Seven archetypes
Vanguard
A hero’s class decides two things that matter more than its stats: which upgrade pool it draws from at rank A and again at rank S, and which relics and items are built to support it. Seven classes, four heroes each, and a shared pool per class — so two heroes of the same class compete for the same upgrades. Each page below lists the heroes, both upgrade pools in full, and every relic and item that carries the class name.
Updated for patch 0.5.1.718
Vanguard heroes
NiklasVanguardRed Hot Deals: When Niklas survives combat, consume the item in his left-most item slot. Permanently gain 100% of its stats and gain Shards equal to 80% its value. For Rush (14), auto attacks inflict 1 (+1 per 500 Max Health) Burn per equipped item.
RowanVanguard / TankHearty: After Stall (10), gain 2 (+1 per 100 Max Health, +1 per 15 Defense) HP/S.
RipVanguardBloodthirsty: For Rush (10), gain 5% Max Health Attack. Whenever Rip or an enemy adjacent to him first drops below 50% Max HP, refresh all of his Rush abilities and gain 2% Max Health Attack Speed.
MingVanguardInner Flame: Each second, inflict 1 per 650 Max Health Burn on adjacent enemies. For Rush (5), double the Burn.
Vanguard stats compared
The base values of every Vanguard, before ranks, items and relics.
Vanguard upgrades — rank A
15 upgrades in the rank A pool. A hero picks one, and heroes of the same class draw from the same list.
Bulk FormationAt start of combat, give this Hero and adjacent Heroes 25% Max Health Max HP.
Vindictive ShieldsThe first time each combat this Hero goes below 50% Max HP, they gain 50% Max Health Shields and deal 50% Max Health damage to adjacent enemies.
Calming PresenceVanguards gain 13 (+10 per Rank) HP/S. Backup.
DistractionAfter Stall (10, Stall 20, Stall 30, Stall 40, and Stall 50): Taunt all enemies.
Intimidating AuraEach second, deal 2% Max Health damage to adjacent enemies.
Rushed OffenseOn Rush trigger, gain 100 Max HP, 12 Attack, and 10 Attack Speed.
Rushed SizeFor Rush (12), gain +100% Max HP.
Rush OverdriveRush abilities last 3 seconds longer. Backup.
Burning AuraOn auto attack or when auto attacked, inflict 1 (+1 per 1000 Max Health) Burn on the enemy (Max: 5).
Aggressive PresenceVanguards gain 40 (+40 per Rank) Attack. Backup.
Burning EyeAt start of combat, inflict 1 per 50 Max Health Burn on all enemies.
Burning RestorationOn auto attack or when auto attacked, if the enemy has Burn gain 1 HP/S.
Violent PresenceWhenever a Vanguard auto attacks or is auto attacked, they gain 25 Shields. Backup.
Brutal VitalityGain 1000 Max HP and 20 Omnivamp.
Shield LineAt start of combat, give all Heroes in the front 2 rows 66% Max Health Shields.
Vanguard upgrades — rank S
15 upgrades in the rank S pool. A hero picks one, and heroes of the same class draw from the same list.
- Bulk FormationAt start of combat, give this Hero and adjacent Heroes 25% Max Health Max HP.
- Vindictive ShieldsThe first time each combat this Hero goes below 50% Max HP, they gain 50% Max Health Shields and deal 50% Max Health damage to adjacent enemies.
- Calming PresenceVanguards gain 13 (+10 per Rank) HP/S. Backup.
- DistractionAfter Stall (10, Stall 20, Stall 30, Stall 40, and Stall 50): Taunt all enemies.
- Intimidating AuraEach second, deal 2% Max Health damage to adjacent enemies.
- Rushed OffenseOn Rush trigger, gain 100 Max HP, 12 Attack, and 10 Attack Speed.
- Rushed SizeFor Rush (12), gain +100% Max HP.
- Rush OverdriveRush abilities last 3 seconds longer. Backup.
- Burning AuraOn auto attack or when auto attacked, inflict 1 (+1 per 1000 Max Health) Burn on the enemy (Max: 5).
- Aggressive PresenceVanguards gain 40 (+40 per Rank) Attack. Backup.
- Burning EyeAt start of combat, inflict 1 per 50 Max Health Burn on all enemies.
- Burning RestorationOn auto attack or when auto attacked, if the enemy has Burn gain 1 HP/S.
- Violent PresenceWhenever a Vanguard auto attacks or is auto attacked, they gain 25 Shields. Backup.
- Brutal VitalityGain 1000 Max HP and 20 Omnivamp.
- Shield LineAt start of combat, give all Heroes in the front 2 rows 66% Max Health Shields.
Vanguard relics and items
18 entities carry the Vanguard name. They are built around what the class does, so they are the first place to look when you commit to it.
Vanguard's Endurance BannerUniqueVanguard's Rush abilities last 3 seconds longer.
Vanguard's Aegis BannerUniqueAt start of combat, Vanguards gain Shields equal to 25% of their Max HP.
Vanguard's Rally BannerUniqueFor Rush (10), Vanguards gain 1 Attack and 1 Defense per 25 Max HP.
Vanguard's Flameplate BannerUniqueWhenever a Vanguard is auto attacked, they inflict 3 Burn on the attacker.
Vanguard's Flamefists BannerUniqueWhenever a Vanguard auto attacks, they inflict 3 Burn on their target.
Vanguard's Combative ReflectionUniqueVanguards gain 200 Max HP and 25 Attack.
Vanguard's Plated ReflectionUniqueVanguards gain 200 Max HP and 30 Defense.
Vanguard's MedallionCommonVanguards gain 200 Max HP.
Vanguard's MementoRareAt start of combat, inflict 45 Burn on all enemies per Vanguard in combat.
Vanguard's EmblemRareEvery 5 seconds if there is a Vanguard in combat, Heroes gain 150 Shields.
Vanguard's Frenzy PrismEpicWhenever a Vanguard goes below 50% Max HP for the first time each combat they gain +33% Attack Speed, +33% Attack, and +33% Defense.
Vanguard's Amplification FiligreeEpicFor Rush (8), Vanguards gain +100% Max HP.
Vanguard's Titanic EngineLegendaryHeroes gain 400 Max HP. Whenever a Vanguard auto attacks or is auto attacked, they gain 10 Max HP. Every 200 Max HP gained this way, give them 25 Attack and increase their size.
Vanguard's BucklerUniqueIf this item is held by a Vanguard, double its stats.
Vanguard's SwordUniqueIf this item is held by a Vanguard, double its stats.
Vanguard's BraceletRareOn Rush trigger, if held by a Vanguard this item gains 20 Max HP.
Vanguard's GlyphEpicThe holder counts as a Vanguard during combat. If they were already a Vanguard, they gain +25% Max HP.
Vanguard's CrestUniqueThe holder counts as a Vanguard during combat.
Questions people ask
Which heroes are Vanguard in Guildrun?
There are 4: Niklas, Rowan, Rip, Ming. A hero can belong to more than one class, and some specializations grant a second class on top.
What upgrades can a Vanguard take?
The Vanguard pool has 15 upgrades at rank A and 15 at rank S. A hero takes one at rank A and another at rank S, and the two cannot be the same.
Which relics and items are made for Vanguard?
18 carry the class name. Their effects reference what the class does, so they scale with a guild built around it rather than with any team.
Do two heroes of the same class compete for the same upgrades?
Yes. The pool is per class, not per hero, so running two heroes of one class means splitting the same list of upgrades between them.
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