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6
7->''"Infidels! You have touched the forbidden treasure! Now you will never again see the ''light of day!''"''
8-->-- '''Cave of Wonders''', ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}''
9
10Our [[TheHero brave hero]] has [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy outsmarted the guards]], sneaked into the ancient and mysterious crypt and now is about to lay his hands on the [[MacGuffin object of his long quest]] and/or about to open the [[HellGate grim-looking gate]] leading to said object.
11
12But wait! As he approaches, a sudden [[RoarBeforeBeating roar chills the blood in his veins]] and a [[EldritchAbomination towering, nameless creature]] suddenly appears to stop him. It's the Guardian!
13
14This happens really often, with any kind of possible keeper. Monsters, living statues, dragons or demons summoned by portals and runes. It can be tracked [[OlderThanFeudalism back in old myths]] where a monstrous guardian keeps a treasure or a person, usually for his master. Of course, it doesn't need to be revealed in that exact way to qualify, but has just to be a monster keeping a treasure.
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16Usually the monstrous/inhuman nature of the keeper is justified by its skills: monsters tend to be stronger and more resilient, with hard skin or maybe CombatTentacles or enhaced senses or BreathWeapon or whatnot.
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18A combination found so often it is its own subtrope is a [[DragonHoard dragon guarding a treasure hoard.]]
19
20Sometimes overlap with TeleportingKeycardSquad, especially if the room appeared totally bare [[HeWasRightThereAllAlong just a moment ago]]. See also ForgotToFeedTheMonster when the spooky guardian is here... and already dead or incapacitated.
21
22Don't confuse with ThresholdGuardians which usually is there to test the hero, while the [=MacGuffin=] Guardian is here to ''eat'' the hero. It may, however, be the ''test'' of said ThresholdGuardians.
23
24Compare GateGuardian.
25
26----
27!!Examples:
28
29[[foldercontrol]]
30
31[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32* In ''Manga/SazanEyes'', the gate to the Sanctuary in the Egyptian Kunlun is guarded by a small army of sand golems shaped as the Egyptian pantheon and a massive, Anubi-shaped Golem with petrification powers. Later, the Tomb of the Water General and the nexus of energy withing are protected by a mass of sentient, corrosive water. Though never stated, it is implied that the other four Generals' resting places are guarder by similar, elemental entities.
33* [[TheBrute Jidanbo]] from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' may count, if you wish to [[OurGiantsAreBigger include overgrown humans]].
34* ''Manga/BusterKeel'' has the humongous snake monster Anaconda living in an AbsurdlySpaciousSewer and guarding Gomeijii's treasure chest, revealed to be a more formidable [[MultipleHeadCase Twin Heads]] when confronted by the heroes.
35* In ''Manga/InuYasha'' there are several examples, including Gozu and Mezu, the invincible guardians of the gate leading to the underworld, and a three-headed, fire-breathing wolf made of stone guarding the holy treasure of the Yoro Tribe, the [[WolverineClaws Gorai]][[ShockAndAwe shi]].
36* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE'' has a mechanical variant in SID, an unmanned, AI-controlled mobile armor that guards the EXA-DB. And since it uses weapons taken from the EXA-DB, its weaponry and defenses are decades, if not centuries, ahead of anything anyone else possesses.
37* In ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'', Onimaru's Fortress is guarded by the Four Evil Kings, four demonic monsters acting as keepers.
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Comic Books]]
41* ''ComicBook/SensationComicsFeaturingWonderWoman'': In "Morning Coffee" Diana is quite frustrated when she realizes that ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, who she's just apprehended, stole the golden fleece when the fleece's draconic protector attacks them.
42* ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye The Transformers: Lost Light]]:'' [[spoiler:Before the fall of Garrus-9, the Magnificence was placed inside Grimlock's chest, on the grounds it was the safest place in the universe. It took Scorponok a long time, and an incredible amount of torture, to get it out of Grimlock's chest.]]
43* ''ComicBook/XMen:'' The M'Kraan Crystal, which contains within it "the end of all that is", is guarded by the tiny Jahf. Who can hit hard enough to send a man with an adamantium skeleton flying at escape velocity. Should someone, somehow, defeat Jahf, he's immediately replaced by the much larger Modt. And should Modt fall, he assures that he'll be replaced by someone even ''stronger'', and so on until whoever tries getting to the Crystal dies or runs away. (Or manages to talk their way past.)
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Fan Works]]
47* ''Fanfic/AvengersOfTheMultiverse'': In Episode 8, "Dawn of the Dragons", the five keys that unlock the [[KrakenAndLeviathan Leviathan's]] prison are hidden in different parts of the world, and are each protected by a legendary creature — the Mother Phoenix in China, the Quetzalcoatl in Mexico, the Yowie-Yahoo in Australia, the King Hydra in Greece, and the Sphinx in Egypt.
48* ''Fanfic/TheEquestrianWindMage'': Since the second season plays out more like a proper Zelda story than the first, [[ArcVillain Ganondorf]] places each of the Elements of Harmony under the protection of a powerful monster -- the Element of Honesty is guarded by Grey Hoof and a Stallord, the Element of Kindness by Volvagia, the Element of Generosity by the Gohma Queen, the Element of Loyalty by Shanzom, and the Element of Laughter by Twinrova, while Ganon keeps the Element of Magic on his person.
49* In the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'', it turns out Moochick was this for the Rainbow of Light until he gave it to the Paradise Ponies and Megan, while Heathspike (Spike's ancient ancestor) was the guardian of the Rainbow of Darkness. Unfortunately, Heathspike dying in battle killing the evil dragon Smaug resulted in Lord Tirek getting his Rainbow [[spoiler:[[NiceJobBreakingItHero thanks to a younger, far more apathetic Luna]]]].
50* ''Fanfic/QueenOfAllOni'':
51** The Sages guard the first tablet of the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Teachings of Eternal Shadow]], [[AncientKeeper Nameless]] protects the second (on top of his duties as warden of the [[SealedEvilInACan Vault of Endless Night]]), and the third is now only guarded by a single OldMaster (the giant wolf that also protected it having succumbed to a MutualKill long ago).
52** Also, Miss Kimber protects the [[SealedEvilInACan container]] holding the [[LivingShadow Shadow Man]].
53* ''FanFic/ShadowsAwakening'' uses this a lot:
54** The Chamber of Wishes, containing the [[MacGuffin Ring of Kur-Asan]], is protected by a giant scorpion.
55** The Hidden Shadowkhan Temple is guarded by an army of TheUndead.
56** The Unseen Enclave, where Solomon's Archive is located, is guarded by an [[PlayingWithFire efreet]].
57** The hidden Himalaya shrine where the Jewel was hidden is protected by yeti with [[AnIcePerson ice powers]].
58* In ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'', unlike in canon, the [[GreatBigBookOfEverything Book of Ages]] has Guardian who Shendu [[spoiler: and Valerie]] must outwit in order to access it.
59[[/folder]]
60
61[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
62* The [[GeniusLoci Cave of Wonders]] itself in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' [[OnlyTheWorthyMayPass will only allow one it deems worthy]], a "diamond in the rough", to enter and claim the magic lamp. Even then, those who enter are given one rule, "touch nothing but the lamp." Should they give into temptation and touch any of the other priceless treasures within, the Cave will leave them BuriedAlive.
63[[/folder]]
64
65[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
66* The golden sword in ''Film/TheManWhoSavesTheWorld'' is guarded by two golden living statues. Or, to be honest, two guys wearing golden suits.
67[[/folder]]
68
69[[folder:Gamebooks]]
70* ''Literature/BloodSword'' mostly plays this straight but has a curious inversion in Book 5: at one point you (or your party) are sailing down an underground river where you stumble on a small island containing a shrine to the ancient pagan deity {{Kraken|AndLeviathan}}. If you decide to profanate the altar and take the coins on it... Kraken won't appear, because you've shown that you hold no fear for a forgotten relic. If you leave the altar intact, Kraken will attack you as soon as you leave the island.
71* ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' series has plenty of such enemies, sometimes intentionally left behind to guard the chest/item you need (for example the [[DemBones Thassallos from ]] ''Literature/VaultOfTheVampire'' or the Cat o Ninetails in ''Literature/{{Bloodbones}}'') but sometimes as either decoys or traps on their own. For example, the stone {{Golem}} from ''Literature/TheCitadelOfChaos'', who is guarding three treasure chests which don't contain actual treasure.
72* In ''Literature/LaSagaDuPretreJean'', several plot-relevant items are guarded by some monster. Book 1 alone has two pieces of the magical armor guarded by a massive octopus and a Hawk-man you have to trick or fight. At least two of them (one in Book 2, the other in Book 4) are also the FinalBoss of the story.
73* Plenty in the ''Literature/LoneWolf'' series, especially [[GottaCatchThemAll during the quest]] for [[MineralMacGuffin the Lorestones]]. They often act as FinalBoss for a given book.
74** [[EvilOverlord Lord Haakon]] himself, and [[SummonMagic the monsters he summons]], must be vanquished to retrieve the Book of the Magnakai at the end of book 5, ''Shadow on the Sand''.
75** The monstrous Dakomyd guards the first Lorestone in book 6, ''The Kingdoms of Terror''.
76** The Crocaryx and the Zadragon in book 9, ''The Cauldron of Fear''.
77** Book 20, ''The Curse of Naar'', can be said to be mostly a series of [=MacGuffin=] Guardians, as several Demon Lords must be beaten to retrieve each time a new PlotCoupon.
78[[/folder]]
79
80[[folder:Literature]]
81* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheEmergedWorld'', each elemental sanctuary has a sort of guardian. Subverted by some of them which aren't hostile at all and at least two which are guarded by a maze and enviromental hazards.
82* Too many to count in ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' including the [[TheUndead Thing in the Crypt]], several Giant Snakes and at least one GiantSpider.
83* ''Literature/{{Fablehaven}}'' has the cat-thing guarding one of the artifacts [[CatsHaveNineLives which has nine progressively more dangerous forms.]]
84* In the first ''Literature/GotrekAndFelix'' book, there's a huge, Warpstone-mutated Troll guarding the treasure inside an abandoned dwarven tomb.
85* In the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series:
86** In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'', the Philosopher's Stone is guarded by [[FluffyTheTerrible Fluffy]], a huge cerberus-like beast and by a Troll.
87** In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', each of the golden eggs in the first part of the Twiwizard Tournament is guarded by a dragon.
88* [[spoiler:Arachne]] in the third ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' book, ''Mark of Athena''.
89* ''Literature/TheMummyMonsterGame'': In book 1, while all the pieces have a referee who provides them with the clues to beat that segment of the game, the best examples are the pharaoh Rameses, who has to be beaten in a ChariotRace to receive the second arm of Osiris, and the monster Ammit, who has to be beaten after the jeweled scarab representing Osiris's heart is retrieved.
90* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': All the pieces of the Spectrum Key, the object needed for saving the world, have magical guardians that the protagonists must defeat to retrieve them (though we don't see Blackmail's).
91[[/folder]]
92
93[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
94* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' arc "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS1E5TheKeysOfMarinus The Keys of Marinus]]", one of the keys is in a block of ice and guarded by several warriors who come to life when it is thawed out.
95[[/folder]]
96
97[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
98* Myth/ClassicalMythology has various guardian monsters like Ladon (the dragon that guarded the Apples of the Hesperides) and another dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece.
99* In ''Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh'' there's a fire-breathing giant Kumbawa who guards a forest of precious trees. Unlike other examples however, Gilgamesh's objective is the guardian himself, as he wishes to kill him for fame.
100* In Myth/EgyptianMythology the Book of Thoth is guarded by serpents and scorpions and a Serpent that cannot be slain, meaning it can [[HealingFactor come back together]] if its head is chopped off.
101* Myth/JapaneseMythology has a retroactive example in the Yamata no {{Orochi}}, when Susanowo finds out that Orochi's eighth tail actually holds inside the magnificent Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi (or [[IHaveManyNames Kusanagi]]), superior to his own sword.
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
105* ''TabletopGame/{{Stormbringer}}'' supplement ''Demon Magic'', adventure "The Velvet Circle''. The box the adventurers are seeking is guarded by a demon named Tyik Tyva. Inside the box is a Melnibonean Wheel worth 500,000 large bronze pieces.
106[[/folder]]
107
108[[folder:Theater]]
109* Fafner in ''Theatre/DerRingDesNibelungen'' is a giant turned dragon who holds the treasure including the [[RingOfPower Ring of the Nibelung]]. He can only be slain by a free hero; the god Wotan cannot intervene due to [[GodsHandsAreTied his contract with the giants]].
110[[/folder]]
111
112[[folder:Video Games]]
113* Plenty of these in the ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' series. It's played with in one particular instance, where you can reason with the guardian and argue that its orders were to guard [[ExactWords the chest]], not necessarily the chest's contents. Since it was getting bored with guarding the thing anyway, it lets you take the item and leave without a fight.
114* ''VideoGame/BattleForWesnoth'':
115** Spoofed to no end with the presence of a GiantSquid in a pool just outside the entrance of the Dwarven Kingdom is lampshaded. In a particular campaign said gag was brought up a notch.
116** Used more seriously in ''The Hammer of Thursagan'' where the tome needed to open the secrets gates in the final level is guarded by several [[DemonicSpiders vicious huge spiders.]]
117* The Guardians of [[EvilTowerOfOminousness Temen-Ni Gru]] in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'' may count. Most of them at least. The other halves are GateGuardian instead.
118* ''VideoGame/Doom3'': As soon as you step into the room where the Soul Cube was sealed in Hell, a massive dinosaur-like blind demon (aptly named "The Guardian") emerges from a hellish portal and proceeds to engage the nameless Marine, serving as a PuzzleBoss.
119* ''VideoGame/JonathanKaneTheProtector'' has the giant LivingStatue boss, who turns out to be guarding a powerful doomsday artifact - an EvilMask who grants it's wearer ultimate power - from falling into the wrong hands. In a NiceJobBreakingItHero moment, Jonathan destroying the statue in a boss fight allows the villains to retrieve the mask.
120* ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'':
121** ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'': Each of the [[MacGuffin Sanctuaries]] is guarded by some sort of monster.
122** ''VideoGame/Mother3'': One of the needles is protected by the Barrier Trio, a group of posing, PSI-using golems.
123* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'': Each MacGuffin necessary for the plot advancement was guarded by a fearsome [[DegradedBoss monster]], including the Sergeant, [[StoneWall Adamantoise]] and [[ThatOneBoss Shrieker]].
124* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': Kratos must fight several Guardians during the course of the original three games, including Pandora's Guardian, [[KingMook the Mole Cerberus]] and [[ScaryScorpions Skorpio]].
125* ''VideOGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'': [[ThatOneBoss Grand Jewel]], [[OptionalBoss Polter Armor]] and [[KrakenAndLeviathan the Last Kraken]]. The first is the keeper of the Dragon-Blocking Staff, the Polter Armor possess Dart's InfinityPlusOneSword and the Last Kraken was engineered specifically by the Wingly Savan to protect the Sigil of his city. [[spoiler: Too bad BigBad Zieg manages to hijack its mind.]]
126* ''VideoGame/{{Mardek}}'': Chapter 3 features guardians in each of the elemental temples you visit. Fire had a wise, flaming dragonlike guardian named Girru who tests you by combat and finds you worthy, Water had a giant lobster-seahorse thing with a human rider, and Earth had the Rock Mole. Darkness was guarded by a wolflike alien mage called Solaar, but she had already been taken out by a villain when you get there and in fact joins your party in hopes of catching the thief.
127* ''VideoGame/MusashiSamuraiLegend'': Each of the five areas has a boss which you have to defeat in order to unlock the power of your elemental swords. The earth Sword has [[ScaryScorpions Gorpus]], the water Sword has [[KrakenAndLeviathan Scarlet Kraken]], the fire Sword has [[MagmaMan Vallord]], the wind Sword has [[GiantSpider Arachnoblia]] and the void Sword has [[CoolSword Ashura]]. Vallord and Arachnoblia though are slight exceptions, there's more background to them than just mere guardians.
128* ''VideoGame/OdinSphere'': The mighty dragon Wagner, who has little love for other races due to the genocide against his kind, agrees to keep the [[RingOfPower Ring of Titrel]] safe in his stomach at [[ScrewDestiny Velvet's]] request due to a combination of Velvet besting him in combat, amusement at putting a spanner in several other character's plans, and because he's not interested in TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt that Titrel could be the key to. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, Odin ''really'' wants the Ring for his own ambitions, so he eventually tasks [[BlackKnight Oswald]] to kill Wagner [[StandardHeroReward in exchange for a castle, a Psypher spear, and the enchanted-sleeping Gwendolyn]] (Oswald wasn't interested at all until the last one was added). Granted, Wagner would love nothing more than to kill Oswald regardless since [[ItsPersonal Oswald killed his friend Hindel]]. Oswald kills Wagner, but keeps the ring for himself (since he thinks it would actually be a nice gift for his to-be wife) and notes to Odin [[LoopholeAbuse he only wanted a dragon slain with no mention of "rings"]].]]
129%%* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'': Tobi. Unlike other examples, however, he must be defeated in a race.
130* ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' series:
131** ''VideoGame/Onimusha2SamuraisDestiny'': Each secondary character in their respective sidequest must recover an important item to help Jubei and fight a souped up, red [[EliteMook Oowassha]] to do so.
132** ''VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege'': The huge hound Gertrude.
133** ''VideoGame/OnimushaDawnOfDreams'' features the gigantic, bug-looking keepers of Sawayama, which attacks you while you try to escape.
134* ''VideoGame/PonyIsland'': The three daemons: Azazel, Beelzebub and Asmodeus.
135* ''VideoGame/{{Rayman}}'': The [[VideoGame/Rayman2TheGreatEscape second game]] has its share, including the Guardian of the Cavern of Bad Dreams.
136* ''VideoGame/SevenSamurai20XX'': The Library of Avalon is protected by Guardians, pitch black demon-like entities with horns, long bladed tails an dimensional powers who were created to defend the place, even if their original makers are long dead.
137* ''VideoGame/TitanQuest'' has some important quest items guarded by unique, powerful monsters:
138** Act I, you must slay Arachne to obtain the olive tree branch you must offer to the Oracle of Delphi.
139** Act II, you have to kill Scarabeus to recover the Scroll of Invocation, and then you must defeat [[WolfpackBoss the Pharaoh's Guard]] and [[ScorpionPeople Nehebkau]] to recover the Eye of Truth and the Hand of Chaos needed for the ritual.
140** Act III, a giant Chimera guards over the Sickle of Chronos, [[spoiler: but by the time you kill it, the sickle is missing.]]
141** Act IV, in order to access to Hades you must recover the Eye of the Gray Sisters for Medea. This means killing the Grays themselves. In Hades, the [[GiantSpider Bloated One]] guards the magic mirror you need to release Orpheus, while a sidequest involves recovering the ashes of a Titan by slaying the huge reptilian demon watching over them.
142** Act V: Troll King Goldtooth has stolen the golden sickle of a local druid. In order to recover it, you must fight Goldtooth and kill him.
143** Act VI: Each of the items required to travel to Atlantis have a guardian you have to dispose of, including [[TheUndead King Arganthonius]], [[GiantEnemyCrab The Ancient One]] and [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Ladon]].
144* The huge Kraken in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld'' was probably left behind as a guardian.
145* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'': Arthas hears of a sword called Frostmourne, which may be the key to killing the Dreadlord Mal'ganis. The Guardian tries to repel him but fails, leading to Arthas taking the sword, becoming Ner'zhul's pawn and then the Lich King.
146-->'''Arthas:''' Still trying to protect the sword, are you?\
147'''Guardian:''' No... Trying to protect ''you...'' from ''it...''
148[[/folder]]
149
150[[folder:Webcomics]]
151* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
152** The outdated monsters guarding Dorukan's Talisman. Justified, since it's the Talisman itself which lured them there.
153** The Black Dragon guarding the Starmetal fragment in the Wooden Forest.
154** Kraagor's Gate is said to be protected by a bunch of monsters.
155[[/folder]]
156
157[[folder:Western Animation]]
158* ''WesternAnimation/{{Fangbone}}'' (and the original ''Literature/FangboneThirdGradeBarbarian'' books) has the titular Fangbone the Barbarian, and his friend from Earth, Bill. They're both tasked with guarding the big toe of [[BigBad Venomous Drool]], making sure he never retrieves it to regain his full power.
159* A rare heroic example is in ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfChima'', where the lions guard the pool of chi that falls from Mount Cavora, and unlike most MacGuffin Guardians, are willing to share what they're guarding.
160* ''WesternAnimation/MagiNation'' has Snout & Peepers, a two headed [[OurDragonsAreDifferent hyren]] that lives in the Hall of Heros and protects the Book of Elders whenever it shows up there. Snout prefers to roast intruders on sight.
161* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': PlayedForLaughs in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E16Duffless Duffless]]", in which the secret exit from the Nuclear Power Plant is guarded by a GiantSpider with a taste for human flesh.
162* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'': In the episode "The Enchanted Quill", the eponymous quill inside Castle Quill is guarded by griffins.
163* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS4E2TheLostMattressKrabsVsPlankton The Lost Mattress]]", Mr. Krabs' prized money-filled mattress is guarded by a ferocious worm at the junkyard after it gets thrown away.
164* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'':
165** [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Grougaloragan]]'s [[EggMacGuffin Dofus]] is guarded by a giant Stone {{Golem}}, able to switch its head (and power) for another if beheaded.
166** Phaeris the Powerful, another dragon, is guarding Shinonome's Dofus, thus forbidding any access to the Crimson Claws Island. [[spoiler:This is mainly to ensure Qilby can't get back to her.]]
167** In the special episode ''The Legend of Ogrest'', a GiantSquid is guarding a pirates treasure and another [[EggMacGuffin Dofus]].
168** At end of the [=OVAs=], Yugo entrusts [[PhysicalGod Goultard]] with guarding [[spoiler:the Six Eliatrope Dofus]] as a favor. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:[[FaceHeelTurn Adamai]] and Oropo are not only able to steal them, but the former uses them to power up and defeat Goultard before unleashing his Dark Vlad personality to turn him into a minion.]]
169[[/folder]]

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