OSRS Vanguards Guide: Health Balancing, Gear & Strategy

Overview: Vanguards at a Glance

Vanguards is a full boss in the raid group, rated 3 out of 5 in our boss index and normally fought solo or team.

Before you can fight Vanguards you need Chambers of Xeric.

HP balancing is what this fight actually asks of you, and it is the thing standing between you and raid points toward CoX uniques.

Its own attack is magic, so Protect from Magic is the prayer it asks for.

In our index it sits in the raid group at difficulty 3 of 5, where kill times come down to HP balancing.

Access Requirements

Vanguards is gated behind Chambers of Xeric.

Chambers of Xeric also tends to sit alongside the other raid gates, so it is usually cheaper to clear them together than to come back for each one. The boss requirements checklist lists them by group.

Location and How to Get There

Vanguards is fought in a combat room in the Chambers of Xeric.

A Chambers of Xeric room holding three of Xeric's former commanders. All three are the encounter — you cannot deal with them one at a time.

Recommended Combat Stats and Gear

Inventory and Supplies

• Food sized to its max hits: 22.
• Prayer potions for Protect from Magic.
• A teleport out.

Mechanics: Attack Styles, Max Hits and Immunities

Where Vanguards Sits in Progression

Vanguards is the entry point for the raid group, so there is nothing easier here to warm up on. Above it sit Tekton and The Maiden of Sugadinti.

Fight Strategy: HP balancing

1. Prayers on before you are in range.
2. Turn on Protect from Magic and leave it on.
3. Its lowest defence bonus is against light ammunition.
4. Its 4-tick speed punishes greed.
5. Bank before a 22 can erase you.

• Balance HP or wipe
• Prepare three styles
• Call percentages
• Practice outside of purple-or-bust runs

Drops and What Vanguards Is Worth

Drops worth the trip: Raid points toward CoX uniques. Whether that is worth your time depends on how many kills an hour you personally get, which is a function of HP balancing rather than of your gear list.

Combat Achievements

Vanguards has Combat Achievement tasks. With a 22 max hit the restrictions are mostly about execution rather than survival.

Task lists move with updates — read the current list in game.

Combat Achievements guide

Ironman Notes

Without a Grand Exchange, raid points toward CoX uniques has to be earned rather than bought, and this is the fastest table it sits on.

Common Mistakes and Death Causes

• Ignoring that balance HP or wipe
• Ignoring that practice outside of purple-or-bust runs
• Buying an upgrade before HP balancing is consistent
• Gearing for Vanguards before finishing Chambers of Xeric
• Walking in before prayers are on

FAQ

What do I need to fight Vanguards?

Chambers of Xeric

Which protection prayer should I use at Vanguards?

It attacks with magic, so pray against that.

How hard does Vanguards hit?

Max hits of 22, with 180 hitpoints.

Is Vanguards worth doing?

Yes, for what it drops — Raid points toward CoX uniques — if you want that specific reward. It is not a general money maker, and we do not publish a GP per hour figure for it because that number changes with the Grand Exchange.

What kills people at Vanguards?

Balance HP or wipe

Related Guides

• Chambers Of Xeric Guide Rooms Points And Purple Chances
• Great Olm Guide Head Phase Hands Roles Mechanics
• PvM progression guide
• Best bosses for money
• Combat Achievements guide

Bottom Line

The honest summary of Vanguards is that HP balancing is the whole difficulty, and it is learnable in an evening. After that the only variable left is how many trips you are willing to do for raid points toward CoX uniques.

If Vanguards is blocking a Combat Achievement or an unlock you actually want, our PvM service is done by hand — no automation. Otherwise the bosses list has the full index.