Vanguard

"When a terrible threat rises, Guardians look to the Vanguard, the closest thing they have to a command structure. These elite veterans coordinate the reports of roaming Hunters, the analyses of cloistered Warlocks, and the instincts of grizzled Titans into a single plan of action."

- Grimoire Description.

The Vanguard are elite Guardians who coordinate the Last City's defenses, organize assaults on enemy strongholds and assassinations of their leaders, and mentor newly-risen Guardians. Some Guardians work directly for the Vanguard as scouts, investigating potential threats to the City far afield.

Overview
The members of the Vanguard sell armor specific to their class, as well as guide players through story content via Quests. The Vanguard also sells weapons, armor and equipment through their Quartermaster, Roni 55-30. The Vanguard guides the player through the base game's questline and each subclass quest, as well as playing an important role in organizing a resistance against Oryx during the Taken War. Vanguard Reputation is gained by completing Vanguard Bounties, Strikes, or missions while on Patrol.

As a result of the invasion of the Last City led by Dominus Ghaul, the destruction of the Tower and the onset of the Red War, the Vanguard has been thrown into disarray. While the Vanguards leadership survived the initial invasion, they became displaced and questioned over how they would overcome the Red Legion.

However, they were reunited by The Guardian, and fought in the Red War against the Red Legion and Ghaul. After the successful liberation of the City and the awakening of the Traveler, the Vanguard set up a new base near the ruins of the old Tower.

Over a year since the Red War ended, the Vanguard would tragically lose a member. Hunter Vanguard Cayde-6, while on mission with the Guardian to contain a massive prison break within the Prison of Elders, finds himself beaten and his Ghost destroyed by the Fallen Scorn Barons. Worse, the Scorn's leader, the previously missing Uldren Sov, takes Cayde's weapon, the Ace of Spades, and murders Cayde in cold blood. His death leaves the Guardian Hunters without a leader and uncertain of their future. Though Uldren and the Scorn would know defeat at the Guardian's hands, who would assume Cayde-6's place remains unknown.

Currently, the remaining members of the Vanguard and other officials are considering who will assume Cayde's role as Hunter Vanguard. Unfortunately, what Hunters that have the skill and leadership to take the position fled the City in anticipation (or fear) of being chosen.

As seen in Shadowkeep the Vanguard forces also consist of Frame, Drake Tank and  Hawk gunships. Vanguard frames appear in the first mission of Shadowkeep known as A Mysterious Disturbance where they are named as Vanguard Frontline. They are also located on the Moon patrol zone in Sanctuary where they protect the Vanguard outpost occupied by Eris Morn.

Vanguard Leaders
Current Vanguard Members
 * Titan Vanguard
 * Zavala – Current Vanguard Commander
 * Warlock Vanguard
 * Ikora Rey – Current Warlock Vanguard
 * Hunter Vanguards
 * Vacant — Spiritually represented by Colonel

Former Vanguard Members
 * Hunter Vanguards
 * Tallulah Fairwind – First Hunter Vanguard, killed by an Ahamkara
 * Caliban-8 – Second Hunter Vanguard, status unknown
 * Aparajita-4 – Former Hunter Vanguard, status unknown
 * Kauko Swiftriver – Former Hunter Vanguard, missing and declared dead
 * Andal Brask – Former Hunter Vanguard, killed by Taniks, the Scarred
 * Cayde-6 – Former Hunter Vanguard, killed by Uldren Sov and Barons
 * Titan Vanguards
 * Saint-14 – First Vanguard Commander
 * Warlock Vanguards
 * Osiris – Second Vanguard Commander, exiled

Vanguard Allies

 * Osiris – Advisor
 * Roni 55-30 – Vanguard Quartermaster
 * Shaw Han – Vanguard Operative
 * Shiro-4 – Vanguard Scout
 * Sloane – Vanguard Scout and Deputy Commander
 * Suraya Hawthorne – Clan Steward
 * The Crow – Vanguard Agent
 * Tango-9 – Marksman
 * Tevis – Hunter Agent

Vanguard Dare
Unlike Titans and Warlocks who elect their Vanguard representatives, the Vanguard Dare is a challenge set between Hunters into deciding who will fill the position of Hunter Vanguard. The Vanguard Dare is a code of honour among Hunters and often followed through.

Due to the nature of Hunters who enjoy venturing the wild, the position of filling the Vanguard role has proven difficult for the Last City as no Hunter wants to be stuck in the Tower doing Vanguard duties. Since then the Vanguard has allowed Hunters to come to an agreement between themselves into electing an official and this can be contested as a gamble in which the loser must concede to filling the Vanguard role.

Currently, the Hunter Vanguard position is vacant as no Hunter wants to fill the role leading to many Hunters that could fill the role to flee the city for important "Assignments". They have since been spiritually represented by Colonel who occupies the space of the fallen Cayde-6 and has since been christened "Pigeon Lord" by Saint-14.

Vanguard Transmissions
for Transcript

Vanguard Transmissions are a series of audio messages accessible from Zavala's office. They were first introduced in the Season of the Hunt as messages from former Vanguard Commander Osiris to the current Vanguard Commander, Zavala.

Later a special message is transmitted everywhere by Queen Mara Sov and can be heard from Zavala's office.

Vanguard H.E.L.M.


The H.E.L.M. or Hub for Emergency Logistics and Maneuvers is a Vanguard operations outpost set up within a hanger of The Last City. It is staffed by Vanguard Frames and came into operation to deal with the arrival of the Imperial Cabal.

The centerpiece is a war table which offers real-time tactical information on the current conflict the Vanguard is monitoring. A terminal on the table can be used to read messages and receive incoming transmissions from Vanguard agents for briefings and reports from the field. Members of Vanguard task forces frequently meet at the war table to discuss ongoing operations.

Vanguard Codenames

 * VIP 2014: The Guardian
 * ERI-223: Eris Morn
 * IKO-006: Ikora Rey
 * CHA-319: Chalco Yong
 * AUN-326: Aunor Mahal
 * FEN-092: Possibly Fenchurch Everis
 * RAN-187: Possibly Randy
 * TRU-135: Possibly Truce
 * VIP#1315: The Drifter
 * VIP#1786: Unknown, Possibly Asher Mir or Toland, the Shattered
 * VIP#0704: Unknown, Possibly Eriana-3


 * AI-COM/RSPN: Rasputin
 * AI-COM/XBLK: Failsafe, Exodus Black


 * VIP#1121: Variks, The Loyal
 * VIP#3987: Mithrax, Kell of Light
 * VIP#4503: Fikrul, the Fanatic
 * VIP#2029: Eramis, Kell of Darkness
 * VIP#5340: Kridis, Phylaks or Praksis
 * VIP#5341: Kridis, Phylaks or Praksis
 * VIP#5342: Kridis, Phylaks or Praksis
 * 1287-FALLEN-DEV: House of Devils
 * 692-FALLEN-DUS: House of Dusk
 * 004-FALLEN-SIV: Kell's Scourge


 * VIP#2015: Oryx, the Taken King
 * HIVE-SAV: Savathûn, the Witch Queen
 * HIVE-DUL: Dûl Incaru, the Eternal Return


 * VIP#3801: Emperor Calus
 * VIP#4044: Val Ca'uor
 * CABAL-LEV: Leviathan


 * PARAC-NINE: Paracausal, The Nine
 * INCID-LUNA: Incident on Moon
 * LUNA-HEL: Moon, Hellmouth
 * VESTA-DC: Vesta, Dreaming City
 * RZ-724: Europa

Vanguard Strike Protocols
Vanguard Strike Protocols are names given to Strike by Commander Zavala and randomly generated by a strike name generator. The generator once famously created the word "babydog" and caused Zavala a lot of embarrassment. He went ahead with Operation Babydog as the strike protocol was already in motion and had no time to waste.

Other notable operations include Operation Piccolo and Operation Oboe, in which Zavala lost radio contact with the Operation Piccolo Fireteam and initiated a personal rescue mission called Operation Oboe.

Known Operations
 * Operation Piccolo – Exodus Crash
 * Operation Oboe – Exodus Crash rescue team led by Zavala
 * Operation Intrepid – The Pyramidion
 * Operation Radiolarian Cascade – The Inverted Spire
 * Operation Stormcoat – Lake of Shadows
 * Operation Babydog – Lake of Shadows
 * Operation Forge – The Arms Dealer
 * Operation Haystack – Unknown

Trivia

 * In real-world military terminology, the vanguard is the leading advance force of a military formation responsible for scouting ahead and securing ground for the main force.

List of appearances

 * Destiny
 * The Dark Below
 * House of Wolves
 * The Taken King
 * Rise of Iron
 * April Update
 * Destiny 2
 * Curse of Osiris
 * Warmind


 * Destiny 2
 * Forsaken
 * Black Armory
 * Joker's Wild
 * Season of Opulence
 * Shadowkeep
 * Season of the Undying
 * Season of Dawn
 * Season of the Worthy
 * Season of Arrivals
 * Beyond Light
 * Season of the Hunt
 * Season of the Chosen