Magic Guard (マジックガード Magikkugaado?), also localized as M. Guardian, is a recurring battle action and passive skill that allows a character to defend against magical attacks in games where the standard Guard does not.
Mechanic Description and History
The Magic Guard action was introduced in Tales of Destiny 2 as a defensive option requiring 20% SP to use. For 2 seconds, it allows the user to reduce the damage and prevent stagger from magical attacks, restoring TP if successful. This function complements the traditional Guard, which only works against physical attacks. It is activated by using the Guard button and pressing down at the same time. In Tales of Symphonia, this action is replaced by the Guardian arte and its variants, which works against both physical and magical attacks but requires TP. The actual skill, localized as M. Guardian, improves both Guardian Seal and Bastion's damage-reducing efficacy. It has a variant called the Special Guard in Tales of Legendia.
In Tales of the Abyss, Magic Guard requires a passive skill to be equipped to be used. It has no cost but can be held for as long as desired. This condition is also repeated in multiple games, though in Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X, it continuously drains EBG while in effect. Other games instead return it to its status as a standard battle action that requires no cost but cannot defend against physical attacks. In games that do not feature this action, the regular Guard may defend against both physical and magical attacks.
Appearances
Original Titles
- Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X - Base Skill: All playable characters
- Tales of Destiny 2 - Battle Action
- Tales of Symphonia - Compound EX Skill: Sheena Fujibayashi, Regal Bryant (M. Guardian)
- Tales of the Abyss - AD Skill: All playable characters (Magic Guard)
- Tales of Innocence - Battle Action
- Tales of Innocence R - Battle Action
- Tales of Vesperia - Skill: All playable characters (Magic Guard)
- Tales of Hearts - Skill: All playable characters
- Tales of Xillia - Skill: All playable characters (Magic Guard)
- Tales of Xillia 2 - Skill: All playable characters (Magic Guard)
Crossover Titles
- Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology - Battle Action
- Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 - Battle Action
- Tales of VS. - Battle Action
- Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3 - Battle Action
In-Game Descriptions and Battle Quotes
Tales of Symphonia
Japanese Description: 特技ガード時のダメージが減少する
Tales of Vesperia
Japanese Description: [Guard] ＋ [Down]で、魔法攻撃のダメージを軽減する。この際、ボタンを押し続けている限り有効となる
Localized Description: "Press [Guard] + [Down] to decrease magic defense taken. Effective only while the button is held down."
Tales of Phantasia: Narikirio Dungeon X
Japanese Description:
＋[D-Pad Down]でマジックガードを使え、術ダメージが1/4になる。- 押し続けるとＥＢＧを消費しつつ持続、１０％以下で消滅する
Tales of Xillia
Japanese Description: ＋[Left Stick Down]で、魔法攻撃のダメージを軽減する。この際、ボタンを押し続けている限り有効となる