Vanguard- Do I need Anquan Boldin?

All of my TE's have Vanguard. I also picked up WR's Victor Cruz and Montez Sweat. Do I need Anquan Boldin also to fully power up Vanguard? I noticed that no offensive lineman have Vanguard? What do you need to fully activate Vanguard?

This list shows you all of the players that get Vanguard as a passive ability. There are 4 offensive linemen that have it. 
 

https://www.mut.gg/forums/forum/mut-discussion-10/topic/list-players-that-have-passive-x-factors-44958/

SlowAndSteady said:

This list shows you all of the players that get Vanguard as a passive ability. There are 4 offensive linemen that have it. 
 

https://www.mut.gg/forums/forum/mut-discussion-10/topic/list-players-that-have-passive-x-factors-44958/

Thanks for the list. Does every Vanguard player have to be activated in order for it to work? So far, i have a center, three TE's and Cruz and Sweat, and FB Alstott. Would I need to put in another center and fullback with Vanguard to work? Would i need to add Boldin?

CobraMetalViper said:

Thanks for the list. Does every Vanguard player have to be activated in order for it to work? So far, i have a center, three TE's and Cruz and Sweat, and FB Alstott. Would I need to put in another center and fullback with Vanguard to work? Would i need to add Boldin?

Vanguard is liek most other abilities, in the sense that it activates on a PER PLAYER basis, granting them a massive advantage when it comes to impact blocking.  Lemme start with the O-line stuff you mentioned previously.

Vanguard players are the reason running backs thank their blockers in the postgame interview. When they enter the zone, they are nearly guaranteed dominant impact block wins.

I'll tell you how i'm approaching things and you can adjust accordingly, or take some ideas and inspiration for your own squad.  This is my roster.  I feel that Anquan Boldin is THE best receiver on my entire team, he's easily the most versatile, in the sense that he fits any scheme and can do it all.  Run blocking, pass catching, all at an elite level.

• Joe Thomas (LT) - no Vanguard, but every other O-line ability we'd ever hope for
• Will Clapp (LG) - out of position, but he gets 1AP Vanguard
• Kevin Mawae (C) - 1AP Vanguard
• Will Shields (RG) - this position is probably the most debated, but this is what i settled on ultimately, no Vanguard -- however, he also gets every other O-line ability stack
• Maurkice Pouncey (RT) out of position, but he also gets 0AP Vanguard

There are a few abilities, namely Linchpin and Protected that work across the entire O-line, but those are more rare.  Basically, you can run as many Vanguard players as you have Ability Points available to add.  There's a significant amount of players using this style cheese from some type of Heavy formation (often from Ravens playbook) that will allow you to get no less than eight (8) Vanguard equipped players on the field all at once.  It's not a particularly interesting way to play, but I tend to be a grumpy old man, so you do whatever makes sense for YOU.

You don't need to add anyone specific, as each of these Vanguards will operate independently of one another.  Hope something here makes sense.  Please let us know any questions.

peatrick said:

Vanguard is liek most other abilities, in the sense that it activates on a PER PLAYER basis, granting them a massive advantage when it comes to impact blocking.  Lemme start with the O-line stuff you mentioned previously.

Vanguard players are the reason running backs thank their blockers in the postgame interview. When they enter the zone, they are nearly guaranteed dominant impact block wins.

I'll tell you how i'm approaching things and you can adjust accordingly, or take some ideas and inspiration for your own squad.  This is my roster.  I feel that Anquan Boldin is THE best receiver on my entire team, he's easily the most versatile, in the sense that he fits any scheme and can do it all.  Run blocking, pass catching, all at an elite level.

• Joe Thomas (LT) - no Vanguard, but every other O-line ability we'd ever hope for
• Will Clapp (LG) - out of position, but he gets 1AP Vanguard
• Kevin Mawae (C) - 1AP Vanguard
• Will Shields (RG) - this position is probably the most debated, but this is what i settled on ultimately, no Vanguard -- however, he also gets every other O-line ability stack
• Maurkice Pouncey (RT) out of position, but he also gets 0AP Vanguard

There are a few abilities, namely Linchpin and Protected that work across the entire O-line, but those are more rare.  Basically, you can run as many Vanguard players as you have Ability Points available to add.  There's a significant amount of players using this style cheese from some type of Heavy formation (often from Ravens playbook) that will allow you to get no less than eight (8) Vanguard equipped players on the field all at once.  It's not a particularly interesting way to play, but I tend to be a grumpy old man, so you do whatever makes sense for YOU.

You don't need to add anyone specific, as each of these Vanguards will operate independently of one another.  Hope something here makes sense.  Please let us know any questions.

I have Anquan Boldin on 2 separate times and I still am finding a hard time justifying the high cost that comes with it, how are you using him that's most effective?  I tried him in WR1 and he didn't do too much for me.  I am trying him in the slot right now.

pegasushyoga said:

I have Anquan Boldin on 2 separate times and I still am finding a hard time justifying the high cost that comes with it, how are you using him that's most effective?  I tried him in WR1 and he didn't do too much for me.  I am trying him in the slot right now.

I've got him boosted (to max 99 SPD) on 49ers theme team, as well as some TTAS boosts.  Getting him to at least 98 Speed would be beneficial, if not all the way.  Beyond that, i've got him living in the WR2 position on my roster.  He's just been absolutely fantastic, as i said.  No matter if i'm running to the outside, he's regularly able to pancake opposing defenders, opening gaping holes to scamper through down the sideline.  When it comes to pure pass catching, as far as i'm concerned, Anquan is basically Player Trait "glitched" (not actually glitched, but in the sense that he gets everything we'd want set to YES, the only trait he's lacking is "Clutch" = No).

And it's August, after all, so I'm not really considering price in the equation here.  My squad has been built for quite some time, i've finished all three of my Rookie Premier sets, so there's not really anything else to save for, at least not from my perspective.  I would have chased him anyway, due to my beloved 49ers Team Chemistry.  There's TONS of receivers, many of which you can earn for free.  Keon Coleman, Chris Olave, Billy Johnson (easily THE best kick returner in the entire game, also great option in the Slot) a handful of Golden Ticket WRs (maybe), MHJ isn't terrible, although he lacks the specific passive X-factor abilities to insta-beat Bottleneck Man Press attempts.  Pick yer poison, doesn't have to be Boldin, but he's easily the best receiver in the entire game, IMO, especially if you can get him boosted to max 99 SPD.

I typically place my favorite / best receiver in the WR2 spot, as that tends to be where i throw to most often.

pegasushyoga said:

I have Anquan Boldin on 2 separate times and I still am finding a hard time justifying the high cost that comes with it, how are you using him that's most effective?  I tried him in WR1 and he didn't do too much for me.  I am trying him in the slot right now.

Boldin is better than Cruz

Thankfully only three days or so left of this nonsense.  Vanguards were fun for a while but I'm really getting tired of the kids running 8-9 of them and Goal Line or IForm Hulk every play. 

Saw a new wrinkle today... "Power Read" out of Gun Split Shot (Bengals Offense):

https://huddle.gg/23/playbooks/291/formations/11360/play/97356/#

...where the guy was "Air Trucking" with QB Gronk.

You have to get your user out all the way to the sideline very quickly... because Gronk turns the corner and can outrun your entire team up the sideline with the speed boost he gets from the air truck.

It's funny that these kids think they're "good" because they can exploit some awful abilities/coding in the game... when in just a few days they're going back to losing.

Ducati0307 said:

Thankfully only three days or so left of this nonsense.  Vanguards were fun for a while but I'm really getting tired of the kids running 8-9 of them and Goal Line or IForm Hulk every play. 

Saw a new wrinkle today... "Power Read" out of Gun Split Shot (Bengals Offense):

https://huddle.gg/23/playbooks/291/formations/11360/play/97356/#

...where the guy was "Air Trucking" with QB Gronk.

You have to get your user out all the way to the sideline very quickly... because Gronk turns the corner and can outrun your entire team up the sideline with the speed boost he gets from the air truck.

It's funny that these kids think they're "good" because they can exploit some awful abilities/coding in the game... when in just a few days they're going back to losing.

I look forward to drinking their tears.