This profile offers an analysis of Extinction Rebellion (XR) from the vantage point of vanguardism. Vanguardism is a Leninist approach that marshals universal(isable) grievances to mobilise mass-constituencies. XR is used as a conduit through which to raise awareness of vanguardism’s environmental applications. XR is introduced before a theoretical framework for understanding vanguardism is offered. The article then discusses XR’s politics, before discussing its protest repertoire. It is found that whilst vanguardism is ordinarily associated with the left, XR contributes to its ‘greening’, taking the pursuit of uprising beyond the left.