This is a guide to the Vanguard Job class in Bravely Default 2 (Bravely Default II) for the Nintendo Switch. Read on to know all the details about the Vanguard Job including its abilities, specialties, stat modifiers, and weapon proficiencies!

Vanguard Overview

Vanguard Overview
・Vanguard excels in defense and offense. ・They can exploit enemy weapon type weaknesses with multiple weapon types. ・Utilize different weapons to bring out the Vanguard's offensive capabilities!

Vanguard Overall Stats

HP	MP	Strength	Defense
Magic	Magic Defense	Healing Power	Agility

How to Play the Vanguard

Focus on taking aggro to get buffs

The vanguard's offensive capability is lower than offense specialist classes. It makes up for it with high defenses and the ability to strengthen itself when taking damage so keep on raising its chance to be targeted stat to make the Vanguard class shine.

Vanguard Ability List

Ability	Type	Cost	Level	Effect
Cross Cut	Command	18 MP	1	Perform two physical attacks on a target in quick succession.
Shield Bash	Command	10% HP	2	Use equipped shield to perform an earth-imbued physical attack on a target and slightly delay their next turn.
Defang	Command	12 MP	3	Perform a physicl attack on a target and decrease their physical attack by 7% for five turns. Stats cannot be reduced below 65% of their base value.
Skull Bash	Command	12 MP	4	Perform a weak physical attack on a target and decrease their magical attack by 7% for five turns. Stats cannot be decreased below 65% of their base value.
Pain into Gain	Support	1 Slot	5	Taking damage in battle while not Defaulting has a roughly 30% chance of increasing physical attack power by 1-3%
Aggravate	Command	-	6	Increase the user's likelihood of being targeted by 25% for three turns. Stats cannot be increased beyond 200% of their base value.
Sword of Stone	Command	26 MP	7	Perform a powerful earth-imbued physical attack on a target.
Shield Stun	Command	25% HP	8	Use equipped shield to perform a quick physical attack on a target and significantly delay their next turn.
Defensive Offence	Support	1 Slot	9	Performing an attack with a weapon equipped will cause all damage to the user to be reduced to 70% until their next turn.
Enrage	Command	24 MP	10	Guarantee that an enemy's next two action will be aimed at the user.
The Gift of Courage	Command	1 BP	11	Give one of the user's own BP to a target.
Neo Cross Slash	Command	54 MP	12	Perform two powerful physical attacks on a target in quick succession.
Infuriate	Command	40 MP	13	Increase the user's likelihood of being targeted by 50% for three turns. Stats cannot be increased beyond 200% of their base value.
Quake Blade	Command	70 MP	14	Perform an extremely powerful earth-imbued physical attack on a target.
Ultimatum	Command	1 BP	15	Perform an extremely powerful physical attack on all targets, after which the user is less likely to be targeted until their next turn comes around.

Best Abilities

Aggravate

Defensive Offence

The Gift of Courage

Aggravate

Increases chance to get targeted. Something you'll want to happen when playing the Vanguard.

Defensive Offence

Reduces damage taken if you attack. It works extremely well with the Vanguard's identity and it solidifes its role as a tank.

The Gift of Courage

With this ability, you can impart several BP to your attackers instead of wasting it on your own attacks that may deal weaker damage than them. It can also save allies or your own party by giving BP to allies that have negative BP.

Vanguard Speciality and Special Ability

Speciality

Speciality 2 Can only be learned after leveling the Vanguard to Level 12.

Special Ability

Vanguard Weapon Proficiencies

Below are the weapons proficiencies for the Vanguard job. Refer to this section to know which weapons are best suited for the Vanguard job.

How to Unlock the Vanguard Job

Defeat Selene and Dag

Selene and Dag is a duo battle and is the first boss fight you'll encounter in Bravely Default 2. Dag is the bearer of the Vanguard Asterisk so know that your damage will not be high when fighting him.

How to Beat Selene and Dag

Best Sub-Jobs for Vanguard

Swordmaster

Enrage + Fluid Stance is an easily usable combo. At the later stages of the game, you can also use the Sword Master's Ninefold Flurry to easily take thousands (or hundred of thousands) of HP thanks to Attention Seeker's damage buff. Another combo it can use is Divide Attention to copy your party's highest Target Chance stat in case you're using a tankier unit than the Vanguard/Swordmaster combo.

Sword Master Job Abilities and Best Sub-Jobs

Gambler

This might come as a surprising combo but with the Surpassing Power Support Ability, you can easily deal around 50,000 damage for 10,000 PG. A literal pay to win job combo!

Gambler Job Abilities and Best Sub-Jobs

Bravely Default 2 Job Guides

Jobs List

List of Jobs

Jobs
Freelancer	White Mage	Black Mage	Monk
Vanguard	Thief	Bard	Beast Master
Gambler	Berserker	Red Mage	Ranger
Shieldmaster	Pictomancer	Dragoon	Swordmaster
Spiritmaster	Salve-Maker	Oracle	Bastion
Phantom	Arcanist	Hellblade	Bravebearer

Job Guides