Released Project Vanguard (4.0 UPDATE RELEASE 8/27/2025)

Logo is a WIP
​

​

Welcome to Ayrei​

The Ayrei Region, a landmass split into four different quadrants.
Each with their own people and Pokemon every moment of your adventure has something new in store.
This is not the full planned region, only what's currently available in 4.0


No Gyms, No Elite Four

In Project Vanguard, the role of the Pokemon Trainer is no longer to collect gym badges and become the champion. Instead, Trainers protect the region from criminal organizations, aggressive wild Pokemon, and whatever other conflicts come their way. As a brand new Trainer, you'll enroll in the Vanguard Academy, a school dedicated to teaching the next generations of Pokemon wielders. As you rise through the ranks, you'll face new challenges, meet new friends, and of course, uncover your mysteries past.
Oh, that's right, you.

An individual who's awoken in this region with no memory of who they were before.
With no where else to go, you join your newfound friend, and become a Pokemon Trainer.


New Regional Forms

In the region of Ayrei, you'll encounter a total of over 300 new regional forms, evolutions to existing Pokemon, and even completely new ones. With thousands of hours of work from both our artists and balancers, each one will be fun to play with and offer a useful role in your team.


A Brand New World To Explore

The region of Ayrei is built with exploration in mind.
On your journey across it, you'll not just find trainers to battle, but also den's home to rare Pokemon, treasures guarded by powerful opponents,
and a lot of optional areas you'll miss if you don't look hard enough.


Defined Difficulty Modes

Vanguard has three difficulty modes for your choose from. Each one with hand crafted teams for every important boss trainer. No matter what type of player you are, one of these modes should offer an engaging experience.

Quality of Life

While we still want Vanguard to feel like an proper adventure, we of course cut down on a lot of the tedious tasks you'd find yourself stuck with in other games. This includes the removal of EV training, as points can now be allocated at any time from the summary screen, and other Pokemon customization items now being easily purchasable.


Additional Features
Old Gym Leaders return as cosplayers ("super fans") for you to battle with new teams!
Most route Trainers are optional (progress at your own pace!)
Non-Binary protagonist option
28 Starters (22 of whom are Regional Variants!)
Advanced Pokedex that displays the stats and learnsets of every seen Pokemon
EXP all (right after picking your starter)
Infinite Repel (right after picking your starter)
Canon Pokemon up to generation 9
Fast travel between towns


Download
Goes up to chapter 35, around 36-38 hours of playtime

Spoiler: Credits

Development team
Ayrei - Lead developer, Story, Eventing, Mapping
Ironic Omens - Concept Art, Cutscene Art, Spriting, Story writing assistance
Moonpaw - Spriting, Concept Art
Jaguarkia - Spriting, Concept Art
Simonz - Spriting
CherubiNym - Concept Art
Chrysanthemum - Spriting
NnekArt - Concept Art, Spriting
Verity - Custom Music
Draco - Balancing every regional, fakemon, and main story boss fight
Fictional - Also balancing every regional, fakemon, and main story boss fight
Just_a_Gameaddict - Balancing Super fans and Route Bosses
WeOathKeeper - Programming custom moves and abilities
Dred - Bugfixing and Mapping help
katsuki - Spriting


Previous development team members/contributors
Spriting - PrismShrimp, Celestial Fearow, Chobbis3, Chobbis4, Pixeldust64, Givemeloop, Kana, Darkside Official, Alcreed, HyperTox
Mapping - Kristalwolf, IceGummi, Chobbis3
Advanced Battle AI - Moto & Demice



If you find your work in game that is uncredited, or work of yours that should not be in Vanguard, please contact me and I will work towards fixing the issue ASAP.

Credits
Pokemon Essentials v19.1 by Maruno
Graphics and ScriptsMagiscarf
WesleyFG
SailorVicious (Formerly known as Heavy-Metal-Lover)
Shawn Frost
NSora-96
PeekyChew
MewTheMega
Kyle-Dove
Pablus94
Princess Phoenix
Zeo254
Claisprojects.com
Minorthreat0987
The-Red-Ex
UltimoSpriter
TyranitarDark
DarkDragonn
rafa-cac
Phyromatical
Alucus
Newtiteuf
ChaoticCherryCake
moca
Akizakura16
Kyle-Dove
Clara-WaH
ThatWelshOne_
raZ
Marin
Maruno
Nuri Yuri
PurpleZaffre
Savordez
Vendily
Mr. Gela
Voltseon
Neo-Spriteman
VanillaSunshine
PurpleZaffre & Maicerochico
AtomicReactor
Zerokid
Amethyst
Jan
Zumi
Bazaro
Koyo
Smeargletail
Alex
Noscium
Leparagon
N-kin
fishbowlsoul90
princess-phoenix
DatLopunnyTho
Conyjams
kaji atsu
The cynical poet
LuigiPlayer
Falgaia
Pikafan2000
Mashirosakura (Magearna recolours)
Lord-Myre
MillaLya
AveonTrainer
JorgeBurgos
KajiAtsui
cubeR
DiegoWT
rhaidor
KnoblePersona
Amras Anárion
IndianAnimator

Demice

eriedaberrie#1569
NoProbro
Biggusweeabus

Music
GlitchxCity
VanniluxePavilion
Kamex
Bliitzit
Sheddy
Mewmore
BitSymphony

Battle backgrounds
Aeveontrainer
Advanced Pokedex
FL
Gen 9 Project
Script Gen 9 and Adapting PLA for v20:
-Caruban

PBS for Gen 9:
-Caruban
-PorousMist (Updated the short abilities, items, and moves description)
-DJChaos (TM Items)

Pokemon Gen 9 Battler Sprites:
The-King-Of-Roads-X, Mak, leParagon, Caruban, Azria, Mashirosakura, Katten, Jinxed

Pokemon Gen 9 icons:
-ezerart

Pokemon Gen 9 Followers:
-Azria, DarkusShadow

Gen 9 Item sprites:
-Caruban, lichenprincess

Pokemon Gen 9 Cries:
Edited from Lightblade Absol's Gen 9 Cries compilation video

Original Pokémon: Legends Arceus Expansion Script :
-StCooler (Original script for Gen 8 Project in v18 and Status sprites)
-PorousMist and curryofthepast (Adapting the script for v19.1 use)

Some item PLA icons :
-AztecCroc, 3DJackArt, Caruban, lichenprincess

PLA Pokemon cries ripped:
-Morningdew

Pokeballs battle animation and summary icon:
-Caruban
-WolfPP (Beast ball battle animation)

PLA Pokemon icons:
-LuigiTKO

PLA Follower sprites:
Boonzeet, DarkusShadow, princess-phoenix, ezeart, Wolfang62

PLA Sprites from Smogon Gen8 Sprite Project :
-Blaquaza, KingOfThe-X-Roads, KattenK, Travis, G.E.Z., SpheX, and Hematite

Gen 4 Style Version
Gen 9 sprites:
KingOfThe-X-Roads, Mak, Red7246, Vent, Caruban, leParagon, Sopita_Yorita, Z-nogyroP,
Alxndre~◇, Mashirosakura, NanaelJustice, KRLW890

PLA sprites:
Travis, KingOfThe-X-Roads, Blaquaza, leParagon, Red7246, G.E.Z., Katten, Vent, Cesare_CBass, AlexandreV2.0, PKMNTrainerRick., CarmaNeko, JWNutz, Erkey830

Gen 9 Icons:
Vent, Katten, leParagon, Cesare_CBass

PLA Icons:
LuigiTKO, Pikafan2000, Cesare_CBass, Vent, Cesare_Cbass, MultiDiegoDani, leParagon, JWNutz
and thanks for Pokémon Icons Act 2.9 - Teracristalizando

PLEASE TELL ME IF I MISSED ANYONE!

The discord
https://discord.gg/sr24E8keRs
Why join the discord?
I'm not always online this site or others that I have this game posted on.
Joining the discord allows easy access to bug reporting, game patches, progress updates, beta testing, and more.
​

 

[Ayrei]

A new version of Vanguard will be released this month, please read the following for more info!
https://*/837132556125208577/1235634562562916474/Screenshot_2024-04-29_222431.png?ex=663515dc&is=6633c45c&hm=e1acc2d72df6acdbafe3ffa23ad25faadb1cfdb6f92bf8da64ad0b015dfa7a39&
https://*/837132556125208577/1235634530027569212/Screenshot_2024-05-01_104549.png?ex=663515d4&is=6633c454&hm=efdf1d093a5d915547c91bc348774675ac5f6d0acd9e5df18ea5e330abc662a0&

 

[DFD:151]

Can't wait for 3.0

 

[Ayrei]

bump for new update

 

[Drex Truction]

I'm on Chapter 7, I think, and for some reason I gained the powers of Jesus Christ Himself by walking on a bridge on route 6. I'm going to assume that's not supposed to happen? If I click it tells me "You can't the Avaros Flute yet", which doesn't make much grammatical sense either.

 

[aboboraz]

How do I evolve my Kirlia to Gardevoir?

 

[quentix]

A new version of Vanguard will be released this month, please read the following for more info!
https://*/837132556125208577/1235634562562916474/Screenshot_2024-04-29_222431.png?ex=663515dc&is=6633c45c&hm=e1acc2d72df6acdbafe3ffa23ad25faadb1cfdb6f92bf8da64ad0b015dfa7a39&
https://*/837132556125208577/1235634530027569212/Screenshot_2024-05-01_104549.png?ex=663515d4&is=6633c454&hm=efdf1d093a5d915547c91bc348774675ac5f6d0acd9e5df18ea5e330abc662a0&

so... how many chapter are supposed to be there in general? i know that there is 27 playable and dosent have any gyms but does it have a league or somethin?

 

[Ayrei]

finally fixed the embeds yipee!

 

[SanyCrystalz]

Help! I enjoyed playing the game so far, but I am stuck in Blackstone Cavern. My infinite repel is not working anymore and I get encounters at every step. What to do?

 

[wingzero93]

Help! I enjoyed playing the game so far, but I am stuck in Blackstone Cavern. My infinite repel is not working anymore and I get encounters at every step. What to do?

Soft reset your game- manually. Then just go back into your bag, equip/set the repel again. Should work just fine.

 

[Bruzinha]

Hey Ayrei. Loved playing your game. It was certainly the best and my first Pokémon Fangame I've ever played.

Want to know if I can expectate a new version of the game in 2024 yet, with chapter 27 part II and the other chapters.

I'm afraid if I delete the game .exe, it would erase my saves.

I still don't know how to pass a save to a newer version, but your game is worth it the work.

Hope to get a answer,

Bru.

 

[9sadroses]

Hey Ayrei. Loved playing your game. It was certainly the best and my first Pokémon Fangame I've ever played.

Want to know if I can expectate a new version of the game in 2024 yet, with chapter 27 part II and the other chapters.

I'm afraid if I delete the game .exe, it would erase my saves.

I still don't know how to pass a save to a newer version, but your game is worth it the work.

Hope to get a answer,

Bru.

If you join the discord server, I believe there should be a tutorial on how to update the game while keeping the save

 

[Zinkatron]

tl;dr, your saves are safe from updates as they are not in your game folder, unless you are on joiplay. See below for more details:

Unless you are on Joiplay, your saves are located somewhere else on your hard drive (this isn't the case of all games, but it is for most actually). Specifically, you can find them in AppData>Roaming>Pokemon Vanguard. AppData is a hidden system folder on your PC, so you have to type %AppData% in the Windows Search Bar (it is next to the Windows button the bottom far left corner of your task bar) to find it.

Hope this helps you!

 

[Doreius]

I just got your game recomended in a yt video, and i thought it looked neat, and wanted to try it...

First fight and i dont even get hit by A version of Jenova Ultimate, but THE version from Bitsymphony...

This just can be epic!

 

[glitch axolotl]

i love this game and finshed it i just can't find the stupid horse for the apex neigh quest also wondering when the game will update

 

[tDONK]

Logo is a WIP
Project Vanguard is a Fangame primarily developed by Ayrei, PrismShrimp, and Rexaura
​

50 years ago, a devastating attack by a group called "The Defiance" took the world by storm. Today, Trainers are required to gain proper licensing in order to use Pokémon.​

​

​

The Ayrei Region ​

https://*/837132556125208577/1235606271210819636/mapRegion6.png?ex=6634fb83&is=6633aa03&hm=7e71ef5eb198a8a5ab335ddade2aa33576af9e1ada32f2a8dc0e3fd0709f404b&https://*/837132556125208577/1235606271210819636/mapRegion6.png?ex=665153c3&is=66500243&hm=da1e2370e20b0d13458f4c60769b96897098626691b28d00c9172e8946879a68&=&format=webp&quality=lossless
This is not the full planned region, only what's currently available in 3.0

Story
https://*/837132556125208577/1235613818227261481/ameliera_bg.png?ex=66515aca&is=6650094a&hm=7bd44c8ea033a908a425dc25d3371d1fb002b3fdc1f3142a7b147b4281179b91&=&format=webp&quality=lossless

Niall and Nephele

You awaken in front of a girl named Destiny, who claims to have found you unconscious in a nearby forest. Other than your own name, all of your memories seem to be lost. With no other options, you accompany Destiny to the Vanguard Academy, a school designed to transform novice Pokémon Trainers, into professionals with the goal of defending the region from threats known as Renegades, Pokémon Trainers who refuse to abide by the new laws set in place.

https://*/837132556125208577/1235615003445428314/Sprite-0003.png?ex=663503a5&is=6633b225&hm=9231c28bfb0d1d72af0049fd4be5b460ecd82f7b97f3ddf5e5a729f13db571ec&

While attending the Vanguard Academy, you'll meet and befriend a variety of different characters!

https://*/837132556125208577/1235620054054338674/Sprite-0004.png?ex=66350859&is=6633b6d9&hm=a864efdd27507c79d4532ca9a3a4b258367dffa5534fbeb619c7d2931809385b&

Powerful and Professional Trainers will guide you through your journey!

https://*/837132556125208577/1235620479935447162/Sprite-0005.png?ex=663508bf&is=6633b73f&hm=78310528092df2b67df5582608434c98dd007266e8c0139a46b50d10cb3876fa&Renegades and Rivals will stand in your way, overcome them and prove your worth!

https://*/837132556125208577/1235620480266928159/Sprite-0006.png?ex=663508bf&is=6633b73f&hm=89f2542841247e41aabdc06a0de35c03d0713c504e3613beae6f49038434b3f2&

Uncover Truths you would've previously thought impossible. This world is filled with mysteries that are more than meets the eye.



Features

Explore a vibrant new region!
https://*/837132556125208577/1235622832629616671/2000-01-12_16_54_15.400.png?ex=66350af0&is=6633b970&hm=1b9022704d6300ba50e1567068622e8443f3af72a2e9e0137b670b402b398412&https://*/837132556125208577/1235622832629616671/2000-01-12_16_54_15.400.png?ex=66516330&is=665011b0&hm=ef3b21ee6ef4ec38a0b9e3cc425c3697097cc9e038ca5703d9e140048b7943b1&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1920&height=720

From snowy forests, to hot deserts, there are many different places to explore in the Ayrei region!


270 Regional Variants and Fakemon
https://*/837132556125208577/1235631507859705918/2000-01-06_21_01_13.000.png?ex=66351304&is=6633c184&hm=b5b3576d8b78fe2ddd70e9122aa67d22e7f1a17381b7c30cd1b6146cd0e851d6&https://*/837132556125208577/1235631507859705918/2000-01-06_21_01_13.000.png?ex=66516b44&is=665019c4&hm=a19b8b40ccf22749167329694ddcd2791ce8a3f84a096ab232aad3b03b22b92b&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1920&height=720

Build a team you've never built before!

A plethora of side content!
https://*/837132556125208577/1235631508140589077/2000-01-12_16_55_25.366.png?ex=66516b44&is=665019c4&hm=61f28b8b3eb78a2feeae81ff153f8980205614f07d848cdf0f7a81937563014b&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1920&height=360

Complete sidequests, explore optional areas, and challenge powerful boss Pokemon and super fans of old Gym leaders!

A "Grindless" experience!
https://*/837132556125208577/1235631508396445778/2000-01-01_13_35_20.000.png?ex=66516b44&is=665019c4&hm=a58dbfe697f57ab2c0f49b25a4447d418a95aa15bc0908a70a0bb387eefbe6b7&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1920&height=360

Tools to edit and train your Pokemon have never been easier to obtain!


Download
Goes up to chapter 27, around 30-32 hours of playtime

Spoiler: Credits

Development Credits
Ayrei - Lead developer, story, eventing, mapping, shaking and screaming in essentials.
PrismShrimp - Lead artist and spriter
Minbo - Spriting
Rexaura - Balancing every regional, fakemon, and boss fight
WeOathKeeper - Programming custom moves and abilities
Spriting - JaoCraftBr, Celestial Fearow, Chobbis3, Chobbis4, Pixeldust64, Givemeloop, Kana, Darkside Official, Alcreed, Simonz, HyperTox, Glowing0v3rlord, Alcreed
Mapping - Kristalwolf, IceGummi, Chobbis3
Concept art - Cloudberry Sanchez
Advanced Battle AI - Moto & Demice





Credits
Pokemon Essentials v19.1 by Maruno
Graphics and ScriptsMagiscarf
WesleyFG
SailorVicious (Formerly known as Heavy-Metal-Lover)
Shawn Frost
NSora-96
PeekyChew
MewTheMega
Kyle-Dove
Pablus94
Princess Phoenix
Zeo254
Claisprojects.com
Minorthreat0987
The-Red-Ex
UltimoSpriter
TyranitarDark
DarkDragonn
rafa-cac
Phyromatical
Alucus
Newtiteuf
ChaoticCherryCake
moca
Akizakura16
Kyle-Dove
Clara-WaH
ThatWelshOne_
raZ
Marin
Maruno
Nuri Yuri
PurpleZaffre
Savordez
Vendily
Mr. Gela
Voltseon
Neo-Spriteman
VanillaSunshine
PurpleZaffre & Maicerochico
AtomicReactor
Zerokid
Amethyst
Jan
Zumi
Bazaro
Koyo
Smeargletail
Alex
Noscium
Leparagon
N-kin
fishbowlsoul90
princess-phoenix
DatLopunnyTho
Conyjams
kaji atsu
The cynical poet
LuigiPlayer
Falgaia
Pikafan2000
Mashirosakura (Magearna recolours)
Lord-Myre
MillaLya
AveonTrainer
JorgeBurgos
KajiAtsui
cubeR
DiegoWT
rhaidor
KnoblePersona

IndianAnimator

Demice

eriedaberrie#1569
NoProbro
Biggusweeabus

Music
GlitchxCity
VanniluxePavilion
Kamex
Bliitzit
Sheddy
Mewmore
BitSymphony

Battle backgrounds
Aeveontrainer
Advanced Pokedex
FL
Gen 9 Project
Script Gen 9 and Adapting PLA for v20:
-Caruban

PBS for Gen 9:
-Caruban
-PorousMist (Updated the short abilities, items, and moves description)
-DJChaos (TM Items)

Pokemon Gen 9 Battler Sprites:
The-King-Of-Roads-X, Mak, leParagon, Caruban, Azria, Mashirosakura, Katten, Jinxed

Pokemon Gen 9 icons:
-ezerart

Pokemon Gen 9 Followers:
-Azria, DarkusShadow

Gen 9 Item sprites:
-Caruban, lichenprincess

Pokemon Gen 9 Cries:
Edited from Lightblade Absol's Gen 9 Cries compilation video

Original Pokémon: Legends Arceus Expansion Script :
-StCooler (Original script for Gen 8 Project in v18 and Status sprites)
-PorousMist and curryofthepast (Adapting the script for v19.1 use)

Some item PLA icons :
-AztecCroc, 3DJackArt, Caruban, lichenprincess

PLA Pokemon cries ripped:
-Morningdew

Pokeballs battle animation and summary icon:
-Caruban
-WolfPP (Beast ball battle animation)

PLA Pokemon icons:
-LuigiTKO

PLA Follower sprites:
Boonzeet, DarkusShadow, princess-phoenix, ezeart, Wolfang62

PLA Sprites from Smogon Gen8 Sprite Project :
-Blaquaza, KingOfThe-X-Roads, KattenK, Travis, G.E.Z., SpheX, and Hematite

Gen 4 Style Version
Gen 9 sprites:
KingOfThe-X-Roads, Mak, Red7246, Vent, Caruban, leParagon, Sopita_Yorita, Z-nogyroP,
Alxndre~◇, Mashirosakura, NanaelJustice, KRLW890

PLA sprites:
Travis, KingOfThe-X-Roads, Blaquaza, leParagon, Red7246, G.E.Z., Katten, Vent, Cesare_CBass, AlexandreV2.0, PKMNTrainerRick., CarmaNeko, JWNutz, Erkey830

Gen 9 Icons:
Vent, Katten, leParagon, Cesare_CBass

PLA Icons:
LuigiTKO, Pikafan2000, Cesare_CBass, Vent, Cesare_Cbass, MultiDiegoDani, leParagon, JWNutz
and thanks for Pokémon Icons Act 2.9 - Teracristalizando

PLEASE TELL ME IF I MISSED ANYONE!

The discord
https://discord.gg/sr24E8keRs
Why join the discord?
I'm not always online this site or others that I have this game posted on.
Joining the discord allows easy access to bug reporting, game patches, progress updates, beta testing, and more.

Feedback would be appreciated​

I am playing on version 3.5.9 and having a great time! Unfortunately, for some reason the game stops working after the Vivillon Raid Den in the Park. When I win the match, it takes me back to the overworld but no text comes up and none of my inputs are registered (except for w opening the save screen, that still works). The leaves are still moving on the screen and I can hear the music, but the den remains grayed out and I cannot do anything. Saving and exiting does not solve the problem. Weirdly, loading the autosave immediately gave me the den rewards, though I was loaded to a point prior to challenging the den.

Overall it looks like it sort of worked out, but I figured I would point this out in case devs were unaware of an issue and had any ideas as to the cause.

 

[glitch axolotl]

a similar thing happened with the battle tournament when I was doing my steel mono run i lost twice in the tournaments first part and it would just not let me back in i fixed it by waiting 3 days

 

[glitch axolotl]

I'm on Chapter 7, I think, and for some reason I gained the powers of Jesus Christ Himself by walking on a bridge on route 6. I'm going to assume that's not supposed to happen? If I click it tells me "You can't the Avaros Flute yet", which doesn't make much grammatical sense either.

If you get 320 trainer points you get it i just learned this

 

[Expozed29]

will it be completed soon?

 

[Expozed29]

finally fixed the embeds yipee

ayrei, you're the goat. you've helped me find newer fangames man.

 

[glitch marcys]

Hey someone pls help me i played vanguard and it's fps is so slow like it takes 20-30 sec to open and to process so I decided to change its mkxp and it fixed it fps was good like 40 and it was good but anytime I enter the any pokemon or trainer battle before any transition it freezes idk why the battle music goes on pls help