Alien Techguardian
Guardian
Guardian site types and layouts, the materials each drops, ship and SRV kit, the best blueprint sites for Module/Weapon/Vessel, the blueprint and Ancient Key loops, the no-combat component farm, the obelisk data loop, fragment counts for everything, and suggested trip plans.
Verified: September 10, 2026Game: 4.4.x (Rhino SRV update)
Evergreen. Site locations and puzzles have not changed in years.
Summary
- Guardian sites sit 600 to 1,100 ly from Sol, in the Synuefe, Col 173, NGC 2451A, IC 2391, Pencil, and Vela Dark Region sectors.
- Three site types. Ancient Ruins give obelisk data. Guardian Structures give blueprints and components. Guardian Beacons (in space) give the Ancient Key for vessel blueprints.
- The site layout decides the blueprint. Turtle gives Module. Bear, Hammerbot, and Bowl give Weapon. Squid, Robolobster, and Stickyhand give Vessel.
- One blueprint per visit. Relog from your ship to reset the site and do it again.
- No trader takes Guardian materials. You must farm every one.
- Just want the FSD Booster? You need 1 Module Blueprint, 21 Power Cells, 21 Technology Components, 24 Focus Crystals, and 8 HN Shock Mounts. No obelisk data needed.
The Three Site Types
| Site | Where | What You Get | Danger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Ruins | Planet surfaces | Obelisk Pattern Data (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon) | Safe. No Sentinels at ruins. |
| Guardian Structure | Planet surfaces, often near Ruins. Only shows in the Nav panel within 1,000 Ls. | Blueprint fragments, Power Cells, Power Conduits, Technology Components, Sentinel parts, Wreckage | Sentinels (flying drones with missiles) |
| Guardian Beacon | In space, only visible within 1,000 Ls | Ancient Key (needed for Vessel blueprints) | Safe |
Structure Layouts and Their Blueprints
| Size | Layouts | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny | Fistbump, Lacrosse, Crossroads | None. No Data Terminal. Skip. |
| Small | Turtle | Module |
| Small | Bear, Hammerbot, Bowl | Weapon |
| Medium | Squid, Robolobster, Stickyhand | Vessel (needs an Ancient Key) |
What You Are Farming
| Material | Type | Where It Drops |
|---|---|---|
| Guardian Module Blueprint Fragment | Blueprint | Turtle structures, via the Data Terminal |
| Guardian Weapon Blueprint Fragment | Blueprint | Bear, Hammerbot, Bowl structures |
| Guardian Vessel Blueprint Fragment | Blueprint | Squid, Robolobster, Stickyhand structures, with an Ancient Key |
| Guardian Power Cell | Component | Destructible panels at structures |
| Guardian Power Conduit | Component | Destructible panels at structures |
| Guardian Technology Component | Component | Destructible panels. Rarest. Fixed drops per panel. |
| Guardian Sentinel Weapon Parts | Component | Destroyed Sentinels |
| Guardian Wreckage Components | Component | Destroyed Sentinels |
| Pattern Alpha, Beta, Gamma Obelisk Data | Data | Active obelisks. Common. |
| Pattern Delta and Epsilon Obelisk Data | Data | Active obelisks. Rare. Epsilon is the hardest. |
Your data storage can hold enough obelisk data for every unlock at once. Grind it in one sitting.
Ship and SRV Kit
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Small ship (Diamondback Explorer, Cobra Mk V, Asp Explorer at most) | Terrain is rough. Big ships struggle to land. |
| Planetary Vehicle Hangar + SRV | All structure and ruin work is done in the SRV |
| Point Defence on top of the ship | Shoots down Sentinel missiles aimed at you, even while you are in the SRV, if you park close |
| A laser (or rail gun) | Only energy weapons activate Guardian Beacon pylons |
| 1 to 2 tons of cargo | The Ancient Key is cargo |
| Fuel scoop, decent jump range | 600 to 1,100 ly each way |
| Repair limpets or an AFMU | Sentinels hurt |
Forgot something? The Prospect outpost in Synuefe EN-H d11-96 (near planet 7 A) sits in the middle of Guardian space.
Module Blueprints (Turtle)
Closest and most useful picks. Canonn lists dozens more.
| System | Body | Distance From Sol | Why Pick It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synuefe PX-J c25-8 | 7 a | 662 ly | Closest |
| Synuefe LQ-T b50-1 | B 2 | 745 ly | Close |
| Synuefe GT-H b43-1 | C 4 | 777 ly | Popular older site |
| Synuefe NL-N c23-4 | B 3 | 871 ly | Best overall. Rich Technology Component panels plus three Ancient Ruins on the same planet. One trip does everything. |
Weapon Blueprints (Bear, Hammerbot, Bowl)
| System | Body | Distance From Sol | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synuefe GV-T b50-4 | B 1 | 676 ly | Bear. Closest. |
| Synuefe PM-L c24-24 | C 6 | 724 ly | Bear |
| Synuefe EU-Q c21-10 | A 3 | 790 ly | Bear. Most used in guides. |
Vessel Blueprints (Squid, Robolobster, Stickyhand)
An Ancient Key works at any vessel site, not just the one the beacon points to.
- Closest vessel site overall: IC 2391 Sector CA-A d43, body 12 a, at 603 ly. Bring a key from any beacon.
Vessel Blueprint Sites Directory
| Vessel Site | Body | Distance From Sol | Layout | Nearby Beacon for the Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC 2391 Sector FL-X b1-7 | A 3 | 619 ly | Squid | IC 2391 Sector MX-T b3-6 |
| Synuefe EU-Q c21-15 | A 1 | 786 ly | Squid | Synuefe KU-F b44-4 (the first beacon ever found) |
| Synuefe EN-H d11-96 | 7 a | 784 ly | Stickyhand | Synuefe RL-C b46-6. The Prospect outpost is in this system. |
| Synuefe AH-J d10-20 | A 3 | 787 ly | Stickyhand | Synuefe ZG-J c10-49 |
| Synuefe IL-N c23-19 | B 2 | 681 ly | Squid | Synuefe IL-N c23-15 |
The Blueprint Loop (Module and Weapon Sites)
Nothing has to be killed "on the clock." Clear Sentinels first, then start the timer.
- 1Land close to the structure so your Point Defence covers you. Deploy the SRV.
- 2Grab an Ancient Relic. Relic towers rise from the ground as you approach. Shoot the top, then scoop the relic into the SRV.
- 3Approach the Data Terminal first. The two pylons near it rise. More Sentinels wake up. Kill them.
- 4Find all six pylons before you start. They start as triangles in the ground and are easy to miss.
- 5Charge the pylons by shooting them with the SRV turret. The timer starts at 6 minutes and adds 2 minutes per pylon charged. Charging the last pylon usually spawns a new wave. Kill it.
- 6Park on the X marking in front of the Data Terminal. All six shield sections should glow.
- 7Jettison the relic. An orb rises. Scan it with the SRV Data Link Scanner. That is your blueprint.
- 8Loot: Sentinels drop Weapon Parts and Wreckage. Shoot the blue panels for Power Cells, Conduits, and Tech Components.
- 9Board your ship and relog to reset the site for another blueprint.
The Ancient Key Loop (Vessel Sites)
- 1Fly to a Guardian Beacon system. Target the beacon in the Nav panel and drop in.
- 2Shoot the three pylons at the points of the beacon with a laser or rail gun. There is a time limit, so hit them quickly.
- 3The top opens and an orb appears. Scan it with your ship. The message points you to a nearby vessel site.
- 4The beacon collapses and drops the Ancient Key. Nudge it clear of the base and scoop it by hand. Collector limpets tend to get it stuck. Large ships have trouble too.
- 5Take the key to any vessel site. Run the same pylon loop as above, but drop the Ancient Key at the Data Terminal instead of a relic.
Component Farming Loop (No Combat)
Best spot: Synuefe NL-N c23-4, planet B 3 (Turtle site).
- 1Orient the site with the Guardian machine at the top ("north").
- 2Land to the southeast, just outside the earthen berm. Point your ship away from the site.
- 3Drive to the five angled towers nearby. Each has three destructible panels.
- 4Shoot and scoop. Panel drops are fixed, so you always know what you will get. This corner has the highest Technology Component density.
- 5Do not activate the machine. This end of the site stays quiet if you leave it alone.
- 6Get back in your ship. Relog. Repeat.
Obelisk Data Loop
- 1Go to an Ancient Ruins site with a tight cluster of active obelisks.
- 2Drive the SRV between the glowing ones.
- 3Scan each active obelisk with the Data Link Scanner. Each one goes dark after a scan.
- 4Log out to the main menu, log back in. They light up again.
- 5Repeat until Delta and Epsilon are topped up. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma fill fast.
Best Obelisk Ruins Sites
| System | Body | Distance From Sol | Why Pick It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synuefe XR-H d11-102 | 1 B | 368 ly | Closest ruins. A cluster of four obelisks sits just outside the main ruin. The first ruins ever found. |
| Synuefe NL-N c23-4 | B 3 | 871 ly | Three ruins on the same planet as the best Module and component site. Ruin 1 has a triple column of obelisks. |
| Vela Dark Region KR-W c1-24 | 7 A (lat -18.42, long 65.50) | About 900 ly | Four active obelisks close together. One player reported 100+ Delta and Epsilon in under an hour. |
| Synuefe TP-F b44-0 | Beta ruin | About 800 ly | Seven or more obelisks in a line |
How Many Fragments for Everything
| Goal | Fragments Needed |
|---|---|
| All 6 Guardian modules | 6 Module fragments |
| All 3 Guardian fighters | 3 Vessel fragments |
| Every standard Guardian weapon (all sizes and mounts) | 18 Weapon fragments. Medium and large turrets cost 2 each. |
| Every "Modified" Guardian weapon too | 6 more Weapon fragments |
Full costs for each unlock: Module 4.
Suggested Trip Plans
| Plan | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| FSD Booster only | Farm Focus Crystals at an HGE (Module 2). Buy 8 HN Shock Mounts. Fly to Synuefe NL-N c23-4 B 3. Get 1 Module blueprint. Farm 21 Tech Components and 21 Power Cells from panels. Fly home. | One long evening |
| All six modules | Same site. 6 relogs for 6 Module blueprints. Farm components between. Use the ruins on the same planet for obelisk data. | Two or three sessions |
| Guardian Gauss (AX) | Synuefe EU-Q c21-10 A 3 for Weapon blueprints. Components from Synuefe NL-N c23-4. | One or two sessions |
| Fighters | Key from Synuefe KU-F b44-4. Vessel blueprint at Synuefe EU-Q c21-15 A 1, next door to the weapon site. | One session per fighter |
Gotchas
- Approach the Data Terminal before anything else. The pylons will not rise until you do.
- Tiny sites have no Data Terminal. Check the layout before landing.
- Structures only appear within 1,000 Ls. Fly close to the planet to see them.
- Relog from your ship, not the SRV, at structures. Sentinels flag you as in danger.
- Guardian unlocks are paid at a Guardian Tech Broker back in the bubble (Module 4). Bring the commodities (HN Shock Mount and others) with you.
- Only one Guardian FSD Booster per ship.
- The FSD Booster needs no obelisk data. Skip the ruins if that is all you want.
Needs Checking ⚠️
| Item | Why | Where to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Distances for Vela Dark Region KR-W c1-24 and Synuefe TP-F b44-0 | Estimated, not measured | Inara or EDSM system page |
| Obelisk cluster positions | From older player posts. Sites do not change, but descriptions can be vague. | Canonn ruins maps |
| Modified Guardian weapon stats | Newer broker items | Module 4, broker screen |
Sources
| Source | Used For |
|---|---|
| Canonn Research Group: Guardian Structure (updated June 2026) | Every layout, blueprint mapping, full site lists with distances, Ancient Key rules |
| Canonn Research Group: Guardian Beacons | Beacon activation, key rules, beacon to site pairs |
| NEWP Guardians Guide | Step by step loop, pylon timer, The Prospect outpost, one blueprint per instance |
| Elite: Dangerous Guides (Google Sites): Module Blueprints, Components, Obelisk Data | Sentinel spawn plan, group trick, no-combat panel farming, obelisk loop, FSD Booster needs no obelisk data |
| Frontier Forums: Pattern Epsilon threads, Guardian Pattern Obelisk Data guide | Obelisk farm sites and cluster locations |
| Elite Dangerous Wiki (Fandom): Ancient Ruins, Guardian Module Blueprint Fragment | Ruin types, obelisk behavior |
| Inara Technology Broker page | Fragment counts per weapon |
Cross links
Module 2 (Focus Crystals via HGE)Module 4 (Guardian unlock costs)Module 5 (small ship picks)Module 8 (Guardian weapons in AX)