Hero type is a category used in For Honor to describe the playable characters of each faction. There are four different classes in For Honor currently, these classes being Vanguard, Heavy, Assassin and Hybrid.
Vanguards[]
The Vanguard class is focused on being balanced, straight forward and adaptable heroes. Their versatile kit allows them to be a good team filler, while proving to be easy to learn because of their combat simplicity. This makes them a good Hero to use for new players, but they still can hold their own in higher tier gameplay. True to their nature as leaders of their faction, Vanguard lead the charge and excel in the means of fending off multiple foes on their own.
There are currently four Vanguards, one for each faction: Warden of the Knights, Raider of the Vikings, Kensei of the Samurai and Tiandi of the Wu Lin.
Heavies[]
These Heroes are durable and slow, but that comes with an advantage of being able to mow down enemy Heroes with their disrupting movements and attacks. Heavies are very good at trading blows with other Heroes either through the use of an All-Block Stance or their sheer physical resistance.
There are currently seven Heavies: Conqueror and Black Prior for the Knights; Warlord and Jormungandr for the Vikings; Shugoki and Hitokiri for the Samurai; Jiang Jun as the Wu Lin's sole Heavy.
Assassins[]
These characters include the fast and agile type of characters who use speed to gain an advantage over their foe. They have potent damage and speed, however that comes at the cost of limited defensive options together with an offense that proves weak in the hands of the unskilled. Some work alone, while others are excellent for skirmishing alongside allies.
Currently there are seven Assassins: Peacekeeper and Gladiator for the Knights; Berserker and Shaman for the Vikings; Orochi and Shinobi for the Samurai; Nuxia as the Wu Lin's sole Assassin.
Hybrids[]
Hybrids are the specialized Heroes of the game, carrying traits from two of the three classes, hence their name as "Hybrids." As a result, Hybrids bring to the game unique roles that they excel at that cannot be fulfilled by the traditional three others. But in return, Hybrids are much more difficult to master, and at times may suffer some more blatant weaknesses than their single class brethens.
There are currently eight Hybrids: Lawbringer and Centurion for the Knights; Valkyrie and Highlander for the Vikings; Nobushi and Aramusha for the Samurai, and finally Shaolin and Zhanhu for the Wu Lin.