Royal Guard

The Royal Guard is an illager soldier serving in the Frozen Highlands, packing 90 health and a melee strike worth 9 physical damage. Found in 9 regions, it stands guard alongside Vindicators and Enchanters in illager warbands. With 120 poise it takes committed hits to stagger, and it drops 16 souls on death.

Its moveset is a single honest melee attack, but its defenses make it annoying for bow users: Royal Guards resist ranged damage by -20%, so archers lose a chunk of their damage against them. The counter is twofold — melee heroes can wade in and out-damage it, while everyone should lean on lightning. The Royal Guard takes +50% extra lightning damage, so a lightning enchanted weapon, a lightning bow at close range, or a lightning artifact tears through them. Its 440 movement speed is fast for an illager, so keep moving and don't let it corner you.

Expect Royal Guards throughout the Frozen Highlands, from Archie's Ruins to the Ice Caves, usually backing up tougher allies like the Ravager. Prioritize them over softer casters — a Guard left alive will punish any archer on your team.