Sunderfolk Vanguard Guide: Grit, Knockback, and Best Builds

Sunderfolk Vanguard arrived in Update 2.0 as the game's second dedicated tank, and it plays nothing like the Berserker. Where the Berserker absorbs hits by outlasting enemies, the Vanguard converts getting hit into a reason to hit back. That one shift changes how you think about every fight.

TL;DR: Sunderfolk Vanguard is an agile retaliation tank added March 10, 2026. Grit stacks (max 2/3/4 by level) each reduce damage taken by 1 and add 1 to damage dealt. Enemies that hit you while Grit is active take 2 damage automatically. Strongest build: Preparation into Smash (3 + 2 per Grit stack consumed; 11 damage at max Grit). Ultimate "To The Rescue" leaps to any hex and supports adjacent allies. In co-op, Knockback abilities need communication: confirm landing hexes before pushing.

Sunderfolk Vanguard: quick answer

The Sunderfolk Vanguard is a frontline tank hero from Update 2.0. It builds Grit stacks through attacking and using skill cards; each stack cuts incoming damage by 1 and adds 1 to outgoing damage. Hit while Grit is active and you counter-attack for 2 damage automatically. The whole kit rewards getting into the middle of a fight and staying there.

Key takeaways

• Grit max stacks: 2 at base, 3, then 4 at higher levels
• Gain 1 Grit per attack or skill card; lose 1 when hit while Grit is active (counter for 2 damage)
• Top build: Preparation into Smash (3 + 2 damage per Grit stack consumed)
• Knockback moves targets hexes equal to card value from the origin point; coordinate in co-op
• 9 base skill cards + 1 Ultimate (To The Rescue): leap to any hex, AoE, Weak, ally Strength/Shield
• Compared to Berserker: retaliation tank vs damage-absorption tank; different failure states

How Grit works

Grit is the Vanguard's passive ability, called Fighting Spirit. Every attack and every skill card activation adds 1 Grit stack. Each stack cuts damage taken by 1 and adds 1 to damage dealt.

When an enemy attacks you while any Grit is active, you automatically deal 2 damage back and lose 1 Grit stack after the retaliation. This isn't a triggered reaction you choose: it fires on every hit while Grit exists.

The cap scales with level. You start at a maximum of 2 stacks, then hit 3, then reach 4 at the high end. At 4 stacks you're taking 4 less damage per hit and dealing 4 extra per attack. That's a big swing in fights where you've had time to build.

The catch is that getting hit costs Grit. Against multiple enemies in a sustained fight, stacks bleed off faster than you build them if you're not activating skill cards consistently. Preparation exists for this: it refills Grit when used, with bonus stacks if you're surrounded by 2 or more enemies.

Grit at 3 stacks cuts 3 from incoming damage and adds 3 to every attack. Enemies that hit the Vanguard while any Grit is active take 2 automatic damage in return.

GODEEPER: Where Vanguard fits in the full hero ranking and which classes cover the gaps in its kit. Sunderfolk Class Tier List: Best Heroes for Every Role →

All Vanguard abilities

The Vanguard has 9 base skill cards and 1 Ultimate. These are the confirmed descriptions from official sources:

Into the Fray: Move; gain Grit if ending adjacent to a Monster. Knockback an enemy 2 hexes. Deals 3 damage. Positioning opener that generates Grit and immediately pushes the target.

Knock 'em Back: Move with a +1 bonus if pushing an enemy. Knockback an ally or enemy 3 hexes. Grant 3 Shield to characters hit by the push. Can deliberately reposition a teammate and Shield them simultaneously.

Bladefall: Leap 3 hexes. AoE attack around the Vanguard. Knockback all nearby enemies 2 hexes. Move again after. Full repositioning card with built-in area disruption.

It's Hero Time: Target an area near an ally. Leap toward them. Attack for extra damage per adjacent Hero or Ally. Inflict Weak on survivors. Best in dense fights where you're entering a cluster of enemies around a teammate.

Preparation: Heal. Remove one debuff. Move. Gain Grit at end; gain additional Grit if surrounded by 2 or more enemies. This is the Grit-refill card, designed to pair with Smash and Buster.

Buster: Move. Attack 2 hexes forward with damage scaling on current Grit stacks (3 + 2 per stack). Consumes all Grit. Leap to next position. Gain 2 Shield. At 4 stacks: 11 damage.

Leap Frog: Leap 3 hexes. Can land on an enemy-occupied hex. If targeting an enemy: deal 2 damage, attack for 3, then leap again. If targeting near an ally: grant them Shield. Flexible mobility card that rewards aggressive positioning.

Smash: Leap 2 hexes. Gain 2 Shield. Attack for 3 + 2 per Grit stack (consumes all Grit). At 4 stacks: 11 damage. Similar to Buster but shorter range with Shield on use.

Split the Earth: Referenced in documentation; detailed mechanics not fully documented in public sources.

Ultimate: To The Rescue: Leap to any hex on the board, occupied or not. Knockback occupants. Frontal AoE attack. Inflict Weak on survivors. Adjacent allies gain Strength and Shields per enemy hit. Damage scales 4/5/6 by level. AoE covers three parallel rows of 3 hexes. It's a repositioning, support, and disruption tool more than a pure damage ultimate.

Knockback in co-op: communicate or cause problems

Knockback moves a character a number of hexes equal to the stated card value, from the origin point of the effect. It travels in a straight line. Blocked path: characters in the way are pushed or swapped.

Solo, this is simple. In co-op it gets complicated fast. Knockback can send enemies directly into your teammates' positions. A 3-hex push from Knock 'em Back that drops an enemy next to a low-health Arcanist on the far side of the board is a problem you created.

The Vanguard has Knockback on five abilities. Before using any of them in a multiplayer session, confirm where the target lands. The Knock 'em Back card can also Knockback allies intentionally: push a teammate 3 hexes to a better position and Shield them at the same time.

From the 2.0 patch notes: Knockback "may cause damage to obstacles" and "enemies move to final hex regardless of obstacles in path." In rooms with destructibles, this changes the risk calculation.

Knockback trajectories need team awareness in co-op. The same 3-hex push that repositions an ally to safety can send an enemy into the Arcanist's adjacent hex.

GODEEPER: Full co-op setup, party composition, and what each role does in Sunderfolk multiplayer. Sunderfolk Online Co-op Guide →

Best Vanguard builds

Grit damage build (Preparation + Smash)

This is the highest-output Vanguard setup. Use Preparation when surrounded by 2 or more enemies to build Grit fast, then release it with Smash or Buster. At 4 stacks both cards hit for 11 damage. The Shield on Smash keeps you alive through the zero-Grit moment after dumping stacks. Preparation's debuff removal also clears anything that reduces your activation rate.

Card priority: Preparation, Smash, Into the Fray (opener), Leap Frog (repositioning gap).

Fate Card synergy: "No, I Hit YOU" amplifies the retaliation damage from Grit. "Ultimate Leap Frog" pushes your repositioning range further if you'd rather move than hit.

Shield tank build

Trade raw damage for survivability. Lean into Knock 'em Back (3 Shield on push targets), Smash (2 Shield on use), and Preparation's healing. Grit retaliation still applies, so you're not giving up the counter-attack. You're just making sure you survive long enough to rebuild Grit after spending it.

Works well in longer boss fights where a single Smash swing isn't going to carry the round and you need something to do while Grit rebuilds.

Vanguard vs Berserker

Both heroes fill the tank slot, but they don't fill it the same way.

Berserker is a damage-absorption tank: high health pool, self-sustain, outlasts enemies. It's the traditional choice and the more forgiving one when Grit isn't building.

Vanguard is a retaliation tank: damage reduction per stack, automatic counter-attacks while Grit is active, and more board control through Knockback. Its damage ceiling is higher (11 damage at max Grit) and it's more useful in co-op because you can intentionally reposition teammates. But it has more ways to fall apart: no Grit means no damage reduction, no retaliation, and worse sustain than the Berserker until you get another skill activation off.

Against many weak enemies, Vanguard builds Grit fast and retaliation damage compounds. Against single hard-hitting bosses, Berserker's raw sustain tends to hold up better because each hit spends more Grit than the Vanguard can rebuild between turns.

Tips for playing Vanguard

Build Grit before the big swing. For the Sunderfolk Vanguard, that means Into the Fray or Preparation first, then Smash or Buster. Dumping Grit at 1 or 2 stacks wastes most of the scaling.

Surrounded is better than isolated. The Vanguard's value comes from being in the middle of enemies. Every adjacent enemy is a potential retaliation target. Don't hover at range. You're not building Grit, not triggering counters, and your damage bonus is sitting unused.

Tell your team before Knockback. There's no warning when you push an enemy into another player's space. A quick callout before Knock 'em Back or Bladefall prevents most co-op accidents.

Smash and Buster both consume all Grit. Don't use them unless you're ready to rebuild from zero. If there's a gap before your next activation, you're walking around with no damage reduction and no retaliation for at least one enemy turn.

To The Rescue is a save button first, damage second. You can leap to any hex, including next to a cornered ally. The AoE, Weak, and ally Strength/Shield combo means you're disrupting the enemies around them and giving your teammate room. Think of it as a support ultimate that happens to hit things.

Related Reading

• Sunderfolk Class Tier List: Best Heroes for Every Role: where Vanguard ranks among all heroes and which classes pair best with it in a party.
• Sunderfolk Online Co-op Guide: full co-op setup, party roles, and what changes when you go from solo to a full group.
• Sunderfolk Beginner Guide: Best Party for New Players: how to build your first party before the Vanguard unlock if you're new to the game.

References

• Sunderfolk on Steam: store page, patch notes, and Update 2.0 release history
• Meet Your Heroes: The Vanguard, Dreamhaven: official ability descriptions and design notes
• Sunderfolk Update 2.0 Patch Notes, Dreamhaven: full 2.0 changelog including Knockback mechanic documentation
• Sunderfolk on X (official): developer announcements including Vanguard reveal

Frequently asked questions

What is the Vanguard in Sunderfolk? The Sunderfolk Vanguard is a tank hero added in Update 2.0. Uses Grit to reduce incoming damage and deal it back. Mobile frontliner with heavy Knockback toolkit and retaliation-based passive.

How does Grit work? Each attack or skill card activation adds 1 Grit (up to 2/3/4 by level). Each stack means -1 damage taken, +1 damage dealt. Getting hit while Grit is active triggers a 2-damage counter and removes 1 stack.

What's the best build? Preparation into Smash. Build Grit with Preparation (bonus stacks if surrounded by 2+ enemies), then release with Smash or Buster (3 + 2 per Grit stack). Fate Cards: "No, I Hit YOU" for retaliation, "Ultimate Leap Frog" for mobility.

Does Knockback move allies? Yes. Knock 'em Back can target allies intentionally, repositioning them 3 hexes and granting Shield. In co-op, communicate before any Knockback to avoid sending enemies into teammates.

Vanguard vs Berserker: which should I play? Berserker for raw sustain against hard bosses. The Sunderfolk Vanguard has a higher damage ceiling, more mobility, and board control through Knockback. Vanguard fails harder when Grit isn't building; Berserker is more consistent under pressure.

When was Vanguard added? March 10, 2026, as part of Update 2.0.