Rebel Vanguard in Battlefront II
Rebel Vanguard is a term given to the Rebel anti-vehicle specialists in the Star Wars Battlefront series. Similar troops appear in other games but the basic role is the same.
Star Wars: Battlefront series[]
They appear in the original Star Wars: Battlefront, its sequel and the Renegade Squadron. They’re identical to all other anti-armor classes and have the same equipment. They possess considerably more health then other classes, but also have the slowest movement speed.
Their primary weapon is a shoulder-mounted missile launcher, which fires slow-travelling orange-hued missiles (up to 8 can be carried at any given time). These missiles will instantly destroy most turrets and speeder bikes but many shots are required against IFT-T and the AT-AT (you shouldn’t even bother with the latter). Using the “lock-on” mode with the missile launcher will highlight the weak spots on the vehicles, where all shots will deal increased damage. After hitting them 3 times, you will be able to use 5 guided rockets with it: they don’t replace the regular missiles but are used alongside them as a tertiary fire mode, with. These missiles can be slowed down or accelerated much like the starfighters; they much easier to aim when they’re slowed down but are only worth it at highest speed, when they explode with high damage over a large area. As such, they should only really be used at large, open maps where you have time to boost them to full speed.
Their secondary weapon is a regular blaster pistol with infinite ammo but high overheat that can be replaced with the Award precision pistol after killing 6 people with it. They also have two regular Thermal Detonators and 3 mines. The latter are very, very powerful, killing everyone and destroying full-health tanks in 3m radius. Even though they take about two seconds to activate, they should never be set up in the heat of combat, as the blast is guaranteed to kill you alongside the enemies (unless, of course, you have turned the friendly fire off or are about to die anyway). Mines don’t take any damage from regular weapons, but will be destroyed by the explosives. The Engineer classes will also safely walk past them and can destroy them with fusion cutters.
AI-controlled Vanguards almost always fight with pistols, very rarely using their missile launchers against vehicles, heroes and on large maps over the long distances. They will use grenades against vehicles and in tight spots as often as everyone else, but only set up mines on a handful of maps. Some of them will occasionally use the guided rockets, the only case of AI unlocking the AWARD weapons. Finally, they suffer from the typical Rebel tendency to shoot at the dead Imperials for some time, often ignoring their living comrades. This isn't a bug, as they will mutter lines such as "And stay down!" that are unique for this situation.
Star Wars:Empire at War[]
"Right behind you, sir"
Similar troops appear in the strategy Empire at War and its expansion Forces of Corruption. They're called Plex Missile Soldiers and two squads of three can be purchased at the Barracks for 450 credits from Tier 2 onwards.
Their health and movement speed is practically identical to the regular Rebel Soldiers. They also share the "Take Cover" ability, which will increase their defence at the expense of the movement speed. Finally, they can be used to capture landing zones and structures like all other infantry and heroes.
They're obviously highly effective against vehicles, easily dealing with AT-STs, Swamp Speeders, Pirate Skiffs, Scout troopers and even the 2-M Repulsor Tanks, whose shields are useless against missiles. Like in many other strategies, however, they deal very little damage to infantry and will fall prey to Stormtroopers. The TIE Maulers are also very dangerous because they can simply run them over and a single squad is unable to deal with two or more. Over long range, SPMA-Ts can also deal with them easily. Lastly, do not let any Empire heroes get close, as then they will either be dead or fighting for their side.