Vanguard is the tank role in Marvel Rivals and defines the heroes who can be on the frontlines and take on the incoming enemy damage first. However, not all of the heroes can be the most suitable in leading your team to victory. While some heroes are great at absorbing damage, some can provide a shield or utility. This role is combined with dynamic damage dealer and tanky characters. Therefore, if you want to check out the best Vanguard heroes in Marvel Rivals, we have ranked below.
8. Thor
As a Vanguard, Thor has the highest damage output in Marvel Rivals. Despite his divine status, he’s not invincible, possessing a relatively low health pool of 600 HP. However, it can be increased to 800 HP when Awakened. While Thorr lacks defensive and utility abilities, his exceptional damage potential, both in melee and ranged combat, compensates for these weaknesses.
Thor can decimate enemies with powerful abilities like Storm Surge for mobility and his ultimate, God of Thunder, dealing devastating area-of-effect damage. Moreover, by effectively managing his passive, Thunderforce, and maximizing his Awaken uptime, he becomes an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
- Pros: High damage, Great mobility
- Cons: Lacks defense and utility as a tank
7. Hulk
Hulk should be your pick if you want a powerful Vanguard who can dive head-first into fights. He combines self-sufficiency with supportive abilities. Despite his high health pool and the ability to transform back to Bruce Banner, similar to D.Va in Overwatch, he can further protect himself and his allies with an area-of-effect shield. His ultimate, Hulk Smash, not only deals massive damage but also grants him temporary invincibility.
With mobility, knockback, and a ranged attack, Hulk is adaptable to various situations. While he’s vulnerable to crowd control, his tankiness, damage output, and self-sustain make him a challenging force on the battlefield. Although Hulk can create team-ups with multiple heroes, they are not as strong as the best Marvel Rivals team-ups.
- Pros: AOE shield, Transformation HP bonus
- Cons: Vulnerable as Bruce Banner form
6. Peni Parker
Peni Parker is one of the best Vanguards in Marvel Rivals as an ultimate area denial specialist. She is ideal at controlling choke points. Her kit revolves around Arachno-Mines, a powerful tool for dealing damage and deterring enemies. By strategically placing these mines within Spider Webs, she can create deadly traps that are difficult to detect and even harder to bypass.
Her ultimate ability amplifies her defensive capabilities, making her a formidable force in protecting objectives and hindering enemy advances. While she may lack direct protection for allies, her ability to create hazardous zones effectively discourages enemy aggression.
- Pros: Great AOE utility, Control specialist
- Cons: Lack of enough health and armor
5. Captain America
Although Captain America is weak as an overall character as per our Marvel Rivals tier list, he can be a great secondary Vanguard in any team composition. He can act as a mobile off-tank who can provide benefits to allies constantly. Whether you need to disrupt enemies from coming forward or shield teammates, Steve Rogers can always be the perfect frontline.
His versatility, a blend of diving and tanking, makes him a challenging opponent to counter. Though he might not be the top pick initially, he can be great at competitive play.
- Pros: Mobility and damage potential, Low ability cooldown
- Cons: Shorter shield and health compared to other tanks
4. Groot
Groot is the tankiest Vanguard in Marvel Rivals and boasts an impressive 850HP. Rooted to the ground, his mobility is limited to strategic wall placements. However, he can control the battlefield, block sightlines, and split enemy teams effortlessly.
His walls, Ironwood and Thornlash, offer unique benefits when Groot is nearby, enhancing his defensive and offensive capabilities. Groot’s ultimate, Strangling Prison, immobilizes and clusters enemies, setting the stage for devastating AOE attacks. Damage from allies like Iron Man or Scarlet Witch fits perfectly with this ability.
- Pros: Control possibility, Massive Health, Great crowd control
- Cons: No self-sustainability
3. Doctor Strange
For supportive tank players, Doctor Strange is a dream pick. At the frontline, he can be a defensive menace with his Shield of Seraphim. His passive, called Price of Magic, incentivizes aggressive play, forcing him to balance protecting his team with dealing damage.
Maelstrom of Madness, his AOE ability, targets nearby enemies, requiring strategic positioning. His ultimate, a powerful zoning tool, synergizes well with other heroes and can be a game-changer at the right moment. Strange’s mobility from levitation and his ability to create unexpected openings with portals make him a valuable asset in any team composition.
- Pros: Great mobility, Damaging combo potential, Good shield
- Cons: Low health
2. Magneto
If you want a unique Vanguard that offers a well-rounded skillset that benefits most teams in Marvel Rivals, behold the wrath of Magneto (ignore his hover movement though, it’s silly AF). His offensive prowess is undeniable, with Iron Volley and Mag-Cannon dealing substantial damage.
However, his defensive and supportive abilities are equally impressive. Metallic Curtain provides frequent shielding and counters ultimates, while Metal Bulwark protects allies and boosts Mag-Cannon’s power. His ultimate, Meteor M, disrupts enemy attacks and delivers devastating damage.
While Magneto is perfect in many areas, his mobility is limited. His passive ability, though useful, cannot fully compensate for the lack of movement tools found in other Vanguards.
- Pros: Best team shield, Massive armor, Great Health
- Cons: Mobility and escape mechanism
1. Venom
Want to play the best Vanguard in Marvel Rivals? Venom can single-handedly stall an entire enemy team. His kit is a perfect blend of mobility, damage, sustain, and crowd control, making him a force to be reckoned with. While lacking traditional team utility like shields or barriers, Venom’s incredible survivability, and unmatched mobility allow him to disrupt the enemy backline, forcing the enemy team to focus on him.
With a high base health pool and the ability to further strengthen his defenses, Venom is a powerful asset to any team. When paired with a utility-focused tank, most of his allies can overpower enemy teams.
- Pros: Massive Health, High mobility, Armor buffs
- Cons: None
That’s the end of our ranked list of the best Vanguards in Marvel Rivals. Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know your favorite Vanguard character ranking in the comments below.
