Name: Guardian

Type: Automaton (Close-Range Brawler)
Threat Level: Moderate

Description:
Despite its misleading designation, the Guardian does not hurl explosives. Instead, it charges enemies head-on with brutal precision, using its heavy limbs and reinforced frame to deliver concussive strikes. Its name originates from the grenade-shaped power core embedded in its chest an unstable reactor once used for shockwave dispersal in battlefield suppression units.

Originally deployed by the Skyforge military as a front-line enforcer, these units now roam derelict ruins, their directives fragmented and corrupted. When active, they emit a dull humming, followed by a seismic stomp before initiating combat.

Behavior:

• Closes distance quickly with short burst dashes.
  
  

• Attacks with sweeping melee swings and slam jumps.
  
  

• Occasionally powers down mid-fight before rebooting with increased aggression.
  
  

Variant: Guardian (Overgrown)

Type: Ancient Automaton (Environmental Corruption)
Threat Level: Low to Moderate

Description:
Encased in stone and strangled by creeping vines, this Overgrown Guardian is a relic of forgotten wars. Though its frame is corroded and movement sluggish, it still responds to nearby threats with surprising bursts of force. Often mistaken for natural rock formations until it lurches awake, these forgotten guardians are frequently found guarding long-sealed vaults or ancient aether wells.

Behavior Differences:

• Slower movement, but higher damage per strike.
  
  

• Can crumble parts of itself during combat, altering hitboxes.
  
  

• Emits faint aether-pulse distortions when nearby.
  
  

Variant: Guardian (Ranged)

Type: Advanced Automaton (Artillery-Class)
Threat Level: High

Description:
Outfitted with twin shoulder-mounted arc casters, the Ranged Guardian is a rare but deadly variant designed for long-range engagements. Its optics glow a harsh crimson when locking targets, and it fires compressed energy blasts in staggered volleys. Agile for its size, this unit will maintain distance and reposition often, making it a high-priority threat in multi-target encounters.

Behavior Differences:

• Fires slow-travel energy projectiles in bursts of three.
  
  

• Deploys temporary energy shields when under fire.
  
  

• Can charge up a beam for a high-damage straight-line attack.
  
  

Codex Entry:

“The Guardians were designed for war. The fact that they still function after centuries of silence is both impressive and deeply concerning. Especially the ones with eyes that glow red.”