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Relics are the central progression system of The Relic: First Guardian, and they replace the experience-and-levels structure found in many RPGs. In gameplay terms they are also called Runes. The Guardian grows by collecting these memories and equipping them, and the combination of Relics a player chooses defines the kind of Guardian they become.
What a Relic Is
In the fiction, Relics are fragments imbued with the emotions and wishes of those who lived in Arsiltus before its fall: promises, waiting, fear, and love given lasting form. Collecting them is described as gathering memories. Mechanically, each Relic carries a passive effect, and there are more than 70 unique passive effects in total.
What Relics Do
Equipping Relics changes how the Guardian plays. The confirmed effects fall into a few broad areas:
Effect Type | Description |
|---|---|
Reshape skill behaviour | A Relic can change how an existing skill works, altering its function rather than just boosting a number. |
Alter combat tempo | Some Relics shift the pace and rhythm of combat, changing how aggressively or defensively the Guardian can play. |
Enhance weapon styles | Certain Relics strengthen specific weapon styles, rewarding builds that lean into a particular type of weapon. |
Building Your Guardian
Because there are no character levels, Relics are the main lever for growth. By strategically equipping different Relics, players define their own destiny and shift the focus of progression toward meaningful in-world experiences. The store page frames this as choosing the Guardian you wish to become: a player who favours fast, aggressive play can build toward that with Relics that alter tempo, while a player who specialises in a single weapon type can stack Relics that enhance that style.
Relics work alongside the game's other growth tools. The developers have noted that, in place of levels, runes, items, and crafting are used to strengthen the character. The exact list of the 70-plus passive effects, and how Relics are found, slotted, or limited, has not been fully detailed ahead of launch, so this page focuses on the confirmed framework and will be expanded as specifics are revealed.