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Relics and Runes System
July 5, 2026 at 05:22 AM
Added Sealstones section: sealing stones unlock hidden dungeons
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.
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.
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. |
One named kind of Relic is the sealstone. In exploration, completing narrative events rewards sealing stones, and these grant access to hidden dungeons, so they tie progression to what the Guardian discovers rather than to experience points. That makes exploring the world one of the main ways to advance.
The pre-order bonus pack includes a named example, the Sealstone of the Undying Ember, paired with a dedicated dungeon. See the Editions and Pre-Order Bonus page for that set. How many sealstones exist, and how they slot alongside other Relics, has not been fully detailed ahead of launch.
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.
