Vanguard

Vanguards wield a devastating electric shield that can punch a hole right through the zombie horde

"A shield wielding powerhouse that excels in both offense and defense" ― Vanguard class description

The Vanguard is one of eight playable classes for Co-op Campaign in World War Z. This class was added with the release of World War Z: Aftermath.

Overview

The Vanguard is a class suited for support by being both the team's shield and battering ram.

Almost all the perks the Vanguard can choose from revolves around their electric shield and improving its effectiveness in combat while others focus on passive team support. The combination of perks the Vanguard can choose from puts the class in a unique position where they can fulfill either an offensive, defensive, or supportive role depending on their actions in any given situation. In this regard, the Vanguard can be considered more of a generalist when all other classes tend to specialize in one particular role with some limited leeway. Choosing the Vanguard grants you freedom in how you choose to play the class while also being flexible enough to allow a change in playstyle when necessary. It's important to actively incorporate your equipment into your playstle as it will be necessary to play the class more effectively.

The Vanguard's starting core perk grants a passive buff where friendly fire is entirely negated while equipment is out. While other classes can't achieve a similar level of protection without choosing specific perks, the Vanguard always has access to this protection when necessary.

The equipment of choice for the Vanguard is the Mobile Shield. This protective tool has two uses for fighting zekes: deadly defense with the shield block or rushing offense with the shield charge. Blocking can protect its wielder from almost all manners of attack and deliver a lethal shock to anyone that tries to strike back while charging can allow them to plow through a mob and get to the other side quickly. Knowing when it is necessary to take out the shield and which option is appropriate for the situation will keep the wielder and potentially their allies moving and alive. The Mobile Shield has the additional benefit of being able to be used for blocking even when equipment charge is fully expended, though it will only protect against a single hit.

Perks List

Regular & Core Perks

Level	Perk	Description	XP Required	Unlock Cost
	Safeguard	Start with Mobile Shield and M500 Shotgun. Take 100% less friendly fire damage while using Shield Charge or Blocking	0 XP	0
Segment One
1	Quick Hands	Blocking zombie hit or performing Shield Charge reloads your primary and secondary weapons	0 XP	0
2	Adrenaline Rush	Blocking zombie hit or performing Shield Charge fully restores melee stamina	1250 XP	150
3	Fancy Footwork	Better maneuverability when using Shield Charge and you can move 30% faster while blocking	1250 XP	150
	Breakthrough!	Hitting an enemy while using the Shield Charge will grant you 75% temporary health		150
Segment Two
4	Passive Aggression	Shield Block can withstand incoming hits for 3 more seconds (base: 5 seconds)	1250 XP	150
5	All-Round Defense	For the first 3 seconds Shield Block protects you from all directions	1250 XP	150
6	Residual Defense	Take 50% less damage from zombies for 3 seconds after Shield Block ends	1250 XP	150
	Hoplite	All teammates take 25% less damage if you hold the Shield Block within 5 meters of them		150
Segment Three
7	Conditioning	You can perform 2 more Shield Charges per full shield energy (base: 2 charges)	1250 XP	150
8	Recuperation	You won't be able to collect equipment bags, but your Shield energy will constantly recharge (140 seconds to replenish to maximum)	1250 XP	150
9	Pickpocket	Killing 15 zombies in rapid succession refills one equipment charge (cooldown 30 seconds)	1250 XP	150
	Tax collector	You refill 1 equipment charge for each special zombie hit during a shield charge (cooldown: 30 seconds)		150
10	Armor Plated	You gain passive shield protection for 3 seconds when you start interacting with something (cooldown 10 sec)	1500 XP	0
Segment Four
11	Stronger Together	Health for you and all teammates increased by 7.5%	1500 XP	250
12	Outer Shell	When your health is below 30% incoming damage depletes Shield energy before health. Full Shield energy prevents damage up to 50% of health	1500 XP	250
13	Juggernaut	Health increased by 35% but sprint stamina decreased by 50%	1500 XP	250
	Guard dog	Start with an improved Forest Warrior Chainsaw that deals 50% more damage and has 50% more fuel. All Forest Warrior Chainsaw pickups for you are also improved		250
Segment Five
14	Rolling Refill	Passing near an Ammo Crate during a Shield Charge automatically refills your ammo	1500 XP	250
15	Magnet	Restore 2% of primary weapon ammo for each enemy killed with a Shield Charge	1750 XP	350
16	Supply Train	Passing near a teammate during a Shield Charge reloads their primary weapon. You receive 5% ammo for your primary weapon for each teammate reloaded	1750 XP	350
	Special coating	Passing near a teammate during a Shield Charge grants a 75% temporary health boost to them		350
Segment Six
17	Freight Train	You can kill 40% more zombies with a shield charge (base: 14 zombies)	1750 XP	350
18	Shake It Off	Performing a Shield Charge removes all negative effects received from special zombies	1750 XP	350
19	Long Run	Your Shield Charge speed and covered distance increased by 20%	1750 XP	350
	Bad odor II	There is a chance that killing a special zombie will cause it to drop a primary weapon (cooldown: 180 seconds)		350
20	On Your Feet	A single incapacitated teammate within 2 meters of where you finish a Shield Charge will get back up on their feet	2000 XP	0
Segment Seven
21	Elbow Room	When you, or a teammate within 2 meters of you, starts reviving an incapacitated character, surrounding enemies will be pushed back (cooldown 60 seconds)	2000 XP	500
22	Placebo Effect	Heal 10% of max health when someone uses a medkit within 2 meters of you and you're not the target of healing	2000 XP	500
23	Inspirational	Killing 15 zombies in rapid succession while you are the only member of your team still standing respawns a randomly selected dead teammate (cooldown 60 seconds)	2000 XP	500
	Risen from the ashes	When you become the last member of your team standing, you gain temporary health (cooldown: 60 seconds)		500
Segment Eight
24	Sturdy	When your Shield Block is completely expended, you gain a temporary health boost (cooldown 60 sec)	2000 XP	500
25	Hurry Back	Respawn time for the whole team decreased by 15%	2500 XP	500
26	Centre of Attention	Activating Shield Block will force all zombies within 3 meters in front of you to target you instead of your teammates	2500 XP	500
	Reinforced metal	The Shield Block reduces all damage by 5%		500
Segment Nine
27	Trail Blazer	Finishing a Shield Charge sets enemies in front of you on fire (distance 2 meters)	2500 XP	500
28	You Made me Mad	Melee attacks and firearms deal 50% more damage for 5 seconds after you holster the Shield	2500 XP	500
29	Avenger	Firearm damage increased by 20% for each dead or incapacitated teammate	2500 XP	500
	Revenge	You take 5% less damage for each killed or incapacitated teammate		500
30	Breathing Room	Automatically push back nearby zombies when you are hit and about to be incapacitated (cooldown 60 seconds)	3500 XP	0

Prestige Rank perks

Rank Level	Perk	Description	Unlock Cost
1	Peripheral Vision	Increase angle at which attacks will be blocked by your Shield by 10% (base: 220 deg)	7500
2	Steadfast	All zombie damage is reduced by 25% when using Shield Block	7500
3	Secret Stash	Carried ammo capacity for secondary weapons increased by 15%	7500
4	Linebacker	Shield Charge allows you to run for an additional 1 seconds (base: 5 seconds)	7500
6	Secret Stash II	Carried ammo capacity for primary weapons is increased by 5%	7500
7	Don't bother him!	Take 15% less damage while using a Mortar or a Stationary Machine Gun	7500
8	Strong Genes	After getting infected, you can withstand for 2 more seconds before turning	7500
9	Harvester	Killing 15 zombies during a Shield Charge restores 5% rounds to the primary weapon's magazine	7500

History

March 28, 2024 patch (the "Thrill of the Kill" update):

• 4 new prestige perks were added. Each of them was appended to one of the 4 existing columns of perks with a red background. They are unlocked at prestige levels 6–9.
• The new perks were: "Secret Stash II", "Don't bother him!", "Strong Genes", and "Harvester".