Runes & Relics Guide — The 70+ Passive Fragments
Runes and relics in The Relic: First Guardian. Over 70 unique relic fragments with passive effects — what they do, how relic slots unlock, how to swap them, and honest notes on unconfirmed specifics.
The Relic: First Guardian has no traditional leveling system — no XP, no stat points, no skill levels. Your character's power comes from one core system: Relics (also called Runes or Memory Fragments — all three terms refer to the same thing). Official material describes over 70 unique fragments, each imbued with the memories and emotions of the dead, each granting a passive effect that shapes how you play.
This guide explains the confirmed mechanics of the relic system, how to unlock more slots, and how to use the system — while flagging the many unconfirmed details that circulate online.
What Relics Do (Confirmed)
Official descriptions confirm the following effects that relic fragments can provide:
- Reshape skills — change how an unlocked skill behaves
- Alter combat tempo — change your attack rhythm or stamina behavior
- Buff specific weapons — amplify a weapon family or playstyle
- Improve survivability — health, defense, sustain effects
- Reduce cooldowns — skills run on cooldown timers, and fragments can shorten them
The key word is passive: relics are always active once equipped, and they are designed to be freely swapped so you can adapt your build to each boss. Official material is explicit: the game expects you to change your relic loadout between encounters.
The Relic Economy (Confirmed)
Two confirmed mechanics fuel the system:
- Relic Energy — earned by defeating Brutals (bosses) and finding Ancient Relic Blessings in the world. This currency buys skills in weapon skill trees — including nodes that increase Health Points or Stamina, and nodes that buff specific relics.
- Shards of Awakening — found through exploration; brought to Elisa (the woman who awakens you at the start) at any camp to unlock new Relic slots, letting you equip more fragments.
How to Use Relics Effectively
1. Specialize Around Your Weapon
Each weapon family has its own playstyle (see the Weapons Guide) — 12 skill trees total, two per family. Equip fragments that amplify what your weapon wants to do: buff its damage, shorten its skill cooldowns, or cover its weakness (e.g., survivability for fragile fast weapons).
2. Swap Before Every Boss
The design is explicit: "freely swap them to adapt your build to each boss." Before a Brutal fight:
- Check what the fight demands (parry-gate vs dodge-gate — see the Boss Strategies guide)
- Fit survivability fragments if you are dying
- Fit cooldown/damage fragments if you are running out of steam
3. Unlock Slots Early and Often
Shards of Awakening → Elisa at camps → more slots. Because fragments are swappable, slots are a permanent force multiplier: more slots mean more adaptivity per fight, which is the game's core survival strategy.
4. Spend Relic Energy on Health Early
Skill tree nodes can raise HP and stamina directly. For new players, buying these before damage nodes is the single most reliable difficulty reducer in the game.
What Is NOT Confirmed (Beware of Fabricated Rune Guides)
The relic system's broad strokes are confirmed, but almost every specific claim circulating online is unverified:
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| "There are 70+ fragments" | Confirmed (official) |
| "Fragments are freely swappable" | Confirmed (official) |
| "Shards of Awakening unlock slots via Elisa at camps" | Confirmed (official/coverage) |
| Named runes like "Fragment of Vigor," "Rune of Fortification," "Ember of Persistence" | Unconfirmed — not in any verified source |
| Exact effects and percentages (e.g., "+15% stamina recovery") | Unconfirmed |
| Specific drop locations for named runes | Unconfirmed |
| "Rune slots start at 3, unlock up to 8" | Unconfirmed |
| Rune categories (Offensive/Defensive/Utility/Void) | Unconfirmed |
Common Questions
Q: Are runes and relics the same thing?A: Yes — "Relics," "Runes," and "Memory Fragments" are all used to describe the same collection of over 70 unique passive fragments.
Q: How do I get more relic slots?A: Find Shards of Awakening through exploration and bring them to Elisa at any camp.
Q: Can I change relics mid-game?A: Yes — fragments are freely swappable; the game's intended loop is adapting your loadout between fights.
Q: Do relics replace leveling?A: Yes — there is no XP or leveling. Relics, relic slots, and skills bought with Relic Energy are the progression.
Q: What is Relic Energy for?A: Buying skills in weapon skill trees — including HP/stamina nodes and relic-buffing nodes. Earned from defeating Brutals and finding Ancient Relic Blessings.
Q: Which relics are "best"?A: Unconfirmed at launch — no verified tier data exists yet. Choose fragments that fit your weapon and the current boss.
Related Guides
- Upgrade System — Slots, shards, and the full progression picture
- Best Builds Guide — How relics fit into builds
- Weapons Guide — The 12 skill trees relics interact with
- Beginner Guide — Getting started with your first fragments