The Relic First Guardian Guides & Walkthroughs

Welcome to the unofficial The Relic: First Guardian guides hub. This soulslike action RPG from Project Cloud Games and Perp Games is available now on PC (Steam) and PlayStation 5. You restore shattered memories across the ruined world of Arsiltus — and these guides explain the systems that matter most: defense-only stamina, Relic progression, unique weapons, and the tragic Brutal bosses waiting in every region.

Use this page as your table of contents. Each guide is written for searchers who need clear answers — how to play, how to parry, how to build a Guardian, and how to beat early Brutals — without filler.

Start here if you are new

• Getting Started in Arsiltus — first-hour checklist, Tibelle’s Blessing checkpoints, Breath of Esser healing, and what to do after the tutorial
• Tips and Tricks — launch-week habits: exploration, shops, monks, Elisa respecs, and Relic Energy routes
• Controls for PC and Console — keyboard, mouse, and DualSense layouts so combat inputs feel natural
• Combat and Parry Guide — why stamina is reserved for defense, how the Groggy state works, and when to press the attack

Progression and builds

The Relic: First Guardian intentionally drops traditional XP leveling. Strength comes from Relics (also called runes in some materials), crafting, and one-of-a-kind gear. Pair these pages:

• Relics and Builds — how 70+ Relic passives reshape skills and combat tempo
• Skill Trees and Progression — Ancient Relic Energy, twelve trees, and growth without XP
• Weapons and Crafting — five unique families, blacksmith upgrades, one-of-a-kind gear
• Weapons Tier List — Sword and Shield, Long Sword, Two-Handed, Dagger, and Battle Staff archetypes
• Relics Tier List — aggressive, defensive, and elemental Relic packages

Bosses, world, and launch intel

• Bosses and Brutals Guide — pattern reading for named encounters like Branko, Entom the Starved, Mog, and the Prodigal Bound in Dust
• World and Map Guide — semi-open exploration, notes and side stories, and how dungeons expand access
• Sealing Stones and Event Trails — Event Trails, Sealing Stones, Relic Energy altars, and folklore chapters
• Post-Launch Support — Patch 1 summary, performance fixes, and Steam Deck notes
• DLC and Editions — Night of the Unextinguished Flame and physical PS5 bundle
• Release Date and Platforms — available now on PC/PS5, later Xbox Series and Switch 2, September physical PS5
• Launch News — launch-week desk, day-one patch, trailer timeline
• Developer Interview — ~30-hour campaign, exploration loop, PC/console priorities
• Pre-Order Bonus — Night of the Unextinguished Flame rewards
• Launch Checklist — first-session prep still useful post-launch
• PC System Requirements — Steam specs and performance advice

How these guides are structured

Every guide aims for practical depth: what the mechanic is, why it matters in a fight, and how it connects to the rest of your kit. Where a verified gameplay video helps, it sits in the middle of the article — never invented, never stacked three deep at the bottom.

Cross-links are intentional. A combat tip will point you to the weapons tier list when weapon choice changes your parry windows. A Relic tip will send you to boss strategies when elemental consumables matter. The review hub summarizes preview praise and Mixed Steam user reception so you can set expectations.

Joining now vs returning players

If you are entering Arsiltus this week, install Patch 1+ first via the post-launch support page, then read Tips and Tricks and Getting Started. Buy on Steam from our official links header CTA.

Returning after a break, check the updates hub for balance changes before respecing at Elisa, then revisit combat, Relic builds, and Brutals. Promo codes appear on the codes page only when verified.

What makes this game’s guides different

Most soulslike wikis assume stamina drains on every swing. Here, attacks do not spend stamina; stamina fuels dodges, blocks, and survival decisions. Skills run on cooldowns instead of a magic bar. Resting at a Tibelle’s Blessing restores you without the classic bonfire enemy respawn loop described in early hands-on coverage. That changes how you explore, how you farm, and how you plan boss retries — and every guide below respects those rules.

Browse the featured articles below, then jump into the sibling pages linked from each section. If you only have ten minutes, read Getting Started, Tips and Tricks, and Combat — then come back for Relics and Brutals once the first wall appears.