Aegis
Aegis is a Relic used in Vault of Glass and The Nexus.
Contents
Quick Melee Attack
| Console | Control |
|---|---|
| Action-based | Melee OR Jump, then Melee |
| Default Playstation | R1 OR X, then R1 |
| Default xBox | RB OR A, then RB |
The "Quick Melee Attack" is a low-damage melee quick attack that looks like you're a Captain America wanna be knocking a dude back with his sheild. You can activate it mid-air or on the ground. When used, it lunges you forward several meters.
It two-hits Harpies, Hobgoblins, and Goblins, and you shouldn't use it on the Praetorian. It is not an effective way to destroy the detention bubble in the Templar's Well, as you could swing out of it, causing instant death.
When used mid air, the lunge forward adds a movement dynamic the community calls Relic Skating. Because a swipe lunges you forward, you can quickly and easily traverse space without losing much altitude when the melee is spammed mid-air. It works like the legendary and exotic swords and ascendant sword. Relic skating is very useful for quick movement, and especially helpful for moving between teleports in the Templar challenge.
Heavy Melee Attack
| Console | Control |
|---|---|
| Action-based | Fire Weapon |
| Default Playstation | R2 |
| Default xBox | RT |
The "Heavy Melee Attack" is a high-damage melee quick attack that looks like a shoulder charge. You activate it on the ground. Like the Quick Melee Attack, it also lunges you forward.
It one-hits Harpies, Hobgoblins, and Goblins, and three-hits a full-health Praetorian. It also is not an effective way to destroy the detention bubble in the Templar's Well, for the same reasons.
Slam Attack
| Console | Control |
|---|---|
| Action-based | Jump then Fire Weapon |
| Default Playstation | X + R2 |
| Default xBox | A + RT |
The "Slam Attack" is a high-damage area-of-affect attack that is similar to a Titan's Fist of Havoc with the Death from Above Perk. While smaller and doing less damage than a FoH, its damage area is spherical, so it does damage outward on the ground, upward, and all around. Activating it high in the air causes a forward and downward rush toward the target with a short delay. It does a similar amount of damage as the Heavy Melee Attack but takes longer to execute, so shouldn't be used for just one target; for one target the heavy melee attack is faster and just as effective.
This attack is very useful for taking down many Harpies, Goblins, and Hobgoblins that are close to each other in one hit. It almost completely destroys a Preatorian with a direct hit. It is the most effective, fastest, and safest way to destroy the detention bubble in Templar's Well, should you be detained.
In the Atheon challenge, this attack is one of the two ways you can destroy the oracle assigned to the relic holder. All oracles can be destroyed with the Aegis by slamming certain spots, but the easiest ones for a challenge mode player will be ones near the portal. Stand underneath them and use the Slam Attack.
Charged Attack
| Console | Control |
|---|---|
| Action-based | Activate Super |
| Default Playstation | L1 + R1 |
| Default xBox | LB + RB |
The "Charge Attack" is a high damage, focused burst that works similar to a Warlock's Nova Bomb with Lance perk selected. Upon pressing the buttons to activate super, there is a short 1 second or so delay during which you can aim the charge, and it feels a lot like the Hunter's Shadowshot drawback. It can be fired from the ground or in the air. This attack requires a full super bar to use. When your super bar is charged, you won't get the same on-screen prompt, though.
This attack is the only way to drop the Templar's shield during the Templar Battle. It's uncommon to use offensively in that battle, but could be used to save you if you're being mobbed or do extra damage to the Templar if you get a charge and its shield is already down. During the Gatekeeper battle, a Charge Attack is very effective against other Gatekeepers and against the Preatorians that attack the conflux. A Charge Attack is the other way to destroy an Oracle, BUT be sure to have some distance behind the Oracle or the energy from the blast will also launch you backwards.
This attack charges like a super. To get it charged faster get kills and max your intellect... but mostly get kills. Stats and perks that boost your super charge rate affect the Aegis charge attack speed as well (like Inverse Shadow).
Cleansing Shield
| Console | Control |
|---|---|
| Action-based | Hold Grenade |
| Default Playstation | Hold L1 |
| Default xBox | Hold LB |
Kabr must've been a Titan (he was), because he borrowed another Titan move for this one. The Cleansing Shield is similar in size and shape to a Titan's Ward of Dawn and blocks incoming damage from enemies. Unlike the Ward of Dawn, you can shoot out of the shield, so teammates inside the shield can do damage while protected from damage. The Aegis itself has a large hitbox that fellow guardians can hit, especially with rockets, so while its possible to fire a rocket out of the shield, it is generally a bad idea--at least a blocked bullet doesn't kill you and potentially ruin the run.
The shield works by holding the grenade button. Unlike Ward of Dawn, which is cast with a single press of the button, or the King's Fall Aurae which you hold, the Aegis Cleansing Shield must be manually kept up by holding the grenade button. It will stay up until its energy runs out. Its energy bar is where the grenade indicator normally is. In order to cast the shield a first time after picking it up, it must fully charge.
High discipline helps speed up charge time. Also, stats that affect grenade charge, including the Frost-EE5 boots, speed up its charging rate.
The shield has a critical function in the Gatekeeper and Atheon battle as it cleanses Guardians of the "Marked by the Void" debuff. Guardians infected with the debuff can reset the debuff by being inside the shield when it is activated.
In the Atheon damage phase, the prevailing strategy is to use the defensive capabilities of the shield to give your team cover from Atheon and Supplicant fire while they DPS Atheon. That said, it can be fun to not use the shield, in which case the Aegis holder can fire charge attacks instead. Remember, you must hold down the action button to keep the shield up. Also, word of warning: stand still! Moving with the shield active causes it quickly appear and disappear in a way that is barely visible (maybe only 1 frame on screen) but is often enough time for Atheon to kill your teammates. Don't blame the game, blame yourself.
Lore
The Aegis is a shield used within the Vault of Glass. The Aegis is the only thing that can protect Guardians from being erased from existence, and the only thing that can take down the Templar's otherwise impervious shield.
The Aegis was created by Kabr, after his fireteam was erased from existence by the Templar. Kabr sacrificed his own light to create a weapon that could change fate and stop the Templar and its oracles.
Last Words of Kabr
These are the last words of Kabr, the Legionless:
I have destroyed myself to do this. They have taken my Ghost. They are in my blood and brain. But now there is hope.
I have made a wound in the Vault. I have pierced it and let in the Light. Bathe in it, and be cleansed. Look to it, and understand:
From my own Light and from the thinking flesh of the Vex I made a shield. The shield is your deliverance. It will break the unbreakable. It will change your fate.
Bind yourself to the shield. Bind yourself to me. And if you abandon your purpose, let the Vault consume you, as it consumed me.
Now it is done. If I speak again, I am not Kabr.
Gameplay
The main attack is a melee strike, which is fairly effective against most units. Using the grenade button activated the shield, which removes the "Mark of Negation" debuff. This has a cool down, however, so time wisely. Lastly, the super attack fires an energy blast, and its main purpose is to bring down the Templar's shield.
The Aegis is used primarily in the Templar fight, but also appears in the Atheon fight to protect timewarped Guardians against the effects of time travel. The super is also an effective attack against Atheon.
Trivia
- The Aegis comes from ancient Greek mythology; it is described as the shield of Athena, featuring the head of the Gorgon Medusa.
