The air crackled with anticipation as the extraction ship descended. My squad was pinned, low on ammo, and the Shieldbreaker was about to time out; we had mere seconds to decide whether to fight or flee. Every map in Highguard tells a story like this, a blend of strategy, teamwork, and raw instinct. Are you ready to write yours?
Highguard has arrived, and droves of players are competing across platforms. The development team kept details scarce until launch day, releasing a gameplay video just before release. Now that it’s here, players are still discovering the depth of content the game offers.
If you’re new to Highguard, understanding the maps and bases is key. The game revolves around selecting a base and strategically defending it against Warden raids, so knowing what each offers is paramount. When you head out to find the Shieldbreaker and acquire gear, familiarity with the maps becomes indispensable for locating loot and eliminating opponents. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of all Highguard Maps and Bases.
Episode 1 Highguard Maps
Imagine you’re a chess player who knows only the basic moves but not the board itself. You’d be lost, right? Similarly, in Highguard, knowing the maps is just as important as mastering your Warden. There are five maps in Highguard’s initial release:
- Vesper City
- Summit
- Rivermark
- Kingdom
- Dustline
These maps rotate randomly in Raid Mode (3v3 sieges), so you might find yourself on a new map each round.
Here’s a closer look at each map:
Vesper City
Vesper City is a central map in Highguard, rich with Vesper deposits. It features three main zones: Warden’s Treasury, Sunken Archives, and Royal Gardens.
Warden’s Treasury is a hotspot for rare loot and the Shieldbreaker spawn. The Sunken Archives, located south of the Treasury, are underground mines filled with Vesper. The Royal Gardens offer elevated positions perfect for snipers to target enemies approaching the Shieldbreaker.
Summit
Summit is a frozen landscape, featuring high ground and precarious pathways. The map’s key locations include Queen’s Crypt, Golem Forge, and Frozen Shine.
Queen’s Crypt is known for rare chests, but navigating its ziplines over deep trenches is risky. Golem Forge, in the map’s center, offers long-range combat opportunities and shortcuts to the mountain, plus Vesper deposits, loot, and Shieldbreaker spawns. Frozen Shine, the map’s edge, is a tactical area where narrow passages converge, ideal for close-quarters combat and claiming supplies.
This is where map knowledge can save you from an unexpected drop back to the respawn point. Summit demands precision, so choose your steps (and weapons) carefully.
Rivermark
Rivermark, an abandoned industrial town, is defined by its waterways. Key areas include the Geothermal Station, Vesper Mines, and Water Pumps.
The Geothermal Station, a partially flooded factory, holds supplies and Vesper deposits. Vesper Mines offer abundant Vesper and a central Shieldbreaker spawn point. Water Pumps, beyond the mines, provides hidden passages for stealthy maneuvers and ambushes.
Rivermark is a playground for those who enjoy cat-and-mouse gameplay. Do you prefer a direct assault, or the shadows?
Kingdom
Kingdom, a sprawling map set in castle ruins, is the largest in Highguard. Its key locales