Vanguard

The Vanguard is a powerful combatant, able to combine the offensive powers of the Adept and the Soldier. They have access to various weapons and armor, as well as biotics. Gameplay focus is on taking down enemies with quick and brutal force.

Vanguards are the front line of the squad. Their biotic powers focus on combat potential - disabling the enemy, making their armor ineffective, and shielding themselves from harm so that they can get close enough to go to work. The Vanguard wears light armor to start, though they can upgrade to medium armor, and they may gain specialist training in shotguns and pistols.

The Vanguard class talent increases damage with shotguns and pistols, and increases biotic protection.

Talents

 * Pistols
 * Shotguns - unlocked when Pistols rank 6 is achieved.
 * Assault Training
 * Tactical Armor - unlocked when Assault Training rank 5 is achieved.
 * Throw
 * Lift - unlocked when Throw rank 7 is achieved.
 * Warp
 * Barrier - unlocked when Warp rank 4 is achieved.

Class Talent
The Vanguard class talent increases ability with pistols and shotguns, and protection from biotics. A Vanguard can specialize into the combat-oriented Shock Trooper or the biotics-oriented Nemesis, giving them access to levels 7 - 12.

Each point spent in the Vanguard talent gives abilities as listed below:
 * 1) Increases biotic protection by 6%  Increases pistol and shotgun damage by 5%
 * 2) Increases biotic protection by 9%  Increases pistol and shotgun damage by 6%
 * 3) Increases biotic protection by 12%  Increases pistol and shotgun damage by 7%
 * 4) Increases biotic protection by 15%  Increases pistol and shotgun damage by 8%
 * 5) Increases biotic protection by 18%  Increases pistol and shotgun damage by 9%
 * 6) Increases biotic protection by 21%  Increases pistol and shotgun damage by 10%

Mass Effect 2
In Mass Effect 2 the Vanguard is described by game director Casey Hudson as "All about high risk, high reward. You get right up in the enemy's face and you fight at point blank range".

Powers

 * Pull
 * Evolved at Rank 4 to one of two (currently unknown) improved versions.
 * Shockwave
 * Evolved at Rank 4 to one of two (currently unknown) improved versions.
 * Charge
 * Evolved at Rank 4 to one of two (currently unknown) improved versions.
 * Cryo Ammo
 * Evolved at Rank 4 to one of two (currently unknown) improved versions.
 * Incendiary Ammo
 * Evolved at Rank 4 to one of two (currently unknown) improved versions.

Weapons

 * Submachine Guns
 * Heavy Pistols
 * Shotguns