Marvel Rivals Tier List: Best Heroes Ranked in Season 9

The Marvel Rivals hero 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 Season 9 meta.

Note: This Marvel Rivals tier list was last updated on July 22, 2026, based on the latest buffs and nerfs and the arrival of the newest hero, Jubilee.

Marvel Rivals Character Meta Tier List in Season 9

The Marvel Rivals meta changes frequently due to 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, the latest of which is Jubilee.

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) in Marvel Rivals Season 9.

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

What is the Ongoing Meta in Marvel Rivals Season 9?

Marvel Rivals devs completely revamped the team-up abilities system in Season 9. Triple support lineups are still incredibly strong, and most S-tier heroes have been dethroned. Heroes like Cyclops, Devil Dinosaur, etc., have been affected by recent nerfs.

So, the meta lineup has drastically changed compared to the previous seasons. Groot, Emma Frost, Venom, and Magneto remain as one of the best Vanguards/Tanks. Black Cat, Bucky, Punisher, and Black Widow take the cake as far as Duelists are concerned. Lastly, the best Strategist can differ based on player preference, but overall, you can’t go wrong with most of the healers in the game.

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, require little to no effort to play, or 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:

Black Cat

• Best Map: Shin-Shibuya
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Spider-Man, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: The Punisher

Felicia Hardy, better known as Black Cat, has leaped into the fray as a Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 debutant. True to her character trailer, the high-skill, high-mobility melee Duelist functions as a master thief during gameplay. Her kit revolves around a unique Fortune mechanic. She earns this currency by landing claw strikes and using her grappling hook to steal luck from enemies. This resource is then spent to unleash powerful enhanced moves or to barter with the Gilded Saint for rare artifacts.

The variety of artifacts and effects grants a solid degree of utility to her arsenal. Another ability worth mentioning is Phantom Pursuit, which lets her zip towards an enemy, unleash a flurry of strikes, and then flash back to her starting position. If used adequately, this is a cheat code for softening up the backline or finishing off low-health opponents.

Pros	Cons
Elite vertical mobility with her wall-climbing and double-jump mechanics.	Extremely low base health pool
Untargetable Phantom Pursuit allows her to engage and disengage without taking damage.	Very high skill ceiling
Offers unique team utility by bartering for artifacts like wall-bypassing portals.	Highly susceptible to crowd control

Black Cat’s entire Marvel Rivals kit is a flanker’s paradise, and you can even think of her as a better Black Panther. However, Black Cat’s luck may have run out in season 8.5 as she was completely nerfed in all aspects: Fortune price hike, damage reduction, and whatnot.

However, devs realized their mistakes and buffed up Black Cat once again. So many players think she’s an S-tier character with all the recent buffs. So, we’re also sticking with S-tier for the time being, but don’t be surprised if this placement changes very soon.

Deadpool

• Best Map: Shin-Shibuya
• Best Team Comp: Psylocke, Gambit, Loki, Groot, White Fox
• Best Counter: Groot

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 Marvel Rivals Deadpool kit guide.

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.

As for his status in the meta tier list in Marvel Rivals, Vanguard Deadpool (his best role) has officially climbed up into the S-tier. Tankpool may be a bit squishier, but he is lethal in action, although his passives and rapid combos are still strong. The rest of the Deadpool variants are good enough to secure an S-tier mention overall, with the healer Deadpool’s abilities getting buffed in the recent patch.

Elsa Bloodstone

• Best Map: Shin-Shibuya
• Best Team Comp:  Venom, Magneto, Gambit, Invisible Woman, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Hela

Season 6.5 debutant, Elsa Bloodstone, is really fun to play in Marvel Rivals. 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.

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 heroes like Hela

NetEase may have decided to slam on the brakes in the past, but she deservedly got her buffs in Season 9. So, she still enjoys a high pick rate thanks to her DPS figures. True to her profession, Elsa continues to be a proper “hunter” in the Marvel Rivals Season 9 meta, being able to charge her ult much faster now.

Emma Frost

• Best Map: Yggdrasil
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Psylocke, Gambit, Winter Soldier, Namor, Luna Snow, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Groot

Emma Frost graced the players with her eternal presence in Marvel Rivals Season 2. With a dual-form kit, she was one of the best Vanguards in the game until devs decided to nerf this character continuously. Although the White Queen reached the depths of C-tier with all the nerfs, she is now back to the top as strong as she was in the past, thanks to recent buffs.

Pros	Cons
Excellent long-range and close-range fighter	Lack of true mobility ability to escape the battlefield
Battle Beacon offers a powerful, team-wide damage and healing buff that can win static objective fights	Weak Ultimate that can be easily avoided by enemies
Ultimate grants his entire team massive damage resistance and increased firepower for a decisive push	Struggles against aerial heroes

The Diamond Queen got a damage reduction boost, reduced shield cooldown, and many more buffs in recent times, which makes her a solid pick now. So, Emma mains who have been skipping the White Queen can now get back to melting the enemies with her in Season 9.

Gambit

• Best Map: Yggdrasil
• Best Team Comp: Invisible Woman, Cloak & Dagger, Magneto, Wolverine, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Hulk

We were quite measured with our Gambit placement in Season 9, fearing that the Ultimate nerf would make him less effective. However, this didn’t end up being the case at all, and Gambit remained an insta-lock Duelist in a wide variety of lineups. He’s widely considered the most versatile and reliable damage dealer in the game, with the mid-range burst verging on overpowered.

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-sustainability and needs Strategists who are on the same page
Team up with Magneto is arguably the best in the game	High-flying heroes can dodge his projectiles due to their travel times

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. That is why he is currently the most-banned hero in Marvel Rivals.

Groot

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Rocket Raccoon, Venom, Magneto, Luna Snow, Hela
• Best Counter: The Punisher

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.

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-sustenance means he’ll need support from Strategists to keep him topped off

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. And he hasn’t been nerfed in a while now, so picking Groot is always the right choice if you are good at anchoring.

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 S-tier hero in the Marvel Rivals tier list.

Cloak & Dagger

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Invisible Woman, Luna Snow, Gambit, Hela
• Best Counter: Moon Knight

In Season 9, 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.

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 a great balance between defence and offence	Can be overpowered by heavy dive comps

This flexibility makes them a nightmare for dive heroes to kill because they can effectively heal themselves while simultaneously counter-attacking with light daggers.

Invisible Woman

• Best Map: K’un-Lun
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Cloak & Dagger, Luna Snow, Gambit, Hela
• Best Counter: The Punisher

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.

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-sustenance if isolated
The Invisibility mechanic allows for quick repositioning	Doesn’t offer a ton of offensive output and relies on teammates to secure eliminations

When you factor in her health pool as well as offensive abilities, her value is easy to see. Invisible Woman’s stock has 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.

Black Widow

• Best Map: Yggdrasil Royal Palace and Hydra Charteris Base
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Cloak and Dagger, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Blade

Black Widow has remained at the bottom of the Marvel Rivals tier lists since the game’s launch. Now, devs have rewritten her fate by completely reworking the character from the ground up. Now she is an aggressive diving and flanking Duelist in the game. She is no longer a sniper and behaves similarly to The Punisher.

Pros	Cons
Deals serious damage	Not good at close-range fights with her electric batons
She is now great for diving alongside fellow dive characters	Needs precise aim to be lethal at all fronts
Super fast rifle with incredible fire rate

If you have good aim, then Black Widow can become a nightmare for opponents. With her new abilities, Black Widow can now more freely flank and apply pressure on enemy backlines. As her fundamentals have been completely changed, Black Widow now deserves a place in the S-tier.

The Punisher

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Spider-Man, Black Cat, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Magneto

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 and close range, where his Adrenaline Rush allows him to ignore reload times and melt anyone caught in his sights.

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

The newly introduced Primal Punishment team-up, which requires The Punisher to climb on top of Devil Dinosaur, is simply deadly. These two make a chaotic pair and are the new meta in Marvel Rivals.

However, Punisher is still 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.

Venom

• Best Map: Hellfire Gala
• Best Team Comp: Hulk, Spider-Man, Psylocke, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: Hela

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 Marvel Rivals team.

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

The newly introduced team-ups for Venom: Blood Leech and Abyssal Flames are overpowered and can easily break the backlines. This potent mix of disruption and survivability cements his S-tier status in our Marvel Rivals tier list. Frankly, Venom’s Twerk emote in Marvel Rivals alone is a pro in and of itself.

Magneto

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Cloak & Dagger, Gambit, Hela, Luna Snow, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Wolverine

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. Now, the functionality and threat level of Magneto’s Ultimate Ability have been improved as players requested.

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

Magneto’s defensive adaptability makes him a standout choice for players aiming to dominate the field. There is a reason why pros pick Magneto every game; he is an S-tier tank and a great teammate for the majority of the heroes.

Luna Snow

• Best Map: Shin-Shibuya
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Namor, Hela, White Fox, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Black Cat

Luna Snow in Marvel Rivals 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.

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

Although Luna’s playstyle is very easy to predict, her super reliable ult and offensive capabilities make her a solid Strategist pick any day. Luna’s new Atlast Bond team-up with White Fox allows her to cleanse all her negative status effects in the blink of an eye. With such an overpowered ability in her kit, Luna has emerged at the top as a S-tier Strategist once again.

Loki

• Best Map: Yggdrasil
• Best Team Comp: Hela, Magneto, Thor, Luna Snow, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Black Cat

Loki now reigns in the 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. 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.

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

Loki’s Illusion’s Mystical Missile Healing ratio has been maxed out in recent patches. Therefore, Loki has climbed to the S-tier now with recent adjustments. You can now experience the God of Mischief’s full powers in competitive matches as well as the Avengers PvP mode, which you must play for fun.

Mantis

• Best Map: Empire of Eternal Night
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Thor, Hela, Gambit, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Hawkeye

Mantis has always hovered around the best Strategist conversation in Marvel Rivals, 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.

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

In Season 9, she has received significant buffs based on her new team-up with the Guardians of the Galaxy members. Now Mantis is blooming with new potential after all the new buffs, so she is now an S-tier healer in the game. Also, check out how to get a free Mantis skin in Marvel Rivals if you’re playing this healer.

Winter Soldier

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Captain America, Magneto, Hela, Luna Snow, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Black Cat

It actually happened – Zhiyong has once again blessed the Winter Soldier in Marvel Rivals after going scorched earth in the previous seasons. So, Bucky is now universally regarded as one of the best Duelists in Marvel Rivals and has been promoted to S-tier.

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

In a nutshell, Bucky is back in his prime as of Marvel Rivals Season 9. So, all the Winter Soldier mains out there, you can pick up this character once again and solo-carry your team in all the competitive matches before Zhiyong decides to nerf him again.

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:

Angela

• Best Map: Hydra Charteris Base, Yggdrasil
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Magik, Phoenix, Cloak and Dagger, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Winter Soldier

After spending her time in the lower tiers, Angela has emerged as one of the top Vanguards in the game with her recent survivability and mobility buffs. Angela doesn’t play like any other tank; she is now great at engaging in 1v1 fights after landing.

Pros	Cons
Great at close-range fights	Need to be smart with Angela or else you will often die playing her
Perfect for diving alongside fellow dive characters	Lacks abilities in comparison to other tanks
Very good melee damage

However, Angela is not everyone’s cup of tea. Even players who are well-versed in diving can still struggle with Angela. She has a higher skill ceiling, but if you can master her abilities, Angela will be unstoppable. With her shield and charge buffed, Angela is in her prime in Marvel Rivals currently, and you can take advantage of this situation.

Doctor Strange

• Best Map: Yggdrasil
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Hela, Gambit, Luna Snow, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Venom

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

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	The 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

This strategic depth warrants his A-tier consideration in the Marvel Rivals tier list. With hit-scan heroes like Cyclops, Phoenix, and Hela on the rise, you absolutely need Dr. Strange and his giant shield in higher elos. In addition, if you have a Scarlet Witch in your team, she can get a great buff from your addition.

Hela

• Best Map: Yggdrasil
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Venom, Gambit, Invisible Woman, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Venom

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. Balance patches have come and gone, some even targeted the Goddess of Death along the way, but none have managed to diminish her A-tier status. She also remains one of the most picked Marvel Rivals heroes.

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

In Season 9, 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.

Hulk

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Rocket Raccoon, White Fox, Magneto, Luna Snow, Hela
• Best Counter: Mantis

Marvel Rivals Season 7 buffs and nerfs were extremely kind to Bruce Banner, improving both his Indestructible Guard and his Gamma Burst charges. And he didn’t get nerfed in Season 9 as many expected. These changes have elevated Hulk to A-tier since he’s better at absorbing damage and doing what he does best – smashing.

Pros	Cons
Top-tier vertical mobility	Bruce Banner’s 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

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.

Rocket Raccoon

• Best Map: Museum of Contemplation
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Winter Soldier, Gambit, Luna Snow, Groot
• Best Counter: Venom

Rocket Raccoon in Marvel Rivals 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.

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

Additionally, his deployable Healing Turret provides a consistent area buff, while his Sticky Mine offers area denial, controlling enemy movement. The Raccoon also received numerous buffs in season 9, which have increased his damage and healing output, and he can drop his Ultimate faster than ever before. In the current Marvel Rivals tier list, Rocket’s versatility and healing prowess solidify his position as an A-tier Strategist.

Jubilee

Yet another mutant has joined the game, and this time it is the firecracker, Jubilee. Jubilation Lee is a welcome addition to the Strategist roster, and she is already lighting up the battlefield with her explosive fireworks-based abilities. Players can chain multiple firework abilities to provide massive healing to allies and deal serious damage to opponents simultaneously.

Pros	Cons
Offers great and consistent AoE healing	Firework Finale ultimate ability lacks punch
Deals a good amount of damage	Struggles against aerial duelists
Great team-ups with Blade and The Hood	–

However, Jubilee’s ultimate ability doesn’t live up to expectations. It’s not a game-saving ultimate like other ultimates such as Invisible Boundary or Fate of Both Worlds. Nevertheless, it provides solid heals and also knocks back enemies. Let us wait and see if Jubilee can ever step into the S-tier with future buffs.

Daredevil

• Best Map: K’un-Lun
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Magneto, Psylocke, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: Groot

Daredevil’s scouting capabilities and engagement distance have been reduced recently. However, Daredevil is arguably the best anti-flanker in the Marvel Rivals Season 9 meta tier list, thanks to his sharpened senses.

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.

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

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.

Star-Lord

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Magneto, Hela, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: Doctor Strange

I love 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.

While his damage output didn’t used to be that exceptional, devs have let Star-Lord off the hook now by increasing his ammo. He climbed up all the way to S-tier in the previous season, but with his maximum damage falloff adjusted, he fell into the A-tier as of Marvel Rivals Season 9.

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

Now Star-Lord can easily eliminate all 275 HP nimble Duelists and Strategists in one go. However, still at longer ranges, his guns suffer from a damage fall-off. And when that happens, his small health pool, coupled with the lack of self-sustenance, leaves him vulnerable to the ensuing counterattacks. Check out how you can get a free Star-Lord skin in Marvel Rivals.

Psylocke

• Best Map: Empire of Eternal Night
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Black Cat, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: Loki

If you are good with close-range burst-damage duelists, then Psylocke in Marvel Rivals 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.

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-range

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.

Peni Parker

Peni Parker may no longer be the ultimate S-tier tank she was in her prime, but she is a solid A-tier Vanguard in Season 9. She still has a high win rate every season in Marvel Rivals and is now a reliable hero in the game.

Pros	Cons
Good area control	Her webmine setup can be easily taken down
Solid option against a dive line-up	Lacks mobility
Consistent damage output	Can be easily countered by a hero like Winter Soldier

With her old team-up abilities back in the game, players are struggling against her webmine setup. She is a great option if you are playing a Domination match, but you cannot expect to perform her at the same level in other modes.

Namor

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Thor, Hela, Luna Snow, Jeff the Land Shark
• Best Counter: Magneto

After a brief stint in the bowels of B-tier, Namor is back to being an effective Duelist in Marvel Rivals. His Monstro Spawns make for an annoying wall of turrets that can chip away at enemies at surprising ranges. Now, if Namor can land his shots properly, the Aquatic Dominion cooldown gets automatically reduced.

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.

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

Unfortunately, Namor has always been held back by his lack of mobility, as well as his reliance on the turrets. Once the Monstro Spawns are destroyed, Namor’s end follows shortly after in lower elos. However, if you mastered playing as the sea king in higher elos, then you will have a great time with him in Season 9.

The Thing

• Best Map: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
• Beat Team Comp: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Luna Snow, Magneto
• Best Counter: Wolverine

The Thing is a formidable A-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. Check out how to get a free The Thing emote in Marvel Rivals to keep the action going.

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 cooldowns	Look at the size of that hitbox; it’s not healthy

However, he is held back by his complete lack of vertical mobility and a very limited offensive range. If he is targeted by a flying hero like Iron Man or a long-range sniper like Hela, he can try to eliminate them with his jump, but he provides almost zero value to his team. Nevertheless, The Thing is still one of the best anti-dive tanks in Marvel Rivals.

Ultron

• Best Map: Lower Manhattan
• Best Team Comp: Doctor Strange, Magneto, Spider-Man, Black Cat, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Hela and Punisher

Ultron, the rogue AI, surprisingly turned out to be a Strategist in Marvel Rivals. However, it should be noted that he is not an all-out healer. Ultron can deal serious damage from the skies and let his drones take care of healing the allies on the battlefield.

Pros	Cons
Serious damage output for a healer	Vulnerable target as he lacks good mobility options
Only aerial Strategist in the game	Cannot quickly heal a character, unlike other Strategists in the game
Capable of performing passive heals with his drones

He is the only aerial Strategist in Marvel Rivals. So he has his own perks such as passive healing, long-range attacks, etc. At the same time, he is an extremely vulnerable hero and can become prey for hitscan heroes in the game.

In Marvel Rivals Season 9, Ultron’s drones have been patched up, and they now provide increased healing output. So, Ultron is now recognized as a reliable Strategist in a long time and deserves a place in the A-tier.

White Fox

• Best Map: Lower Manhattan
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Spider-Man, Black Cat, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Blade

White Fox in Marvel Rivals 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.

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.”

As she was not as good a healer as top-tier Strategists, her healing output has been significantly increased now. However, her damage output isn’t near the likes of Gambit or Elsa Bloodstone. White Fox still has a long way to go to be a real game-changer like Invisible Woman or Gambit. Although White Fox’s crowd control capabilities have slightly reduced, she continues to be a solid Strategist.

Wolverine

• Best Map: K’un-Lun
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Magik, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: Groot

Wolverine in Marvel Rivals 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.

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

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. But his new lethal team-up ability with Cyclops and the recent buffs make him an A-tier hero again in Marvel Rivals.

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.

Black Panther

• Best Map: Museum of Contemplation
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Magik, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: Mantis

The King of Wakanda, Black Panther, came out as one of the biggest winners in recent balance updates. 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 lock down.

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.

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

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. Otherwise, Black Panther won’t be the best suit for you.

Cyclops

• Best Map: Lower Manhattan and Heart of Heaven
• Best Team Comp: Doctor Strange, Emma Frost, Wolverine, Gambit, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Spider-Man

After being teased to join the ever-growing hero roster, Cyclops officially made his debut in Marvel Rivals Season 8.5. He was immediately placed in the S-tier after becoming a part of Marvel Rivals, but now he has fallen to the B-tier after recent nerfs. The new hitscan hero doesn’t just poke around; his lethal beams are more than enough to finish off an entire squad.

Pros	Cons
Serious hitscan damage through two primary fire modes	Need a good aim to come out on top
Overpowered ultimate capable of wiping out a squad	Laser beams can be countered by shield-based Vanguards
Great mobility options to escape from the battlefield	Struggles in close-range combat due to his poor melee attack

Cyclops’ damage numbers used to be ridiculous. He still has an overpowered ultimate ability that only leaves the bones of the enemies in his path after activating it. What’s more surprising is that Cyclops is a super accessible hero with a 2-star difficulty. For now, anyone can begin playing him and single-handedly win matches in lower-elos. Let’s hope NetEase buffs him up, so that he can enter higher tiers.

Captain America

• Best Map: Klyntar
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Devil Dinosaur, Magik, Invisible Woman, Jeff the Land Shark
• Best Counter: Peni Parker

Captain America reigned as one of the best dive tanks, but the continuous balance adjustments have broken his character. As a result, he now remains a situational hero, where he is a solid option in certain matches but not reliable in others.

Pros	Cons
Makes opponents’ lives tough, as it’s tough to kill him	Low damage
Great mobility	Easily breakable shield
Can shield teammates from dangerous ults	Struggles in long-range fights

Even though the pros continue to favor him in the competitive scene, the same cannot be said for everyone. If you are a Captain America main, you can survive and continue to give trouble to enemies. But he won’t be a problem for anyone if you are in higher elos.

Devil Dinosaur

• Best Map: Hydra Charteris Base: Hell’s Heaven and Lower Manhattan
• Best Team Comp: The Punisher, Magneto, Cloak and Dagger, Invisible Woman, Deadpool, Elsa Bloodstone
• Best Counter: Wolverine

In an expected turn of events, the King of the Monster Kingdom has officially joined the Marvel Rivals hero roster. Now, players are extremely happy with the arrival of Devil Dinosaur. Although he may seem like a simple brawl tank with a straightforward set of abilities, he is a lethal addition to the variety of Vanguards available.

Pros	Cons
Great bleed damage effect	Massive hitbox, so any player can easily hunt him down
Passive ability grants him damage reduction against critical attacks, immunity to launch-ups and knockbacks, and bonus health while dealing bleed damage.	Impact Beam doesn’t have a much longer range
Terrific Ultimate to mess with enemy lines and rapidly deal massive damage	Limited set of abilities

Devil Dinosaur earned a place in the A-tier in his debut, but now he is a B-tier tank in Season 9. After creating a ruckus in the previous season, his overall damage, survivability, and crowd control have been slightly reduced.

However, if you can play all of his cards right, you will have a great time playing as Double-D and win some games in the new season. Furthermore, the skill ceiling for Devil Dinosaur is moderate, so any player, regardless of their Elo, can quickly learn to play the T. rex in Marvel Rivals.

Human Torch

• Best Map: Klyntar
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Hela, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: The Punisher

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.

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

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. Unfortunately, this offensive utility cannot make up for his lacklustre health pool. That’s why he continues to dwell in the B-tier in Marvel Rivals tier lists.

Jeff the Land Shark

• Best Map: Shin-Shibuya
• Best Team Comp: Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Venom, Gambit, Cloak & Dagger
• Best Counter: Iron Man

Jeff the Land Shark used to be one of the best Strategists in Marvel Rivals due to his unmatched ability to provide massive burst healing and unique utility. However, he is not popular among players like his prime days anymore.

Still, 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 hitbox and ability to swim through the ground make him difficult to pin down, often frustrating even the most skilled dive heroes.

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

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 B-tier in the Marvel Rivals tier list.

Magik

• Best Map: Museum of Contemplation
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Thor, Hela, Luna Snow, Cloak & Dagger
• Best Counter: The Punisher

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.

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

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.

Phoenix

• Best Map: K’un-Lun
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Thor, Hela, Luna Snow, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Invisible Woman

Upon arrival, Phoenix immediately soared into the S-tier in the 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.

Pros	Cons
Primary attacks provide consistent, high-velocity damage	Vulnerable to 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

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. In the recent patch, Phoenix’s mid-to-long-range damage capabilities have been nerfed. Now, Phoenix is not her most lethal version yet in the game, so she deserves a place in the B-tier.

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.

Rogue

• Best Map: Hellfire Gala
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Venom, Magik, Luna Snow, Invisible Woman
• Best Counter: Groot

Anne Marie, better known as Rogue, is basically the wildcard of the Vanguard class in Marvel Rivals. 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.

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

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

In the recent patch, Rogue’s brawling powers have been adjusted by decreasing damage reduction and burst potential. Rogue’s mobility and survivability aren’t enough to save her, so she is now an average brawler tank in Marvel Rivals.

Adam Warlock

• Best Map: Empire of Eternal Night
• Best Team Comp: Magneto, Thor, Hela, Gambit, Luna Snow
• Best Counter: Winter Soldier

Adam Warlock offers crucial support with potent healing abilities like the bouncing Avatar Life Stream and the damage-sharing Soul Bond in Marvel Rivals.

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

His passive Regenerative Cocoon gives him self-revival, while his Karmic Revival ultimate can completely turn the tide by resurrecting fallen allies. Recently, his damage-to-healing conversion efficiency has been slightly increased. However, this does not make up for his complete lack of CC, as well as a reviving Ultimate that’s useless in most scenarios.

Blade

• Best Map: K’un-Lun
• Best Team Comp: Venom, Hulk, Magik, Luna Snow, White Fox
• Best Counter: Gambit

Meet the potential man! Ha, just kidding. But no, seriously, that transformative Marvel Rivals Blade buff is never coming. Recently, his close-range combat capabilities were improved in a patch, so let’s wait for the big one next. The Daywalker has always seemed broken on paper thanks to his slashing combos and Lifesteal mechanic.

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

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, especially in lower elos, but even a recent rework has failed to establish Blade in the broader meta in our tier list.

Thor

• Best Map: Klyntar
• Best Team Comp: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Luna Snow, Magneto
• Best Counter: Mantis

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 in Marvel Rivals. If you learn the ropes, Thor can be a strong Vanguard.

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

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.

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 competitive games. Check out the recent competitive changes in Marvel Rivals that affected this meta.

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. Even with reduced cooldown and increased strike damage, Iron Fist remains a situational hero pick as of now.

Similarly, Mr. Fantastic struggles as a half-tank 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.

Lastly, Moon Knight, who used to enjoy ranking in the upper tiers, has fallen all the way to the C-tier, thanks to the recent nerfs. He can no longer wipe out squads like he used to. The remaining heroes in C-tier suffer from kits that feel slightly out of sync with the high-sustain meta. 

D-Tier Marvel Rivals Characters

Here we are, folks – the bottom of the barrel. If you’ve been playing the game since Season 0, this hero won’t surprise you. In fact, the D-Tier on our Marvel Rivals tier list has remained relatively unchanged for ages, and for good reason, too.

Squirrel Girl and Scarlet Witch round out the bottom of the list as Duelists who are severely lacking on the DPS front. Gone are the days when both of these characters used to have an impact on the battlefield. So, the only condition under which we’d recommend using this character is if you’re trying out a newly earned free skin in Marvel Rivals.

Best Duelists in Marvel Rivals – DPS Tier List

Below, you’ll find a table ranking every single Duelist in Marvel Rivals and their signature trait:

Tier	Hero	Best for
S	Black Cat	Best for Varied Utility/Backline Infiltration
S	The Punisher	Best for Relieving Pressure
S	Winter Soldier	Best for CC
S	Black Widow	Best for Flanking/Diving
S	Elsa Bloodstone	Best for Flanks/Enemy Displacement
A	Wolverine	Best for Tank Shredding
A	Hela	Best for Long-Range Precision
A	Star-Lord	Best for Mobility/Flanking
A	Daredevil	Best for Anti-Flank Detection
A	Human Torch	Best for Aerial Area Denial
A	Psylocke	Best for Burst Ambushes
A	Namor	Best for Defensive/Offensive Nesting
B	Black Panther	Best for Final Executions
B	Blade	Best for 1v1 Duels
B	Magik	Best for Backline Disruption
B	Phoenix	Best for Frontline Pressure
C	Iron Fist	Best for Anti-Dive
C	Moon Knight	Best for long-range fights
C	Iron Man	Best for Aerial Bombardment
C	Storm	Best for Team-Up Utility
C	Spider-Man	Best for Pressuring Backline
C	Mr. Fantastic	Best for Disruption
C	Hawkeye	Best for Long-Range Targeting
D	Scarlet Witch	Best for Flanking
D	Squirrel Girl	Best for AoE Damage

Best Vanguards in Marvel Rivals – Tanks Tier List

Now, let’s take a look at how the Vanguards are placed on our Marvel Rivals tier list:

Tier	Hero	Best for
S	Doctor Strange	Best for Utility
S	Magneto	Best for Team Protection
S	Venom	Best for Diving
S	Emma Frost	Best for Psychic Disruption/Charm Utility
S	Groot	Best for Area Control/Denial
S	Deadpool	Best for Bullying Duelists
A	Angela	Best for Displacing Enemies
A	Peni-Parker	Best for Defensive Traps
A	Hulk	Best for Aggressive Pressure
A	The Thing	Best for Objective Brawling
B	Thor	Best for Target Isolation
B	Captain America	Best for Frontline Pushes
B	Devil Dinosaur	Best for Breaking the Frontline
B	Rogue	Best for Versatility/Counter-Strategy

Best Strategists in Marvel Rivals – Healers Tier List

Finally, here’s our Marvel Rivals Strategist tier list that ranks the best healers in the game:

Tier	Hero	Best for
S	Gambit	Best for Mid-Range Poke
S	Mantis	Best for Sleep Utility and Damage Boost
S	Cloak & Dagger	Best for Shared Healing
S	Loki	Best for Deceptive Utility
S	Luna Snow	Best for CC/Freeze Utility
S	Invisible Woman	Best for Damage Mitigation
A	Jubilee	Best for a Mix of Healing and Damaging
A	Rocket Raccoon	Best for Damage Buffing
A	Ultron	Best for Strategic Area Denial
A	White Fox	Best for Anti-Dive CC
B	Jeff the Land Shark	Best for Burst AOE Healing
B	Adam Warlock	Best for Revives

What did you think about our Marvel Rivals Season 9 tier list? Which Marvel Rivals character would you rank higher and why? Tell us in the comments below.