Tony Stark, the tech billionaire and super philanthropist from the Marvel Universe, takes the spotlight in Marvel Rivals.
Famously known as Iron Man, he is a beginner-friendly character with many high-technology gadgets. These gadgets combine mobility, firepower, and aerial superiority on the battlefield.
Iron Man is a versatile powerhouse, capable of surprising enemies with rapid attacks and keeping them at bay with ranged assaults or dominating the battlefield with powerful area-of-effect (AoE) abilities.
If you want to master Iron Man's abilities, optimize strategies, build ideal team compositions, or learn effective counters, this guide has everything you need.
Iron Man’s Abilities in Marvel Rivals
Iron Man is one of the most versatile characters in Marvel Rivals, which gives him a unique edge on the battlefield. Here is a complete list of his abilities:
Repulsor Blast
Repulsor Blast is the primary Attack of Iron Man that fires nano pulse cannons forward. It’s a quality ranged attack that allows you to stay away from the melee enemy’s reach and still be dealing this consistent damage in return.
Its slight splash damage is also great at countering clustered enemies; even if you don’t have perfect aim, you can still use it in team fights.
Unibeam
Iron Man’s secondary attack, Unibeam, allows you to shoot a constant beam of energy.
This move is perfect for situations where you don’t need to be on the move and allows you to finish off opponents at high-health targets.
Armor Overdrive
With Armor Overdrive, Iron Man’s primary and secondary attacks - Repulsor Blast and Unibeam get a damage bonus.
When timed correctly, especially during critical engagements, Iron Man can deal devastating damage to the enemies.
Hyper-Velocity
With Hyper-Velocity, Iron Man can propel forward in flight at incredible speed. This ability is crucial for repositioning, escaping danger, or initiating a fight.
As Iron Man’s air ability does not have any cool down, you can match Hyper-Velocity with aerial mobility to get out of the enemy’s reach.
Micro-Missile Barrage
When Iron Man's abilities, such as Armor Overdrive or Hyper-Velocity, are active, the Micro Missile Barrage can launch missiles at a select target location.
This ability has a massive damage-dealing effect and can be used to break through your enemy’s defenses.
Invincible Pulse Cannon
Invincible Pulse Cannon is Iron Man’s ultimate ability, and it fires a massive energy blast that deals devastating AoE damage. It’s a strong attack that temporarily halts Iron Man’s movement but deals significant damage and can even wipe out multiple enemies in one shot.
While it is very effective in tight situations, timing and positioning are essential to landing a critical hit.
How to Play Iron Man in Marvel Rivals
Iron Man is one of the few airborne characters in Marvel Rivals that allows him to travel anywhere on the map without anyone tracking and countering him.
Additionally, his Hyper-Velocity ability makes him even faster and allows him to escape or attack quickly. Hypervelocity is perfect in tight situations like retreating or repositioning, so avoid using it excessively.
When you engage with enemies, activate his Armor Overdrive to increase his damage outputs. Use repulsor Blast, Unibeam, and then Micro-Missile Barrage only after activating Armor Overdrive.
Iron Man’s ultimate move is the Invincible Pulse Cannon, but it slows down his movements, so it’s best to use it when enemies are grouped and off-guarded to deal devastating AoE damage.
Team Pairing with Iron Man
Building the right team around Iron Man increases his strengths and covers up for his weaknesses. Vanguards like Groot or Hulk provide frontline durability.
Iron Man synergizes with the Hulk’s Gamma Boost ability and increases the overall damage output. Additionally, Namor is another versatile Duelist who pairs well with Iron Man. Namor has a variety of attacks that go synergistic with his move.
Lastly, Strategists like Loki, Luna Snow, or Mantis are excellent choices. Mantis and Luna Snow provide ranged healing and support, while Loki can give a tactical advantage with his clones and confuse opponents.
With this composition, Iron Man can overcome his weaknesses while receiving support and creating opportunities for combined attacks.
How to Counter Iron Man
Although Iron Man is a fast and versatile character, there are a few ways to counter him. Characters with hit-scan abilities, such as Black Widow, The Punisher, and Hela, can easily target when he’s in the air. Though not a hit-scan character, Spider-Man can reach Iron Man with his Get Over Here! Ability followed by devastating combos.
Since Iron Man relies heavily on mobility, characters with crowd-control abilities and well-timed combinations can deal significant damage. To deal with Iron Man, you must exhaust him, force him to cooldowns, and then use characters with high burst or long-range damage.
This is everything you need to know about Iron Man in Marvel Rivals. For more character guides, check out How to Counter Jeff the Land Shark’s Ultimate, How To Play as Doctor Strange, and How To Play as Black Panther.