The Guardian is a powerhouse in Elden Ring Nightreign, boasting unparalleled survivability and tanking capabilities. With the highest HP in the game and exceptional stamina, the Guardian excels at blocking and absorbing damage while supporting teammates. In this guide, we'll break down his attributes, shield mechanics, and complete Remembrance Questline to help you master the Guardian role.

• Attributes
• Weapons
• Shield
• Combat Strategies
• Skill
• Relics
• Party Composition
• Remembrance Questline
  • Guardian Remembrance 1
  • Personal Objective 1
  • Guardian Remembrance 2
  • Personal Objective 2
  • Guardian Remembrance 3

↖ Attributes

The Guardian excels in durability and stamina, making him an ideal tank for absorbing damage and protecting allies.

Playstyle:

• Tank Role: Focus on gaining enemy aggro, blocking attacks, and creating opportunities for teammates to deal damage.
• Weapon Choices: Opt for strength-based weapons like greatswords or hammers. Look for weapons scaling with both strength and faith for added utility.
• Buffs: Use FP for protective or damage-boosting buffs such as Golden Vow.

↖ Weapons

The Guardian thrives with strength-based weapons but can adapt to hybrid options. When choosing weapons for the Guardian, prioritize options that complement your defensive playstyle. 

Weapon Recommendations:

• Thrusting Weapons: Spears or thrusting swords allow you to poke and block simultaneously, keeping you protected during combat.
• Great Swords/Hammers: These weapons provide excellent reach and damage but may have slower guard counter animations.
• Straight Swords: Reliable for faster attacks and quicker guard counters.

Key Tips:

Choose weapons that allow effective guard counters—balance reach and speed to avoid interruptions.

Look for bonuses that enhance survivability:

• Increased stamina recovery.
  
• Health restoration on attacks or critical strikes.
  
• Damage boosts while guarding.
  

Damage output is secondary; prioritize staying alive to support your team.

↖ Shield

Shields are a cornerstone of the Guardian's playstyle. Understanding their mechanics is crucial.

Stats:

1. Guard Boost: Reduces stamina loss when blocking attacks. (Higher Guard Boost = Less stamina drained.)
2. Damage Negation: Reduces damage from specific attack types (e.g., physical, magic, fire). All shields have 100% physical damage negation. Elemental damage negation varies by shield.

Types:

Tips:

• Always prioritize Great Shields for better protection and counterattack opportunities.
• Look for shields with high elemental resistance if facing specific damage types (e.g., fire-based enemies).
• Examples: Smoldering Shield (fire resistance), Jellyfish Shield (damage boost skill).

↖ Combat Strategies

Blocking and Guard Countering:

• Use blocking as your primary defense.
• Perform Guard Counters by blocking an attack and immediately pressing the heavy attack button (R2/Right Trigger).
  • Effective against basic enemies and some bosses.
  • Breaks enemy stance for critical strikes.

Weapon Skills and Shield Skills:

• Many shields have unique weapon skills. For example - Jellyfish Shield: Contagious Fury" boosts overall damage for ~30 seconds.
• To use your weapon's skill instead of the shield's skill: Two-hand your weapon temporarily.

↖ Skill

The Nightfarer Guardian is a tank-focused powerhouse, excelling in defense and crowd control. With unique abilities like Steel Guard, Whirlwind, and a versatile Ultimate Art, the Guardian shines in handling groups of enemies and protecting teammates.

Quick Tips for Playing:

• Shield Selection Matters: Invest in shields with high damage type mitigation to reduce incoming damage while blocking.
• Manage Stamina: Steel Guard drains stamina over time. A larger stamina pool helps you sustain this ability longer without being guard-broken.
• Adapt to Limited Mobility: The Guardian's side-step dodge is less effective than traditional rolls. Use Steel Guard and the Ultimate Art to compensate for mobility issues.
• Team Support Role: The Guardian excels in protecting teammates. Use your Ultimate Art wisely to revive allies or shield them from harm.

Skill Comparison Table:

↖ Relics

Relics play a crucial role in enhancing the Guardian's durability and utility. Focus on relics that boost your defensive stats and help you maintain aggro.

Recommended Relics:

• Endurance and Vigor Boosters: Increases stamina and health for better survivability.
• Threat-Generating Relics: Helps hold enemy attention while guarding.
• Status Effect Relics: Apply poison, bleed, or other effects to deal damage over time while maintaining defense.

↖ Party Composition

The Guardian fits well into most party setups but works best in balanced groups. 

Best Practices:

1. Avoid multiple Guardians in one group—competing for aggro diminishes effectiveness.
2. Be cautious with Executors in your party—they also rely on holding aggro for their parry mechanics.
3. Complementary roles:
   • Melee DPS: Let them focus on damage while you maintain aggro.
   • Ranged Characters: Hold bosses in place for ranged allies to attack safely.

↖ Remembrance Questline

To unlock the full capabilities of the Guardian class, you'll need to complete multiple steps in its Remembrance Questline. Begin by selecting the Guardian class and successfully completing an Expedition, Avoid challenging foes like Augur; choose a less difficult target for your first run.

↖ Guardian Remembrance 1

• Unlocking Chapter 4: After completing your first Expedition, head to the Journal at Roundtable Hold, Begin the first Remembrance quest in Chapter 4 of the Guardian's journal.
• Next Steps: Speak with the Iron Menial and exhaust his dialogue, Select "About the cursed weapon" and trigger a personal objective: "Defeat the Guardian Golem in Limveld".

↖ Personal Objective 1

How to Complete:

•  Play as the Guardian during an Expedition with the remembrance active.
•  Locate the red flag on the map marking the Guardian Golem's location (e.g., southwest corner of Limveld).
• Defeat the Guardian Golem to earn the Stone Stake.

Important Notes: Only one player can complete a personal objective per Expedition. Finish the Expedition to receive credit for completing the objective.

Rewards: tone Stake Relic (equip it at the Relic Rites station).

↖ Guardian Remembrance 2

• Unlocking Chapter 6: Complete two Expeditions as Guardian, defeating at least two Night Lords, Begin Chapter 6 in the Guardian's journal.
• Quest Steps: Speak with a new ghost NPC in Roundtable Hold (northeast area near the wardrobe), Receive the Eerie Charm after multiple conversations, Return to the central chamber for a short interaction, then eliminate the ghost NPC.
• Next Personal Objective: Speak with the Iron Menial again to unlock "Find the demon merchant in Limveld".

↖ Personal Objective 2

How to Complete: Choose an appropriate Expedition target (e.g., Fissure in the Fog).

Locate the Demon Merchant in Limveld (southwest quadrant of the map).

• Option 1: Fight and defeat the merchant (challenging).
• Option 2: Pay 10,000 runes for "the tome" (easier option).
• Finish the Expedition to earn credit.

Rewards: Third Volume Relic, Guardian's Chalice.

↖ Guardian Remembrance 3

• Prerequisite: Successfully complete three Expeditions as Guardian, defeating their final bosses.
• Unlocking Chapter 9: Access Chapter 9 in the Guardian's journal.
• Quest Steps: Read a scrap of paper and a book in the library at Roundtable Hold, Confront Recluse near the northwest cliffs of Roundtable Hold.

Rewards: Witch's Brooch Relic, Guardian's Remembrance Garb (skin).

Related: Elden Ring Nightreign: Duchess Completed Guide

The Guardian Remembrance Questline in Elden Ring: Nightreign is both challenging and rewarding. By following this guide, you'll unlock powerful relics, unique skins, and complete one of the most compelling questlines in the game. If you have questions or need clarification, feel free to leave a comment. Happy gaming!