Each year, the Vanguard phase of the Madden Ultimate Team season arrives. Vanguard is an ability that allows offensive players to dominantly win impact blocks. This guide explains how to counter Vanguard schemes using minimal resources. If your roster needs upgrades to effectively counter these abilities, you can buy Madden 26 coins to acquire the necessary personnel without spending hours grinding.

What Is Vanguard?

Vanguard enables offensive players to win impact blocks in several situations:

Kick returns and punt returns in the open field

Pulling blocks on power runs, counters, and toss sweeps

Any block where the player gains momentum before contact

When used effectively, Vanguard can create significant running lanes. However, there are countermeasures available.

The Two Primary Counters to Vanguard

1. Out My Way (Passive Ability)

Out My Way allows defenders to frequently attempt and win impact blocks against receivers, tight ends, and running backs. This ability is available at no additional cost in many ability buckets on existing player items, typically in the first or second bucket.

Mechanics: When a Vanguard blocker engages a defender with Out My Way, the defender has an increased chance to shed the block immediately. Effectiveness scales with the defender's impact block rating.

Key factor: Weight and strength are significant contributors. A defensive tackle weighing 320-350 pounds with Out My Way performs substantially better against Vanguard than a smaller linebacker.

2. Reinforcement (X-Factor Ability)

Reinforcement provides defenders with an increased chance to defeat run blocks and disrupt catches. This X-Factor ability serves as a premium counter to Vanguard.

Players with Reinforcement: The following defenders possess this ability:

Kyle Hamilton (Safety, Ravens) – Has both Reinforcement as an X-Factor and Out My Way as a Superstar Ability

Roquan Smith (Linebacker, Ravens)

Matt Milano (Linebacker, Bills)

Budda Baker (Safety, Cardinals)

The Weight and Strength Strategy

Large defensive players equipped with Out My Way provide the most resource-efficient counter to Vanguard without requiring X-Factor slots.

Implementation Steps

Step 1: Acquire large defensive tackles. Prioritize players who are:

320 pounds or heavier

High impact block rating (90 or above)

Capable of equipping Out My Way

A player such as Albert Haynesworth (350 pounds, 99 impact block) serves as an example.

Step 2: Assign large defensive tackles as rush specialists. Navigate to the specialist tab in the lineup screen. Assign the largest defensive tackles to rush end positions rather than using smaller edge rushers.

Step 3: Save a backup defensive formation. In-game adjustments cannot be made during active play. Saving a defensive formation with heavy personnel allows for quick switching when facing Vanguard-heavy opponents.

Step 4: Utilize out-of-position players when available. Offensive linemen converted to linebacker positions can be highly effective. A 330-pound guard playing linebacker with Out My Way will consistently defeat Vanguard blocks.

Formation Adjustments

When facing opponents who rely exclusively on Vanguard runs, switching to a heavier formation such as 4-4 is recommended. This formation allows for:

Four down linemen (all large players with Out My Way)

Four linebackers (prioritizing run-stopping abilities)

Fielding multiple Out My Way players increases the frequency of successful block sheds.

Limitations of Standard Counters

Out My Way alone is insufficient against elite X-Factor Vanguard cards. When facing a player with both Vanguard and significant weight and strength advantages, a standard Out My Way defender will still be defeated. This situation requires either:

Weight and strength advantages combined with Out My Way, or

The Reinforcement X-Factor ability

Both solutions used together provide optimal results.

Ability Point Costs

Out My Way costs zero AP when equipped from the appropriate buckets. This allows equipping the ability on multiple defenders without sacrificing ability points elsewhere.

Reinforcement typically requires an X-Factor slot. However, some player items offer Reinforcement as a passive ability for one AP. These value cards should be prioritized on the auction house when available.

Conclusion