Vanguard Tracker — Tears of Metal Hero Guide

Who Is the Vanguard Tracker?

Vanguard Tracker is the third playable commander in Tears of Metal Early Access, filling the agile scout and ranged specialist role Wallace and Ruadh Stonecrusher do not cover. Where Wallace anchors with sword and shield fundamentals and Ruadh trades speed for hammer stagger and ally healing pulses, the Vanguard Tracker emphasizes mobility, critical burst windows, and hit-and-run pressure against officers and elites.

Early Access unlock guides confirm two heroes beyond Wallace require progression: Ruadh Stonecrusher after defeating the Banshee (patch 0.8.57278+), and Vanguard Tracker after the Act II Environment 12 rescue event. Paper Cult plans additional commanders during the four-to-twelve-month Early Access window — the Vanguard Tracker is the baseline agile archetype, not the final roster cap.

Compare the full roster on Wallace and Ruadh Stonecrusher, then read Combo Strings for mobility-friendly chains that pair with scout kits.

How to Unlock Vanguard Tracker

Wallace is available on your first save. As of patch 0.8.57278, Ruadh Stonecrusher unlocks after defeating the Banshee (replacing the older Gilles + Settlement Outpost level 2 gate). Vanguard Tracker still requires completing the rescue event on Act II Environment 12. Patch notes also fixed closed gates during Brienne's unlock quest — progress blockers on that path should no longer soft-lock campaigns.

Recommended unlock order: learn Wallace fundamentals, defeat the Banshee to unlock Ruadh for co-op sustain, then pursue the Act II rescue once your emblem spread handles elite shield phases. Rushing Environment 12 under-geared wastes attempts.

Verify unlock nodes after every patch in Settings → About. Paper Cult continues to adjust milestone gating based on Early Access feedback.

• Wallace — available immediately on new saves
• Ruadh Stonecrusher — defeat the Banshee (0.8.57278+)
• Vanguard Tracker — complete Act II Environment 12 rescue event

Playstyle and Combat Role

Vanguard Tracker kits reward players who kited musou crowds in Dynasty Warriors spin-offs or action roguelikes with ranged finishers. Expect shorter combo windows than Wallace, emphasis on repositioning between L, H chains documented in our combo guide, and tools that mark priority targets for battalion focus fire. In co-op, Vanguard players flank while Ruadh holds center and Wallace flexes cleanup — avoid stacking three frontline anchors.

Healing scarcity still applies: the Vanguard Tracker is not a replacement for Ruadh sustain. Bring defensive Charms or Iona-family emblem picks if you solo Act 2 elites with the scout before Village investments mature. Orbs and Mark emblem families synergize with hit-and-run proc patterns more than slow Smite radial bursts Ruadh prefers.

Emblems, Equipment, and Co-op

Prioritize Orbs collectors and Mark detonation setups that reward quick light chains between dodges. Caithness still works if you group enemies before detonation, but pure Caithness Wallace-style anchoring underuses Vanguard mobility. Equipment lines unlocked at Village shops may include scout-specific trinkets — check Equipment Guide after your first Tracker unlock run.

Four-player squads should assign Vanguard Tracker to players comfortable calling elite targets and routing map detours. Pair with Co-op Multiplayer role splits and Best Emblem Synergies for clan pairs that stay strong across all three launch heroes.