The answer first
The Relic: First Guardian does not use traditional character levels. The registered official sources describe progression through Relics or Runes, equipment and weapon skills, with the current Steam description advertising more than 70 passive effects. Patch 5 changed standard-monster rewards to Relic Energy. Exact passive values, optimal combinations and farming routes are not verified here.
Last updated: 2026-08-08 · Current Steam store data, the PlayStation developer systems article, and official Patch 5 notes. Exact build values and hands-on progression routes are not claimed.
What replaces character levels?
| Layer | What the source supports | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Relics / Runes | A core progression and passive-effect system | RFG-PROG-001, RFG-PROG-002 |
| Equipment | Weapons and armor contribute to character growth | RFG-PROG-001 |
| Weapon skills | Weapon-specific skill development is part of progression | RFG-PROG-001 |
| Passive effects | The current Steam description says more than 70 | RFG-PROG-002 |
The sources support the framework but do not provide a complete, versioned table of passive names, values, slots or unlock requirements.
What changed about standard-monster rewards?
Patch 5 says the reward for defeating standard monsters changed to Relic Energy. The note establishes the reward type, but not a guaranteed amount, the fastest route or a complete farming table.
How should I make a progression decision?
- Choose a current goal: survival, weapon skill access or a passive-effect experiment.
- Treat the advertised 70-plus passive effects as a system count, not a verified ranking.
- Record the installed version before comparing Relic Energy rewards.
- Test one change at a time so an observed result can be reproduced.
- Do not spend around an online build unless its version, values and source are visible.
What is verified
- The game does not use a traditional character-level system (RFG-PROG-001).
- Relics or Runes, equipment and skills form the published progression framework (RFG-PROG-001).
- The current Steam description advertises more than 70 passive effects (RFG-PROG-002).
- Patch 5 changed standard-monster rewards to Relic Energy (RFG-PROG-003).
What needs more evidence
- A complete current passive-effect database is not established by the approved sources.
- Exact passive values, slots, stacking rules and unlock requirements are not verified.
- No fastest Relic Energy farm or guaranteed reward quantity is verified.
- No optimal setup or universal Relic combination is published here.
Does “more than 70 passive effects” mean 70 Relics?
No. The current store wording supports the number of passive effects, not a one-to-one count of Relic items. This page keeps those claims separate until a versioned item source establishes the relationship.
Where should I farm Relic Energy?
Patch 5 confirms that standard monsters award Relic Energy, but the approved evidence does not identify a fastest route, exact quantity or guaranteed location. Use the patch fact as a starting point and verify routes in your own installed version.
Related Guides
Compare the five weapon types and choose which to focus on first.Crafting and Equipment
Learn what crafting does and how unique equipment works.Combat and Survival
Understand how attacks, stamina and defense work in The Relic: First Guardian.Brutals and Boss Preparation
Check the current boss count claim and verified Patch 8 encounter fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the game have character levels?
No. The registered official description says progression does not use traditional character levels.
How many passive effects are there?
The current Steam description advertises more than 70 passive effects.
Do normal enemies give Relic Energy?
Patch 5 says rewards from standard monsters were changed to Relic Energy.
What is the fastest Relic Energy farm?
No versioned fastest route or exact reward table is verified in the approved evidence pack.
What is the strongest Relic setup?
No tested ranking or current optimal setup is verified here.
Source scope and verification
Current Steam store data, the PlayStation developer systems article, and official Patch 5 notes. Exact build values and hands-on progression routes are not claimed.
Source IDs: RFG-S01, RFG-S02, RFG-S05
Author: independent site editor · Reviewer: Codex evidence review · Corrections require the page URL, platform, installed version, and a current official or reproducible source. No external game image is used on this page.
What changed on August 8, 2026?
Removed pre-release framing, added the current passive-effect count and Patch 5 Relic Energy reward change, and retained the same canonical URL.