If you’re building a token swarm deck in Riftbound, Vanguard Captain is the kind of clean, no-nonsense tool you want slotted right into your curve.
At 3 cost for a 3/3 with upside, this is the kind of efficient board-builder that punishes opponents who don’t respect tempo.
It’s also one of the sharpest early showcases of Demacia’s Legion identity—rewarding tight sequencing and wide pressure.
Gameplay / Cool Mechanics
Vanguard Captain has Legion: When you play me, play two 1-power Recruit unit tokens here. (Get the effect if you’ve played another card this turn.)
That’s a 3-cost 3/3 body that potentially brings two more bodies with it—so long as you’ve played anything beforehand.
This opens up multiple angles: turn-three snowball with a 1-drop or cheap spell, turn-four token enabler in a deck looking to go wide, or even a setup into Demacia’s anthem-style buffs.
If you’re running support cards that benefit from number of units (like Inspire, Rally, or Battalion), Vanguard Captain is an automatic include.
The condition is meaningful but not harsh—Legion demands planning, not sacrifice.
Even basic sequencing will consistently trigger this, and in a fast board-control meta, that’s all you need.
Visuals
Art direction here leans hard into leadership and scale. Vanguard Captain charges forward, mouth open mid-command, a gleaming blade in her hand and soldiers flanking her across the battlefield.
The orange-gold light, the flags whipping behind her, and the blurred movement of allies all reinforce one thing: this is not a lone warrior.
This is a rallying cry.
Pull Rate & Value Speculation
Vanguard Captain is card 218/298 in the OGN set of Riftbound. No rarity officially announced yet, but it has the feel of a strong uncommon—impactful but not flashy.
If foil versions exist, this one’s likely to look fantastic under light thanks to all that metal and sky contrast.
No alt or overnumbered version has been spotted, but the utility of this card makes it an early candidate for competitive attention.
With Demacia’s Legion mechanic looking like a tempo-focused identity, Vanguard Captain could anchor multiple mid-speed archetypes.
It’s a solid play in Limited and one of the best early showcases of what the faction wants to do.
Vanguard Captain is straightforward—but never simple.
She rewards clean play, floods the board if sequenced well, and comes at the perfect power spot for her cost. One of those cards you never mind drawing.
