Vanguard

For the prologue quest, see Vanguard Raid.

"Hordes of implacable enemies by way of the Lidwinter Woods have amassed. As you look out at the seemingly endless ranks of invaders, their lust for power becomes palpable and you quickly realize they will not waver easily and weigh your options. To overcome such insurmountable odds, you must band together with other warriors. Together, you have a shot at fending off this gigantic threat to Sanctuary."

- Mode description^(src)

Mode artwork

Vanguard is a co-op gameplay mode for Diablo Immortal. It was introduced as part of the Crucible of Justice update.

Gameplay

Vanguard is a co-op activity where players cull foes in parties of 4 across various objective-based runs. The objective the party is tasked with depends on the event's difficulty tier. In total there are 5 objectives, some of which only unlock in higher difficulty tiers. Objectives may be tasks like escorting an artifact, felling a Helliquary boss, or halting a Shardborne invasion.

To gain access to the mode, players must be at least at Hell I difficulty, and head to the basement in Cain's Workshop. A Vanguard portal is available within. Select it, then either bring a 4-person party or engage in matchmaking.

While playing in the mode, players can earn Vanguard Charms. Only 5 victories after reset (every Monday and Thursday) will drop a Vanguard Charm as well as enhanced rewards, including chances for special Legendary Items, as well as Set Items. These rewards can be manually disabled on the Vanguard screen to avoid wasting them on lower-level runs. Regular rewards such as equipment and Beguiling Dust are still obtained even without the limited rewards being active.

Healing potions are not available in the event. However other methods that provide survivability still work, such as the trigger effect of the full set of Vithu's Urges, as well as skills that provide shields or immunity (such as Bone Armor).

Vanguard Skills

Vanguard skills can be divided into the following:

• Bane: Bane skills focus on debilitating and de-buffing enemies.
  • Blight Orb: Conjure a Blight Orb for 8 seconds that tracks and follows enemies, increasing the damage they take by 27% while near the orb.
  • Warpstrike: Call a Warpstrike down on a target area, dealing 51,627 damage to up to 12 enemies and reducing their Attack and Movement Speed by 27% for 8 seconds.

• Defense: Defense skills focus on helping everyone take less damage.
  • Aegis: Grant yourself and nearby allies a shield that absorbs 185,859 damage for 8 seconds.
  • Martyr: Selflessly bind yourself to nearby allies for 8 seconds, taking 27% of the damage they receive.

• Heal: Heal skills focus on replenishing the team’s Life.
  • Healing Field: Conjure a Healing Field for 8 seconds that continuously heals all allies and their summons while they remain within for 15,488 Life per second.
  • Mending Orb: Conjure a Mending Orb for 8 seconds that tracks and follows allies, healing them and their summons for 15,488 Life per second while near the orb.

• Might: Might skills focus on offense and helping allies deal maximum damage.
  • Broadside: Arm and empower yourself and nearby allies for 20 seconds, during which Primary Attacks fire additional piercing attacks that deal 51,627 damage.
  • Valor's Call: Call upon inner strength to empower yourself and nearby allies and their summons, increasing Critical Hit Chance by 27% for 8 seconds.

Levels

There are 4 levels, with higher levels increasing enemy stats but also the rewards. Levels also have effects depending on the season, such as whether there is a boss at the end or not.

Elite levels are a version of level 4, where monster HP can be further increased by to 130%, 160%, 190%, 250%, 310%, 370%, 460%, 550%, 640% or 750% (10 levels in total). Parties are ranked on the Vanguard leader board by the highest Elite level cleared, and within each level, the fastest clear time.

Helliquary Affixes

Helliquary Affixes also called Boss Powers are new Affixes that can be found on main hand or off hand gear dropped in the highest 2 difficulties of a Vanguard. They give the player iconic attacks traditionally wielded by Helliquary bosses. Helliquary Affixes can also be used outside of a Vanguard Raid. More Helliquary Affixes were released corresponding with the available Vanguard bosses.

• Broken Stone Dive: Iphael’s dreadnought slams into the ground, dealing damage to enemies and knocking them airborne.
• Claimer's Gaze: Unleash the power of Gorgothra the Claimer, creating 4 statues that fire beams, each dealing damage to enemies.
• Crawling Despair: Dymdrail unleashes despair, dealing damage and Blinding all nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
• Deluge Maelstrom: Unleash the power of Yamnaal of the Deluge, conjuring a massive whirlpool that pulls in nearby enemies. When the whirlpool dissipates it bursts, dealing damage to all nearby enemies.
• Flame-spun Eruption: Unleash the power of Lassal the Flame-spun, gathering immense strength before slamming the ground, dealing damage to all nearby enemies and shattering their armor, increasing the damage they take by 30% for 8 seconds.
• Shivering Breath: Unleash the power of Vitaath the Shivering Death, conjuring two clones of Vitaath to release waves of cold, dealing damage and Chilling enemies.
• Skin-Veiled Swarm: Ophinneb summons two of her servants to release swarms of bats, each dealing damage.
• Terror Spiral: Unleash the power of the Twin Terrors, spinning massive blades that deal damage to all nearby enemies while pulling them in.
• Twofold Barrage: Unleash the power of Iscea, Twofold Rebirth, releasing a barrage of projectiles that deals damage to surrounding enemies.

Images

Claimer's Gaze

Flame-spun Eruption

Shivering Breath

Terror Spiral

Twofold Barrage

Vanguard Seasons

Season 1

Season 1 lasted between September 12 and December 5, 2024. It took place in Lidwinter Woods. The Helliquary bosses during this season were Lassal, Yamnaal and Iscea.

Season 2

"Remain steadfast in the face of amplified challenges and rewards new to Vanguard. December 5 marks the start of a fresh Vanguard season, complete with a new environment and bloodthirsty enemies from World’s Crown—the new Zone releasing with our next major update—have been injected into the mode to dial up the intensity. In the Ashen Ravine dungeon, you’ll need to band together with your shield brothers to escort siege engines so they can crumple demonic fortifications, clearing a path for you to strike through."

- Season overview^(src)

Season 2 artwork

Season 2 lasted between December 5, 2024 and February 27, 2025. It took place in Ashen Ravine. The Helliquary bosses during this season were Gorgothra, Vitaath and Gishtur & Beledwe. The Elite levels were introduced in this season. At the launch of this season, the ability to resurrect in Vanguard was added, with the number of resurrections shared within the party. The limit is 4 in difficulties 1 and 2, 2 at level 3 and none at level 4.

Season 3

"Venture into the Sharval Wilds in Vanguard. You’ll fight against new enemies, take down the fearsome Glade Bane boss, and come toe to toe with new Helliquary bosses!"

- Season overview^(src)

Season 3 artwork

Season 3 will last between March 20 and June 12, 2025. It takes place in Ravenous Glade The Helliquary bosses during this season are Dymdrail, Ophinneb and Iphael. At the launch of this season, an indicator was added under party members' portraits that shows the cooldown status of their Vanguard skills.

History

In the update on October 16, 2024, Set Items were added to the limited rewards.

Around the November 26, 2024 update, Vanguard Charms were changed such that instead of manually equipping them, you can choose one on the entry screen and it will be equipped for the duration of the raid.

After the end of Season 2, Vanguard was disabled until March 20, 2025. This coincided with the February 26, 2025 update, but neither the discontuation nor details of the upcoming season were announced for that update.