The Vanguard Veterans are the close-combat elite of a Space Marine Chapter’s First Company. They’re the ones who go in first, hit hardest, and keep moving before the enemy can answer.
What they are
Every Space Marine in the First Company can handle a bolter, but Vanguard Veterans have thrown themselves into melee entirely. They’ve spent long rotations in their Chapter’s Assault Squads, so they’re among the best hand-to-hand fighters the Chapter has.
That makes them the natural spearhead for any offensive. They’re a rapid-reaction force, thrown at weak points in an enemy line or sent to bail out a battle-brother who’s in trouble.
How they fight
Vanguard Veterans rarely sit still. They hit one target, break it, and move on to the next before anyone can pin them down. Jump packs get them where they need to be, though they can also ride into battle in Rhinos, Razorbacks, or Drop Pods if the Chapter wants them on the ground.
They’ve got a friendly rivalry going with the Sternguard Veterans. Same First Company, completely different approach: the Sternguard shoot, the Vanguard charge.
Wargear
Their standard kit is a bolt pistol, chainsword, krak and frag grenades, and a jump pack. But First Company status opens the armoury, and Vanguard Veterans can draw on the Chapter’s full stock of close-combat gear.
Relic Blades and similar ancient weapons are rare enough that losing one is a disgrace. Vanguard Veterans will fight harder to recover a fallen relic than they will to take an objective, which tells you plenty about how they think.
- Eviscerators
- Storm Shields
- Power Weapons: Lightning Claws, Power Fists, Relic Blades, Thunder Hammers
- Grav-Pistols, Hand Flamers, Inferno Pistols, Plasma Pistols
- Melta Bombs
On the tabletop
Vanguard Veterans have been a staple of Space Marine armies for years, and they got a fresh kit in the Armageddon boxed set for the new edition. The updated models use the same jump packs as Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs.
The reveal miniature was a Blood Angels veteran, marked out by a golden helmet, a master-crafted weapon, a plasma pistol, extra iconography, and a Crux Terminatus. That’s a good snapshot of what the unit is meant to look like: fast, decorated, and very dangerous.
Key facts
- Vanguard Veterans are First Company melee specialists in a Space Marine Chapter.
- They’re drawn from Marines who’ve served long tours in Assault Squads.
- Standard kit is a bolt pistol, chainsword, grenades, and a jump pack.
- They can take rare close-combat weapons like Relic Blades and Thunder Hammers.
- They often deploy as a rapid-reaction force, hitting weak points and moving on.
FAQ
Are Vanguard Veterans part of the First Company?
Yes. They’re veteran members of a Chapter’s First Company, the same company that houses the Sternguard Veterans and most of the Chapter’s elite infantry.
What’s the difference between Vanguard and Sternguard Veterans?
Vanguard Veterans specialise in melee and close-quarters fighting, while Sternguard Veterans focus on ranged firepower. The two units have a friendly rivalry because of that split.
Do Vanguard Veterans always use jump packs?
No. Jump packs are their default, but they can swap them for a Rhino, Razorback, or Drop Pod if the mission calls for it.