Vanguard Tactics Basics Guide

Regenerates health and recharges your energy cells while channeling. Not usable in combat.

Regain health out of battle.

Fires a series of hammering shots that deal weapon damage to the target.

Fires a series of hammering shots that deal weapon damage to the target.

Strikes the target with the butt of the rifle, dealing kinetic damage.

Strikes the target with the butt of the rifle, dealing kinetic damage.

Increases Endurance by 5%.

Increases Endurance by 5%.

Ranged weapon attacks have a 30% chance to deal additional elemental damage over 6 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once per second.

Ranged weapon attacks have a 30% chance to deal additional elemental damage over 6 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once per second.

Increases the damage dealt by Stockstrike, Ion Pulse, High Impact Bolt, Tactical Surge, Explosive Surge, Gut, Assault Plastique, and Cell Burst by 10%. Increases the damage you deal to bleeding targets by 5% and further increases all energy and kinetic damage dealt by 2%.

Increases the damage dealt by Stockstrike, Ion Pulse, High Impact Bolt, Tactical Surge, Explosive Surge, Gut, Assault Plastique, and Cell Burst by 10%. Increases the damage you deal to bleeding targets by 5% and further increases all energy and kinetic damage dealt by 2%.

Energy Burst's critical hit chance is increased by 100%. Power Yield instantly builds 4 Energy Lodes and getting critically hit while under Power Yield builds an Energy Lode.

Energy Burst's critical hit chance is increased by 100%. Power Yield instantly builds 4 Energy Lodes and getting critically hit while under Power Yield builds an Energy Lode.

Fires an ion pulse at the target, dealing elemental damage.

Fires an ion pulse at the target, dealing elemental damage.

Fires a very powerful round at the target, dealing weapon damage. Only usable against incapacitated targets and targets suffering from periodic damage.

Fires a very powerful round at the target, dealing weapon damage. Only usable against incapacitated targets and targets suffering from periodic damage.

Emits an explosive surge, dealing elemental damage to up to 8 enemies within 5 meters.

Emits an explosive surge, dealing elemental damage to up to 8 enemies within 5 meters.

Purges incapacitating and movement-impairing effects.

If you are stunned and can’t move, you can use this ability to unstun yourself.

Interrupts the target's current action and prevents that ability from being used for the next 4 seconds.

Every class has an interrupt ability that allows them to interrupt an enemy while they are casting. Enemy castbars that fill up from left to right are called casts and can be interrupted and the ability will be stopped, but castbars that go from right to left deal damage the entire time they are channeling. Using your interrupt in combat is very useful as it can prevent the enemy from damaging you, or sometimes even prevent them from stunning you or knocking you back!

Your next ability depletes no energy cells, and you recharge 50 energy cells over 3 seconds after using it.

Your next ability depletes no energy cells, and you recharge 50 energy cells over 3 seconds after using it.

Guts the target with a knuckle-plate vibroblade, dealing kinetic damage and causing the target to bleed for internal damage over 18 seconds.

Guts the target with a knuckle-plate vibroblade, dealing kinetic damage and causing the target to bleed for internal damage over 18 seconds.

Applies 5 stacks of Power Yield to you, each stack increases your armor by 40% and your damage done by 2% for 10 seconds. In addition, Cell Burst's critical hit chance is increased by 100%. Balmorran Advanced Weaponry instantly builds 4 Energy Lodes and getting critically hit while under Power Yield builds an Energy Lode. This effect can occur once every 2 seconds.

Applies 5 stacks of Power Yield to you, each stack increases your armor by 40% and your damage done by 2% for 10 seconds. In addition, Cell Burst's critical hit chance is increased by 100%. Balmorran Advanced Weaponry instantly builds 4 Energy Lodes and getting critically hit while under Power Yield builds an Energy Lode. This effect can occur once every 2 seconds.

Loads your rifle with a high-energy powercell. While active, all energy and kinetic damage dealt is increased by 5%. Replaces Plasma Cell.

Loads your rifle with a high-energy powercell. While active, all energy and kinetic damage dealt is increased by 5%. Replaces Plasma Cell.

Increases damage reduction by 25% for 15 seconds.

Increases damage reduction by 25% for 15 seconds.

Calls down artillery strikes while unleashing plasma blasts that deal kinetic damage and elemental damage to up to 8 enemies in the targeted area while depleting 30 energy cells over the duration of the channel. Standard and weak targets are knocked down by the blasts. Can be used while moving.

Calls down artillery strikes while unleashing plasma blasts that deal kinetic damage and elemental damage to up to 8 enemies in the targeted area while depleting 30 energy cells over the duration of the channel. Standard and weak targets are knocked down by the blasts. Can be used while moving.

Shocks the target at long range, taunting it to attack. Player targets deal 30% less damage when attacking anyone other than you. Effect lasts 6 seconds.

Shocks the target at long range, taunting it to attack. Player targets deal 30% less damage when attacking anyone other than you. Effect lasts 6 seconds.

When Gut ticks, you gain a stack of Tactical Draw. Each stack increases the damage done by your next initial hit with Gut by 25%. Max stacks 4. This effect can only occur once every 3 seconds.

When Gut ticks, you gain a stack of Tactical Draw. Each stack increases the damage done by your next initial hit with Gut by 25%. Max stacks 4. This effect can only occur once every 3 seconds.

When the bleed effect from Gut is refreshed, the target takes bonus kinetic damage.

When the bleed effect from Gut is refreshed, the target takes bonus kinetic damage.

General Suggestion: Tactics excels at single target burst. Taking Serrated Blade will make your high impact bolt hit harder so long as you're doing it on a target with Gut. So remember to do Gut once, then refresh it with bolts whenever you can!

When the bleed effect from Gut is refreshed, you deal additional damage to 4 targets within 5 meters.

When the bleed effect from Gut is refreshed, you deal additional damage to 4 targets within 5 meters.

Solo Many-Enemy Suggestion: Gut is refreshed pretty often - this choice is great for pulling whole rooms while leveling.

Increases the damage you deal to bleeding targets by 3% and further increases all energy and kinetic damage dealt by 2%.

Increases the damage you deal to bleeding targets by 3% and further increases all energy and kinetic damage dealt by 2%.

Fires a harpoon line that pulls the target to your location and generates a high amount of threat. Targets are immobilized for 3 seconds. Cannot be used on targets in cover.

Pull an enemy to you. Doesn't work on stronger enemies.

Increases the duration of Reactive Shield by 3 seconds. In addition, suffering direct damage from area attacks regenerates 2 energy cells and heals you for 2.5% of your total health. This effect cannot occur more than once every 3 seconds.

Increases the duration of Reactive Shield by 3 seconds. In addition, suffering direct damage from area attacks regenerates 2 energy cells and heals you for 2.5% of your total health. This effect cannot occur more than once every 3 seconds.

Storm a distant target, dealing kinetic damage, interrupting the target's current action and immobilizing the target for 2 seconds. Cannot be used against targets in cover. Using Storm grants Battering Blitz, resetting the cooldown of Storm and increasing movement speed by 30% for 6 seconds. While Battering Blitz is active, Storm may be used once within 10 meters of the target and deals 50% additional damage but does not cause an additional interrupt, immobilize or charge. This effect cannot occur more than once every 15 seconds.

Jump to a faraway enemy.

General Suggestion: Taking Storm and adding a leap to your vanguard makes you 100% more mobile and this one can be re-cast right away for additional damage! This also has an added benefit of not being a passive that relies on Harpoon - which would generate high threat.

Harpoon deals tech damage to pulled targets and grants Pull and Pummel, causing your next Stockstrike against the pulled target to deal 20% additional damage and stun the target for 3 seconds. This effect lasts for 6 seconds.

Harpoon deals tech damage to pulled targets and grants Pull and Pummel, causing your next Stockstrike against the pulled target to deal 20% additional damage and stun the target for 3 seconds. This effect lasts for 6 seconds.

Harpoon gets 2 charges and finishes the cooldown of Stockstrike.

Harpoon gets 2 charges and finishes the cooldown of Stockstrike.

Fires a sonic round, immediately reducing threat towards all current enemies by a moderate amount. Player targets deal 30% less damage for 6 seconds when attacking anyone other than you.

Your detaunt ability will cause enemies to lose interest in your character, at least for a short time. This is most useful if you're getting attacked during group fights when your tank is supposed to be taking the damage, or when your companion is set to tank.

Activating this ability makes you Fired Up for up to 60 seconds, which triggers an Adrenaline Rush when your health is reduced to 35% or less. Once triggered, Adrenaline Rush rapidly heals you up to 35% of your max health for 8 seconds but will not exceed 35% of your max health. Does not go on cooldown until Fired Up is triggered.

Activating this ability makes you Fired Up for up to 60 seconds, which triggers an Adrenaline Rush when your health is reduced to 35% or less. Once triggered, Adrenaline Rush rapidly heals you up to 35% of your max health for 8 seconds but will not exceed 35% of your max health. Does not go on cooldown until Fired Up is triggered.

Unleashes your High Energy Cell's stored energy to decimate the target, dealing energy damage. This damage increases based on your current number of Energy Lodes. Energy Lodes build when High Impact Bolt is used, and up to 4 charges may be stored at once. Cell Burst causes the target to burn for elemental damage over 3 seconds. This effect can stack up to 4 times on the target, and each Energy Lode unleashed generates 1 stack.

Unleashes your High Energy Cell's stored energy to decimate the target, dealing energy damage. This damage increases based on your current number of Energy Lodes. Energy Lodes build when High Impact Bolt is used, and up to 4 charges may be stored at once. Cell Burst causes the target to burn for elemental damage over 3 seconds. This effect can stack up to 4 times on the target, and each Energy Lode unleashed generates 1 stack.

Activating Sonic Round increases your defense chance by 30% for 6 seconds.

Activating Sonic Round increases your defense chance by 30% for 6 seconds.

Cell Burst causes the target to burn for elemental damage over 3 seconds. This effect can stack up to 4 times on the target, and each Energy Lode generates one stack.

Cell Burst causes the target to burn for elemental damage over 3 seconds. This effect can stack up to 4 times on the target, and each Energy Lode generates one stack.

Taking critical damage grants Tactical Armor, increasing damage reduction by 2% for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times. In addition, activating Sonic Round increases your defense chance by 30% for 6 seconds.

Taking critical damage grants Tactical Armor, increasing damage reduction by 2% for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times. In addition, activating Sonic Round increases your defense chance by 30% for 6 seconds.

Cell Burst grants you High Yield Explosives, increasing the damage of Ion Pulse or Assault Plastique by 4% per Energy Lode. Max stacks grant a 16% damage increase to Ion Pulse and Assault Plastique.

Cell Burst grants you High Yield Explosives, increasing the damage of Ion Pulse or Assault Plastique by 4% per Energy Lode. Max stacks grant a 16% damage increase to Ion Pulse and Assault Plastique.

General Suggestion: When you first get access to this choice, it only buffs the damage of your next Ion Pulse. But at level 47 when you learn Assault Plastique, it turns into a huge source of extra burst damage! If your first target is almost dead it's recommended to throw your assault plastique on to something with higher HP remaining - it takes a few seconds to explode. If you find your plastiques exploding late often, Supercharged Cells is a good choice for extra damage over time as well.

Cell Burst applies an additional burn dealing elemental damage over 12 seconds.

Cell Burst applies an additional burn dealing elemental damage over 12 seconds.

Increases the damage dealt by Gut's bleed effect by 15% and causes targets damaged by your Stockstrike to become Sundered, reducing their armor by 20% for 45 seconds.

Increases the damage dealt by Gut's bleed effect by 15% and causes targets damaged by your Stockstrike to become Sundered, reducing their armor by 20% for 45 seconds.

When Cell Burst deals damage to a target, it hits up to 3 additional targets with Cell Burst's initial damage within 5 meters.

When Cell Burst deals damage to a target, it hits up to 3 additional targets with Cell Burst's initial damage within 5 meters.

Solo Many-Enemy Suggestion: Another choice great for those groups of 3-4 enemies you typically fight through while leveling through story.

Increases ranged and tech critical hit chance by 25% for 15 seconds.

Increases ranged and tech critical hit chance by 25% for 15 seconds.

High Impact Bolt ignores 60% of the target's armor and Stockstrike or Shockstrike deals 10% more damage.

High Impact Bolt ignores 60% of the target's armor and Stockstrike or Shockstrike deals 10% more damage.

High Impact Bolt may be fired at targets that are not incapacitated or suffering from periodic damage. In addition, High Impact Bolt ignores 30% of the target's armor, regenerates 6 energy cells if it hits a bleeding target, and refreshes the duration of your Gut's bleed effect, if present. Increases the damage dealt by Gut's bleed effect by 5% and causes targets damaged by your Stockstrike to become Sundered, reducing their armor by 20% for 45 seconds.

High Impact Bolt may be fired at targets that are not incapacitated or suffering from periodic damage. In addition, High Impact Bolt ignores 30% of the target's armor, regenerates 6 energy cells if it hits a bleeding target, and refreshes the duration of your Gut's bleed effect, if present. Increases the damage dealt by Gut's bleed effect by 5% and causes targets damaged by your Stockstrike to become Sundered, reducing their armor by 20% for 45 seconds.

Increases the range of Ion Pulse, Tactical Surge, Flak Shell, Artillery Blitz, Cell Burst, and High Impact Bolt to 15 meters. In addition, Gut ticks decrease the cooldown of Balmorran Advanced Weaponry by 1 second. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.

Increases the range of Ion Pulse, Tactical Surge, Flak Shell, Artillery Blitz, Cell Burst, and High Impact Bolt to 15 meters. In addition, Gut ticks decrease the cooldown of Balmorran Advanced Weaponry by 1 second. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.

General Suggestion: Advanced Infantry Tactics increases the range on pretty much all your main attacks except for Stockstrike, making it very easy to deal damage from mid-range on your trooper without having to stay on top of your target so much. The refreshing effect on Balmorran Advanced Weaponry from Gut also makes this the best damage option for longer fights!

When activating Reactive Shield you gain War Machine, making your next Adrenaline Rush heal up to 45% health or your next Balmorran Advanced Weaponry last for 15 seconds.

When activating Reactive Shield you gain War Machine, making your next Adrenaline Rush heal up to 45% health or your next Balmorran Advanced Weaponry last for 15 seconds.

Fires off a Suppression Droid to scan the area for 15 seconds, revealing stealthed opponents and immobilizing them for 3 seconds. In addition, all enemies inside the field of the Terminator Droid have their accuracy reduced by 20% and are slowed for 30%.

Fires off a Suppression Droid to scan the area for 15 seconds, revealing stealthed opponents and immobilizing them for 3 seconds. In addition, all enemies inside the field of the Terminator Droid have their accuracy reduced by 20% and are slowed for 30%.

Throws a moldable plastic explosive that sticks to the target and detonates after several seconds, exploding for kinetic damage. Standard and weak enemies enter a state of panic when the explosive attaches and are knocked down when it detonates.

Throws a moldable plastic explosive that sticks to the target and detonates after several seconds, exploding for kinetic damage. Standard and weak enemies enter a state of panic when the explosive attaches and are knocked down when it detonates.

Fires a high impact shell that instantly explodes on contact with the target, spraying the area with searing bits of slag that deal kinetic damage to up to 8 enemies within 8 meters of the initial target.

Fires a high impact shell that instantly explodes on contact with the target, spraying the area with searing bits of slag that deal kinetic damage to up to 8 enemies within 8 meters of the initial target.

Reduces the cooldown of Artillery Blitz by 5 seconds. In addition, Flak Shell deals 25% more damage, its cooldown is reduced by 6 seconds, and damage dealt by it will refresh the duration of your Gut's bleed on the affected target, if present.

Reduces the cooldown of Artillery Blitz by 5 seconds. In addition, Flak Shell deals 25% more damage, its cooldown is reduced by 6 seconds, and damage dealt by it will refresh the duration of your Gut's bleed on the affected target, if present.

When activated, your Reactive Shield charges with electricity, zapping attackers for elemental damage when they deal direct damage to you. This effect cannot occur more than once each second.

When activated, your Reactive Shield charges with electricity, zapping attackers for elemental damage when they deal direct damage to you. This effect cannot occur more than once each second.

General Suggestion: Choose Electro Shield to do some free damage to your enemy every time you get hit!

You recharge 20 energy cells when stunned, immobilized, knocked down, or otherwise incapacitated. Additionally, when this happens your next tech ability used within 15 seconds deals 10% more damage or healing.

You recharge 20 energy cells when stunned, immobilized, knocked down, or otherwise incapacitated. Additionally, when this happens your next tech ability used within 15 seconds deals 10% more damage or healing.

Reduces the cooldown of Tenacity by 30 seconds and the cooldown of Recharge Cells by 15 seconds.

Reduces the cooldown of Tenacity by 30 seconds and the cooldown of Recharge Cells by 15 seconds.

Deal internal damage to up to 8 enemies within 8 meters, stunning them for 2.5 seconds.

Stun many enemies to keep them out of the fight temporarily.

Deploys a shoulder cannon that gradually loads 4 missiles over time. Once loaded, the shoulder cannon can be triggered again to fire against an enemy target within 20 meters, launching 1 missile that deals kinetic damage. A missile can be launched up to once per 1.5 seconds. Loading and launching the shoulder cannon does not respect the global cooldown and can be done while controlled. Once all missiles have been loaded, depleting all missiles puts the shoulder cannon on cooldown for 1.5 minutes.

Deploys a shoulder cannon that gradually loads 4 missiles over time. Once loaded, the shoulder cannon can be triggered again to fire against an enemy target within 20 meters, launching 1 missile that deals kinetic damage. A missile can be launched up to once per 1.5 seconds. Loading and launching the shoulder cannon does not respect the global cooldown and can be done while controlled. Once all missiles have been loaded, depleting all missiles puts the shoulder cannon on cooldown for 1.5 minutes.

Fires a concentrated surge of energy at an enemy target, dealing energy damage. Replaces Ion Pulse.

Fires a concentrated surge of energy at an enemy target, dealing energy damage. Replaces Ion Pulse.

When you take damage, the active cooldown of Reactive Shield is reduced by 3 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once every 1.5 seconds. In addition, when taking damage, you have a 20% chance to emit an Energy Redoubt, which lasts up to 6 seconds and absorbs damage. This effect cannot occur more than once every 10 seconds.

When you take damage, the active cooldown of Reactive Shield is reduced by 3 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once every 1.5 seconds. In addition, when taking damage, you have a 20% chance to emit an Energy Redoubt, which lasts up to 6 seconds and absorbs damage. This effect cannot occur more than once every 10 seconds.

When Into The Fray is triggered, it will also deal elemental damage to the attacker if the attacker is within 10 meters.

When Into The Fray is triggered, it will also deal elemental damage to the attacker if the attacker is within 10 meters.

Reduces the cooldown of Riot Strike by 2 seconds. Additionally, all area effect damage is reduced by 60% for 15 seconds after Sonic Round is activated.

Reduces the cooldown of Riot Strike by 2 seconds. Additionally, all area effect damage is reduced by 60% for 15 seconds after Sonic Round is activated.

General Suggestion: The reduced damage from area attacks makes this very useful for staying alive in any content with area-wide damage (which is almost all). Combined with a reduced interrupt cooldown, and this choice makes any fight with mechanics a little easier to survive! If you feel you don't need the damage reduction, Reflective Armor is a good option for some free damage.

Tactical Surge, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge reduce the movement speed of affected targets by 25% for 3 seconds. Additionally, Neural Jolt slows the target by 50% for 6 seconds.

Tactical Surge, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge reduce the movement speed of affected targets by 25% for 3 seconds. Additionally, Neural Jolt slows the target by 50% for 6 seconds.

Stockstrike, Tactical Surge, Flak Shell, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge finish the cooldown on High Impact Bolt and make the next High Impact Bolt deplete no energy cells. This effect cannot occur more than once every 6 seconds.

Stockstrike, Tactical Surge, Flak Shell, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge finish the cooldown on High Impact Bolt and make the next High Impact Bolt deplete no energy cells. This effect cannot occur more than once every 6 seconds.

Damaging a target with your Shoulder Cannon missiles heals you for 3% of your total health.

Damaging a target with your Shoulder Cannon missiles heals you for 3% of your total health.

Hurls a cryo grenade that freezes the target, dealing energy damage and stunning it for 4 seconds.

You can use your short stun on weaker enemies to stop them from running around, from casting abilities, to stop them from damaging you, or just to keep them out of the fight in general.

Grants 10 seconds of immunity from all movement-impairing effects, knockdowns and physics and increases movement speed by 75%.

Grants 10 seconds of immunity from all movement-impairing effects, knockdowns and physics and increases movement speed by 75%.

General Suggestion: All three choices here are good, but Hold the Line should be your default to help make vanguard feel a little more mobile. If extra survivability is needed, swap to Guard Cannon, and Cryo Grenade is a great 4 second stun if your enemies aren't immune to such effects.

Increases your melee and ranged defense chance by 3% and your stealth detection level by 3.

Increases your melee and ranged defense chance by 3% and your stealth detection level by 3.

Increases the damage dealt by Shoulder Cannon by 15%, and immediately loads 3 additional missiles. Additionally, this increases the critical strike chance of Stockstrike and Assault Plastique by 5%. Increases ranged and tech critical chance by 2% and reduces the cooldowns of Recharge Cells and Reserve Powercell by 30 seconds. In addition, Recharge and Reload builds Energy Lodes.

Increases the damage dealt by Shoulder Cannon by 15%, and immediately loads 3 additional missiles. Additionally, this increases the critical strike chance of Stockstrike and Assault Plastique by 5%. Increases ranged and tech critical chance by 2% and reduces the cooldowns of Recharge Cells and Reserve Powercell by 30 seconds. In addition, Recharge and Reload builds Energy Lodes.

Increases the stun durations of Cryo Grenade by 1 second and Neural Surge by 0.5 seconds.

Increases the stun durations of Cryo Grenade by 1 second and Neural Surge by 0.5 seconds.

Allows Adrenaline Rush to be activated while stunned and causes Adrenaline Rush to purge most stun effects when activated. In addition, Efficient Tools increases the range of Harpoon and Shoulder Cannon by 10 meters and eliminates the energy cost of Cryo Grenade and Neural Surge.

Allows Adrenaline Rush to be activated while stunned and causes Adrenaline Rush to purge most stun effects when activated. In addition, Efficient Tools increases the range of Harpoon and Shoulder Cannon by 10 meters and eliminates the energy cost of Cryo Grenade and Neural Surge.

Solo Single-Enemy Suggestion: Choose Efficient Tools to let you use Adrenaline Rush when you are stunned, and make your Shoulder Cannon and Harpoon reach farther!

Solo Many-Enemy Suggestion: Choose Efficient Tools to let you use Adrenaline Rush when you are stunned, and make your Shoulder Cannon and Harpoon reach farther!

Flashpoint Suggestion: Choose Efficient Tools to let you use Adrenaline Rush when you are stunned, and make your Shoulder Cannon and Harpoon reach farther!

Sonic Round protects all friendly targets in its area of impact, excluding you, granting Sonic Rebounder, which reflects the next direct, single-target attack back at the attacker.

Sonic Round protects all friendly targets in its area of impact, excluding you, granting Sonic Rebounder, which reflects the next direct, single-target attack back at the attacker.

Operation Suggestion: Sonic Rebounder is incredibly powerful in group content - when you use your detaunt, everyone nearby except you will get a protective shield that bounces damage back at the enemy! This is a fan-favorite ability for the Vanguard Style!

Increases ranged and tech critical hit chance by 2% and reduces the cooldowns of Recharge Cells and Reserve Powercell by 30 seconds. In addition, Recharge and Reload builds Energy Lodes.

Increases ranged and tech critical hit chance by 2% and reduces the cooldowns of Recharge Cells and Reserve Powercell by 30 seconds. In addition, Recharge and Reload builds Energy Lodes.

Increases the critical strike damage bonus of Stockstrike, High Impact Bolt, Tactical Surge, Gut, Assault Plastique, and Cell Burst by 15%. Additionally, when Assault Plastique damages a target, the target will become Susceptible, increasing the damage it takes from tech attacks by 5% for 45 seconds.

Increases the critical strike damage bonus of Stockstrike, High Impact Bolt, Tactical Surge, Gut, Assault Plastique, and Cell Burst by 15%. Additionally, when Assault Plastique damages a target, the target will become Susceptible, increasing the damage it takes from tech attacks by 5% for 45 seconds.