Vanguard Action Squad
A coordinated nightmare of villains unleashed upon the future heroes.
The Vanguard Action Squad stood as the League of Villains' first true military wing—a temporary, elite strike force assembled during the U.A. High School Training Camp arc. Comprising some of the organization's most dangerous members, this group was tasked with infiltrating the forest training grounds to locate and capture Izuku Midoriya, whose Quirk had begun manifesting dangerously. Unlike previous scattered villain acts, this squad represented a coordinated assault on the hero society's next generation, marking a shift from terror tactics to targeted warfare.
- Leader
- Tomura Shigaraki
- Primary Objective
- Capture of Midoriya Izuku
- Affiliation
- League of Villains
- Location of Operation
- Jaku City Forest Training Camp
- Outcome
- Partial Success / Strategic Failure
Lore & Background
Despite their overwhelming power advantage, the squad's success was ultimately undermined by the unexpected intervention of U.A.'s Pro Heroes and the students' desperate resilience. While they successfully breached the camp and incapacitated top-tier Eraser Head Shota Aizawa during a brutal engagement, their primary goal of securing Midoriya was thwarted. The arrival of All Might, alongside other reinforcements, forced a chaotic retreat that left the League's plans in disarray. Though no hero fell permanently, the attack shattered the illusion of U.A.'s invincibility and revealed to the world the true depth of the villain threat.
In Their Own Story
The forest air grew heavy with the scent of ozone and burnt pine as the shadows lengthened. Tomura Shigaraki stood atop a gnarled oak, his hand twitching toward the ground where the students had gathered below. "They are here," he whispered, the sound barely audible over the wind. From the treeline, a chorus of warped laughter echoed as Twice's army erupted into existence, filling the clearing with thousands of identical grins. Dabi ignited blue flames that licked at the canopy, while Magne and Spinner prepared to charge. It was not an attack; it was a harvest. The students looked up, their faces pale against the rising inferno, realizing that the safety of the forest had been shattered by something far worse than any training simulation.
Reader's Guide
The Vanguard Action Squad served as the League of Villains' primary offensive arm during the mid-series conflict, designed to dismantle U.A. High School's reputation and capture specific targets. Their goal was singular: retrieve Izuku Midoriya to leverage his connection to All Might and One For All. The squad included a diverse roster of villains, each chosen for a tactical role ranging from crowd control and cloning to direct combat and stealth infiltration.
This group represented the first time the League operated with such military precision, utilizing reconnaissance and coordinated strikes rather than random acts of terror. Their presence forced U.A. into a defensive posture that highlighted the vulnerability of even the most protected institutions. Although they failed to capture Midoriya permanently, their attack resulted in the critical defeat of Eraser Head, signaling a shift in the war between heroes and villains.
Ultimately, the squad's legacy is one of escalation. Their failure to secure their objective led to the League retreating and regrouping, eventually evolving into the Paranormal Liberation Front. The events of this arc demonstrated that the villain threat was no longer manageable by standard hero protocols.
Did You Know?
- The squad's name was coined by Tomura Shigaraki to emphasize their role as the League's frontline assault force.
- Despite their overwhelming numbers and power, they were forced to retreat due to the sudden arrival of All Might.
- Himiko Toga used her Quirk to infiltrate the camp by disguising herself as a student before the attack began.
- The operation resulted in the first major defeat of a top-tier Pro Hero (Eraser Head) during a villain confrontation, though he survived.