Vanguard

"No plan survives first contact in battle, nor should your enemy."

Whether trained as a member of an elite group of warriors, or simply come to the same conclusion as many before, those who strike first and strike hard are vanguards.

Strike First

Starting when you select the Vanguard archetype you gain a special reaction which you may use if no attack has benefited from your Sneak Attack feature since the start of your last turn.

When an enemy approaches to within reach you may make a melee attack which may benefit from your Sneak Attack feature, so long as you do not have disadvantage on this attack, as a special reaction. This special reaction is separate from your reaction and once triggered cannot be triggered again until the start of your next turn.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor and shields.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 9th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action.

Improved Strike First

Beginning at 13th level, your Strike First special reaction may also be triggered on enemies who start their turn within your reach in addition to enemies who move within reach on their turn.

Strike Hard

Starting at 17th level your blows are as inexorable as death, if no attack has benefited from your Sneak Attack feature when you miss with an attack you may choose to deal damage equal to half your Sneak Attack damage dice, rounded down, to your target. If you do then the attack which missed is considered to have benefited from your Sneak Attack feature.

Additionally your Sneak Attack damage ignores resistance.