What to know
- Highguard launched with eight Wardens, each with three abilities: Passive, Tactical, and Ultimate.
- Wardens fall into five core classes: Assault, Defensive, Destruction, Recon, and Support.
- Abilities range from damage and crowd control to stealth, scouting, and healing.
- Strategic synergy between Wardens is essential during raids and base assaults.
Highguard is a free-to-play PvP raid shooter where players step into the boots of elite characters known as Wardens. Wardens are described as “arcane gunslingers” — combatants who blend traditional firearms with magical abilities and tactical skills to fight for control over a mythical continent and dominate the battlefield. Each Warden brings a unique combination of weapon mastery and supernatural powers, giving teams strategic options across defense, offense, utility, reconnaissance, and support.
How Wardens fit into Highguard’s gameplay
In Highguard, matches revolve around two core phases:
- Contesting the Shieldbreaker — Two crews of Wardens fight to capture a powerful artifact called the Shieldbreaker, which gives the winning side a crucial strategic advantage.
- Raiding and defending bases — With the Shieldbreaker in hand, attackers use it to breach the enemy’s stronghold, tear down defenses, and destroy the opposing team’s core structures.
This hybrid structure — fast PvP gunplay paired with tactical objectives and destructible environments — sets Highguard apart from traditional shooters. Wardens aren’t just skins or cosmetic picks; their abilities have a major influence on how teams approach both open combat and tactical sieges.
Wardens as characters
At launch, Highguard offers eight playable Wardens: Atticus, Condor, Kai, Mara, Redmane, Scarlet, Slade, and Una. Each one comes equipped with three signature components to their kit:
- A Passive ability — an always-on or condition-triggered trait that defines playstyle nuances.
- A Tactical ability — a short-cooldown skill used for movement, crowd control, or utility.
- An Ultimate ability — a powerful, match-turning skill with a long cooldown and high impact.
These abilities reinforce the idea that Wardens are more than mere shooters — they are versatile combatants whose skills must be leveraged strategically in every phase of a match.
All Wardens in Highuard explained
Atticus — The Arc Lightning Frontal Fighter
Role: Assault
Atticus is a frontline brawler who manipulates electricity to deal damage and control engagements. His abilities reward aggressive play and spatial dominance.
- Tactical — Shockspear: Throws a charged spear that shocks nearby enemies and builds his passive.
- Passive — Supercharged Axe: Electric explosion on axe hit that damages nearby enemies or resource nodes.
- Ultimate — Supercell: Atticus ascends and rains down high-damage lightning spears over an area.
Playstyle tip: Push choke points and space with electric pressure, then use Supercell to disrupt grouped enemies or finish base assaults.
Scarlet — Stealth Infiltrator with Sand Magic
Role: Assault
Scarlet excels at sneaking behind enemy lines and creating unexpected angles of attack. Her sand-based kit emphasizes utility over raw damage.
- Tactical — Sandstorm: Enter stealth, reducing visibility to distant foes.
- Passive — Shifting Sands: Convert destructible walls into passing sand, creating new routes.
- Ultimate — Whirling Blades: Throws deadly daggers; downs reset cooldowns.
Playstyle tip: Use sand conversion and stealth for surprising flanks; Whirling Blades becomes devastating in close-range picks.
Slade — Fire-Powered Breacher
Role: Assault
Slade’s kit revolves around fire and destruction, great for creating space and disrupting enemy formations.
- Tactical — Heatwave: Sends out a wave of molten fire.
- Passive — Firebomb: Explodes to spread magma for area pressure.
- Ultimate — Firestorm: A devastating rain of fire on a target area.
Playstyle tip: Slade excels at breaking static defenses and forcing enemy repositioning.
Redmane — Destruction Specialist
Role: Destruction
Redmane brings brute force to raids, focusing on terrain destruction and heavy area damage.
- Tactical, Passive, Ultimate: His tools enhance structural damage, making him excellent for opening walls and destroying defenses.
Playstyle tip: Pair with teammates who can cover while you demolish fortified areas.
Kai — Defensive Master
Role: Defensive
Kai’s toolkit is built around fortification and control. While exact names vary, sources describe him as the defensive backbone.
Ultimate: Large defensive ult that strengthens a hold or denies enemy advances.
Playstyle tip: Use Kai’s abilities to stall attacks and protect key objectives during raids.
Una — Support / Defensive Spirit
Role: Defensive / Utility
Una brings magical utility to the team, summoning spirit allies that apply pressure and aid in defense.
- Tactical — Forest Wisps: Summon spirits that deal explosive bursts.
- Passive — Helping Hand: Spirits assist with team utility.
- Ultimate — Tree Walker: Summons a powerful spirit to barrage areas.
Playstyle tip: Great in zone denial and covering flanks thanks to spirit-based pressure.
Condor — Recon Sniper & Scout
Role: Recon
Condor gives teams critical vision control and long-range pressure.
- Tactical — Eyes in the Sky: Deploys a bird to scout and reveal enemies.
- Passive — Hunter’s Instinct: Alerts you when enemies are nearby.
- Ultimate — Soaring Guardian: Deploys smoke clouds that reveal enemies moving inside them.
Playstyle tip: Scout early, then dominate sight lines and picks from range.
Mara — Support Healer & Team Booster
Role: Support
Mara focuses on keeping teammates alive and boosting their effectiveness.
- Tactical — Soul Armor: Grants overshields to allies.
- Passive — Sacrifice: Killing downed enemies accelerates support ability charge.
- Ultimate — Immortal Coil: Creates a powerful forward spawn point.
Playstyle tip: Best with coordinated squads that can capitalize on overshields and forward pressure.
How Wardens Shape Highguard Combat
Wardens aren’t just skins — they define how your team engages the opponent. Whether you push aggressively with an Assault Warden, hold defensively with Kai or Una, or plan strategic raids with Condor and Mara, your team composition materially alters game flow.
Teams that combine damage and utility (Atticus + Mara), or recon and destruction (Condor + Redmane), often dominate objective control and base sieges.
Highguard’s Wardens launch roster offers a diverse kit of damage, utility, scouting, and support abilities that reward strategic teamwork. Every ability — from Atticus’s lightning rain to Condor’s scouting bird — has a role in shaping how you approach engagements and objectives.
Whether you prefer frontal assaults, coordinated support, or tactical scouting, there’s a Warden built for your playstyle — and mastering these kits will deepen your competitive edge in Highguard’s evolving PvP meta.
