Marvel Rivals: Best Heroes, Tier Rankings – Best Characters Ranked
Key Takeaways:
- Marvel Rivals offers a diverse roster of 33 heroes, each with unique strengths and abilities suited to different playstyles.
- Heroes are divided into three classes Vanguard (tanks), Duelist (damage dealers), and Strategist (support) mirroring Overwatch’s roles of Tank, Damage, and Support.
- Success in Marvel Rivals hinges on team composition, understanding the tier list, and adapting to the hero’s unique strengths and counters.
Marvel Rivals has burst onto the gaming scene with its exciting hero roster, diverse abilities, and engaging gameplay. Whether you’re a fan of tanky bruisers, sneaky assassins, or reliable support characters, there’s a hero for you. However, with 33 heroes available at launch, knowing who to pick and how to make the most of your team can feel overwhelming.
This guide will break down everything you need to know about Marvel Rivals, including a detailed tier list, top picks, and tips for dominating the battlefield.
Understanding Marvel Rivals’ Hero Classes
Heroes in Marvel Rivals are divided into three main classes that define their roles on the battlefield. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Vanguard (Tank): Heroes designed to absorb damage and control the battlefield. These heroes are great for holding objectives and peeling for allies. Examples include Venom, Magneto, and Hulk.
- Duelist (Damage): The high-output DPS heroes who deal devastating damage but can be vulnerable without good positioning. Think Hawkeye, Moon Knight, or Wolverine.
- Strategist (Support): Heroes who heal, buff allies, or provide utility. They excel at keeping their team alive and ensuring victory. Examples include Luna Snow, Jeff the Land Shark, and Loki.
Marvel Rivals Tier List: Breaking Down the Best Heroes
S-Tier: Game-Changers
These heroes are the cream of the crop effective in almost any situation and easy to pick up, yet challenging to master.
Venom (Vanguard)
Venom stands tall as one of the best tanks in the game, boasting 800 base health and shields that make him almost unkillable. His mobility and crowd control (CC) allow him to dive into fights and disrupt enemy formations. However, Venom struggles when allies need peeling, as his focus is more on diving enemies than defending teammates.
Strengths:
- Unkillable with high health and shields.
- Reliable mobility and CC.
- Fantastic synergy with Spider-Man.
Weaknesses:
- Limited peel options for allies.
- Struggles in ranged engagements.
Luna Snow (Strategist)
Luna Snow shines as a support hero, offering powerful healing, CC, and solid damage output. Her ultimate ability can turn the tide of a fight, granting healing and damage amplification to allies. However, her effectiveness hinges on good accuracy if you miss your shots, your team suffers.
Strengths:
- Exceptional healing with added damage output.
- Ultimate ability makes her nearly invincible.
- Strong team-up potential with heroes like Jeff.
Weaknesses:
- Limited vertical mobility.
- Reliant on accurate aim for healing and damage.
Moon Knight (Duelist)
Moon Knight brings unmatched burst damage and unique mechanics, such as his ability to use Ankhs for pulling enemies and redirecting projectiles. His mobility tools, including a grappling hook and cape glide, make him deadly in both 1v1s and team fights.
Strengths:
- Consistent burst damage and zoning.
- Excellent at holding choke points.
- Great vertical mobility.
Weaknesses:
- Vulnerable if Ankhs are destroyed.
- Requires proper positioning and precision.
Hawkeye (Duelist)
If you can aim, Hawkeye is a menace. His ability to one-shot squishy enemies with headshots makes him deadly at long range. Despite his lack of mobility, Hawkeye’s ultimate guarantees hits, making him a top-tier pick in high-skill matches.
Strengths:
- Incredible long-range damage.
- Deadly ultimate that’s impossible to dodge.
- Consistent one-shot potential with headshots.
Weaknesses:
- Limited mobility.
- Struggles against dive-heavy comps.
Magneto (Vanguard)
Magneto is a versatile tank who specializes in protecting allies. His front-facing shield blocks ultimates, while his bubble shield provides life-saving protection to teammates. Magneto excels in defensive play but suffers from slow mobility.
Strengths:
- Excellent ally protection with bubble shields.
- Solid ranged damage.
- Great zoning with his ultimate.
Weaknesses:
- Slow movement speed.
- Vulnerable to melee dives.
A-Tier: Strong Picks
These heroes perform exceptionally well but may have situational weaknesses or require more specific strategies to maximize their potential.
Spider-Man (Duelist)
Spider-Man is an all-round disruptor with high mobility and CC. His web-swinging mechanics make him difficult to hit, while his ultimate ability can shut down entire team fights.
Strengths:
- Unpredictable movement makes him hard to target.
- Strong crowd control with his abilities.
- Great at isolating and eliminating supports.
Weaknesses:
- Requires precision and practice to master his swing mechanics.
- Lacks consistent damage without cooldowns.
Loki (Strategist)
Loki is the ultimate high-skill support hero with the ability to heal, teleport, and even transform into other heroes. If mastered, Loki can carry fights single-handedly, but his effectiveness depends entirely on proper clone placement and cooldown management.
Strengths:
- Solo-carry potential with massive healing and damage.
- Unique utility through transformations.
- High skill ceiling allows for creative plays.
Weaknesses:
- Difficult to master.
- Relies on clones for both healing and damage.
Wolverine (Duelist)
Wolverine’s ferocity in melee combat makes him a terror in 1v1s. His ability to self-heal and shield while attacking ensures he stays alive during prolonged fights. While he lacks ranged options, Wolverine excels at shredding tanks and frontliners.
Strengths:
- Immense self-sustain and mobility.
- Devastating melee damage.
- Great at countering tanks.
Weaknesses:
- Struggles against flying or ranged heroes.
- Limited utility for his team.
B-Tier: Situational Heroes
These heroes have niche strengths but are overshadowed by more flexible options. They require specific maps, compositions, or strategies to shine.
Rocket Raccoon (Strategist)
Rocket is an easy-to-use support with decent healing and survivability, but his damage is underwhelming. His lack of utility makes him less viable in competitive play.
Strengths:
- Hard to hit due to his mobility.
- Can revive teammates.
- Solid AoE healing.
Weaknesses:
- Poor damage output.
- No crowd control options.
Peni Parker (Vanguard)
Peni is a high-damage specialist who excels at defending objectives. However, her effectiveness drops drastically outside of these scenarios.
Strengths:
- Powerful area denial with her spider nest.
- Excellent at holding objectives and choke points.
- High damage potential in the right hands.
Weaknesses:
- Lacks mobility and self-peel.
- Poor offensive capabilities without setup.
C-Tier: Niche Picks
These heroes struggle to compete with others in their roles and are rarely optimal choices unless specific conditions are met.
Thor (Vanguard)
Thor is fun to play but lacks the flexibility of other tanks. His global cooldowns and clunky mechanics make him difficult to use effectively in fast-paced matches.
Strengths:
- Mobile and disruptive in the backline.
- High burst damage if played perfectly.
Weaknesses:
- Global cooldowns slow down his ability combos.
- Weak ranged options.
Storm (Strategist)
Storm’s ability to fly indefinitely and buff allies is intriguing, but her damage is lackluster, and she’s far too easy to kill in competitive matches.
Strengths:
- Great for beginners.
- Useful ally buffs.
Weaknesses:
- Poor damage and survivability.
- Easily countered by hitscan heroes.
Tips for Success in Marvel Rivals
- Master Role Synergy: Build teams with complementary roles. For example, pair Venom’s tankiness with Luna Snow’s healing for a nearly unkillable frontline.
- Adapt to Your Team’s Needs: Don’t be afraid to switch heroes mid-match to counter your opponents or support your team better.
- Learn Hero Matchups: Understanding which heroes counter each other is crucial for success. For example, dive Spider-Man to eliminate his backline disruption or use ranged DPS like Hawkeye to take out slow tanks like Hulk.
FAQs
Q: What is the best hero for beginners in Marvel Rivals?
A: Star-Lord and The Punisher are great starter options for new players. Both offer straightforward mechanics with high impact.
Q: Can lower-tier heroes still be viable?
A: Yes! Heroes like Peni Parker and Magik can dominate in specific scenarios or with the right team composition.
Q: What’s the most important role in Marvel Rivals?
A: Every role is essential, but a solid support like Luna Snow or Jeff can make or break your team’s survivability.
Q: How often does Marvel Rivals update its heroes?
A: Expect regular balance updates and new hero additions, as the game’s meta is constantly evolving.
