Vanguard is unique in that it loads its kernel driver at system boot, before Windows itself starts. That means the driver sees SMBIOS, TPM, and disk signatures before any tool can rewrite them.
On the user-mode side Vanguard checks 30+ identifiers, including hidden ones: hash of UEFI Secure Boot variables, ESP partition GUID, certificate trust store list. We didn't see anything like this from competitors before 2022.
Vanguard's banning policy is strict: a single HWID match against the ban DB triggers an instant block, no warning, no appeal. Riot's official position is that this is the price of clean play.
Bypassing Vanguard requires a coordinated rewrite of the entire profile, including layers most utilities don't touch — Secure Boot variables and ESP GUIDs. Our changer addresses this in v3.0+.
Vanguard is a public preview of where the industry is going. Within 2–3 years EAC and BattlEye will reach the same level. The earlier you understand HWID hygiene, the easier the next ban wave will be.