Highguard Beginner Tactics: From First Raid to Final Base Push

Highguard is a fast, objective-heavy 3v3 shooter that mixes looting, hero abilities, base building, and multi-stage raids. For new players it can feel chaotic: there are walls to reinforce, a sword-like artifact to capture, generators to blow up, and three enemy Wardens trying to shut you down every step of the way. This guide breaks the game into understandable parts so you can stay ahead of the pace instead of constantly reacting.

Using the basic flow and mechanics introduced in official materials and early coverage of the game, this article walks you through each phase of a standard match, explains what your Warden choice really means, and offers clear priorities to follow so you can win more raids and ultimately destroy the enemy base.

1. Understanding Highguard’s Match Flow

Highguard wraps its action around repeating rounds, each made up of distinct phases. If you understand what matters in each phase, you can reduce mistakes and make better decisions under pressure.

1.1 The Core Objective

Every match is a race to destroy the enemy’s base while keeping your own standing. Bases are protected by walls, defenses, and generators. Across each round, teams:

• Strengthen their base defenses.
• Loot equipment and currency.
• Fight to control a powerful relic (the sword-like Shieldbreaker).
• Launch raids that plant explosives to damage enemy generators and base health.

Teams repeat rounds until one base’s health is fully depleted.

1.2 The Phased Round Structure

While the exact timings can be adjusted through patches, Highguard consistently uses a multi-step round structure similar to other objective shooters and hero-based games. Official trailers and basic explanations from the publisher confirm the focus on short, distinct windows of building, looting, and raiding that loop several times per match.¹

A typical round follows this pattern:

• Preparation segment (Pre-Phase) – Adjust your loadout and reinforce your base.
• Scavenge phase – Spread across the map to loot gear and resources.
• Relic contest phase – Teams clash over the Shieldbreaker, which determines where the raid will go.
• Raid phase – One team attacks, the other defends, and base health is on the line.

1.3 How Rounds Decide the Raid Target

The Shieldbreaker’s position and which team is wiped determine which base will be raided next. Gameplay previews highlight three main outcomes:

• If one squad wipes the other, that team gets the raid advantage.
• If a team successfully runs the sword to the enemy base, they secure a strong raid opportunity.
• If neither team is eliminated or completes the run, the raid targets the base closest to the sword’s last location.²

This system ensures that even defensive, slow rounds eventually push the match toward a raid, preventing stalemates.

2. Pre-Round Planning: Base and Loadout Decisions

The short preparation segment before scavenging is more important than many new players realize. It decides how easy your base will be to crack and how ready you are for the upcoming fight.

2.1 Reinforcing Your Base

Every team starts with a base made of various wall types and access points. Stronger walls and reinforced entryways can stall attackers long enough for your team to rotate and respond during raids. Modern competitive shooters with destructible environments use similar concepts, where wall durability and layout dictate defender options.³

When reinforcing, prioritize:

• Critical choke points – Doorways and short hallways that directly lead to generators or other key objectives.
• Common breach surfaces – Fragile walls that attackers frequently blast open to bypass obvious doors.
• Rotation routes – Secondary paths that allow defenders to flank attackers once they breach.

2.2 Coordinating Reinforcements as a Team

In a 3v3 game, every wall matters more than in larger team shooters. Use voice chat or quick pings to decide:

• Who covers outer approaches.
• Who invests in inner layer reinforcement around generators.
• Whether to leave one intentionally weaker path to tempt attackers into a predictable funnel.

2.3 Loadout Selection Principles

Highguard allows you to tweak weapons before the action starts. You don’t need a perfectly optimized build to succeed early, but making basic choices that match your Warden and role helps a lot.

Consider:

• Weapon range – Combine at least one mid- to long-range option with something comfortable for close quarters.
• Handling vs power – New players usually perform better with easier-to-control weapons over high recoil, high-damage options.
• Synergy with abilities – If your Warden can trap enemies or reveal them, a weapon that excels at headshot bursts or quick peaks is ideal.

3. Scavenge Phase: Securing the Map and Your Economy

Once the prep window ends, the scavenge phase starts. Think of it as a condensed battle royale looting spree where your team is racing both for gear and for positioning near the future relic contest.

3.1 Early Movement Priorities

Good routes solve multiple goals at once. When planning where your trio will move:

• Split with intention – Two players move toward high-value loot areas while one holds a safer midline angle.
• Track the sky event – The rough location of the future Shieldbreaker spawn telegraphs where conflict will center.
• Avoid unnecessary fights – Overcommitting to long, early duels can leave you out of position for the relic phase.

3.2 Loot and Resource Priorities

When you’re under time pressure, focus on:

• Weapons that match your comfort level over higher rarity options you can’t handle well.
• Raid tools (like rockets or demolition gear) that will matter during the upcoming base assault.
• Utility items that help control space—grenades, deployables, and healing.

3.3 Knowing When to Rotate

New players often overstay in loot-heavy areas. As soon as your team has workable weapons and one or two raid tools, start rotating toward the predicted Shieldbreaker location. Arriving early lets you set up crossfires instead of pushing into enemy angles.

4. Relic Contest: Fighting Over the Shieldbreaker

The Shieldbreaker is the glowing sword-like relic that determines how the raid unfolds. Controlling it doesn’t guarantee victory, but it tilts the odds heavily in your favor.

4.1 Why the Shieldbreaker Matters

Gameplay overviews show that the team that carries the Shieldbreaker to the enemy base can trigger strong raid conditions or immediate advantages in the following phase.² Even if you can’t complete the run, simply controlling the relic forces the enemy to fight on your terms.

4.2 Setting Up for the Contest

To tilt the relic fight in your favor:

• Use verticality – Take roofs, balconies, or high paths that give you vision on the spawn point.
• Pre-place utility – Defensive Wardens can pre-position traps or constructs along likely approach angles.
• Assign roles – One player focuses on grabbing the relic while the other two cover and block enemy lines of sight.

4.3 Deciding Between Run or Fight

After you grab the Shieldbreaker, you have two main options:

• Fast run to the enemy base – If you see a gap, sprint the relic in with your team providing a moving wall of cover fire.
• Controlled retreat – Back up toward defensible terrain and try to wipe the enemy before attempting the run.

If the enemy gets the relic, shift priorities to denying their path and taking favorable trades instead of blindly chasing. Forcing the relic to stall or drop near the center can still create a raid that doesn’t expose your base too heavily.

5. Raid Phase: Attacking and Defending Bases

The raid phase is where matches are won or lost. One team storms the opposing base, trying to breach walls and plant bombs on generators. The defending team must delay, disarm, and counterattack.

5.1 Attacking: Breaking In and Planting Devices

On attack, you have limited time and tools to breach. Options typically include explosive launchers, melee-based demolition, or specialized raid equipment. Official gameplay clips emphasize that successfully applied abilities are key to penetrating reinforced defenses.¹

As attackers, follow this basic sequence:

1. Scout outer walls – Identify reinforced sections versus weaker, destructible surfaces.
2. Select breach points – Choose an entry that offers cover immediately inside, not just a straight choke.
3. Layer your push – Have one player focus on breaching, one on utility (stuns, smokes), and one on watching flanks.
4. Plant and hold – Once bombs are down on generators, reposition to angles that watch both the objective and likely defender entry points.

5.2 Defending: Delay, Deny, and Counter

Defenders don’t need to completely shut out attackers; they just need to prevent successful plants or defuse them in time. Principles from other small-team, objective shooters apply strongly here: information, crossfires, and time management matter more than raw aim.⁴

On defense, focus on:

• Early intel – Use recon abilities or sound cues to guess where attackers will hit first.
• Flexible positions – Don’t stack all three players on the same wall; leave room for quick collapses onto the actual breach.
• Retake planning – If the enemy gets inside and plants, coordinate a two-angle retake with utility instead of trickling in one by one.

5.3 Managing Base Health Across Rounds

Because bases persist across rounds, you must think long-term. Losing one raid badly may cost you several generators and large chunks of base health, putting you behind in future rounds. Consider:

• Saving key reinforcements for later rounds if your early walls seem secure.
• Avoiding desperation pushes that risk team wipes and give attackers clean raid windows.
• Investing in safe holds even if they concede a small amount of damage in exchange for keeping your team alive.

6. Wardens and Team Roles

Wardens are Highguard’s playable heroes, each with a unique kit of passive, tactical, and ultimate abilities. Previews highlight archetypes like destructive frontliners, recon specialists, and defensive supports.^1,2 Rather than memorizing every Warden, it’s more practical to recognize their categories and fill out your trio accordingly.

6.1 Common Warden Archetypes

Most Wardens fall into one or more of these broad archetypes:

• Breachers – Focused on demolishing walls and pushing through tight spaces.
• Recon/Intel – Reveal enemy positions or track movement to set up ambushes.
• Defensive Anchors – Fortify areas, deploy constructs, or block lines of sight.
• Utility Support – Provide team buffs, healing, crowd control, or area denial.

6.2 Building a Functional Trio

You don’t need a perfect composition to win early games, but try to cover at least three functions:

• Entry and damage – One Warden comfortable leading pushes and breaking structures.
• Intel or map control – One Warden that can scan, mark, or otherwise track enemy positions.
• Zone control or support – One Warden whose abilities make certain areas hard to contest.

Talk with your squad before the match: if everyone prefers aggressive Wardens, you may struggle on defense. Rotate roles so each match has at least one player ready to anchor the base.

6.3 Ability Usage Principles

Regardless of which Warden you choose, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Don’t hoard ultimates – It’s better to use an ultimate to secure one crucial raid or relic fight than to save it for a “perfect moment” that never comes.
• Combo abilities with teammates – Recon reveals plus crowd-control or explosives often decide rounds more reliably than solo plays.
• Use abilities to take space, not just get kills – Area denial, vision, and defensive constructs are strongest when they force enemies off powerful positions.

7. Communication, Awareness, and Common Mistakes

Mechanics and aim matter, but your team’s communication and situational awareness often decide outcomes in 3v3 objective games.

7.1 Effective Comms in Short Phases

Because phases are short, you can’t afford rambling callouts. Keep communication:

• Simple – Use concise phrases like “two left wall,” “rotating mid,” or “relic weak, pushing.”
• Future-focused – Always follow callouts with intent: “enemy at north door; let’s stack B corridor and retake together.”
• Respectful – High-pressure games are easier when teammates stay calm and constructive.

7.2 Map Awareness and Sound

Like many tactical shooters, Highguard rewards players who learn sound cues and map geometry. Research on player performance in competitive games shows that pattern recognition and spatial awareness strongly correlate with success, sometimes more than raw reaction speed.⁵

To improve awareness:

• Learn a few common flank routes on each map so you can predict where enemies might breach.
• Use audio to distinguish between breaching actions and standard movement.
• Check your minimap or HUD often, especially during the transition from relic contest to raid.

7.3 Avoiding Beginner Traps

Watch out for these frequent mistakes:

• Chasing kills during the scavenge phase instead of preparing for the relic fight.
• Overstacking one Warden type and lacking intel or defense tools.
• Reinforcing everything without considering rotation paths and counterplay.
• Pushing one by one into a defended base instead of coordinating breaches and retakes.

8. Quick FAQ for New Wardens

How long does a typical Highguard match last?

Match length depends on how many rounds are needed to destroy a base. Expect several cycles of scavenge, relic, and raid phases. If both teams defend well, matches can run longer as base health drains gradually.

Do I need a specific Warden to win?

No. While some Wardens are stronger in certain metas, coordination and understanding the round structure matter more than individual picks for new players. Focus on learning one or two Wardens thoroughly before expanding your pool.

Is it better to defend my base or go aggressive?

You need a balanced approach. Aggression during scavenge and relic phases can snowball advantages, but overly reckless pushes often give the enemy clean raid opportunities. In raid phases, defenders should play patiently and trade time for information.

What’s the biggest skill I should work on first?

Learn the map flow for each phase: how to exit your base quickly, where strong loot areas sit relative to the relic, and common breach points around both bases. Once you can predict where fights will happen, your ability usage and aim will naturally feel more effective.

Can solo players succeed in a team-heavy game?

Yes, but communication is crucial. Use in-game pings and basic text or voice chat to share plans. Even a few simple callouts about relic paths, breach choices, or raid timings can dramatically improve random-team outcomes.