At a glance
Guide notes- Role
- Item-eating Vanguard — frontline that converts gear into permanent stats and Shards
- Best for
- Players who like managing item slots and want a Vanguard who funds the run while holding the line
- Strength
- Wheel and Deal stuns and can spit items; Rank paths turn items / Shards into permanent power
- Weakness
- High micro of item order — wrong consumes waste value; also needs Max HP to stay relevant as a frontliner
Current Tier Ranking
Full Guildrun tier listItem-consuming Vanguard engine — spikes runs that can feed him economy loops.
How to play
Decision notes for shops and formation — not a copy of the in-game panel.
Early
He can be your first tank if you feed Max HP. Put disposable or low-value items left-most if you are on the consume path so Red Hot Deals eats trash, not your best piece.
Mid
Executive wants more item slots and Rush Shields per item. Hoarder wants Shard generation and Vanguard/Tank retaliation. Dealer/consume path wants a steady item pipeline.
Late
Treat Niklas as economy + frontline hybrid. Keep Max HP and Rush tools coming; do not turn him into a backline caster.
Positioning
True front row on the engage path. He stuns what he hits — make sure the mace connects with the scary pack, not a stray trash mob.
Base Stats
- Max HP
- 1150
- Max Mana
- 90
- Starting Mana
- 45
- Mana Regen
- 4
- Defense
- 44
- Attack
- 0
- Magic
- 0
- Attack Speed
- 0
- Crit
- 15
- Move Speed
- 1.5
- Attack Range
- 1
- Mana Lock (s)
- 0.5
- Base Attack Speed
- 0.4
- Base Attack Damage
- 40
Ranks C → S
Draft a duplicate or use an eligible campfire event to rank up. Art below shows each rank portrait for Niklas.
Rank C
Base kit — the active ability is equipped and the starting stat line applies.
- C — start with the active ability and base kit.
- B — lock one of three specialization paths.
- A / S — take the rank stat package, then draft class modifiers.
Abilities
Kit text from the Demo dump, plus short notes on how to play around each ability.
Active
Wheel and Deal
activeSwing a mace to deal 4 (+ 25% Max Health , + 200% Attack , + 150% Magic ) damage and Stun for 1.23 seconds. This ability has a 3% chance to create a random item.
In practice: Stun + Max HP scaling smash. The item-create chance is gravy — build him to survive and connect, not to fish procs.
Passives
Red Hot Deals
passiveWhen Niklas survives combat, consume the item in his left-most item slot. Permanently gain 100% of its stats and gain Shards equal to 0% its value. For Rush (0), auto attacks inflict 0.25 (+ 25% Max Health ) Burn per equipped item.
In practice: Play around Rush windows: pair Rush relics and do not expect burst before the threshold.
The Executive
passiveGain two item slots. For Rush (1), gain 1 (+ 1 per 15 Max Health ) Shields per equipped item.
In practice: Play around Rush windows: pair Rush relics and do not expect burst before the threshold.
The Hoarder
passiveWhenever a Vanguard or Tank is auto attacked, they deal 1 damage to the attacker per Shard generated this game. Backup.
In practice: Lean into Vanguard / Tank / Shard — itemize the stats this ability already scales with.
Specializations
Rank B paths that reshape how Niklas scales through a run.
The Dealer
Passive description pending.
When to pick: Item-consume / permanent stats path (pairs with Red Hot Deals). Take when you can keep feeding him leftover shop items.
The Executive
Gain two item slots. For Rush (1), gain 1 (+ 1 per 15 Max Health ) Shields per equipped item.
When to pick: More item slots and Rush Shields per equipped item — take when you actually fill those slots every fight.
The Hoarder
Whenever a Vanguard or Tank is auto attacked, they deal 1 damage to the attacker per Shard generated this game. Backup.
When to pick: Team retaliate scales with Shards generated this game. Take on Shard-heavy Vanguard/Tank boards, not solo Niklas greed.
Best relics & synergies
Relics that overlap Vanguard keywords and Niklas's ability tags. Top matches include a short “why”.
Defensive Amplifier
Tanks and Vanguards gain 45 Defense and 300 Max HP.
Why: Max HP / defensive amp keeps the front line honest.
Defensive Backup Prism
Heroes gain 1 Defense per rank of each Tank in the reserves and 1 Max HP per rank of each Vanguard in the reserves.
Why: Matches Niklas's Tank / Max HP / Vanguard tags.
Vanguard's Aegis Banner
At start of combat, Vanguards gain Shields equal to 25% of their Max HP.
Why: Helps him live as the engage tank while the economy engine spins.
Vanguard's Amplification Filigree
For Rush (1), Vanguards gain +8% Max HP.
Vanguard's Rally Banner
For Rush (1), Vanguards gain 10 Attack and 0 Defense per 25 Max HP.
Vanguard Equipment
Get an item which benefits Vanguards. Start with 1 fewer Shards.
Why: Speaks directly to his item-slot identity.
Shard
Crystal charges spent or consumed for bonus effects.
54 relics · 12 abilities · 3 classes
Crit
Critical strikes and effects that trigger when attacks crit.
49 relics · 19 abilities · 3 classes
Rush
Tempo windows that amp allies for a short burst of aggression.
41 relics · 16 abilities · 4 classes
Stall
Control and delay tools that interrupt enemy pace.
39 relics · 22 abilities · 4 classes
FAQ
Common questions when this hero shows up in the shop or draft.
Is Niklas good in Guildrun?
Yes if you enjoy item management and Vanguard frontline. No if you want a simple “buy and forget” carry — mis-ordered items punish you.
What class is Niklas?
Vanguard. Role focus: item-consuming economy engine who still stuns and tanks.
What relics work with Niklas?
Vanguard equipment/aegis pieces, defensive amplifiers, and Rush tools if you took Executive.
How do you play Niklas?
Park him front, grow Max HP, control which item sits left-most for consumes, and pick Executive when slots are full or Hoarder when Shard generation is high.
Tips
- Before each combat, glance at item order — left-most is the consume candidate on the deals path.
- Hoarder without Shard income is a trap; take it only when the run already prints Shards.
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