- During Highguard matches, prioritize survival and gathering resources over combat encounters and getting new weapons.
- For most players, the default loadout of the Vanguard and Kraken will be solid enough for nearly every combat scenario.
- Your base selection and team composition most compliment each other.
Highguard is a 3v3 raid shooter that offers an interesting take on the saturated free-to-play FPS genre, but one that could ultimately leave players overwhelmed. It mashes together ideas from MOBA shooters and slick first-person Battle Royales to create something that feels largely unique. As such, newcomers might struggle to come to grips with the game’s mechanics and format. With this in mind, we’ve compiled the best Highguard tips and tricks that all beginners should know.
Best Highguard Tips and Tricks
Highguard matches typically play out in three phases. Players start by reinforcing their bases before venturing out into the wilds to collect resources. After this, both teams wait for the Shieldbreaker to pop up on the map and tussle to retrieve it. They carry the item to the opponent’s base to launch a raid. The goal from this point on is to sabotage the enemy base for the attackers, while the defenders do everything possible to prevent that from happening. These phases rinse and repeat until one team’s base is completely destroyed.
That is a simplified explanation of the shooter’s gameplay loop, but of course, there are many other elements to consider. To help narrow down your focus, here are some essential Highguard tips to keep in mind:
Prioritize Survival
‘Stay alive’ is an obvious piece of advice that could apply to most online shooters, but it’s one worth remembering in Highguard. This is because the game’s combat encounters happen in short bursts, with the TTK being decently quick. As such, it’s extremely tempting to contest fights and engage enemies as soon as you spot them, but we highly recommend disengaging when possible.
This is because sustaining your health makes it easier to mount a counter-attack as matches progress. By dropping out of combat, your health will regenerate passively, keeping you in the game and also ensuring that your limited respawn count isn’t needlessly exhausted.
Focus on Resources, Not Weapons
When you venture into the looting areas, focus on mining Vesper in Highguard. The game’s primary resource is used to purchase weapon upgrades, armor, and even powerful raid tools from Trader Flynn. While you’re out mining, your eyes will naturally be distracted by the various chests scattered around the map and the guns they hide instead. But ultimately, grabbing new weapons is not nearly as important as upgrading existing ones.
The Default Loadout is Good Enough
By default, your loadout will be made up of the Vanguard AR and the Kraken Shotgun at the start of matches. After experimenting with other weapons in Highguard’s arsenal, you’ll likely come to realize that these starter guns are actually among the best.
The Vanguard is incredibly well-rounded, providing top-tier precision and solid damage. It also comes with decent range, making the AR a great pick for mid-range encounters. On the other hand, the Kraken is an absolutely devastating Shotgun that can obliterate enemies up close. By upgrading both weapons as the match progresses, you’ll be well set up for all sorts of combat encounters.
Get the Team Comps Right
There are a total of eight Wardens in Highguard, all of whom have their own unique abilities. They also have distinct roles on the battlefield, which makes it all the more important to pick heroes that complement each other. Your team comp should feature abilities that can be stacked for maximum effect.
The same amount of thought should also go into the Highguard bases you select before matches. If your team features Assault Wardens with high mobility, choose a base with more ziplines. If you’re a team full of Defensive Wardens, it’s best to choose a base that offers extra room for reinforcement, and so on.
Secure Raid Tools for Extra Utility
Raid Tools are advanced pieces of gear that provide added flexibility when you approach the opponent’s base. For instance, the Zipline Gun can instantly create a new access point to kickstart your raid, while the Rocket Launcher is great for getting rid of fortifications. Similarly, the Blast Hammer can also demolish structures and can even deal damage to enemies in melee range.
Given this, be sure to pick up a Raid Tool from Trader Flynn to spurce up your next raid, or simply to cause a bit of chaos.
And that’ll do it for the best Highguard tips and tricks to keep in mind for new players. What are your thoughts on the game so far? Let us know in the comments.
