Someone whose job is guarding a place. And is wearing the appropriate uniform. Tend to wear [[armor]] and wield [[polearm]]s. Often just background characters to set a scene (literally, by standing in the back), or mooks guarding an entrance that the hero must bypass.

Sometimes also called "watchmen".

[[Fantasy]]/[[Medieval]]/[[Renaissance]]: City guards, palace guards, noble's mansion guards, etc.

For the modern variants, use [[bodyguard]] or [[security guard]].

Avoid using the guard tag for fantasy bodyguards, as they tend to dress like knights or normal soldiers (and are functionally such, in the case of a noble's "household" guard), or be out of uniform.

h4. Notable examples:
* [[Guard (Skyrim)|]] ([[the_elder_scrolls_v:_skyrim|Skyrim]])
** Generic city guard from  [[the_elder_scrolls_v:_skyrim|Skyrim]]. Often depicted dressed in the colors and equipment of the Whiterun Hold Guard.
** Heavily associated with the [[Arrow to the knee]] meme.
* [[Guard (Oblivion)|]] ([[the_elder_scrolls_iv:_oblivion|Oblivion]])
** Generic city guard from [[the_elder_scrolls_iv:_oblivion|Oblivion]]. Often depicted dressed in the colors and armor of the Imperial City Guard.
** Heavily associated with the [[Criminal scum!_(meme)|]] meme.