After its initial reveal during the 2025 Game Awards, Highguard finally launched at the end of January. The free-to-play raid shooter has quite a few systems for you to discover, and while the game might seem simple at first, it hides layers and layers of complexity when you start to spend some hours on it.
Its tutorial is pretty useful for learning the basic concepts and actions, but since you won’t have a real raid until you start playing with other players, you might feel lost in your first matches. That’s why we have gathered quite a few useful tips for beginners in Highguard in this guide.
Which Character To Pick-Up
You will find eight characters at the launch of Highguard. While they belong to different archetypes — Assault, Defense, Recon, Support — you’ll find that most of them can be played both offensively and defensively without much trouble. You just need to have the right equipment, of course.
The thing is, they all have different abilities, yes, but how often you will be using them during your first matches won’t vary a lot. You’ll likely be mostly focusing on your weapons, and abilities will become secondary. Just choose whoever looks cool for you. But if you need a quick tip, start with someone like Slade, who has pretty easy abilities
Highguard: Weapon Tier List
Our tier list guide ranks guns by effectiveness in Highguard.
Always Select The Recommended Base
If you start playing with a team full of newcomers, you should always select the recommended base at the start of the match. This is pre-selected based on what’s your squad composition (archetypes and abilities).
There’s no other way to learn about all the bases than by playing matches, so you’ll have to put in the time. However, be sure to check their information and layout as you are about to start a new game — you will learn about their different parts, distribution, and more, letting you make more informed choices once you know more about Highguard and its characters.
What To Re-Inforce In Your Building
The first phase of a match asks you to prepare your base and select your loadout. When it comes to the former, you have five pieces of equipment that let you reinforce a wall each (fifteen in total, counting the ones from your teammates).
There are many possibilities of what to do with them, but when playing your first matches, don’t sweat it — reinforce the five closest walls to each objective (you can also reinforce two walls of the same column). This will do the job and stop your enemies for a moment while they are raiding your base.
To Farm Crystals Or To Look For Chests?
Highguard features two ways of acquiring loot for your character: farming Crystals and spending them at the Trader to buy weapons and items, or finding said weapons and items in chests with random rewards in the map.
Both actions require time, and while some areas have crystals next to chests, you should decide where you will focus most of your time and what your plan is to improve your gear. So, which one is best?
The answer is that there is no clear answer. Based on my experience, I would say it’s always useful to destroy every crystal you can during the initial Gear Up phase for a single reason: both teams won’t be able to find very rare weapons at the beginning of the match, so the difference you can make with the weapons you find on chests might not be that big, depending on your skills.
So, it’s better to save all the currency you can, spend some on armor and one weapon of your choice, and then focus on chests.
The mini-game to break crystals with your axe always has the same timing, so take a few matches to get used to it and perform it flawlessly each time. When you break one crystal without mistakes, you get to destroy the next one with only one blow.
When To Use Your Mount
One of the unique features that Highguard has is the ability to summon and use a mount almost anytime that you want. This can be used for multiple purposes, but we suggest to start using it for two things: reaching places faster and escaping.
During the loot phase, you will want to use your loyal animal to look for chests and crystals as fast as possible. You should use it freely every time here. Then, when it’s time to grab the Shieldbreaker, you should also summon your mount once you have the sword and are ready to roll.
Of course, you might become an easier target while on your mount, but it’s still better to be on it to reach your location faster.
When it’s time to pursue an enemy or just to fight in general… I wouldn’t really recommend it. Having duels while mounted on a bear is sick and works better than expected, but you’re always at a disadvantage.
Your beast doesn’t have a lot of health (unless you get the required item at a high level), is too big to miss shots, and when it’s knocked down, you’ll have a few seconds where you’re immobile but vulnerable.
If an enemy has grabbed the Shieldbreaker and you want to pursue them, unless you have any advantage in the field, I suggest letting them go. Use your free teleport to the base, and then wait outside of it, hiding in a spot where your enemies might not see you. It will work out better than the other plan.
Keep An Eye On The Supply Drop
If your team or the enemy group survives a raid, Supply Drops will begin to appear on the map, one per loot phase. You’ll see its icon marked on the map, and you will have a timer to know when it will reach the ground.
While its zone might get troublesome because your rival team might want the same thing as you, the pack’s content is usually worth the trouble. Apart from multiple armor pieces, you can find the Big Rig, which is likely the best weapon in the game. It’s heavy, but its stability, amount of bullets, and damage make it a no-brainer. You’ll win many fights with this.
Please note that this is a one-time special weapon, and you won’t respawn with it if you die.
Bait With Your Bombs
Once you’re inside your enemy’s base, it’s time to set up the bombs. But should you go to generator A, B, or the big anchor at once?
One standard strategy is to have the three members of the squad go to the same point (whichever you like), plant the bomb, and protect it either next to the bomb itself or close around. However, if you or your teammates already have some ability with your guns and/or abilities, you should aim to have two Wardens at one point and the third one at another spot.
Always Have At Least One Thumper Charge In Your Inventory
Thumper Charges are explosive items that you can purchase at the Trader. You can use them to blow the walls of buildings inside your enemies’ base in only a few seconds, so it’s something useful to have stocked. However, you should always save at least one for the special loot sites on the map.
In most maps, you’ll find a short area where there are multiple crystals and chests behind a reinforced locked door or barrier. This entrance can’t be destroyed by your axe, but do you know what item can aid you? Yes, a Thumper Charge. One will be enough to enter the spoot and earn some nice equipment.
You can also damage this type of door/entrance with a rocket launcher, but the Thumper Charge is more effective.
Highguard: Episode One War Chest Guide
Here’s every Episode One War Chest reward and the best ways to earn Vigil Tokens fast.
