengths:
- Reliable protection against unfamiliar enemy patterns
- Forgiving stamina management with shield-based defense
- Strong synergy with defensive Relics that improve guard efficiency
- Effective in both boss encounters and exploration
Weaknesses:
- Lower burst damage compared to Two-Handed Weapons
- Over-reliance on blocking can drain stamina against long combinations
- Slower encounter completion against stagger-resistant enemies
| Stat | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Defense | ★★★★★ | Best blocking capability |
| Damage | ★★★☆☆ | Moderate, steady output |
| Speed | ★★★☆☆ | Balanced attack speed |
| Mobility | ★★☆☆☆ | Limited repositioning |
| Learning Curve | ★☆☆☆☆ | Very beginner-friendly |
Longsword and Battle Staff: Versatile Classes
The Longsword and Battle Staff represent the middle ground of The Relic First Guardian classes. Both offer flexible combat options that adapt well to different encounter types, making them popular among players who want a single weapon style that handles exploration, crowd control, and boss fights competently.
Longsword
The Longsword provides balanced reach, speed, and combo flexibility. Its skill tree supports sustained attacks, mixed light-heavy chains, cooldown damage, or a more defensive setup. The Longsword works with nearly every Relic combination, making it the most adaptable weapon class in the game.
Open with a light attack, continue into a mixed light-heavy chain, block or dodge the enemy response, then use a cooldown skill during the punish window. Finish with an ultimate when the target is staggered or vulnerable.
Battle Staff
The Battle Staff combines physical staff attacks with magic-focused abilities. It excels at crowd control, spacing, and medium-distance combat management. The skill tree improves magic generation, ability efficiency, and area control, making it ideal for players who enjoy a hybrid physical-magical playstyle.
| Feature | Longsword | Battle Staff |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Medium | Medium-Long |
| Crowd Control | Moderate | Excellent |
| Magic Integration | Low | High |
| Boss Damage | Good | Moderate |
| Exploration | Excellent | Excellent |
| Skill Tree Focus | Combo Damage | Magic Generation |
Daggers and Two-Handed Weapons: Specialist Classes
These two weapon classes represent the extremes of The Relic First Guardian combat spectrum. Daggers favor speed, mobility, and repeated-hit effects, while Two-Handed Weapons deliver devastating single strikes and stagger pressure. Both require deeper game knowledge to use effectively.
Daggers: Speed Class
- Very fast attacks with quick recovery
- Short reach requires close-range combat
- Strong synergy with repeated-hit Relics
- Excellent mobility between attacks
- Best for aggressive, experienced players
- Ideal for applying status effects rapidly
Two-Handed Weapons: Power Class
- Highest damage per hit of all classes
- Strong stagger potential against bosses
- Slow startup and recovery animations
- High stamina commitment per swing
- Best for punishing large boss openings
- Requires precise timing knowledge
Both Daggers and Two-Handed Weapons punish mistakes heavily. Daggers expose you to close-range danger, while Two-Handed Weapons leave you vulnerable during long recovery frames. Practice against normal enemies before taking these classes into major boss encounters.
Dagger Skill Tree Priorities
The Dagger skill tree should prioritize fast-chain damage, dodge efficiency, burst cooldown skills, and positioning bonuses. The core rotation involves dodging toward the enemy's side, executing a rapid light-attack chain, activating a burst cooldown, and disengaging before the counterattack.
Two-Handed Weapon Skill Tree Priorities
The Two-Handed skill tree focuses on heavy-attack damage, stagger effectiveness, stamina efficiency, and high-damage cooldowns. The rotation centers on baiting a committed enemy attack, dodging or blocking the sequence, and responding with a charged or heavy punish followed by a damage skill.
| Aspect | Daggers | Two-Handed |
|---|---|---|
| Damage Per Hit | Low | Very High |
| Attack Speed | Very Fast | Slow |
| Range | Short | Medium |
| Stamina Cost | Low | High |
| Stagger Potential | Low | Very High |
| Skill Requirement | Positioning | Timing |
| Best Relic Synergy | Repeated-Hit Effects | Heavy Attack Bonuses |
How to Choose Your Starting Class
Selecting your starting weapon class in The Relic First Guardian shapes your early game experience, but it does not permanently define your character. Use the following steps to make an informed decision and set up your build correctly from the beginning.
Assess Your Playstyle Preference
Consider whether you prefer defensive patience (Sword and Shield), balanced versatility (Longsword), magical spacing (Battle Staff), aggressive speed (Daggers), or heavy commitment (Two-Handed Weapons). Your enjoyment of the game depends heavily on matching the weapon class to your natural combat instincts.
Test Against Opening Enemies
Before spending any upgrade materials, use the early enemies in Chapter 1 to test each weapon style. Compare attack speed, reach, stamina consumption for defensive actions, and skill cooldowns. Pay attention to how each weapon handles groups versus single targets.
Select Compatible Relics
Once you commit to a primary weapon class, equip Relics that reinforce the same combat plan. For example, Daggers benefit from repeated-hit bonuses, while Two-Handed Weapons pair with stagger improvement and heavy attack damage Relics. Avoid equipping individually strong Relics that do not interact with your chosen weapon.
Invest in the Matching Skill Tree
Each weapon class connects to twelve skill-tree options. Focus your early upgrade resources on the nodes that directly improve your most-used attacks and defensive actions. Spread upgrades too thin across multiple trees will slow your progression significantly.
Prepare a Boss Setup Separately
Exploration builds often prioritize speed and crowd control, while boss builds benefit from dependable single-target damage and defense. Before entering a boss arena, review your weapon reach, defensive stamina, skill cooldowns, healing readiness, and Relic synergy.
Concentrate early resources on one primary weapon style, one dependable defensive setup, and a small group of compatible Relics. Spreading limited materials across every newly discovered weapon slows progression and weakens your overall build.
Class Selection Checklist and FAQ
Before committing to a weapon class, review this checklist to ensure your setup is ready for the challenges ahead.
Class Preparation Checklist:
- Tested at least two weapon styles against early enemies
- Selected one primary weapon class to upgrade
- Equipped Relics that support the chosen weapon style
- Invested in the matching skill tree nodes
- Prepared a separate boss encounter loadout
- Identified at least one reliable punish window per weapon
You can switch weapon classes at any campsite. The game does not penalize experimentation, but upgrade materials invested in one skill tree cannot be refunded. Plan your upgrades carefully before committing resources.
Class Comparison Summary Table
| Class | Best For | Tier | First Playthrough? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword and Shield | Defense, Boss Learning | S | Highly Recommended |
| Longsword | General Exploration | S | Recommended |
| Daggers | Aggressive Play | A | Experienced Players |
| Battle Staff | Crowd Control, Spacing | A | Recommended |
| Two-Handed Weapons | Heavy Damage, Stagger | B | Challenging |
Q: Are The Relic First Guardian classes permanent?
No. Your starting weapon class is not a permanent choice. You can discover new weapons during exploration and switch between all five styles at campsites. However, upgrade materials invested in a specific skill tree are not refundable, so plan your progression carefully.
Q: Which The Relic First Guardian class is best for beginners?
Sword and Shield is the best class for beginners. It provides reliable defense through shield blocking, balanced attack speed, and forgiving stamina management. The Longsword is also a strong beginner choice due to its versatility and balanced stats across most combat situations.
Q: Do attacks consume stamina in The Relic First Guardian?
No. Light and heavy attacks do not consume stamina. The stamina bar is a defensive resource used for blocking and dodging. This means you can attack freely, but must manage stamina carefully to ensure you can always block or dodge an enemy counterattack.
Q: Can one weapon class handle the entire game?
Yes. Every weapon class can complete the game when supported by suitable skills and Relics. However, some encounters are easier with specific classes. Two-Handed Weapons excel against stagger-resistant bosses, while Daggers shine in fast, aggressive encounters with the right Relic synergy.
Q: How many skill trees does each weapon class have?
Each of the five weapon classes connects to twelve skill-tree options. These include active skills, passive upgrades, cooldown abilities, and ultimate abilities. The skill tree allows you to customize your weapon class to match your preferred playstyle and Relic build.