Ancient Guardian/DST

Don't Starve

DST

Ancient Guardian
	10000
	100
Attack Period	2
Attack Range	4.6
Walking Speed	5
Running Speed	17
Drops	×8, , , (),()
Special Ability	Breaks through obstacles.
	"minotaur"

“That thing doesn't look happy.”

–Wilson

“Poor thing. Trapped in this maze.”

–Willow

“Strong! Like me! I like him!”

–Wolfgang

“He must be lonely. Trapped in such a small cage.”

–Wendy

“THIS MEAT HAS A POINTY END”

–WX-78

“Get away, you beast!”

–Wickerbottom

“Another poor soul with a curse.”

–Woodie

“My my, the fuel has changed you.”

–Maxwell

“Astonishingly similar to its clockwork counterpart.”

–Wagstaff

“What wönders! Let's duel.”

–Wigfrid

“Wear that frown upside down.”

–Webber

“Holy horns.”

–Walani

“Stay away!”

–Warly

“I've 'eard tales o' this devil...”

–Woodlegs

“'TIS BIG HORN'D UNPIG”

–Wilba

“Don't want to fight!”

–Wormwood

“I'm guessing he's guarding something. Big monsters usually are.”

–Wheeler

“I've had about enough of terrible beasts!”

–Winona

“Goodness gracious, aren't you fearsome.”

–Wortox

“Glurp... it look cranky.”

–Wurt

“Aw, did someone leave you all alone down here?”

–Walter

“Ohhhh. Right. You.”

–Wanda

The Ancient Guardian is a Boss Monster found within the Labyrinth region of the Ruins. It looks and acts similarly to a Clockwork Rook, but appears as a living creature covered in fur.

In Don't Starve Together (DST), the Ancient Guardian has 10,000 Health and will respawn when the Ancient Fuelweaver is killed, making Guardian's Horns renewable.

Ancient Guardian's fight functions differently from the base game. It will charge towards the player but will be stunned for 1.5-6 seconds if it hits one of the pillars, allowing the player to attack; the longer time that Ancient Guardian charged, the longer the Ancient Guardian will be stunned when it hit an obstacle. When the Ancient Guardian charges into a pillar, it will cause a small earthquake. The earthquake drops 20 minerals like Flint, Rocks and Nitre over 2.5 seconds within 20 metres of the Ancient Guardian, as well as dropping up to 4 Pillar Fragments within 25 metres. The Pillar Fragments can stun the Ancient Guardian if it charges into them, akin to entire pillars.

Once its health goes below 6,000, it will enter its second phase. It gains a new attack where it jumps and slams the ground into the player's position, similar to the Hippopotamoose from the Hamlet DLC. If the player manages to dodge the slam, the Ancient Guardian will be stunned for 3.6 seconds, but if the player fails the dodge, it will continue to attack as normal. During this phase, it has 1-5% of bleeding when attacked, which then spawn up to 5 Shadow Tentacles within 4 metres. The Ancient Guardian has higher chance of bleeding shadow tentacle when it has lower health. The shadow tentacles deal 60 damage per hit, and they despawn after 30 seconds. The shadow tentacles are invulnerable.

Ancient Guardian has an aggro range of 25 metres, which are equal to 6.25 tiles or 25 walls.

Fighting

The Ancient Guardian has 10000 Health and deals 100 damage per hit. It charges at its target similarly to a Clockwork Rook, but it has an additional attack when in melee range; it will use a close-range uppercut with a very short attack delay.

Below is the number of hits it takes with each weapon to kill the Ancient Guardian (based on the default damage modifier). The Weather Pain is not included due to the random nature of its projectile.

Tips

• After killing the Ancient Guardian, ensure that all shadow tentacles have despawned before plundering the Large Ornate Chest it drops, or risk being hit/killed while looting it.
• Light sources should be considered prior to starting the fight.
  • While the arena contains many Light Flowers, these will flicker on and off, plunging the player into darkness mid-fight at least once. In the darkness, the Ancient Guardian becomes much more dangerous as it is able to charge or leap from the darkness and surprise the player with a sudden and powerful strike.
  • As usual Miner Hats, and Lanterns can be used, though these may be dangerous to use as they require fuel and provide a meager light radius, and must be refueled periodically and equipped in favor of weapons or armor.
  • If either of these sources are used, it is recommended to play far more cautiously until the Light Flowers in the arena turn back on.
  • Magiluminescence provides a small light radius, but grants a speed boost, which can help dodge attacks. It is best worn only when the Light Flowers are lit, so an alternative lighting option should be ready.
  • A Star Caller's Staff is the most effective way to keep the area illuminated, but can be costly to obtain.
  • On the other hand, Campfires and Fire Pits will be destroyed by the Guardian's attacks, and thus are unsuitable.
• Be prepared to encounter many Earthquakes mid-fight, and in Summer, possibly an attack from Antlion. If the screenshake effect is too intense for the player to handle during the fight, it may be turned off in the settings menu prior.
• 2-4 Log Suits, and 2-3 Football Helmets/an Eye Mask with enough food is sufficient for the fight, though more/less may be needed depending on player skill.
  • Healing items such as raw Blue Caps, Pierogis, or Healing Salves are strongly recommended.
  • Predicting the Guardian's dashing direction and attacking while the Ancient Guardian is stunned, it's not too difficult to avoid getting hit, reducing the need for healing often.
  • If the player feels it is necessary (i.e. first time ever fighting Ancient Guardian), Thulecite weapons and armor may be crafted to use against the Ancient Guardian to make the fight go more smoothly, though this will be very costly.
  • With enough skill and patience, even 2-3 Spears are sufficient for the fight, though a Ham Bat or 1-2 Thulecite Clubs are much more safe and will take substantially less time.

Trivia

• The Ancient Guardian was released in The Stuff of Nightmares update.
  • The Six Feet Under update added its ability to do a close-range attack
• The fact that the Ancient Guardian spawns in a labyrinth, and is named "Minotaur" in the game files, is likely a reference to the story of Theseus and the Minotaur from Greek mythology.
• The Ancient Guardian is a product of prolonged exposure to Nightmare Fuel, as referenced by Maxwell in his examination quote: "My my, the fuel has changed you."
  • This also indicates Maxwell knew the Ancient Guardian from before its transformation. While examining the Guardian's Horn, he mourns his death and calls him a friend.
• The Ancient Guardian does the second highest damage per hit, and has the swiftest running speed of any mob in the game. The highest amount of damage is done by Biiigfoot.
• An Ice Staff will freeze the Ancient Guardian after only two hits. No other boss can be frozen so quickly; by comparison, the Rook takes the same amount of hits to be frozen.
• The Ancient Guardian is one of the only bosses who don’t have an insanity aura (others include the Moose/Goose, Toadstool, Bee Queen, Klaus, Tiger Shark, and the Quacken).
• The DST version of the Ancient Guardian received his fight overhaul and second phase in the March 2022 QoL update.

Bugs

• It is unlikely, but possible, that when the Guardian is trapped between the Abyss and a non-destructible obstacle (Campfires, Pillars, etc.), it may end up walking onto the Abyss, making it impossible to retrieve its loot without using the console. If killed while at the extreme boundary of the Abyss, there is a small chance for the loot to drop in an unreachable position.

Gallery

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  The Guardian's short range attack.

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  The Guardian charging at the player.

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  A Guardian put to sleep.

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  Frozen Ancient Guardian.

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  A dead Guardian.

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  A sleeping Ancient Guardian as found in his Set Piece in the Ruins.

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  The Ancient Guardian as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 51.

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  A Clockwork Rook, which looks very similar to the Ancient Guardian.

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  In "Ancient History" achievement

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  Concept animation for Elder Guardian for QoL Update in March 2022 from Rhymes With Play

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  Concept animation for Elder Guardian for QoL Update in March 2022 from Rhymes With Play

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  Concept animation for Elder Guardian for QoL Update in March 2022 from Rhymes With Play

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  Concept animation for Elder Guardian for QoL Update in March 2022 from Rhymes With Play

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  On Concept Art from Bonus Materials from CD Don't Starve.