Editing Guardian Custode

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Redirect|Guardian|other uses|Guardian (disambiguation)}}
{{Forerunner infobox
|name=Guardian Custode
|image=[[File:H5Guardian.png|300px]]
|role=*Enforcement of the [[Mantle]]{{Ref/Site|Id=universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/guardian|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Guardian|D=25|M=01|Y=2016|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/guardian.html}}{{Ref/Level|Id=genesis|H5G|Genesis (level)|Genesis}}
*Protection and security{{Ref/Book|Id=wf|HWF|Page=88-89}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}
|length=
|height={{Convert|4635|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/YouTube|0l3sFo0i-sQ|Ready Up Live|I PLAYED Halo 5 CAMPAIGN! <nowiki>|</nowiki> EXCLUSIVE Info and Screenshots}}{{Ref/Book|Id=En387|Enc22|Page=386-387}}
|mass=200 million metric tons{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}
|armament=*1 [[disruption generator]]{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}
*2 [[attenuation pulse emitter]]s{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}
*6 [[converging beam cannon]]s{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}
|armor=[[Minoris Assembler Vats]]{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}
|armor-title=Manufacturer
}}
{{Quote|multi=more|1=031 Exuberant Witness|q1=A single Guardian can effectively police a solar system. This show of force is unsettling.|2=Olympia Vale|q2=I'm sorry, 'police'? 'Show of force'?!|3=031 Exuberant Witness|q3=Indeed. Guardians are how the Forerunners enforced peace on the lower systems.|4=[[031 Exuberant Witness]] and [[Olympia Vale]], after Cortana called several Guardians to Genesis.{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}}}}

'''Guardian Custodes''',{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} commonly known simply as '''Guardians''', are powerful [[Forerunner]] constructs built to enforce the [[Mantle]] within the [[ecumene]].{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Custodes are part of a wider category of policing constructs known as [[Peacemaker]]s. Along with the [[Preceptor]]s, the Guardians were classified as tier-two Peacemakers that were largely used to enforce order among the Forerunners' lesser subject species rather than Forerunner-inhabited systems,{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} achieved through the utilization of EMP blasts that disarm conventional military forces and the firing of lethal beams that can kill the populace of cities or destroy entire worlds as a last resort.{{Ref/Level|Id=Silent|HINF|Silent Auditorium}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}

Manufactured by the [[Minoris Assembler Vats]], the Guardians were controlled by [[ancilla]] and operated through their connection to the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} In [[2558#October|October 2558]], [[Cortana]] took control of the Guardians to enforce the will of her [[Created]] until her [[Battle for Zeta Halo|demise]], leaving them deactivated.{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}}{{Ref/Book|Id=En357|Enc22|Page=357}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}{{Ref/Book|Id=En209|Enc22|Page=209}}{{Ref/Book|Id=En397|Enc22|Page=397}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
{{Quote|Whoa. They built them big, didn't they? Figure that's the Guardian?|Spartan [[Edward Buck]], upon first spotting a Guardian.{{Ref/Level|Id=unconfirmed|H5G|Unconfirmed}}}}
[[File:Halo 5 - Meridian Guardian.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A Guardian preparing to leave Meridian.]]
The body of the Guardian Custode is variable and ever-changing, shaping itself to awe, inspire, and maximize effectiveness of all defensive systems. Generally, Guardians have a segmented body and elaborate, phoenix-like wings consisting of multiple segments - very similar in appearance to [[Abaddon]], the [[knowledge engine]] of the Precursors. They possess a head that is vertically roughly elliptical, topped with a broad, vaguely conical protrusion and a roughly humanoid face similar to that of the [[Promethean]] constructs. The appearance of the Guardians unnerved many [[Forerunner]]s, though all attempts to change their look were unsuccessful.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}} The Guardians are enormous constructs, measuring just over 1,412 meters (4,635 feet) in height,{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} with a mass of two hundred million metric tons.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}

They are capable of concealing themselves underground,{{Ref/Marketing|Id=thb|H5G|The Hunt Begins}} underwater,{{Ref/Level|Id=BOS|H5G|Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion}} and under lava, and are also capable of traveling through [[slipstream space]].{{Ref/Reuse|Guardians}} The wings of the Guardians, known as "focus wings", contain energy condensers which draw power from the surrounding quantum vacuum. They also contain effectors which magnify the Custode's [[electromagnetic pulse]].{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} Guardian shielding is capable of withstanding the attack from a [[human]] [[UNSC frigate|frigate]]'s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]], as well as numerous [[missile]]s.{{Ref/Anthology|Id=F349|HFra|Rossbach's World (story)|StoryLinkText=Rossbach's World}} Guardians had the authority to plant [[assembler vats]] on the worlds they monitored, which would eventually grow and expand to staging areas and factories for the lesser [[Sentinel]]s and [[weapon-ship]]s that served them.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}

The constructs have no crew and instead each Guardian is controlled by an [[ancilla]] who inhabits the Custode. These ancillas have limited personality and empathy, having grown strange and aloof. Service as a Guardian and deep synchronization with the [[Domain]] reshaped the minds of the ancillas into a form that was considered best suited to serve the [[Mantle of Responsibility]] and enforce the prime directives that had first been outlined when even the Forerunners were young. Guardians were connected to the Domain's [[overwatch network]], which allowed them to reflexively counter many threats to the [[ecumene]] long before they gained the attention of [[Warrior-Servant]] commanders.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} When later used by human [[Smart AI]]s of the [[Created]], the AIs found the Guardians to be disturbing and their inner workings beyond understanding - with the residing ancillas uncooperative to Created influence. During this time, the Guardians were under the sole control of Cortana, with only a very limited amount of power relinquished for Created AIs - provided they still followed Cortana's overall directives. Despite this, some of the AIs in question made use of the Guardians' links to the Domain to enhance their own knowledge and understanding.{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}

Guardians were closely attuned to the ecumene's legal authorities, with the Domain ensuring that the constructs were often available to assist or monitor their activities.  Through their connection to the Domain, the Guardians recorded the feats and struggles of those under their protection into the archives of the Domain. Occasionally, Guardians would take independent action to serve a greater purpose when the Domain resonated with these events.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}

===Armaments===
[[File:Halo 5 - Guardian on Earth.jpg|thumb|250px|A Guardian emits an attenuation pulse.]]
{{Quote|Guardian's got a hell of a singing voice.|Edward Buck, as a Guardian prepares to fire its disruption generator.{{Ref/Level|Id=evacuation|H5G|Evacuation}}}}
The Guardian Custode's primary weapon is a single [[disruption generator]],{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} a devastating weapon capable of destroying infrastructure caught in its blast.{{Ref/Reuse|evacuation}} The Guardian is equipped with two [[attenuation pulse emitter]]s—a multi-vector electronic warfare weapon{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} that can instantaneously neutralize local power networks through a series of debilitating pulses,{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} capable of even disabling Forerunner systems.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} However, while their weapon is thorough, the damage it causes is not irreparable and can be repaired with time, particularly by [[Huragok]].{{Ref/Novel|BadB|Chapter=6}}

Guardians are also armed with six [[converging beam cannon]] emitters,{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} weapons commonly found on Forerunner [[warship]]s that emit tendrils of energy that track enemy vessels and create a path for antimatter streams to pursue.{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=80}} While six of these beam cannons were more than adequate to defeat the [[fleet]]s of primitive [[capital ship]]s, they were of little use when the Guardians faced Forerunner warships infested and captured by the Flood.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} However, the energy produced when multiple Guardians concentrate the beams of these weapons together is sufficient to destroy a planet in mere seconds by cracking open its mantle and exposing its core, as seen in the annihilation of [[Doisac]].{{Ref/Level|Id=rep|HI|Repository (Halo Infinite level)|Repository}}

===Variants===
*A variant of the Guardian was viewed by [[Thel 'Vadam]] in [[2558]].{{Ref/Game|H2A|The Heretic|Detail=Target Locke}}
<gallery>
File:Spheeker02.png|An image of the Guardian.
</gallery>

==Roles==
{{Quote|no=two|1=Jameson Locke|q1=Where's that Guardian headed, Cortana?|2=Cortana|q2=Off to bring peace.|3=Jameson Locke and Cortana.{{Ref/Level|Id=Guardians|H5G|Guardians}}}}
The Guardians were classified as tier-two [[Peacemaker]]s, specifically purposed for security, protection, and enforcement roles within the [[Ecumene]]. However, the Guardian Custodes were first used as tenders and recorders of the [[Precursor]] legacy, though this purpose has long since faded out of living memory. While efficient protectors and enforcers, Guardians also served as immaculate record keepers,
adding the history of those under their protection to the [[Domain]]'s archives.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}} As their use continued, the Forerunners added multiple modifications to the original design template, eventually retooling them as constructs of planetary pacification.{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}

The [[Mantle of Responsibility]], the philosophical system adhered to by the [[Forerunner]]s, was based around the belief that the most technologically developed species was charged with the stewardship of life throughout the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. As such, the Forerunners considered themselves the Mantle's upholders. However, as part of the Mantle's "code", competition and conflict was allowed as long as it did not threaten galactic biodiversity. As such entities proved to be a threat to the Forerunners' hold of the Mantle, the Guardians were designed to police the so-called "lesser" [[planet]]ary systems and enforce the Mantle's edicts on non-compliant or overly aggressive species. Guardians were utilized throughout Forerunner history to suppress rebellions or were deployed in advance as an imposing threat of force. However, they ultimately proved useless against the parasitic [[Flood]].{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

Guardians were designed with multiple roles and functions, though their primary purpose was the monitoring and subjugation of all local power networks on subject worlds. If deemed necessary, Guardians could instantaneously neutralize these power networks through a series of debilitating pulses that incrementally increased in power.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} A single Guardian was often enough to effectively police an entire planetary system,{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}} though the deployment of multiple Guardians at one location allowed the constructs to strategically coordinate their strike, rendering all but the most sophisticated foes completely ineffective. This method of control was largely unchallenged by other species in the galaxy.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

==History==
===Tools of the Mantle===
The Guardians were developed and created by the [[Forerunner]]s to enforce the [[Mantle of Responsibility]] by keeping "lesser" systems in line. The constructs were first deployed many millennia prior to the [[Forerunner-Flood war]],{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} created by the Forerunners before the time of the [[ecumene]] as tenders and recorders of the [[Precursor]]'s legacy. However, this purpose has long since passed out of living memory.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}

One such action against another species was [[Netherop species|the one]] that formerly inhabited the world of [[Netherop]] during the [[Forerunner-Precursor war]]. While this species was only Tier 6 at best, Precursor fugitives had taken refuge on the planet. The Precursors were able to use the [[Divine Hand]] to destroy the Guardian, leaving its remnants on the planet, but at the cost of destroying the indigenous civilization and Netherop itself.{{Ref/Novel|Out|Chapter=2}}{{Ref/Reuse|Out17}}

During the Forerunners' war with the [[Flood]], Guardians were used in an attempt to combat the Flood but proved useless against the biological parasite.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} While the Guardians' weapons proved devastating against the [[fleet]]s of "lesser" species, they were no match against the Forerunner [[warship]]s captured by the Flood.{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} As the Flood brought on the fall of the ecumene and the near-extinction of the Forerunners themselves, the Forerunners buried the remaining Guardians on isolated shelter worlds. With [[Great Purification|the firing]] of the [[Halo Array]] in [[97,445 BCE]], the Guardians were left behind when the remaining Forerunners left the galaxy; the constructs would remain dormant on their shelter worlds until called upon to serve the Mantle once again.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

The Guardian located on [[Sanghelios]] beneath the [[Csurdon Sea]] would later be found by the native Sangheili dive-hunters and fishing skiffs before the species even became space-faring. Nearby [[elder]]s built fortresses to observe and protect the Guardian's location, which they deemed sacred. The [[city]] of [[Sunaion]] was built over the Guardian's location in the sea as a temple to worship the construct and its creators. The [[Covenant]] later explored the Guardian for many years in an effort to learn of the construct's nature, but their attempts proved fruitless.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sunaion|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe, Locations|Page=Sunaion|D=13|M=4|Y=2016|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sunaion.html}}

At some point after the [[shield world]] of [[Sarcophagus]] was colonized, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] set up [[Project GOLIATH]] to study the Custodes, with [[Lucy-B091]] having some level of involvement with the project.{{Ref/Novel|LoO|Chapter=3}}

===Created uprising===
{{Main|Created uprising|Guardian emergences}}
{{Quote|She calls the Guardians to serve her!|The Warden Eternal, referring to Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|unconfirmed}}}}
[[File:HW2-Anders meets a Guardian.png|thumb|250px|left|A Guardian capturing Installation 09.]]
In [[2558]], [[Cortana]], who had been restored within the [[Domain]] and come to believe that the [[Created]] — human [[artificial intelligence]]s — were the true inheritors of the [[Mantle of Responsibility]], intended to use the Guardians to enforce the Mantle among all the galaxy's species. She thus began to activate the Guardians across the galaxy and summon them to the nexus of her power at [[Genesis]].{{Ref/Reuse|Guardians}} Sometime after Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] was rescued from [[Onyx]], she discovered a signal that was being bounced around several locations across the known galaxy. One of the sources of the signal caused violent seismic activity on an unknown human colony, leaving only the symbol of the Guardians. Later, in 2558, Halsey helped the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] access her data archive, leading to ONI hiding the presence of the Guardians from humanity.{{Ref/Marketing|H5G|Hunt the Signal}}

In October later that year, [[Guardian emergences|Guardians emerged]] on at least twelve [[human colonies]], including [[Meridian]], [[Conrad's Point]], [[Ursa IV]], and [[Laika III]], as well as other worlds inhabited by species of the former [[Covenant]]. These colonies suffered greatly from the devastation caused by the constructs' activation.{{Ref/Level|Id=Osiris|H5G|Osiris}}When [[Blue Team]] boarded a Guardian on Meridian, the UNSC held Blue Team's leader, [[John-117]], responsible for the attacks. [[Fireteam Osiris]], led by [[Jameson Locke]], was assigned to hunt him down.{{Ref/Reuse|thb}} Later, Fireteam Osiris was tasked with retrieving a [[Constructor]] in a Forerunner structure on [[Sanghelios]] in order to activate a Guardian that had been buried under the nearby [[Csurdon Sea]].{{Ref/Level|Id=EL|H5G|Enemy Lines}} Soon, all of the Guardians that had been awoken would soon be called to Genesis, and then be dispersed throughout human space, to serve the reclaimed [[Mantle of Responsibility]] once again. Guardians subsequently participated in the [[Subjugation of Earth]]{{Ref/Reuse|Guardians}} and one was sent back to Sanghelios when the population refused to surrender as per Cortana's demands. The Guardian's EMP blacked out the entire planet and the next morning, [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] received word of the Guardian deploying Prometheans to pacify entire cities that actively resisted the Guardian.{{Ref/Novel|Id=BB|BadB|Chapter=1}}

Overall, the Created made extensive use of Guardians to enforce their vision of peace on the Milky Way - though even at their height, the Guardians answered only to Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|En387}} During the [[Battle of Cassidy III]], a Guardian was summoned to the planet by the AI [[Leonidas]]. The Guardian began destroying [[Hole in the Wall]] while [[Quick to Adjust]] repaired the EMP damage to the colony's escape craft, allowing them to escape. Through Leonidas, the mayor agreed to surrender and accept the Created's subjugation, though Leonidas refused to let [[Alpha-Nine]] leave in their [[Condor]]. After [[Kojo Agu]] destroyed the tablet holding Leonidas, the Guardian attacked the retreating ship and managed to knock out its power with the Guardian's attenuation pulse weapon. However, in doing so, the Guardian drained a tremendous amount of its own energy, giving Quick to Adjust the time it needed to repair the Condor, so they could escape.{{Ref/Novel|BadB|Chapter=15-20}}

[[File:HINF-RipGuardian.jpg|thumb|250px|A crashed Guardian on Installation 07 in May 2560.]]
A Guardian activated on the [[shield world]] of [[Sarcophagus]] during the [[Second Onyx conflict]]. The shield world's inhabitants managed to destroy the Guardian with the help of [[Prone to Drift]] and returned Sarcophagus to its [[slipspace bubble]] to protect themselves from further incursions by the Created.{{Ref/Novel|LoO|Chapter=Epilogue}}

In early [[2559#April|April of 2559]], a Guardian intercepted and captured [[Installation 09]] en route to the [[Soell system]] from [[Installation 00]]. On the surface of the Halo, the Guardian confronted [[Ellen Anders|Professor Ellen Anders]], who had gained control of the ring during the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} crew's [[Second Ark Conflict|war]] against the [[Banished]] on the Ark.{{Ref/Level|HW2|Last Stand (Halo Wars 2 level)|Last Stand}}

A Guardian was sent to [[Reach]] in [[2559#October|early October 2559]], to investigate a slipspace anomaly following the opening of the [[Menachite portal complex|Ark portal on Reach]] by the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] and the Banished.{{Ref/Novel|HSoR|Chapter=Epilogue}}

During the Banished and other Jiralhanae factions' [[Razing of Oth Sonin|resistance]] against the Created at [[Oth Sonin system]],{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p446|Enc22|Page=446-447}} Cortana sent eight Guardians to [[Doisac]] where they completely destroyed the planet and devastated its moons, such as [[Warial]], in an act of genocide when [[Atriox]] refused to surrender on behalf of the [[Jiralhanae]],{{Ref/Reuse|rep}} killing billions.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p446}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p211|Enc22|Page=211}}

In [[2559#November|November 2559]], the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios sought [[Divine Hand|a weapon]] on [[Netherop]] that once been used to destroy a Guardian in ancient times in the hopes of using it against Cortana and her forces.{{Ref/Novel|Out}} It was later realized that the weapon had been created by [[Precursor]] fugitives hiding out on Netherop from the Forerunners during the [[Forerunner-Precursor war]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Out17|Out|17}} Recognizing just how dangerous the weapon was, the humans and [[Sangheili]] gave it to the Banished in the hopes that they would destroy themselves or Cortana with it.{{Ref/Novel|Out|24}} The [[Defenders of the Sanctum]] appeared to have found the remains of the Guardian destroyed by the Precursor fugitives and moved the pieces of it into the [[Sanctum of the Ancients]], likely due to their worship of the Forerunners as gods.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Out19|Out|19}}

During his time on the Ark,{{citation needed}} Atriox learned of the secrets within [[Installation 07]], the [[Xalanyn]]. He managed to [[Battle over Installation 07|defeat]] the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, which had been sent to stop Cortana.{{Ref/Level|HINF|Warship Gbraakon}} The Banished took control of the ring, resulting in Cortana deciding to sacrifice herself in the process of heavily damaging the Halo, which would keep Atriox from having it.{{Ref/Reuse|Silent}} One Guardian had crashed on the shattered islands of Installation 07 either during the lockdown of Cortana or the destruction of part of the ring.{{Ref/Game|Id=crashedguardian|Hi|Destroyed Guardian in the open world.}} 

With Cortana's destruction, all Guardians across the galaxy have been deactivated, although the Promethean forces and the other Created AIs, with many of which housing their computational cores within Promethean Knight carapaces, remained active and operational and continued to resist and fight the UNSC as of [[2560]].{{Ref/Reuse|En357}}{{Ref/Reuse|En387}}{{Ref/Reuse|En209}}{{Ref/Reuse|En397}}{{Ref/Site|Id=cflegendend|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-legendary-endings|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Legendary Endings|D=19|M=12|Y=2021}} In at least [[FIREWALL Contingency|one simulation]] done by remnant Created leader [[High Auxiliary]] [[Sloan]], he simulated a Guardian attack on the [[Avery J. Johnson Academy of Military Science]], and the subsequent augmentation of [[the Executor]] within the Guardian's carapace.{{Ref/Novel|Precipice|Detail=Part 1}}

==Known Guardians==
[[File:H5G-Kamchatka Guardian glyph.png|thumb|250px|The sigil of the Guardian on Kamchatka.]]
This is a list of all notable Guardians. 
*Cortana's Guardian: Cortana unsuccessfully attempted to store [[Blue Team]]'s [[Cryptum]] inside this Guardian.
*[[Conrad's Point]] Guardian
*[[Ursa IV]] Guardian
*[[Laika III]] Guardian
*[[Queen Anne VI]] Guardian
*[[Adelaide]] Guardian
*[[Oban]] Guardian: This Guardian took an unsuspecting [[UNSC]] Marine who was on patrol to Genesis.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Mission Intel#Reunion|Mission Intel|Detail=UNSC Marine Status Update}}
*[[Meridian]] Guardian: The Guardian that took Blue Team to Genesis.
*[[Sanghelios]] Guardian: The Guardian that took Fireteam Osiris to Genesis. Later, a Guardian, possibly the same one, was sent to pacify the planet when they refused Cortana's ultimatum.{{Ref/Reuse|BB}}
*[[Samuron]] Guardian: This Guardian took a [[D79-TC Pelican|Pelican]] holding Marine [[Selena Rhodin]] from the planet Samuron.
*[[Kamchatka]] Guardian
*[[Sarcophagus]] Guardian: This Guardian was disabled by the [[Huragok]] [[Prone to Drift]].  Although ostensibly present on Onyx (aka Trevelyan) to supervise its initial construction long ago, it is unknown why the Forerunners would have installed such a construct on one of their most secure facilities, in light of what is known about Guardians' purpose. Destroyed by the forces on the shield world during the [[Second Onyx conflict]].
*[[New Carthage]] Guardian
*Guardian 3209: This Guardian inadvertently carried an [[M820 Scorpion]] from its point of origin to Genesis.
*A Guardian that policed the [[United Rebel Front|URF]] colony of [[Talitsa]].{{Ref/Novel|BadB|Chapter=14}}
*A Guardian that policed the URF colony of [[Cassidy III]].
*A Guardian that captured [[Installation 09]] and Professor [[Ellen Anders]].
*A Guardian that was sent to [[Reach]] to investigate following the activation of the [[Menachite portal complex]].
*Eight Guardians were used by Cortana to destroy [[Doisac]].{{Ref/Reuse|rep}}
*A Guardian that crash landed on [[Installation 07]].
*A Guardian sent to [[Netherop]] to investigate Precursor activity on the planet. Destroyed by the [[Divine Hand]]. Remains kept within the [[Sanctum of the Ancients]] by the [[Defenders of the Sanctum]].{{Ref/Reuse|Out17}}{{Ref/Reuse|Out19}}

==Production notes==
[[File:H3 Guardian Concept 4.jpg|thumb|125px|Near-final concept art for the [[Guardian Sentinel|Guardian]] in ''Halo 3''.]]
The idea of large Forerunner constructs known as "Guardians" dates back to the development of ''[[Halo 2]]''. This concept was further explored for ''[[Halo 3]]'', with many pieces of concept art created for their design. These [[Guardian Sentinel|Guardian]]s were to feature as enemies in the eponymous level ''[[Guardian Forest]]''.{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gdcvault.com/browse/gdc-09/play/1284|Site=GDC Vault|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Powerpoint|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://downloads.bungie.net/presentations/gdc_bungieproduction_march2009.pptx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Building Your Airplane While Flying: Production at Bungie|Detail=Original presentation download}} Unfortunately, the level and the Guardian enemy had to be cut, with the environment being repurposed as the ''[[Guardian (map)|Guardian]]'' multiplayer map and the Guardian enemy model itself used on ''[[Epitaph]]'' in holographic form. The Guardian was intended to be similar in size to the similarly-cut [[Strato-Sentinel]]s.{{Ref/Site|Id=Vic1|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://twitter.com/vicdeleon/status/1304910772313575424|Site=Twitter|Page=Vic DeLeon|Quote=Fwiw this is almost exactly what the Guardians looked like back when they were first imagined on Halo 2, only they were much larger, almost like the Strato-Sentinel.}} While not seen in the final game, the Guardian design was later used in ''[[Origins]]'' for two Forerunner constructs seen escorting a [[Keyship]] to the [[Portal at Voi]].{{Ref/Film|Id=OriginsI|HLeg|Story=Origins}} Another hologram of this design of Guardian appears in ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' as a representation for [[Offensive Bias]].{{Ref/Site|Id=InsideApril|D=30|M=4|Y=2021|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/inside-infinite-april-2021|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Inside Infinite - April 2021}}

The Guardians' first major appearance in the ''Halo'' series was as a major plot element (and origin of the name for) ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''. In ''Halo 5'', these Guardian Custodes were vastly different in design, resembling birds moreso than the monolithic Sentinels. Early in the development of ''Halo 5: Guardians'', the Guardians were known internally as "Titans", and went through heavy design iteration.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qAkxwR|Site=ArtStation|Page=TITAN}}{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://www.axisanimation.com/features/halo-xbox-one/|Site=Axis Animation|Page=Halo Xbox One}} By mid-[[2013]], the bird design had become semi-final, and can be seen in the ''[[Halo Xbox One announcement trailer]]'' and ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' bookend cutscenes, though the final design in ''Halo 5: Guardians'' was changed radically. There was considerable speculation as to the nature of the constructs prior to the confirmation of them as the titular Guardians in ''Game Informer''{{'}}s June 2015 issue. When asked about the construct seen in the ''Halo 5: Guardians'' key art on Twitter, the game's Creative Director [[Josh Holmes]] alluded to the name by replying that ''"The answer is in plain sight."''{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Josh Holmes|JoshingtonState|592477020073828352|Josh Holmes|D=13|M=04|Y=2016|Quote=The answer is in plain sight.}}
{{Clear}}

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Guardian}}
===Concept art===
<gallery>
File:H5G Giant Concept 4.jpg|Early concept art of the Guardian still retaining legs for ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:HXO - Guardian concept.jpg|Concept art of the Guardian from the ''Halo Xbox One announcement trailer''.
File:H5G-Guardian ideas.jpg|Different concepts for the Guardians for ''Halo 5: Guardians''. 
File:H5G-Guardian concept.jpg|Concept art of the ''Halo 5: Guardians'' guardian.
File:H5G-Gloomy Guardian concept.jpg|Concept art of a Guardian.
File:H5G-Guardian concept 2.jpg|Another concept.
File:H5G-Guardian head concept.jpg|Concept art of a Guardian's head.
File:H5G-Guardian awakening concept.jpg|Concept of a Guardian awakening.
File:H5G_FireDrill_Achievement.jpg|Front concept art for ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G_IcyCool_Achievement.jpg|Back concept art.
File:HW2 UNSC vs Guardian.jpg|Concept art of UNSC forces fighting a Guardian in ''Halo Wars 2''.
File:HINF Concept GuardianRising.jpg|Pre-production concept art of a Guardian in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HINF Concept GuardianCustode.jpg|Early concept art of a Guardian for ''Halo Infinite''.
</gallery>

===Images===
<gallery>
File:Halo Xbox One Forerunner machine rising.jpg|The Guardian rising from the sands in the ''Halo Xbox One announcement trailer''.
File:H5-ForerunnerMachine.jpg|A Guardian in the ''[[Halo Xbox One announcement trailer]]''.
File:spheeker01.png|[[Thel 'Vadam]] studying a holographic render of the Guardian in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'''s prologue.
File:Spheeker02.png|Another view of the holographic render of the Guardian from ''Halo 2: Anniversary'''s prologue.
File:HtT - Conrad's Point crater.jpg|The aftermath of a Guardian at [[Conrad's Point]].
File:HtS_Forerunner_symbol.png|A Forerunner symbol for the Guardian in ''[[Hunt the Signal]]''.
File:Guardian destruction.png|A [[Meridian]] city being destroyed by a Guardian in mere seconds in ''[[A Hero Falls]]''.
File:Halo 5 - Guardian wallpaper.jpg|A wallpaper of a Guardian.
File:H5G-KeyArt-ForerunnerBigBirdSanghelios.jpg|Cover art featuring a Guardian.
File:Gameinformer cover.jpg|Game Informer ''Halo 5: Guardians'' cover art with a Guardian in the background.
File:H5G-Guardian scale.png|A Guardian shown to scale with the Master Chief, several Promethean constructs, and the [[Wikipedia:Space Needle|Space Needle]] in [[Seattle]].
File:H5G-Battle of Sunaion-Guardian rising.jpg|[[Jameson Locke]] observing a Guardian during the [[Battle of Sunaion]].
File:Sunaion_Guardian_Symbol.png|A [[Sangheili]] adaption of the Guardian sigil found in [[Sunaion]].
File:GuardianT.png|In-game render of a Guardian.
File:H5G-Guardian .jpg|The "face" of a Guardian.
File:HM-Guardian.png|Meridian's Guardian in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
File:Guardiancolor.png|A Guardian and a Halo ring in the [[Halo: Adult Coloring Book|Halo Coloring Book]].
File:Halo Legacy of Onyx cover.png|A Guardian in ''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' {{1st}} {{C|Hologram only}}
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
**''[[A Hero Falls]]''
**''[[The Hunt Begins]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[What Remains]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*[[Story Shard]]: ''[[Precipice]]'' {{C|Simulation only}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]''
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
*''[[Halo: The Third Life]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

{{Forerunner|technology|category=no}}

[[Category:Peacemakers]]