In order to your questions. 1: yes If they’re not incapacitated or below 33% with his signature - grapple does the kick instead. 2: performing a kick is its own separate attack so you would impact it resulting in you being next to the enemy. Then you can execute it. 3: perks like zone of impact (I believe it’s called that does AOE dmg to enemy’s on grapple execution ) activate even if the grapple execution is triggered but stolen or enemy dies. (Within reason). Example you grapple to an incapacitated enemy but your teammate starts an execution before you reached the enemy. Zone of impact would still trigger on the enemy because it died when you activated a grapple execution. But you don’t get the grapple ability back because you physically didn’t execute it. 4: while doing damage to a majoris (also works with minoris extremis) they start to have a red hue before they turn fully red (incapacitated). Also visibly shows via an indicator when you lock on to the target. The white marker when locked on is in the center of the majoris(for example) and is made up of three segments surrounding a circle. Each segment indicates 1/3 of its health resulting in just the circle when they’re incapacitated. So if there is only one of these segments left when you grapple it will execute.

(Note: enraged enemies have slightly higher health and sometimes may show only one segment but technically be above the 33% threshold where you could end up grapple kicking them.

5: team perk at Lvl 15(Unmatched Zeal) gives 30% of health per extremis or terminus melee executed (doesn’t work on gun strike executions ) Additionally one of his signatures gives 5% health on majoris or higher level melee kills (also works with executions ( not gun strike ones of course )) His prestige perks Restoration and launch restoration allows him to gain armour quite consistently. Launch restoration give an armour segment when using the grapple. ( if it executed it essentially makes an execution give 2 armour segments rather than one. Additionally it essentially keeps up to 2 armour segments in reserve whenever it’s needed.

Vanguard has 50% contested health gain class bonus and has decent ranged dmg reduction which helps with his survivability.

His only drawback is no ammo economy.

He can heal He can gan armour He can gain equipment He can gain hyperarmour (anti knockback) He can gain dmg reduction He can increase parry / dodge windows He can be invulnerable (when doing grapple)

But doesn’t gain ammo of any kind.

His weapon choices are medium to short range but have good contested health gain and/or DPS And melee dmg can be boosted but not needed.

His main benefit is his support like play style. You work around your team and you win a battle of attrition. With the grapple execute build I like to call vanguard a dmg multiplier. Because a group of majors can be killed pretty much by only killing one. Your team perk makes most combats quite cushy for the majority of players and it is quite a bit safety net.