Fighter: Vanguard (Tank)

Updated for Mod 18 on 4/16/2020
Please read the "Disclaimer" first to address any questions you may have in regards to "Best in Slot" equipment or choices of Powers.
ABILITY SCORES
Strength
   Stamina Regeneration
   Physical Damage Boost
Constitution
   Maximum Hit Point Increase
   Action Points Recovery
Dexterity
   Critical Severity
   Movement Speed
Intelligence
   Control Bonus
   Magical Damage Boost
Wisdom
   Control Resist
   Outgoing Healing
Charisma
   Companion Influence
   Encounter Recharge Speed

RACE

Metallic Dragonborn
   3% More Incoming Healing
   3% More Maximum Hit Points
   3% Increased Damage
   1,500 Critical Strike
Dragonborn
   5% More Incoming Healing
   3% Increased Damage
   1,500 Critical Strike
Gith
   3% Increased Stamina Regeneration
   5,000 More Combat Advantage
Tiefling
   5% Increased Damage to targets below 50%
   10% chance to reduce target's damage by 2.5%
Human
   250 to all Offensive and Defensive Stats

STAT PRIORITY

Defensive:
   Defense (85k)
   Deflection (85k)
   Critical Avoidance (90k)
   Awareness (95k)
   Incoming Healing (As much as possible)
   Health (As much as possible)
Offensive:
   Armor Penetration (85k)
   Accuracy (85k)
   Critical Strike (85k)
   Combat Advantage (135k)
   Power

POWERS

At-Will:
   Threatening Rush
   Brazen Slash  OR  Cleave
Encounter:
   Bull Charge
   Anvil of Doom  OR  Linebreaker
   Shield Throw  OR  Enforced Threat
Daily:
   Bladed Rampart
   Phalanx
Class Feature:
   Greater Endurance  OR  Combat Superiority
   Anvil of Challenge
Feats:
   Shield Thrower
   Cleaving Bull
   Combat Balance
   Sharpened Senses
   Shake it Off

Class Tip: "Retaliation" is one of the Vanguard's most important abilities, however, the game doesn't do a very good job at making this feature very clear. To use Retaliation, you put up your shield to block incoming attacks. When you see your shield turn red, quickly switch stances to put your shield down, and you should see your character react to the attack.

BOONS 
- When you're choosing Boons, start with stats that are lacking the most. Don't be afraid to skip up to the next tier for more stat bonus (power, etc.) Also, you do NOT have to get every boon in each of the rows. Work on what you need, or build load outs for dungeons/trials.

Tier 1:
   Recruit's Training
   Critical Avoidance
   Critical Strike
   Cultist Bulwark
Tier 2:
   Squire's Training
   Armor Penetration
   Defense
   Demonic Bulwark
   Demonic Mastery
Tier 3:
   Knight's Training
   Awareness
   Dino Bulwark
   Simple Support
   Dino Power
Tier 4:
   Captain's Training
   Accuracy
   Deflect
   Necrotic Bulwark
   Necrotic Mastery
Tier 5: Choose Two
   Welcome Blessings
   Quick Turnaround
   Second Wind
Master Boons:
   Focused Retaliation
   Blessed Resilience
Guild Boons:
   Offense - Power
   Defense - Hit Points  OR  Incoming Healing

EQUIPMENT 
- When you obtain a piece of artifact equipment listed in this guide (weapons/neck/waist/artifact,) you want to refine it up as soon as you can. If you don't have the required amount of enchanting stones or mark of potency, you CAN refine an item up to the second to last bubble on the refinement bar to get the most out of it without upgrading it to the next quality.

Weapon: Cleave
   Lionheart Glaive
          -Tower of the Mad Mage
   Alabaster Longsword
         -Master Expeditions
   Burnished Spear
         -Seal of the Deep

Offhand Weapon: Incoming Healing / Health

   Lionheart Shield
         -Tower of the Mad Mage
   Alabaster Shield
         -Master Expeditions
   Burnished Shield
         -Seal of the Deep

Modifications are additional perks that come with your artifact weapon. You can locate this by inspecting the weapon and you should see "Weapon Modification." Collect or buy Augmentation Cubes to change your weapon modifications (four per change.) It will randomly select an option from a list, so you may need to get a few of these cubes.


Helm:

   Lion Guard's Ward Helm
         -Infernal Citadel Tokens
   Protege's Feathered Helm (Undermountain Only!)
         -Seal of the Deep
Armor:
   Barkhide
         -Master Expeditions
   Lion Guard's Ward Breastplate
         -Infernal Citadel Tokens
   Protege's Filigreed Breastplate
         -Seal of the Deep
Arms:
   Spiked Defender Vambrace
         -Juma's Surprise Bag
Feet:
   Lion Guard's Ward Sabatons
         -Infernal Citadel Tokens
   Infernal Forged Sabatons
         -Seal of the Fallen
   Armando's Dueling Boots 
         -Sir Galahan / Juma's Surprise Bag
   Sparkly Slippers of Sloopna
         -Master Expeditions
   Gilded Spike Gaiters
         -Master Expeditions
Neck:
   Reflective Collar
         -Undermountain Campaign Store
   Scarf of Embellishments
         -Tales of Old (Limited Event)
Rings:
   Tanner's Hardened Leather Ring
         -Fragment Expeditions
   Ebonized Ward/Assault Ring
         -Master Expeditions
   Leading Ring of the Sage
         -Tower of the Mad Mage
   Striking Ring of the Veteran
         -Tower of the Mad Mage
   Defending Ring of the Sentinel
         -Tower of the Mad Mage
   Gold-Plated Ring
         -Tower of the Mad Mage
Waist:
   Mirror Plated Belt
         -Undermountain Campaign Store
   Sash of Embellishments
         -Tales of Old (Limited Event)
Shirt:
   Protege's Shirt (Needed Stats)
         -Seal of the Deep
   Infernal Forged Restoration/Assault Shirt
         -Seal of the Fallen
Pants:
   Protege's Pants (Needed Stats)
         -Seal of the Deep
   Infernal Forged Ward Trousers
         -Seal of the Fallen

Primary Artifact:
   Wyvern-Venom Coated Knives
         -Undermountain Campaign Store
   Halaster's Blast Scepter
         -Tower of the Mad Mage
   Erratic Drift Globe
         -Undermountain Campaign Store
   Frozen Storyteller's Journal
         -Tales of Old (Limited Event)

Secondary Artifacts: Tailor your secondary artifact to meet any stat requirements that you may be lacking or to complete any artifact set bonuses with your neck/waist slots.
   Halaster's Blast Scepter
         -Tower of the Mad Mage
   Staff of Flowers
         -NPC: Zok (Yawning Portal)
   Trobriand's Ring
         -Lair of the Mad Mage
   Arcturia's Music Box
         -NPC: Zok (Yawning Portal)
   Flayed Storyteller's Journal
         -Tales of Old (Limited Event)
   Envenomed Storyteller's Journal
         -Tales of Old (Limited Event)
   Darkened Storyteller's Journal
         -Tales of Old (Limited Event)

Artifact Sets: The main benefit from having certain items is not just the stats that you get, but the bonuses that come from having each piece of an entire set. Sets will either be your two weapon slots, three artifact slots, or an artifact slot in conjunction with your neck and waist. With certain combinations, you should clearly see a substantial increase in your overall output, no matter the role. I have listed the individual slots above, but I will go through and name the set below, in case you see them referenced by name elsewhere.

Storyteller's Journal Set
   -Limited Time Event
         Envenomed Storyteller's Journal
         Flayed Storyteller's Journal
         Darkened Storyteller's Journal
         Frozen Storyteller's Journal
Tales Set
   -Limited Time Event
         Scarf of Embellishments (Neck)
         Sash of Embellishments (Waist)
         Any Storyteller's Journal (Artifact)
Reflective Armaments
   -Undermountain Campaign Store
         Reflective Collar (Neck)
         Mirror Plated Belt (Waist)
         Erratic Drift Globe (Artifact)
Armaments of the Wyvern
   -Undermountain Campaign Store
         Wyvern's Eye Necklace (Neck)
         Wyvern-Skin Belt (Waist)
         Wyvern-Venom Coated Knives (Artifact)
Enchanted Thumb
   -NPC: Zok (Yawning Portal)
         Woven Vine (Neck)
         Blooming Cord (Waist)
         Staff of Flowers (Artifact)
Apprentices' Spoils
   -NPC: Zok (Yawning Portal)
         Jhesiyra's Tattered Mantle (Neck)
         Trobriand's Conduction Cable (Waist)
         Arcturia's Music Box (Artifact)
Armaments of Constructed Demise
   -Lair of the Mad Mage
         Electric Collar (Neck)
         Chained Restraints (Waist)
         Trobriand's Ring (Artifact)
Mad Dash (Mad Mage)
   -Tower of the Mad Mage
         Necklace of the Mad Mage (Neck)
         Belt of the Mad Mage (Waist)
         Halaster's Blast Scepter (Artifact)
Dark Remnants
   -The Infernal Citadel
         The Engine Master's Mantle (Neck)
         Whip of the Erinyes (Waist)
         Book of Vile Darkness (Artifact)
Demon Lords' Immortality
   -Maze Engine / Demogorgon / Castle Never
         Baphomet's Infernal Talisman (Neck)
         Demogorgon's Girdle of Might (Waist)
         Shard of Orcus' Wand (Artifact)

ENCHANTMENTS

Offense
   ONE Tenebrous Enchantment
   Radiant Enchantment
Defense
   Radiant Enchantment
   Brutal Enchantment
Utility
   Tactical Enchantment (Incoming Healing)
   Dark Enchantment (Companion Influence)
   Fey's Blessing (Random Enchantment Drops)
   Dragon's Hoard (Random Gemstone Drops)
Armor Enhancement
   Elven Battle Enchantment
Weapon Enchantment
   Bronzewood Enchantment
   Vorpal Enchantment (Single Target)
   Lightning Enchantment (AoE)
Overload Enchantment
   Rage of Flames
   Corrupt Black Ice
   Lethal
   Piercing
   Black Dragon Glyph
   Red Dragon Glyph
   Stronghold Marks
Armory Reinforcement
   Hit Points Kit

COMPANIONS
 - 99% of the time, your summoned companion should be one that has an ability called "Augmentation" in their list of powers. To see companion powers, select "Summon Another" in the companion window to see the list of companions.

Bolster Percentage This number caps out at 15%. To make it higher, you must collect and upgrade at least five companions in a particular category. It will ONLY count the five highest quality companions that you have in each list. So don't waste a bunch of money buying a handful of companions, instead, spend the money on upgrading tokens for the five that you have that are in the same category as your Augmentation companion.

Summoned Companion

   Bulette Pup
   Red Dragon Ioun Stone
   Goldfish
   Chicken
Enchantment Power
   Potent Precision  OR  Redemption
Offense Power
   Rimefire Golem
   Zhentarim Warlock
   Galeb Duhr
   Goldfish
   Boar Shoal
   Werewolf
   Crystal Golem
   Cave Bear
Defense Power
   Skeletal Dog
   Harper Bard
   Goat
   Duergar Guard
   Red Dragon Ioun Stone
   Ioun Stone of Allure
   Moonshae Druid
   Iron Golem
Utility Power
   Energon
   Battlefield Medic
   Dedicated Squire
Other Optional Companion Powers
   Pig
   Pseudodragon
   Acolyte of Kelemvor
   Shadow Demon
   Dread Warrior
Runestones
   Bonding Runestones (Three at Rank 15 ASAP)
Companion Equipment
   Anything with two offensive runestone slots.
   Build towards missing stats.
Equipment Runestones
   Empowered Runestone

MOUNTS

Combat Power: Legendary Mounts Only
   War Triceratops
Equip Power
   Any Mount with 25,000 / 50,000 Hit Points
Insignias
   Prosperity
   Fortitude
   Dominance
Insignia Bonuses
   Gladiator's Guile x2
   Shepherd's Devotion
   Oppressor's Reprieve
   Knight's Rebuke
   Survivors Blessing
   Barbarian's Revelry
   Wanderer's Fortune
Some insignias can be stacked up to three times with some diminishing returns. For example, if a perk gives you a 10% bonus towards a stat or ability, you will only get a 5% bonus for the second perk of the same type, and then 2.5% for the third. Also, don't be afraid to use Insignias to get your defensive stats to cap for survivability either.

INSIGNIA BONUSES
B = Barbed
C = Crescent
E = Enlightened
I = Illuminated
R = Regal

Artificer's Persuasion (B / B / I)
   Arcane Whirlwind
   Armored Giant Strider
   Black Ice Warhorse
   Celestial Stag
   Coastal Flail Snail
   Cosmic Stag
   Crystalline Warhorse
   Hellfire Steed
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Runeclad Manticore
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   Volcanic Flail Snail
   Axe Beak
   Barlgura
   Blueforged Rage Drake
   Carpet of Flying
   Decaying Stag
   Enchanted Courser
   Flail Snail
   Fungal Flail Snail
   Leopard of Chult
   Rage Drake
   Savage Polar Bear
   Skeletal Worg
   Tiger-striped Owlbear
   Whirlwind
   Aberrant Gorgon
   Carmine Bulette
   Forest Flail Snail
   Medium Waterdeep Horse
   Suratuk's Blue Tarantula
   Tuigan Courser

Assassin's Covenant (R / E / E)
   Beholder Personal Tank
   Commander Tyrannosaur
   Emperor Beetle
   Imperial Rage Drake
   Legendary Adolescent Deepcrow
   Tenser's Floating Disk
   War Triceratops
   Warpainted Tyrannosaur
   Apparatus of Gond
   Apparatus of Kwalish
   Fancy Apparatus of Kwalish
   Fancy Gorgon
   Gold-Lined Apparatus of Kwalish
   Gorgon
   Ornate Apparatus of Kwalish
   Spiked Deinonychus
   Stormraider Clydesdale
   Trained Basilisk
   White Owlbear
   Aberrant Fey Wolf
   Ash Tribal Lion
   Suratuk's Purple-Dusted Axe Beak

Barbarian's Revelry (C / E / E)
   Armored Axe Beak
   Armored Bulette
   Armored Griffon
   Beholder Personal Tank
   Champion's Armored Bulette
   Legendary Adolescent Deepcrow
   Legendary Giant Toad
   Legendary Hellfire Engine
   Teal Armored Axe Beak
   Tenser's Floating Disk
   Adolescent Deepcrow
   Apparatus of Kwalish
   Dusk Unicorn
   Embellished Apparatus of Gond
   Fancy Apparatus of Kwalish
   Gold-Lined Apparatus of Kwalish
   Ornate Apparatus of Kwalish
   Owlbear
   Red-Hued Apparatus of Kwalish
   Trained Basilisk
   White Owlbear
   Firesoul Gorgon
   Green Owlbear
   Polar Bear
   Twilight Yeti

Berserker's Rage (B / I / I)
   Arcane Whirlwind
   Armored Giant Strider
   Black Ice Warhorse
   Celestial Stag
   Coastal Flail Snail
   Cosmic Stag
   Crystalline Warhorse
   Hellfire Steed
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Runeclad Manticore
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   Volcanic Flail Snail
   Axe Beak
   Barlgura
   Blueforged Rage Drake
   Carpet of Flying
   Enchanted Courser
   Giant Strider
   Leopard of Chult
   Rage Drake
   Striped Owlbear
   Aberrant Drake
   Aberrant Gorgon
   Moonbear

Champion's Return (I / E / E)
   Armored Giant Strider
   Beholder Personal Tank
   Celestial Stag
   Cosmic Stag
   Hellfire Steed
   Legendary Adolescent Deepcrow
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   Tenser's Floating Disk
   Apparatus of Kwalish
   Carpet of Flying
   Fancy Apparatus of Kwalish
   Gas Spore
   Gold-Lined Apparatus of Kwalish
   Heavy Mystic Nightmare
   Ornate Apparatus of Kwalish
   Red-Hued Apparatus of Kwalish
   Silverback Bear
   Starfade Stag
   Tenser's Floating Disk
   Trained Basilisk
   White Owlbear
   Fey Gorgon
   Hell Emblazon Worg
   Neverwinter Champion's Charger
   Neverwinter Siegebreaker's Charger
   Reanimated Destrier

Combatant's Maneuver (R / R / I)
   Armored Giant Strider
   Celestial Stag
   Commander Tyrannosaur
   Cosmic Stag
   Emperor Beetle
   Hellfire Steed
   Imperial Rage Drake
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   War Triceratops
   Warpainted Tyrannosaur
   Carpet of Flying
   Dawn Unicorn
   Enchanted Broom
   Giant Beetle
   Heavy Giant Spider
   Lord's Armored Polar Bear
   Purple Owlbear
   Red Giant Beetle
   Silverleaf Sled
   Turmish Lion
   Soot Tribal Lion

Gladiator's Guile (R / I / E)
   Armored Giant Strider
   Beholder Personal Tank
   Celestial Stag
   Commander Tyrannosaur
   Cosmic Stag
   Emperor Beetle
   Hellfire Steed
   Imperial Rage Drake
   Legendary Adolescent Deepcrow
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   Tenser's Floating Disk
   War Triceratops
   Warpainted Tyrannosaur
   Apparatus of Gond
   Carpet of Flying
   Dawn Unicorn
   Enchanted Broom
   Fancy Gorgon
   Gas Spore
   Gorgon
   Heavy Giant Spider
   Heavy Mystic Nightmare
   Lord's Armored Polar Bear
   Silverback Bear
   Silverleaf Sled
   Spiked Deinonychus
   Starfade Stag
   Stormraider Clydesdale
   Tenser's Floating Disk
   Turmish Lion
   Ash Tribal Lion
   Black Stallion
   Fey Gorgon
   Moss-daubed Horse
   Soot Tribal Lion
   Suratuk's Purple-Dusted Axe Beak
   Suratuk's Teal-Dusted Axe Beak
   Wolf of the Wild Hunt

Magistrate's Patience (B / B / E)
   Arcane Whirlwind
   Beholder Personal Tank
   Black Ice Warhorse
   Coastal Flail Snail
   Crystalline Warhorse
   Legendary Adolescent Deepcrow
   Runeclad Manticore
   Tenser's Floating Disk
   Volcanic Flail Snail
   Decaying Stag
   Flail Snail
   Fungal Flail Snail
   Heavy Worg
   Manticore
   Savage Polar Bear
   Skeletal Worg
   Sylvan Stag
   Tiger-striped Owlbear
   Whirlwind
   Buckskin Destrier
   Carmine Bulette
   Forest Flail Snail
   Medium Tiger
   Poisonous Looking Spider
   Suratuk's Blue Tarantula
   Suratuk's Orange Tarantula

Oppressor's Reprieve (C / I / I)
   Armored Axe Beak
   Armored Bulette
   Armored Giant Strider
   Armored Griffon
   Celestial Stag
   Champion's Armored Bulette
   Cosmic Stag
   Hellfire Steed
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Legendary Giant Toad
   Legendary Hellfire Engine
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   Teal Armored Axe Beak
   Carpet of Flying
   Elite Shadow Wolf
   Giant Strider
   Griffon
   Heavy Inferno Nightmare
   Siegebreaker Griffon
   Striped Owlbear
   Medium Snowswift Horse
   Suratuk's Teal-Cracked Fey Wolf

Shepherd's Devotion (R / B / I)
   Arcane Whirlwind
   Armored Giant Strider
   Black Ice Warhorse
   Celestial Stag
   Coastal Flail Snail
   Commander Tyrannosaur
   Cosmic Stag
   Crystalline Warhorse
   Emperor Beetle
   Hellfire Steed
   Imperial Rage Drake
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Runeclad Manticore
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   Volcanic Flail Snail
   War Triceratops
   Warpainted Tyrannosaur
   Axe Beak
   Barlgura
   Blueforged Rage Drake
   Carpet of Flying
   Cavalry Tyrannosaur
   Dawn Unicorn
   Enchanted Broom
   Enchanted Courser
   Giant Crab
   Guard Drake
   Heavy Giant Spider
   Leopard of Chult
   Lord's Armored Polar Bear
   Rage Drake
   Silverleaf Sled
   Triceratops
   Turmish Lion
   White Tiger
   Aberrant Gorgon
   Sabino Destrier
   Small Forest Stag
   Soot Tribal Lion
   Suratuk's Giant Red Crab
   Suratuk's Giant Sunset Crab

Survivor's Blessing (C / C / B)
   Arcane Whirlwind
   Armored Axe Beak
   Armored Bulette
   Armored Griffon
   Black Ice Warhorse
   Champion's Armored Bulette
   Coastal Flail Snail
   Crystalline Warhorse
   Legendary Giant Toad
   Legendary Hellfire Engine
   Runeclad Manticore
   Teal Armored Axe Beak
   Volcanic Flail Snail
   Black Owlbear
   Boots of Misty Step
   Epic Giant Toad
   Heavy Howler
   Heavy Twilight Nightmare
   Hellfire Engine
   Medium Adventurer's Horse
   Mist Form
   Yeth Hound
   Armored Ghost Horse
   Medium Pharaoh Steed
   Ochre Bulette

Wanderer's Fortune (C / R / I)
   Armored Axe Beak
   Armored Bulette
   Armored Giant Strider
   Armored Griffon
   Celestial Stag
   Champion's Armored Bulette
   Commander Tyrannosaur
   Cosmic Stag
   Emperor Beetle
   Hellfire Steed
   Imperial Rage Drake
   Legendary Barlgura
   Legendary Carpet of Flying
   Legendary Giant Toad
   Legendary Hellfire Engine
   Skeleton Steed
   Swarm
   Swift Golden Lion
   Teal Armored Axe Beak
   War Triceratops
   Warpainted Tyrannosaur
   Armored Bear
   Bulette
   Carpet of Flying
   Dawn Unicorn
   Elite Shadow Wolf
   Enchanted Broom
   Griffon
   Heavy Giant Spider
   Heavy Inferno Nightmare
   High Forest Bear
   Leopard-printed Yeth Hound
   Lord's Armored Polar Bear
   Siegebreaker Griffon
   Silverleaf Sled
   Suratuk's Banded Spider
   Turmish Lion
   Gilded Giant Spider
   Soot Tribal Lion
   Suratuk's Jungle Spider
   Suratuk's Red-Dusted Axebeak
   Suratuk's Teal Spider
   Suratuk's Teal-Cracked Fey Wolf

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