The Complete Fighter Vanguard Tank Build – Neverwinter Mod 24 Northdark Reaches

Welcome to our Fighter Vanguard Guide, updated for Mod 24: Northdark Reaches.

For the latest Neverwinter news, go to the MMORPG.GG Neverwinter Hub.

In Neverwinter, the Fighter Vanguard is a tank that can hold its own against the toughest of enemies. The Fighter Vanguard is a tank class that excels at taking hits and holding enemies in place. They are the perfect class for players who want to be up close and personal with their enemies. If you want to dish out some damage, consider a Dreadnought build loadout as well.

In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about playing this class effectively. We’ll cover important stats, skills, and gear for the Fighter Vanguard, as well as some tips on how to survive in Neverwinter’s harsh environments.

So whether you’re just starting out with Neverwinter or you’re looking for ways to improve your Fighter Vanguard tanking experience, make sure to read on!

The purpose of our class guides is not just to show you a build that you can copy and use on your character, but to show you a base build and teach you the mechanics and stats of the game, so you can understand and play your class to its fullest capabilities.

Try different gear, feats, and powers, and learn to tailor your own build for your playstyle. See our guide to making your own build for more info.

1. Basic Vanguard Info
   1. Best Vanguard Races
   2. Ability Score Priority
   3. Stat / Rating Priority
2. Paragon Path Feats, Powers & Rotation
   1. Combat Powers
   2. Feats
   3. Rotation
3. Boons
4. Weapons & Gear
5. Artifacts
6. Enchantments
7. Consumables & Buffs
8. Companions
9. Mounts

Basic Fighter Vanguard Info

Below is all the basic information for the Vanguard, from race choices to stats.

Other Fighter Builds

• Fighter Dreadnaught DPS Build
• All Neverwinter Class Builds

Best Vanguard Races

What race you play doesn’t play a huge role, but will give you a small boost. Generally, I would advise you to play a race that you enjoy.

1. Aasimar – 2% Power, Outcoming & Icoming Healing, Defense and Max Hit Points – +2 to any two stats – 2% max hit points to party members
2. Dwarf – 20% Resistance to Knock and Push – +2 Con and Str or Wis – 5% Defense bonus
3. Human – 1% Bonus to all stats – +3 To any Ability Score
4. Halfling – 5% Deflect – +2 Dex and +2 Cha or Con – 10% Bonus to Control Resistance
5. Drow – Darkfire – +2 Dex and +2 Cha or Wis – 5% Deflect Severity
6. Metallic Ancestry Dragonborn – Recieve 5% more healing – +2 to Any two Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
7. Dragonborn – Recieve 5% more healing – +2 to Any Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
8. Tiefling – 5% + Damage to targets below 50% health – +2 Cha and +2 Con or Int – 10% to reduce damage of target for 5 sec by 2.5%

Vanguard Ability Score Priority

Put all your available Ability Scores into Constitution and Charisma.

Vanguard Stat / Rating Priority

The Combat Rework introduced major changes to how stats and item level work, for more info see the official post.

Your cap for each stat is based on your item level. To cap a stat, the numbers of the stat need to be equal to or higher than your item level.

If your stat number is higher than your item level, you are wasting stats and should try to allocate stats differently.

For every 1000 points, a stat is lower than your item level you lose 1% in that stat.

You won’t be able to cap all stats, but capping your power is quite easy.

As a tank your main focus should be on Defensive stats.

Fighter Vanguard Paragon Path Feats, Powers & Rotation

This part is all about optimizing the Vanguard with the best feats, powers, and boons.

Fighter Vanguard Combat Powers

At-Will Powers:

• Threatening Rush
• Brazen Slash

Encounter Powers:

• Shield Throw
• Anvil of Doom
• Linebreaker (Damage) – Enforced Threat (Taunt) – Iron Warrior (Survivability) – Knight’s Valor (Situational)

Daily Powers:

• Bladed Rampart
• Phalanx – Second Wind

Class Features:

• Anvil of Challenge
• Combat Superiority – Greater Endurance – Steel Recovery

Fighter Vanguard Feats

• Shieldthrower
• Rising Tide
• Combat Balance
• Sharpened Senses
• Shake It Off

Figther Vanguard Rotation

Fighter Vanguard Boons

You should always choose boons based on what stats you currently need. Therefore a selection of several viable boons is available to you for each tier.

Tier 1 Boons

• Recruit’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Critical Strike – 0.2% Critical Strike Per Rank
• Critical Avoidance – 0.2% Critical Avoidance Per Rank
• Cultist Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Cultist Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. Cultists.

Tier 2 Boons

• Squire’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Armor Penetration – 0.2% Critical Severity Per Rank
• Defense – 0.2% Defense Per Rank
• Demonic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Demonic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. demons.

Tier 3 Boons

• Knight’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Combat Advantage – 0.2% Combat Advantage Per Rank
• Awareness – 0.2% Awareness Per Rank
• Dino Bulwark – 0.2 HP Per Rank
• Dino Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. dinos.

Tier 4 Boons

• Disenchanting Aura – 0.2% Control Resistance
• Captain’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Accuracy – 0.2% Accuracy Per Rank
• Deflect – 0.2% Deflect Per Rank
• Necrotic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Necrotic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. undead.

Tier 5 Boons (Choose 2)

• Severe Criticism – 1% Crit Severity per rank
• Welcome Blessing – 1% Incoming Healing Per Rank
• Call of Power – 1% Action Point gain per rank
• Quick Turnaround – 1% Recovery Speed per rank.
• Second Wind – 1% Stamina Regen

Master Boons

•  Focused Retaliation 3/3

Guild Boons

• Offense – Power or Critical Strike Bonus
• Defense – Defence or Hit Point Bonus or Incoming Healing

Fighter Vanguard Weapons & Gear

If you are new to Neverwinter and need to know how to get better gear and increase your item level, check out our Gearing Up Guide.

Note that the best in slot for your build might vary depending on what stats you have.

The best way to gear up in Neverwinter is by making a lot of Astral Diamonds, check out our Astral Diamond Guide to learn all the secrets of AD farming.

Head

• The Dark Maiden’s Ward Helm
• Rugged Sallet of the Dragon Hunter
• Turban of Shifting Sands

Armor

• Rugged Mail of the Dragon Hunter
• Blessed Bone Devil’s Ribcage (Avernus Hunts)
• Forest Guardian’s Ward/Raid Scalemail (Vault of Stars)

Arms

• Rugged Gauntles of the Dragon Hunter
• Superior Crushers of the Dragon Hunter
• Arms of the Last Resistance
• Midnight’s Grips
• Crag Scaler’s Gauntlets

Feet

• Dragonsteel Greaves / Sabatons
• Rugged Sabatons of the Dragon Hunter
• Blessed Wisps of the Shadow Demon
• Slips of the Rain

Weapons

• Masterwork Set
• Lionheart Set
• Scalebreaker’s Wrath
• Grand Alliance Set

Main Hand Modification:

• Threatening Rush

Offhand Modifications:

• Forte
• Incoming Healing

Rings

• Stalwartneedle Ring of Celerity
• Stalwartneedle Ring of Bulwark
• The Living Silver Fern
• Waywatchers Ring of Precision
• Ring of the Overwhelmed +5
• Ring of the Condemned +5

Neck & Waist

• Vanguard’s Alacrity: Dragonscale Neckguard, Dragonscale Girdle, Blue Dragon’s Mark
• Tiamat’s Prized Possesions: Tiamat’s Golden Necklace, Tiamat’s Golden Sash, Tiamat’s Arcane Globe
• Diamond Set (Scintilating Diamond Buckle, Iridescent Diamond Pendat, Refulgent Diamond Pin)
• Reflective Armaments (Reflective Collar, Mirror-Plated Belt, Erratic Drift Globe)

Shirt

• Rugged Dwarven Body Pattern
• Shirt of the Dragon Cult
• Vale Tunic
• Upper Pact Brands (Avernus Hunts)

Pants

• Rugged Dwarven Limb Pattern
• War-Worn Pants
• Lower Pact Brands (Avernus Hunts)

Fighter Vanguard Artifacts

Primary Artifact

• Forgehammer of Gond
• Wyvern-Vendom Coated Knives
• Wheel of Elements

Secondary Artifacts

Choose secondary artifacts based on the stats you are lacking.

• Mythallar Fragment
• Neverwinter’s Standard
• Jewel of the North
• Demogorgon’s Reach

Or choose 3 Storyteller’s Journals for the bonus

• Frozen Storyteller’s Journal
• Flayed Storyteller’s Journal
• Darkened Storyteller’s Journal
• Envenomed Storyteller’s Journal

Other Artifact Choices

• Lantern of Revelation
• Arcturia’s Music Box
• Trobriands Ring
• Staff of Flowers
• Halaster’s Blast Scepter
• Shard of Orcus’ Wand

Fighter Vanguard Enchantments

When getting enchantments, always get the ones with the stats you are lacking in with your gear, boons, etc in mind.

If you still need to refine your enchantments, see our Refinement Guide for tips on how to farm refinement.

Offense Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment
• Cobalt Enchantment
• Citrine Enchantment
• Amethyst Enchantment
• Jade Enchantment

Defense Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment
• Cobalt Enchantment

Utility Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment

Bonus Enchantments

• Recharge Bonus

Combat Enchantments

• Fortified Nature

Overload Enchantments

• Unholy Protection
• Resiliency of the Depths / Bulwark Of Brimstone from Hell Pit
• Various Marks from Stronghold Vendor
• Corrupt Black Ice / Lethal / Piercing
• Black / Red Dragon Glyph

Armor Reinforcement Kits

• Any stat you might need

Jewelry Reinforcement Kits

• Combat Awareness Jewel

Fighter Vanguard Consumables & Buffs

Consider getting VIP for the Power of VIP HP buff if you aren’t already. Also always stand in campfires to get the +1 ability campfire buff.

Pick one from each of the categories below depending on the stats you are lacking.

Invocation Blessing: Grace of Battle / Gift of Awareness / Righteous Boon / Gamber’s Fortune

Stronghold Food: Seared Tuna / Prime Rib / Ratatouille

Event Food: Caprese

Elixir: Foehammer’s Favor Elixir

Potion: Crafted Potion of Deflect

Reusable Item: Awakened Forger’s Box > Empowered Chain of Scales > Adorable Pocket Pet > Tymora’s Lucky Coin

Fighter Vanguard Companions

Summoned Companion

For your summoned companion you have the choice between using Augmented companions which will make it easier to cap stats or an active combat companion which will do damage.

Augment Companion Choices

This is just a selection of augment companions. Use one that has the stats you need.

• Cat
• Bulette Pup
• Deepcrow Hatchling
• Owlbear Cub
• Ioun Stones
• Quasit

Active Companion Choices

• Tutor
• Stalwart Golden Lion
• Drizzt Do’Urden
• Pseudodragon
• Honey Badger
• Tomb Spider
• Spined Devil
• Kuo-Toa
• Wayward Wizard (AoE)
• Regis (AoE)

Enchantment Power

• Potent Precision
• Redemption

Companion Powers

Below is a selection of viable companion powers.

Offense Powers

• Golden Deep Crow’s Presence – 7.5% Awareness
• Rimefire Golem’s Presence – 15000 HP and 3.8% Critical Severity
• Neverwinter Knight (Neverwinter Knight’s Discipline) – 7.5% Outgoing Damage

Defense Powers

• Bruenor – 4.7% Awareness and Defense
• Myconoid – 3.8% Critical Avoidance and Awareness
• Harper bard – 15000 HP and 3.8% Awareness
• Red Dragon Ioun Stone – 3.8% Incoming Healing and 15000 HP
• Moonshea Druid’s Wisdom – 15.000 HP and 3.8% Critical Avoidance
• Iron Golem’s Presence – 15.000 HP and 3.8% Defense
• Minstrel – 3.8% Power and 3.8% Awareness
• Green Slime – 7.5% Defense

Utility Powers

• Regis – 4.7% Defect Chance and Severity
• Lich – 7.5% Reduced Incoming Damage
• Watler – 7.5% Deflect
• Xegyi’s Insight – 30000 Hit Points
• Energon – 30000 Hit Points

Companion Equipment

Double offense slotted “Of the Companion” gear

Companion Enchantment

• Companion Enchantment

Fighter Vanguard Mounts

Bolster

When it comes to mounts, you should focus on getting them all to Mythic quality to increase Bolster.

Bolster Contribution depends on the quality of the mount, with Mythic mounts contributing 10% Bolster, this again increases the values of your Equip Power and Combat Power.

Mount Insignia Bonuses

All classes and specs should consider using Wanderer’s Fortune and or Traveler’s Treasures before you have refined all your gear and enchantments, for extra refinement every day.

Insignia bonuses are mostly down to preference. Some boost damage a bit, and some boost survivability, while others add utility.

As a tank, the self-healing bonuses are the most valued.

Insignia Type

• Fortitude
• Courage

Mount Collars

• Sturdy Barbed Collar
• Wayfaring Barbed Collar
• Unified Regal Collar

Fighter Vanguard Mount Powers

Mount Equip Power:

• Any defense stat power

Mount Combat Power:

• Magnificient Inspiration (Pegasus)
• Piercing Screech (Armored Griffon)

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Neverwinter Fighter Vanguard guide, please leave a comment below!