Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes Ranked in Season 7

The Marvel Rivals roster is massive and varied, providing players with a bevy of heroes to pick from. While every character brings some utility to the table, some are naturally more effective than others. Knowing which heroes are in the ascendancy and which ones are behind the power curve is essential for remaining competitive. With this in mind, we’ve put together a detailed Marvel Rivals tier list revealing the best heroes in the current meta.

Note: This Marvel Rivals tier list was last updated with the Season 7 release.

What is the Ongoing Meta in Marvel Rivals Season 7?

Despite Zhiyong’s reassurances, the triple support meta reigns supreme in Marvel Rivals Season 7. We all saw the lineup win rates graphic, which confirmed that 2/2/2 is still the dominant composition. But competitive players will know just how easy it is to endlessly sustain with three healers in a team, closing out potential weaknesses in the process. The Ultimate nerfs have also had little effect on this meta.

Moving on to heroes, Groot is arguably the best Vanguard/Tank due to his incredible crowd control. Hela and Gambit take the cake as far as Duelists are concerned. The former’s evergreen status is preserved as her hitscan projectiles still produce insane TTK, while Gambit is basically the “Poke King” capable of dealing high burst damage from medium ranges. Lastly, the best Strategist can differ based on player preference, but overall, you can’t go wrong with Invisible Woman’s resolute shields.

The best team comp in Marvel Rivals Season 7, with team-ups and synergies in mind, is made up of Invisible Woman, Cloak & Dagger, Magneto, Gambit, and Luna Snow. The first two heroes are self-explanatory, and given Magneto and Gambit’s meta-breaking team-up, they simply have to be there. Lastly, Luna Snow is an excellent anti-dive healer as she can freeze incoming attacks from the likes of Venom or Spider-Man.

Marvel Rivals Character Tier List in Season 7

The Marvel Rivals meta changes frequently through balance adjustment patches. While major shifts are typically reserved for seasonal updates, smaller changes are regularly introduced to keep up with player feedback. Of course, the meta is also affected by the addition of new characters to the Marvel Rivals roster.

With all that being said, you can check out our definitive Marvel Rivals tier list below, rating all characters from meta (S-tier) to practically useless (D-tier).

Tier	Heroes
S	Hela, Deadpool, Jeff the Land Shark, Cloak & Dagger, Invisible Woman, Loki, Groot, Hulk, Wolverine
A	Gambit, Elsa Bloodstone, Rogue, Moon Knight, Magik, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Rocket Raccoon, Black Panther, Psylocke, Venom, Winter Soldier, Phoenix, Namor
B	White Fox, The Punisher, Mantis, Adam Warlock, Blade, Angela, Human Torch, Luna Snow, Magneto, Star-Lord, The Thing, Thor
C	Iron Fist, Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Storm, Captain America, Mr. Fantastic, Spider-Man, Ultron, Hawkeye, Emma Frost
D	Squirrel Girl, Black Widow, Peni Parker

S-Tier Marvel Rivals Characters

The S-tier is for characters who feel overpowered to play with or against. Moreover, they either have massive damage output for little to no effort gameplay, or they can get in and out of fights due to their broken mechanics. Here’s how the S-tier stacks up in our Marvel Rivals tier list:

Hela

NetEase has always been nerf-shy as far as Hela is concerned. It’s why the Duelist sat at the top of the meta all the way back in Season 0, and she continues to assert her dominance to this very day. Balances patches have come and gone, some even targeted the Goddess of Death along the way, but none managed to diminish her S-tier status. She also remains one of the most picked heroes in the game as well.

In Season 7, her hitscan projectiles are just as precise and lethal as you remember them. Her Astral Flock is still great for repositioning, while the Soul Drainer can easily set up enemies for quick eliminations. If Hela has been your primary until this point, there really is no reason to switch things up.

Pros	Cons
Extreme hitscan damage through strong primary fire	Requires precise aim
Ultimate is great at deterring dive heroes	Long ability cooldowns with Astral Flock requiring a 15-second charge, while Soul Drainer needs 12 seconds
The Duelist can easily poke enemies from range, which becomes all the more important after the Ultimate nerf	Damage output can be countered by shield-based Vanguards

Deadpool

After multiple teases and lore mentions, the Merc with a Mouth finally made his Marvel Rivals debut in Season 6. And believe it or not, the wait was worth it. Deadpool immediately shook up the Marvel Rivals meta upon arrival, all thanks to his triple-role speciality. His kit is far too varied and complex to explain in brief, so we highly recommend checking out our Deadpool kit guide.

As for his status in the meta tier list in Marvel Rivals, Vanguard Deadpool is easily his best role. The self-sustained passives in his kit pair exceptionally well with the increased HP pool, meaning he can stay in the fight longer while having the same lethal edge. Duelist and Strategist Deadpool are less impressive, but can still be effective in the right comp.

Pros	Cons
Excellent at 1v1 duels and can even hold his own against beefy Tanks	Highly susceptible to CC
Unique upgrade system ensures that he gets progressively more powerful	Wade can feel pretty tame at the start of matches due to the lack of upgrades
The Selfie ability provides a window of complete invulnerability to bait out and waste enemy Ultimates.	Requires a high level of aggressive play and mechanical skill to generate value compared to easier tanks.

Jeff the Land Shark

Jeff the Land Shark remains one of the best Strategists in Marvel Rivals due to his unmatched ability to provide massive burst healing and unique utility. He excels in Death Ball comps where his team stays tightly packed, allowing his Aqua Burst and Healing Bubbles to keep multiple allies at full health simultaneously. His small hit box and ability to swim through the ground make him difficult to pin down, often frustrating even the most skilled dive heroes.

That being said, the Ultimate nerf hit Jeff harder than most. His Ultimate has long been heralded as a game-changer, regardless of the match’s skill level. While “It’s Jeff” now takes longer to get going, the ability to swallow the entire enemy team and spit them off a map ledge is still far too powerful to turn down. Given this, the Land Shark still enjoys high pick rates and therefore earns a spot in the S-tier in the Marvel Rivals tier list.

Pros	Cons
Provides some of the highest burst AoE healing in the game	Has limited effective range and must stay close to the danger to heal allies
Ultimate can single-handedly win matches	Offers almost zero offensive pressure and relies entirely on his teammates to secure eliminations
Extremely easy to learn and master	Highly vulnerable to aerial Duelists, who can easily target him from the sky

Cloak & Dagger

In Season 7, Cloak and Dagger have risen to the absolute top of the Strategist class as the primary engine for the Triple Support meta. Their unique dual-form mechanic allows them to switch between Cloak’s high-sustain and Dagger’s potent ranged damage on the fly. This flexibility makes them a nightmare for dive heroes to kill because they can effectively heal themselves while simultaneously counter-attacking with light daggers.

Pros	Cons
The automatic AoE healing for teammates is pretty overpowered	Lacks an instant burst heal ability for clutch saves
Life-Link ability negates the effectiveness of 1v1 Duelists	High skill ceiling required to effectively alternate between Cloak and Dagger
Offers great balance between defence and offence	Can be overpowered by heavy dive comps

Invisible Woman

It’s been incredible watching Invisible Woman go from a decent Strategist to an insta-ban character in Ranked games. Unlike traditional Strategists who react to damage, she prevents it entirely through her Hard-Light Shields. This means that she can prevent more damage than a traditional healer could hope to recover within the same timeframe.

When you factor in her health pool as well as offensive abilities, her value is easy to see. Invisible Woman’s stocks have also skyrocketed following the Ultimate nerfs, since her most effective abilities were always tied to her primary attacks. Sue Storm is basically the go-to hero for Triple Strategist comps, which cements her spot at the top of the Marvel Rivals tier list.

Pros	Cons
Her shields bypass the healing-reduction effects and anti-heal mechanics that counter other Strategists	Effectiveness drops significantly if her shields are broken early by high-fire-rate heroes like Star-Lord.
She also has crowd control abilities that can trap and isolate enemies when required	Lacks self-sustain if isolated
Invisibility mechanic allows for quick repositioning	Doesn’t offer a ton of offensive output and relies on teammates to secure eliminations

Loki

Loki earns his S-tier spot with his tricky mobility, clone illusions, and burst potential, while having the ability to heal. His power to disorient teams with deception makes him deadly in chaotic battles, especially if you can master the Doppelganger. He’s a strong pick for players who can make chaos work in their favor. Just know that his main role is that of a Strategist, so playing aggressively will get you some criticism.

There’s a chance the God of Mischief gets even more powerful in Season 7.5 tier list, as he’ll receive a dedicated game mode as part of the Marvel Rivals x Avengers collaboration.

Pros	Cons
Has higher survivability than other Strategists thanks to clone-swapping and invisibility mechanics	Needs skill and a lot of practice to use effectively
A game-changing Ultimate that can steal any opponent’s ability	Lacks any form of vertical mobility to escape from aerial threats
Clones can bait out powerful enemy attacks through a bit of deception	Clones can be destroyed easily through AoE damage

Groot

To keep it short and sweet, a good Groot can hard-carry a team. His Ironwood Wall buff, released all the way back in Marvel Rivals Season 5, continues to hold strong. Groot’s basic ability to dictate where and when a fight happens makes him invaluable for protecting backlines.

While he lacks the long-range shielding of Magneto, his ability to CC multiple enemies simultaneously with the Strangle Vine or his Ult makes Groot a nightmare to dive. All this and more make Groot the definitive anchor hero that can hold down the objective with unrivaled resilience. Even if the opposing team can get past the wooden barriers, they’ll still have to chip away at his massive health pool, making him a top hero in the Marvel Rivals tier list.

Pros	Cons
Provides the best physical battlefield control in the game	Groot has near-zero mobility, making him weak against aerial duelists
Strangle Vine ability is a top-tier counter to dive heroes	Walls can accidentally block teammates, so constant communication is necessary
Ultimate serves as a game-changing AoE stun that can shut down entire team pushes instantly	Lack of self-sustain means he’ll need support from Strategists to keep him topped off

Hulk

Season 7 buffs and nerfs have been extremely kind to Bruce Banner, improving both his Indestructible Guard and increasing Gamma Burst charges. These changes have elevated Hulk to S-tier since he’s better at absorbing damage and doing what he does best – smashing.

By forcing enemies to deal with his massive health pool and constant crowd control, Hulk prevents them from focusing on his own Duelists. He’s still got solid mobility, as well as decent poke damage, and in the hands of a veteran, he’s nothing less than unstoppable in this Marvel Rivals tier list.

Pros	Cons
Top-tier vertical mobility	Bruce Banner transformation has very little utility
Gamma Burst and Thunderclap provide consistent CC	Requires a very aggressive playstyle that can often lead to him being isolated and killed without support.
Excels at contesting high-ground positions that other tanks like Magneto or Groot struggle to reach	Massive hit box makes him an easy target for ranged Duelists

Wolverine

Wolverine continues to be an effective Vanguard/Duelist hybrid that can shred through the high-health Vanguards and sustain-heavy Strategists. He is particularly effective at breaking the Triple Strategist loop by focusing down a single target with his high-damage combos before their healing can kick in.

However, he is a pure melee hero, meaning he provides zero value if he cannot get within arm’s reach of his enemies. This makes him a high-risk pick on maps with long, open sightlines.

Pros	Cons
Possesses better self-sustain than any other Duelist	Complete lack of ranged offense
Insane damage output once the passive kicks in	Can be CC’ed by the likes of Groot or Luna Snow
Leap ability allows him to rapidly close the distance or clear vertical gaps	Playing aggressively is a must – Wolverine lives and dies by the sword

A-Tier Marvel Rivals Characters

While many A-tier characters feel really strong, you will slowly realize they are not as overpowered as the S-tier. Despite that, you can easily grab wins if you master the following characters on our Marvel Rivals tier list:

Gambit

Before you get mad, think of our Gambit placement as more of an observational thing. His Ultimate saw a notable nerf in Season 7, and we’re still assessing how much of an effect this has on potency. Even with the nerf, Gambit is still the “Poke King” for a reason. He’s widely considered the most versatile and safe damage dealer in the game, with mid-range damage verging on overpowered.

When teamed up with Magneto (which he often is), his cards are overcharged for more explosive results. And despite getting nerfed, his Ult can still force every opponent off the objective.

Pros	Cons
Offers elite mid-range poke damage	Low health pool means he’s a bit squishy
Great vertical mobility that opens up new vantage points	Lacks self-sustain and needs Strategists who are on the same page
Team up with Mageto is arguably the best in the game	High-flying heroes can dodge his projectiles due to their travel times

Elsa Bloodstone

Season 6.5 debutant, Elsa Bloodstone, is really fun to play. She’s got big guns, beefy combos, and great passives. If you know how the character works, you can easily go on a rampage, lighting up her Hunter’s Instinct and stringing together dashes. True to her profession, Elsa is a proper “hunter” in the Marvel Rivals Season 7 meta.

Unfortunately, NetEase clearly felt the same way and decided to slam the brakes. The Duelist was already pretty squishy, but the March 26 buffs and nerfs took things a step further by reducing her base health. As a result, Elsa’s now in the high-risk, high-reward territory.

Pros	Cons
Incredible burst damage at close-to-mid ranges	Small health pool means she’ll always struggle against 1v1 Duelists
Passive ability allows her to see low-health enemies through walls to finish off retreating targets	Extremely vulnerable if she misses her initial dive and fails to trigger her cooldown resets
Bonkers Ultimate that can instantly disrupt enemy formations	Doesn’t have the same long-range poke potency as compared to heroes like Hela

Rogue

Anne Marie, better known as Rogue, is basically the wildcard of the Vanguard class. Her power-stealing mechanic allows her to absorb abilities from both allies and enemies, effectively turning her into a hybrid hero who can tank, heal, or deal massive burst damage depending on the situation. Naturally, this makes Rogue incredibly versatile, especially in the hands of an experienced player.

Unfortunately, this also reflects one of her biggest shortcomings. The player using her must be well-versed with not only Anne’s kit, but also the abilities of enemy comp. Moreover, her power-stealing mechanic can only kick in at melee ranges, and she doesn’t exactly have a ton of resistance.

Pros	Cons
Top-tier versatility thanks to power-stealing ability	Extremely difficult to master, as players will require deep knowledge of every other hero’s kit
Can effectively switch between hybrid roles to meet the team’s needs	Very low damage floor if she cannot secure a strong offensive ability from a Duelist
Can dive forward into enemy lines and retreat quickly	Reliant on a favorable enemy team comp for maximum effectiveness

Moon Knight

Moon Knight remains a formidable A-tier Duelist in the Marvel Rivals tier list, serving as the premier anti-grouping specialist in his class. His Crescent Darts bounce between nearby enemies, punishing teams that huddle together for healing or cower under Invisible Woman’s shields. His cleave damage is also on the higher side, making Moon Knight a considerable threat in every scenario.

His primary weakness lies in his lack of reliable self-sustain and his projectile-heavy nature. Moon Knight has been around for a while, and most players have wisened up to his kit. As such, opponents will often spread out or opt for dive comps to negate Moon Knight’s strengths.

Pros	Cons
Bouncing projectiles that can deal massive damage to clustered enemies	Primary attack has a noticeable travel time that makes him less effective against enemies at range
Great against triple Strategist lineups	He loses a significant portion of his damage potential if the enemy team stays spread out
Ultimate provides a huge AoE damage boost that can clear an entire objective in seconds	Lacks any form of self-healing and is heavily dependent on his Strategists

Magik

Magik slices through dimensions and enemies alike, using her Stepping Discs for unpredictable teleports, followed by potent Soulsword combos like Eldritch Whirl or summoning demons.

Her Umbral Incursion dash provides engage, while her Limbo’s Might passive grants bonus health on dealing damage, making her surprisingly durable. This blend of mobility and melee power keeps her in the meta, not as high as her X-Men buddies like Wolverine, though.

Pros	Cons
Passive armor generation allows her to effectively tank while attacking	Extremely high skill requirement, will feel clunky in the hands of inexperienced players
Can effectively one-shot squishy support heroes with a well-timed sword combo and knock-up	Struggles significantly against flying heroes who can stay out of her sword’s reach indefinitely
Excels in close-range duels	Ultimate can be hit or miss

Daredevil

Thanks to his sharpened senses, Daredevil is arguably the best anti-flanker in the Marvel Rivals Season 7 meta tier list. His unique Radar Sense allows him to detect enemies through walls and obstacles, making him the perfect counter to oncoming divers. He also excels in 1v1 duels, where he can chain his Justice Jab and Devil’s Latch into brutal melee combos that can delete a fragile enemy before they can receive healing from their team.

With all that being said, Daredevil’s small health pool makes him difficult to master. And unlike safer options like Gambit, Daredevil must put himself in immediate danger to generate value, where a single mistimed dive can result in instant elimination.

Pros	Cons
Possesses elite mobility with the ability to climb walls and dash through the air	Strictly a melee-focused hero and lacks any form of reliable long-range damage or poke
His Radar Sense grants his team vital enemy positioning info	Weak against CC
Ultimate provides a powerful blinding effect that can disorient the entire enemy team	Very low base health pool that makes it vulnerable against beefy Tanks

Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange brings unique utility as a Vanguard, deploying large Shields of the Seraphim to block damage and control space. His Pentagram of Farallah portals enable unprecedented team rotations and surprise attacks, while his Eye of Agamotto ultimate displaces enemy souls, disrupting crucial plays.

This strategic depth warrants his A-tier consideration in the Marvel Rivals tier list. To be fair, there are better picks you can go for, but if you have a Scarlet Witch in your team, she can get a great buff from your addition.

Pros	Cons
Reliable shields that can absorb a ton of damage	Provides low offensive pressure compared to aggressive Vanguards
Portals open up creative offensive strategies	Shield can be bypassed by high-mobility heroes
Daggers of Denak provide consistent, long-range poke damage to help his Duelists pressure the backline	Requires high-level team coordination to ensure his portals and shields are utilized effectively

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket Raccoon has evaded major nerfs for a while now, which is why he’s still a hybrid healer/DPS hero trusted by many players. His primary fire, Bouncing Spheres, not only damages enemies but also heals allies for 60 HP per second, making him invaluable in sustaining team fights.

Additionally, his deployable Healing Turret provides a consistent area buff, while his Sticky Mine offers area denial, controlling enemy movement. In the current Marvel Rivals tier list, Rocket’s versatility and healing prowess solidify his position as a top-tier Strategist.

Pros	Cons
Possesses the smallest hitbox of any Strategist, making him a difficult target	Pretty squishy for a Strategist, needs protection to stay in the fight
Battle Beacon offers a powerful, team-wide damage and healing buff that can win static objective fights	Healing projectiles have a travel time that makes it difficult to heal highly mobile allies
Ultimate grants his entire team massive damage resistance and increased firepower for a decisive push	Lacks crowd control in his kit

Black Panther

The King of Wakanda came out as one of the biggest winners of the Season 7 balance update. His mobility received some impressive upgrades, while his offensive arsenal was also reinforced. These changes have turned him into an apex predator that is difficult to lockdown.

T’Challa can toss spears to mark targets and follow up with a Panther Slash to secure the kill while resetting his cooldowns. It’s an effective loop that can deliver consistent results throughout a match.

However, if Black Panther fails to land his initial spear or misses a reset, he’s left with no mobility and very low health in the middle of the enemy team. So, you’ll really need to commit to his aggressive playstyle and put in the hours to master it.

Pros	Cons
Cooldown reset ability facilitates lethal combos	If you miss, you get eviscerated
Arguably, the best mobility of a non-flying hero	Provides zero value to his team from a distance
The best executioner for isolated Strategists	Requires hours and hours of practice to master

Psylocke

If you are good with close-range burst damage duelists, then Psylocke is a perfect pick for you. She weaves together Psionic Crossbow shots, Wing Shurikens, and the Psi-Blade Dash to quickly dispatch targets. Her Psychic Stealth allows for flanking maneuvers or escapes.

And her ultimate, Dance of the Butterfly, makes her invulnerable and attacks enemies within an area, creating chaos in team fights. Her downsides are the same as they always have been: high skill requirement and low HP. Also, if you miss the initial burst, Psylocke lacks the mobility to manufacture an escape route.

Pros	Cons
Packs some of the fastest burst damage in the game	Very difficult to play and master
Ultimate makes her invulnerable, which is priceless	Low health pool that doesn’t bode well for her close-range playstyle
Gains a significant power spike when paired with Iron Fist	Offers no value at long-ranges

Venom

Venom’s aggressive Vanguard playstyle, focused on diving backlines using the Frenzied Arrival and Venom Swing combo, disrupts enemy formations effectively. His Symbiotic Resilience grants impressive durability by generating bonus health, allowing him to sustain pressure and absorb damage for his team.

This potent mix of disruption and survivability cements his A-tier status in our Marvel Rivals tier list. Frankly, the Venom’s Twerk emote alone is pro in and of itself.

Pros	Cons
Massive health pool that can take ages to whittle down	Reliant on the dive playstyle and can be countered by the likes of Groot and Luna Snow
Web-Swing grants him elite mobility to engage or disengage	Highly susceptible to anti-heal effects or crowd control
Easy to play and accessible to even beginners	Easily kited by highly mobile Duelists like Gambit

Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier will forever remain one of the best Duelists in Marvel Rivals. Barring an event where Zhiyong decides to go scorched earth on Bucky, his reliable revolver, coupled with the cybernetic arm that can displace enemies, makes for a well-rounded kit. His Ultimate also makes for quite the spectacle in a meta that is not kind to dive heroes.

Suffice it to say, Winter Soldier is a top-tier 1v1 Duelist. So, what gives? For starters, his burst damage was reduced by a recent nerf, which naturally affects his ranged capabilities. On top of this, Bucky has always lacked the natural tankiness of a Vanguard, so he’ll always struggle against Triple Strategist lineups.

Pros	Cons
Hitscan primary that can delete squishy targets from medium to long range	Extremely aim-dependent
Hook-shot grants him excellent vertical and horizontal mobility	Lacks any form of self-healing and is heavily dependent on his Strategists
Ultimate provides massive AoE damage that can clear an objective or finish off retreating foes	Highly susceptible to crowd control effects

Phoenix

Upon arrival, Phoenix immediately soared into the A-tier in Marvel Rivals tier list as a rare hybrid who can dish out immense damage while having self-sustain. Her abilities are based around burst damage and AoE attacks, coupled with mobility skills that let her reposition quickly.

Her flame-based attacks can also be linked together to cause chain reactions that can wipe out health bars in the blink of an eye. As for weaknesses, Jean Grey’s utility depends on how good you are at stacking her Sparks. Mismanage this resource, and your attacks will get significantly tamer. Her mobility is also pretty lacking compared to other flight-based heroes.

Pros	Cons
Primary attacks provide consistent, high-velocity damage	Vulnerable against executioners such as Winter Soldier and Black Panther
Ultimate is basically a nuke that can devastate enemies	Very low base mobility outside of her ultimate
Excels at long-range battles where her self-sustain allows her to outlast other traditional Duelists	Struggles on maps with extra verticality

Namor

After a brief stint in the bowels of B-tier, Namor is back to being an effective Duelist. His Monstro Spawns make for an annoying wall of turrets that can chip away at enemies at surprising ranges. Furthermore, his ability to briefly become invulnerable and reposition vertically with Blessing of the Deep adds survivability, while his Horn of Proteus ultimate devastates choke points.

Unfortunately, Namor has always been held back by his lack of mobility, as well as his reliance on the turrets. In fact, once the Monstro Spawns are destroyed, Namor’s end follows shortly after.

Pros	Cons
Monstr Spawns provided constant damage	Severe lack of mobility
Ultimate serves as a game-changing crowd control tool	Highly dependent on his summons and provides very little value if they are destroyed early
Turrets can also distract enemies and serve as a makeshift shield	Easily kited by long-range snipers

B-Tier Marvel Rivals Characters

All B-tier characters are good in low Elo lobbies and ideal heroes for beginners. However, after a certain point in the game, these characters start to feel weak on their promise, which is why they are in the B Tier in our Marvel Rivals tier list.

White Fox

Welcome to Marvel Rivals, White Fox. Now, hold this B-tier rating. In all seriousness, Ami Han is a solid Strategist/Duelist hybrid that can shield enemies, execute emergency heals, and fling powerful projectiles. She’s also got a melee edge to her, which culminates in a powerful three-part combo by chaining together the Predatory Pounce ability.

What holds her back, as per our assessment so far, is an awkward fit in the current meta. She’s not as good a healer as top-tier Strategists, and her damage output isn’t near the likes of Gambit or Elsa Bloodstone. Sure, she’s surprisingly good at CC for her role, but is that really a game-changer? Perhaps time will change her placement.

Pros	Cons
Dash provides excellent horizontal mobility to reposition or kick-start combos	Lacks raw healing output
Charm ability can force enemies to move towards her team for an easy pick-off	Has no vertical mobility to reach high-ground allies or escape from aerial threats
A major threat when teamed up with Luna Snow	Countered by characters that can see through the “Charm”

The Punisher

The Punisher is a powerhouse of raw, sustained damage who excels at shredding through enemy Vanguards and holding down chokepoints. He is exceptionally strong at medium range, where his Adrenaline Rush allows him to ignore reload times and melt anyone caught in his sights.

However, he is held back by his complete lack of vertical mobility and a massive “hit-me” hitbox that makes him a prime target for snipers. If he is dived by a mobile hero like Venom, he has very few defensive options and can be quickly overwhelmed.

Pros	Cons
Excellent hitscan damage that can beam enemies across all ranges	Offers zero vertical mobility and is easily trapped by enemies
Excels at holding narrow corridors and chokepoints	Lacks any form of self-healing or defensive utility to survive a coordinated attack

Mantis

Mantis has always hovered around the best Strategist conversation thanks to her healing output and CC. In particular, she provides crucial healing with Healing Flower and potent damage boosts for herself (Natural Anger) or allies (Allied Inspiration) via Life Orbs. Her Spore Slumber offers valuable crowd control by sedating key targets, disrupting enemy plays significantly.

The primary reason for her B-tier placement on our Marvel Rivals tier list is her fragile health pool. If Mantis is caught without her sleep ability on cooldown, she has almost no way to defend herself and can be deleted by a single high-damage combo.

Pros	Cons
Excels at long-range support, where her projectile healing can keep allies topped off safely	Extremely squishy
Sleep ability is a solid counter to high-mobility dive heroes	Highly dependent on landing her skill-shot sleep to generate any meaningful self-peel

Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock offers crucial support with potent healing abilities like the bouncing Avatar Life Stream and the damage-sharing Soul Bond. His passive Regenerative Cocoon gives him self-revival, while his Karmic Revival ultimate can completely turn the tide by resurrecting fallen allies. However, this does not make up for his complete lack of CC, as well as an Ultimate that’s useless in most scenarios.

Pros	Cons
Some of the highest burst healing for a Strategist	No CC or self peel
When it works, Ultimate is a game-changer	Ult is hard to execute when pressured directly

Blade

Meet potential man! Ha, just kidding. But no, seriously, that transformative Blade buff is never coming. The Daywalker has always seemed broken on paper thanks to his slashing combos and Lifesteal mechanic.

Unfortunately, he’s never been able to achieve that promise due to severe crowd control, while also being highly susceptible to CC. He can be great in the hands of a capable player, but even a Marvel Rivals Season 7 rework has failed to establish Blade in the broader meta in our tier list.

Pros	Cons
Bloodlust ability grants him a massive burst of attack speed	Highly susceptible to crowd control effects that can halt his momentum
Excels at melting through high-health Vanguards	Easily kited by mobile heroes like Gambit, who damage him from a distance

Angela

Introduced back in Season 4, Angela was Marvel Rivals’ first flying Vanguard. She’s big on mobility and single-target lockdown, thanks to a primary attack that is effectively a dash, and her Dual Axes that can carve into enemies. Her kit also has some dive utility through Wingblade Ascent and her powerful Ultimate.

However, the pull-and-dash nature of her combos has always held Angela back from climbing any higher. If she misses her initial engagement or is interrupted by CC, she lacks the tankiness to survive a proper counter. This downside sees her slot into the B-tier.

Pros	Cons
Aerial dashing and flight capabilities grant her elite vertical mobility	Can be dealt with easily by hitscan heroes
Great at diving into the backlines and finishing off low-health enemies	Not enough “tankiness” to survive longer in battle

Human Torch

Johnny Storm was once overpowered due to his fire-linked attacks. His Fire Cluster launches a scattershot of fireballs, dealing significant damage to enemies, while Blazing Blast creates a persistent flame field, serving as an effective area denial tool. Unfortunately, this offensive utility cannot make up for his lacklustre health pool.

Human Torch is an easy target for long-range snipers and hitscan specialists, especially since his flight mechanic has a really predictable path in Marvel Rivals.

Pros	Cons
Burn mechanic provides consistent damage that prevents enemies from regenerating health	Very low health pool
Strong area denial and AoE damage	Can be hard countered by shield Vanguards like Magneto

Luna Snow

Luna Snow offers a unique dual-role capability as a Strategist, seamlessly switching between damage and healing modes. Her primary fire, Light & Dark Ice, shoots frost shards that damage enemies and heal allies, providing flexibility in combat. Additionally, her Absolute Zero ability launches a large block of ice that freezes enemies, offering crowd control.

With that being said, Luna doesn’t have any self-peel outside of her stun. Moreover, her playstyle is very easy to predict, which is why most opponents will be prepared to counter it once they see your pick.

Pros	Cons
Excellent single-target healing	Low health pool paired with a lack of self-peel leaves her vulnerable against direct pressure
Freeze ability is among the best dive counters	Easily telegraphed playstyle that simplifies playing against her

Magneto

Magneto is a versatile Vanguard; unlike Groot, he manipulates magnetic fields to control the battlefield. His Iron Volley and Mag-Canon allow him to deal decent damage, while the bulwark abilities let him create armor around him or his allies.

With the Metallic Curtain, he provides further protection that blocks projectiles, absorbing incoming damage. Magneto’s defensive adaptability makes him a standout choice for players aiming to dominate the field.

Pros	Cons
Outstanding projectile-blocking shield	Very, very, very slow
Massive offensive power spike when utilizing his Team-Up with Gambit	Extremely vulnerable to melee-based dive heroes who can bypass his shields

Star-Lord

I like Star-Lord. His agility and consistent damage output from his dual Element Guns make him a formidable Duelist. Abilities like Rocket Propulsion for flight and the evasive Stellar Shift (which also reloads) grant exceptional mobility for flanking or escaping. That being said, his damage output isn’t all that exceptional.

This is especially the case at longer ranges where his guns suffer from a damage fall-off. And when that happens, his small health pool, coupled with the lack of self-sustain, leaves him vulnerable to the ensuing counterattacks.

Pros	Cons
Lethal damage at close ranges	Suffers from massive damage falloff that makes him almost entirely ineffective at long distances
Jet Boots grant him elite horizontal and vertical mobility	Low base health pool

The Thing

The Thing is a formidable B-tier Vanguard in our Marvel Rivals tier list who functions as a pure, frontline brawler specializing in absorbing massive amounts of punishment. He is exceptionally strong at holding a fixed position on the objective, using his Rocky Shield and high base health to outlast enemy Duelists in a battle of attrition.

However, he is held back by his complete lack of vertical mobility and a very limited offensive range. If he is kited by a flying hero like Iron Man or a long-range sniper like Hela, he provides almost zero value to his team and can be slowly chipped away without ever landing a return blow.

Pros	Cons
Hard counters dive heroes	Zero vertical mobility, and is easily trapped or kited by enemies on high ground
Can effectively tank multiple enemy Ultimates by cycling his shields and defensive cooldown	Look at the size of that hitbox, it’s not healthy

Thor

Thor is exceptionally strong at crashing into enemy backlines, using his Mjolnir throws and lightning strikes to disrupt fragile Strategists and force them off the objective. He’s also great for isolating targets and dishing out tons of burst damage. If you learn the ropes, Thor can be a strong Vanguard.

However, combat flow feels cumbersome due to the Thorforce resource management and the vulnerability window while waiting for Mjolnir to return after a Hammer Throw. His Storm Surge dash is also predictable, and the significant charge time for his God of Thunder ultimate makes it relatively easy to avoid. These limitations often make him less effective than other Vanguards.

Pros	Cons
Lightning strikes provide massive AoE burst damage	Offers no traditional barrier or shield to protect his teammates
Solid vertical mobility lets him engage or escape from high-ground positions with ease	High skill floor, mainly due to the need for Thorforce management

C-Tier Marvel Rivals Characters

C-tier Marvel Rivals characters are extremely situational. They can yield decent results in favourable comps, and most of them can be fun to use. However, it’s best to avoid them when queuing up for Ranked games.

Spider-Man and Iron Fist represent the high-skill ceiling of this tier. While they can dismantle a backline in the right hands, their low health pools and reliance on perfect combo execution make them high-risk picks.

Similarly, Mr. Fantastic and Captain America struggle as Vanguards because they lack the massive, consistent team-wide shielding found in higher tiers. Iron Man and Storm can provide solid pressure from the skies, yet they have become target practice for the elite hitscan snipers dominating the S-Tier.

Without a dedicated pocket healer, they are forced to spend more time retreating than attacking. Hawkeye faces a similar dilemma, as his lack of mobility makes him an easy mark for aggressive dive heroes.

The remaining heroes in C-tier suffer from kits that feel slightly out of sync with the high-sustain meta. Scarlet Witch and Ultron offer impressive area denial, but their raw DPS often falls short of breaking through the layered shields. Lastly, Emma Frost’s situational utility makes it hard for the Vanguard to slot naturally in most comps.

D-Tier Marvel Rivals Characters

Here we are, folks – the bottom of the barrel. If you’ve been playing the game since Season 0, none of these heroes will surprise you. In fact, the D-Tier on our Marvel Rivals tier list has remained relatively unchanged for ages, and for good reason, too.

Black Widow, for starters, remains a poor man’s Hanzo. How can you be a dedicated sniper, with a slow fire rate to boot, and still not offer one-shot kills? As for Peni Parker, her trap-centric kit is easily bypassed by high-flying heroes or shredded by AoE damage.

This leaves her as a Vanguard who provides almost no frontline presence once her setups are cleared. Squirrel Girl rounds out the bottom of the list as a Duelist who’s severely lacking on the DPS front. The only condition under which we’d recommend using these characters is if you’re trying out a newly earned free skin in Marvel Rivals.

What did you think about our Marvel Rivals tier list? Which Marvel Rivals character would you rank higher and why? Tell us in the comments below.