Vanguard

File:MercenariesLogo.jpg File:CG Logo.jpg

Template:FH2

Originally designed and crafted from the finest materials and the skilled hands of the Golden Crucible, only a small number of Vanguards were ever produced. Able to keep pace with the fleetest of warcasters, and to set their cannon-laden shield and long hafted poleaxe against their foes, the Vanguard is a highly prized masterpiece on the battlefield.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Assault
• Template:Construct
• Template:Set Defense
• Template:Shield Guard

Weapons

Shield gun
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW			LOCATION
		8			1			Template:-			12			Template:-
Shield
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		0.5				2				11				Left
Template:Shield
Guisarme
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		2				5				14				Right

Theme Forces

• Mercenaries
  • Template:Flame in the Darkness
  • Template:Llaelese Resistance. It gains Pathfinder in this theme.
  • Template:Operating Theatre
  • Template:Soldiers of Fortune
  • Template:Strange Bedfellows
  • Template:The Irregulars. If it is 'jack marshalled in this theme, it gains Flank [Warrior]
  • Template:The Kingmaker's Army
  • Template:The Talion Charter

• Crucible Guard
  • Template:Prima Materia - Vanguards can Shield Guard twice per turn in this theme. It also gains Cutting Edge in this theme.
  • Template:Magnum Opus

• Other Factions
  • Convergence players can use this warjack in the Template:Strange Bedfellows theme, or by putting it in Aurora2's, Asphyxious4's, or Nemo4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Cryx players can use this warjack by putting it in Asphyxious4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Cygnar players can use this warjack in the Template:Flame in the Darkness theme, or by putting it in Nemo4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Infernal players can take this model in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Crosse2 (not Lukas) is leading the army. This model gains Accumulator [Soulless] in this theme.
  • Khador players can use this warjack in the Template:Flame in the Darkness theme.
  • Aside from that, Mercenary warjacks can be taken in a plethora of Faction's themes via by putting it under the control of a Mercenary 'Jack Marshal or Mercenary "Junior Warcaster" (see #Who can take this warjack?). However the "Faction Type" of the warjack doesn't change when you do it this way.

Thoughts on Vanguard

File:Vanguard.jpeg

Original Sculpt

Vanguard in a nutshell

The Vanguard is a combined arms jack with a focus on defense and protecting other models. It's expensive for a light, but versatile.

Its stats compare favorably to 13/16 Cygnaran lights. For 1 point more than a Charger, the Vanguard gets +3 ARM, +2 POW, +1" reach, Assault, Set Defense, Shield Guard and an extra initial attack. In Llaelese Resistance, it gets Pathfinder. When standing near Ashlynn d'Elyse, it gets +1 to attack rolls. This is all quite good.

The Vanguard is a key 'jack for the Crucible Guard, being their line non-mercenary source of Shield Guard as well as a solid melee light with an above average ability to take hits. Most Guard lists will run at least one Vanguard, often two, especially when run in the Prima Materia theme. This theme allows Vanguards to Shield Guard twice per turn, which makes a Prima Materia gunline very scary for opposing gunlines.

Combos & Synergies

It will perform admirably in a Llaelese Resistance led by Ashlynn army where it will have Pathfinder with a nice piece of rubble to hang out in, knockdown immunity through Chosen Ground, and +1 to hit. You might see it with other Llaelese Resistance casters from time to time as well.

• Crosse1
  • His Fire Group and Moving Shadows spells are good support spells for the Vanguard's fairly average ranged attack.
  • Still, probably not his cup of tea and he normally takes something different.
• Magnus2
  • He does not like being shot, so Shield Guard(s) are nice- although the Swabber may be a more popular choice.
  • Calamity helps the damage output and Esort and Unyielding let it get up there and jam effectively.
  • Combined with Bullet Dodger it is 15/21 against melee attacks even before Set Defense.
• Ashlynn1
  • A Vanguard makes a good Admonition target and having a Shield Guard is always important for protecting Ashlynn from shots outside of her 12" Feat.
  • as a Llaelese model, her Veteran Leader ability gives it +1 to hit.
• Crucible Guard
  • All Guard casters run Vanguards with approximately the same efficiency (their support spells are often better used on heavies or Raillesses). Shield Guard is an extremely important ability for the faction and every Guard caster wants to strongly consider a Vanguard bodyguard.
  • Vanguards can Shield Guard twice in Prima Materia, making them especially effective into opposing gunlines. This is especially good with Gearhart casting deceleration and making them ARM 21.
  • Maker's Mark means that Vanguards become Crucible Guard models, meaning that they benefit from all "friendly faction" effects such as the Mechanik's repair. This only applies to Vanguards run by CG casters or juniors; if you bring a 'Jack Marshaled Vanguard (which is only available to Guard in the form of Mercs in Magnum Opus), the Vanguard will remain a Merc model and does not benefit from being friendly faction to the rest of your Guard army.
  • Crucible Guard has multiple sources of ARM debuff, which can really enhance the hitting power of the Vanguard's three initial attacks. Notably all five casters, the Dragon's Breath Rocket, Hutchuk, Gorman, and the Suppressor all pair well with Vanguards to increase their hitting power.
  • Prospero likes to run a Vanguard if being used primarily for Veteran Leader & Instability Equation.

Drawbacks and Downsides

• It's not as expensive as it used to be, but it's hardly cheap for light warjack, especially since for only 1 point less, you can get a Freebooter, which hits considerably harder, under the right circumstances. Also the Talon is 4 points cheaper if you only want a tough light and are not facing a load of guns. This conundrum is even worse for Guard, since for the same points you can take the best arc node in the game in the form of the Liberator.
• POW 14 makes it weak into armor so its more of an infantry and cavalry slayer that can help out with high ARM here and there. Guard largely covers this weakness thanks to their variety of ARM debuffs.
• It is focus-needy, often needing a point or two from your caster to hit at a level to justify its points.
• The combination of almost-heavy points cost and limited hitting power means that the Vanguard is a poor choice for 'Jack Marshals or Battlegroup Controllers without a built in damage buff (such as Prospero).
• Lukas cannot run the Vanguard in Hearts of Darkness due to the wording on Maker's Mark. This is not too much of a loss (Umbral Guardians are much more points efficient for double Shield Guard bots), but it is worth considering.

Tricks and Tips

• If you are expecting too much anti-armour firepower to make taking a Rover worth it, the Vanguard can be a suitable throw-away guard.
• Locke can potentially increase a Vanguard's threat by 5" (Road to War + Redline), and can fairly confidently make it hit at Pow 18. That is enough to kill most casters.
• Vanguards make excellent solo/small unit hunters thanks to their three initials and decent threat range. Even a single buff and they should be able to kill anything that costs less than 8 points.

Other

Trivia

• Released in Warmachine: Superiority (2006)
• Resculpted in 2018 as part of the Crucible Guard release. The new model shares its torso & limb parts with the Retaliator & Liberator, all three being on the Vanguard Chassis.