Guildrun Adjacent — Positioning Guide
What Adjacent means in Guildrun, how formation neighbors power shields, auras, and splash, plus every Demo effect that mentions adjacent.
Updated Aug 3, 2026 · Demo 0.5.7 dataset · 17 related entries scanned from content
What “Adjacent” means
In Guildrun, Adjacent is a formation keyword: an effect cares about units standing in neighboring board tiles. You will see it on relics, items, hero actives/passives, and rank modifiers.
Practically it answers three placement questions: Who stands next to my frontliner? Who shares a tile edge with a DoT target? Did I accidentally give a “exactly one neighbor” rank mod a third friend?
Guildrun uses a hex-style board. Treat adjacency as shared edge / neighboring slot. When a rank mod shows placement feedback in-game, trust that highlight over any wiki diagram — this page lists which effects care, not a pixel-perfect tile map.
How to play around it
- Frontline auras: park the aura carrier where enemies (or allies) will actually stand next to them — empty side lanes waste the text.
- Exactly-one neighbor ranks: leave a deliberate gap. A third adjacent ally turns the buff off.
- Splash on target (Dragon breath passives): adjacency is relative to the attack target, not your formation — enemy packing still matters.
Ally adjacency — buffs and shields(3)
These effects care about heroes standing next to each other: start-of-combat shields, Max HP, or healing that lands on neighbors.
- Bulk FormationRank modRank modifier
At start of combat, give this Hero and adjacent Heroes 1 (+ 0% Max Health ) Max HP.
- Guardian's LanternItem
At start of combat, the holder and adjacent Heroes gain a Shield equal to 400% of the holder's Max HP.
- Shield FormationRank modRank modifier
At start of combat, give this Hero and adjacent Heroes 1 (+ 100% Magic , + 0% Mana Regen ) Shields.
Enemy adjacency — auras and cleave(7)
Frontline kits that punish units standing next to the owner: aura damage, retaliate splash, or stun on adjacent enemies.
- BashAbilityActive ability
Deal {0}+{1}_Attack damage and Stun all adjacent enemies for {2} seconds.
- ExplosiveAbilityPassive ability
When this unit dies, it deals 1 (+ 500% Magic ) damage and inflicts 1 per 5 Magic Burn on all adjacent enemies.
- Inner FlameAbilityMing · Passive
Each second, inflict 1 (+ 0% Max Health ) Burn on adjacent enemies. For Rush (0), double the Burn.
- Intimidating AuraRank modRank modifier
Each second, deal 1 (+ 100% Max Health ) damage to adjacent enemies.
- SlamAbilityActive ability
Deal {0}+{1}_Magic damage and Stun all adjacent enemies for {2} seconds.
- SpikedRank modRank modifier
When auto attacked, deal 1 (+ 100% Defense ) damage to adjacent enemies.
- Vindictive ShieldsRank modRank modifier
The first time each combat this Hero goes below 50% Max HP, they gain 1 (+ 50% Max Health ) Shields and deal 1 (+ 50% Max Health ) damage to adjacent enemies.
Exactly one neighbor(2)
Rank modifiers that only fire when a hero is adjacent to exactly one other hero. Park a clean duo — a third neighbor turns the buff off.
- Scaling AttackRank modRank modifier
At start of combat, if this Hero is adjacent to exactly one other Hero they both permanently gain 1 Attack.
- Scaling SpeedRank modRank modifier
At start of combat, if this Hero is adjacent to exactly one other Hero they both permanently gain 1 Attack Speed.
Positional triggers and splash(5)
Effects that use adjacency as a condition or splash rule: hits around a target, heals allies next to a DoT victim, or refreshes when an adjacent enemy drops low.
- Blight Resonance PrismRelicEpic
Whenever an enemy takes Poison or Burn damage, heal all adjacent Heroes to them for 100% of that damage.
- BloodthirstyAbilityRip · Passive
For Rush (1), gain 10 (+ 5% Max Health ) Attack. Whenever Rip or an enemy adjacent to him first drops below 5% Max HP, refresh all of his Rush abilities and gain 5% Max Health Attack Speed.
- Flaming AttacksAbilityPassive ability
The Dragon's auto attacks inflict 1 (+ 1000% Magic ) Burn and hit all Heroes adjacent to its target for 2% damage.
- Freezing AttacksAbilityPassive ability
The Dragon's auto attacks inflict 1 (+ 1 per 15 Magic ) Frost and hit all Heroes adjacent to its target for 2% damage.
- Toxic AttacksAbilityPassive ability
The Dragon's auto attacks inflict 1 (+ 1 per 20 Magic ) Poison and hit all Heroes adjacent to its target for 2% damage.
Keep reading
Two more guides that pair well with this one.
Guildrun Player Handbook — Positioning, Targeting & Combat Rules
A Demo 0.5.7 player handbook for Guildrun combat: first contact, formation jobs, cast windows, adjacency, and how to place so auto-battle stops deleting your carry.
Updated Sep 5, 2026
Why Did I Wipe? A Fight-Loss Checklist for Guildrun
Diagnose Guildrun Demo losses in one pass — opener tanking, casts, keyword triggers, shop spend, and formation — so the next fight has a real fix.
Updated Aug 4, 2026