diff --git a/common/eq_constants.h b/common/eq_constants.h
index b4aba72b4..057051ff6 100644
--- a/common/eq_constants.h
+++ b/common/eq_constants.h
@@ -437,9 +437,14 @@ static const uint8 SkillDamageTypes[EQ::skills::HIGHEST_SKILL + 1] = // change t
 #define INVALID_INDEX	-1
 
 static const uint32 MAX_SPELL_DB_ID_VAL = 65535;
+
 static const uint32 DB_SPELL_CAZIC_TOUCH = 982;
 static const uint32 DB_SPELL_TOUCH_OF_VINITRAS = 2859;
 
+static const uint32  DB_FACTION_GEM_CHOPPERS = 255;
+static const uint32  DB_FACTION_HERETICS = 265;
+static const uint32  DB_FACTION_KING_AKANON = 333;
+
 enum ChatChannelNames : uint16
 {
 	ChatChannel_Guild = 0,
diff --git a/zone/npc.cpp b/zone/npc.cpp
index 9bea0ec67..325f8fb70 100644
--- a/zone/npc.cpp
+++ b/zone/npc.cpp
@@ -3368,3 +3368,35 @@ void NPC::ScaleNPC(uint8 npc_level) {
 	npc_scale_manager->ResetNPCScaling(this);
 	npc_scale_manager->ScaleNPC(this);
 }
+
+bool NPC::IsGuard()
+{
+	switch (GetRace()) {
+	case RT_GUARD:
+		if (GetTexture() == 1 || GetTexture() == 2)
+			return true;
+		break;
+	case RT_IKSAR_2:
+		if (GetTexture() == 1)
+			return true;
+		break;
+	case RT_GUARD_2:
+	case RT_GUARD_3:
+	case RT_GUARD_4:
+	case RT_HUMAN_3:
+	case RT_HALFLING_2:
+	case RT_ERUDITE_2:
+	case RT_BARBARIAN_2:
+	case RT_DARK_ELF_2:
+	case RT_TROLL_2:
+	case OGGOK_CITIZEN:
+	case RT_DWARF_2:
+		return true;
+	default:
+		break;
+	}
+	if (GetPrimaryFaction() == DB_FACTION_GEM_CHOPPERS || GetPrimaryFaction() == DB_FACTION_HERETICS || GetPrimaryFaction() == DB_FACTION_KING_AKANON) { //these 3 factions of guards use player races instead of their own races so we must define them by faction.
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}