Pathfinder 1e Archetype Slayer

Vanguard

Vanguards are battlefield commanders who focus on the brutality of combat and lead their allies to bloody victory.

Class
Slayer
Kind
Archetype
Granted Spells
Replaces
2 features

Vanguards are battlefield commanders who focus on the brutality of combat and lead their allies to bloody victory. Quick to react to danger, a vanguard is a valuable scout, capable officer, and skilled tactician.

Replaces

TrackStalker

Archetype Features

Lookout Level 1

At 1st level, a vanguard adds 1/2 his level (minimum 1) to initiative checks. This ability replaces track.

Tactician Level 2

At 2nd level, a vanguard receives a teamwork feat as a bonus feat. He must meet the prerequisites for this feat. Once per day as a standard action, the vanguard can grant one of his teamwork feats to all allies within 30 feet who can see and hear him. Allies retain the use of this bonus feat for 3 rounds plus 1 round for every 2 levels the vanguard possesses. Allies do not need to meet the prerequisites of this bonus feat. Whenever the vanguard is able to select a new slayer talent, he can instead choose to gain an additional use per day of this ability. This ability replaces the slayer talent gained at 2nd level.

Vanguard's Bond Level 4

At 4th level, a vanguard forms a bond with his fighting companions. As a move action, he can choose one of his current studied targets and grant half his studied target bonus against that target to all allies within 30 feet who can see or hear him. This bonus lasts for a number of rounds equal to the slayer's Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). This bonus does not stack with any favored enemy or studied target bonuses possessed by his allies; they use whichever bonus is higher. This ability replaces the slayer talent gained at 4th level.

Ever Ready Level 7

At 7th level, a vanguard is never considered an unaware combatant and is always able to act in the surprise round. The vanguard is still flat-footed in the surprise round until he acts. This ability replaces stalker. Slayer Talents: The following slayer talents complement the vanguard archetype: combat trick, finesse rogue, hard to fool, rogue crawl, surprise attack, terrain mastery, and weapon training. Advanced Slayer Talents: The following advanced slayer talents (and advanced rogue talents) complement the vanguard archetype: feat, opportunist, slayer camouflage*, and unwitting ally. (Those with asterisks [*] are detailed in the slayer class.)
Attribution

Rules content from Paizo Inc., reproduced by TheCrazyGM under the Open Game License v1.0a. Licensing for reproduced SRD content is covered by the site's Section 15 register.

Advanced Class Guide · OGL-1.0a

Added to the library by eco_the_exploiter on Sept. 19, 2026.

Open Game Content reproduced from Advanced Class Guide by TheCrazyGM under the OGL-1.0a. Copyright in the reproduced material is held by its original publisher, named in this site's Section 15 notice. The core designation is TheCrazyGM's assertion that the material faithfully matches its cited source; that attestation was recorded by Advanced Class Guide on 2026-09-19.

How this notice was generated

Sources Used in This Record
  • Based on class: Slayer (Class) — cites Paizo Inc.
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OGL 1.0a Notice. Pathfinder-derived Open Game Content on this page is used under the Open Game License v1.0a and Section 15 notice.