The secret to winning in Marvel Rivals is choosing the hero that best suits your playstyle and team dynamics.
The game has several characters, each with unique abilities and roles that can make or break a match.
Whether you're a veteran or a beginner, it’s key to know how each hero performs in terms of effectiveness and overall impact in the game.
Marvel Rivals Heroes, Ranked
Deciding on the best hero in Marvel Rivals is no easy feat, given the variety of abilities and playstyles each character brings.
As patches and updates roll out, the game's competitive meta keeps evolving, and characters once seen as "lower-tier" can unexpectedly rise in value with the right changes or strategy shifts.
Even so, certain characters maintain strong power and significantly influence the battlefield.
The Best of the Best (S-Tier)
S-Tier heroes are the cream of the crop in Marvel Rivals.
Thanks to their powerful abilities and overall versatility, these are the heroes you’ll often see in high-level play.
If you pick one of these, you’re guaranteed to make an impact on the battlefield.
Venom (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Relies on teamwork to reach full potential.
Venom is arguably the best Vanguard in the game.
Thanks to his high health and exceptional mobility, he can quickly engage enemy backlines and stay tough to defeat.
His Symbiotic Resilience lets him heal on his own, and his ultimate throws up a shield that makes him nearly invincible.
Venom is strong at offense and defense, soaking up damage and dealing steady blows.
Moon Knight (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Needs good positioning and timing, struggles against teams focused on healing.
Moon Knight can unleash devastating burst damage.
The Ankh lets him bounce projectiles back, dealing major damage and owning the battlefield space.
If you time it right, his Ultimate can wipe out a bunch of enemies, making it one of the best abilities in the game.
The grappling hook enhances his mobility, making him a pain for enemies, but it all comes down to his timing and positioning.
Magneto (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Very slow, easily overwhelmed by fast melee heroes.
Magneto is a tough one to budge when he’s in the fight.
His defensive abilities, including Metallic Curtain and Magnetic Shield, make him a great protector of teammates.
He blocks projectiles, so he's a good pick for handling enemies that rely on ranged hits.
However, his sluggish movement and limited mobility can make him vulnerable to fast-moving heroes.
Loki (Strategist)
Weaknesses: High-skill floor, requires clone management.
Loki is hands down one of the most layered and gratifying characters in Marvel Rivals.
The ability to clone himself and absorb other heroes’ powers with his ultimate gives him the potential to change how a battle plays out.
His healing and damage are pretty strong, though it takes some time to get his abilities down.
If played well, Loki has the potential to dominate a game on his own, but he needs a high degree of skill to do so.
Cloak & Dagger (Strategist)
Weaknesses: Low damage output, lack of mobility.
Cloak & Dagger pulls off utility and healing well.
Dagger can heal her teammates with her Veil of Lightforce, while Cloak helps by blinding enemies with his Terror Cape.
Pairing them up gives you strong support and crowd control, making them a solid pick for team-based games.
But since they don't do much damage, they need strong teammates to back them up.
Winter Soldier (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Needs careful positioning and can struggle with consistent damage.
Winter Soldier is the kind of hero who can handle both aggressive and defensive play.
He can use his Bionic Hook to isolate enemies and unleash massive damage with his Ultimate.
He can deal damage and counter-dive strategies, making him a valuable addition to any team.
Doctor Strange (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Needs the skill to use effectively and can accidentally disrupt the team if not played right.
As a Vanguard, Doctor Strange excels in battlefield manipulation and defense strategies.
The Pentagram of Farallah gives him teleportation, which is great for attacking and defending.
His Ultimate can take out enemies, but it depends on how well you manage your resources.
Solid Picks You Can Count On (A-Tier)
A-tier heroes in Marvel Rivals might not always steal the spotlight, but they’re reliable when it comes to getting the job done.
These heroes are strong in most situations and can hold their own in any match.
If you’re looking for a solid choice that doesn’t require too much effort to master but still packs a punch, these picks won’t disappoint.
Star-Lord (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Struggles with long-range hits and doesn't have steady damage.
If you’re after mobility and damage, Star-Lord’s a great choice.
Blaster Barrage helps him deal damage from a distance, and Stellar Shift lets him reposition in a flash.
His ultimate makes him deadly accurate so he can take down priority enemies.
His mobility is effective, though he struggles when up against high-damage heroes.
Mantis (Strategist)
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to divers, healing isn’t as potent as other supports.
As a support hero, Mantis can deal damage and heal teammates.
Her Inspire ability cranks up her team's damage, while Spore Slumber puts enemies to sleep for some crowd control.
She does well with aggressive team setups, but her healing isn't as strong as the best healers.
However, Mantis gets outpaced by high-mobility enemies because of her restricted mobility.
Adam Warlock (Strategist)
Weaknesses: Can be vulnerable when healing is on cooldown and lacks mobility.
Adam Warlock’s high healing potential and damage output make him a strong pick, though he does have some weak spots.
His Karmic Revival can bring teammates back into the game, but the slow healing recharge can leave him wide open.
He does well taking hits, but his CC and mobility are limited.
Jeff the Land Shark (Strategist)
Weaknesses: Low damage output and easily taken down by headshots.
Jeff has one of the best healing kits in the game with his Joyful Splash and Hide and Seek abilities.
He provides fantastic support by amplifying healing and keeping teammates alive in tough situations.
Although Jeff may not deal much damage, his healing and ultimate can change the outcome of a fight.
Iron Fist (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Short range, needs spot-on timing.
Iron Fist is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to inflicting damage fast.
Thanks to his Crane Leap and Wall Runner, his mobility is outstanding, and his Iron Fist delivers massive damage.
He’s a flanker who thrives in picking off isolated enemies but requires high skill to master.
The Punisher (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Low mobility, vulnerable in long-range combat.
The Punisher is a solid all-around hero with both long-range and close-range capabilities.
His Ultimate takes down whole groups of enemies, and his Smoke Grenade gives him an easy escape.
Despite his lack of mobility, his impressive damage output poses a serious threat in most skirmishes.
Psylocke (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Short-range attacks and a bit tricky to master.
As a sneaky assassin, Psylocke shines with her explosive damage output.
The Psionic Crossbow cuts down cooldowns, so she can hit fast with big damage.
Her Ultimate makes her immune and deals more damage, so she's a strong pick for team fights.
However, her reliance on positioning and stealth can make her difficult to master.
Luna Snow (Strategist)
Weaknesses: Needs good accuracy, can struggle against fast-moving enemies.
Luna Snow is a versatile support hero with solid healing and strong damage output.
Absolute Zero can freeze enemies, while her Ultimate makes her nearly unstoppable, healing and boosting her allies.
She gets the job done, but her accuracy and positioning must be perfect for it to work well.
Not Top-Tier, But Still Worth Playing (B-Tier)
B-tier heroes aren’t the go-to choices in most situations but are far from useless.
They tend to require more specific team setups or tactics to get the most out of them, and while they might struggle against the heavy hitters, they can still be useful in the right hands.
Groot (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Slow, lacks offense, easily overwhelmed.
Groot is a defensive hero who excels at holding choke points.
His Walls can block enemy movement and provide excellent protection, but his slow movement and low offensive power make him a niche pick.
He’s great with teams focusing on objective control, but he can be overwhelmed in more aggressive matches.
Rocket Raccoon (Strategist)
Weaknesses: Struggles with damage output and lacks crowd control.
If you need mobility and healing, Rocket’s your utility hero.
His Wild Crawl and Jetpack Dash make him elusive, while his Ammo Overload enhances teammates' damage output.
Given his low damage output, Rocket is best employed as a support rather than focusing on damage.
Hawkeye (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Slow mobility, vulnerable in close-range combat.
Hawkeye is exceptional when it comes to long-range combat.
His knack for delivering high damage with precise shots makes him a top pick for players who can master his aiming mechanics.
Thanks to Archer’s Focus, he can deal massive damage, and his ultimate ensures that his shots never miss.
Hawkeye may be slow on the move, but in the right hands, he can take down entire teams.
Iron Man (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Moves slowly and struggles against fast enemies.
Iron Man is a ranged hero who excels at dealing damage from the air.
His Armor Overdrive enhances his damage, and his Ultimate can decimate teams.
His sluggish movement and weakness against high-mobility heroes hinder his performance in fast-paced matches.
Captain America (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Low damage output and struggles against high-damage heroes.
Captain America is a mobile tank that sticks to enemies using his Shield Throw.
Despite his abilities offering strong mobility and defense, he has a hard time against high-damage melee heroes.
He performs best alongside other tanks but struggles to reach his full potential alone.
Peni Parker (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Limited mobility, weak offensive potential.
Peni Parker is a defensive hero who can control the battlefield with her Spider Nest ability.
She’s excellent at holding objectives but struggles to engage offensively without the help of teammates.
She can't move around much, so she needs to be in the right spot to be effective.
Hela (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Weak mobility, requires precision.
Hela thrives in dealing damage from a distance using her Nightsword Thorn.
However, she lacks mobility and requires precision to get the most out of her attacks.
The damage from her Ultimate is huge, but she has to position herself right, or she’ll get caught out.
Scarlet Witch (Duelist)
Weaknesses: No burst potential, ultimate can be countered easily.
Scarlet Witch is a solid DPS hero with great utility.
The Dark Seal stuns her enemies, and the Hex Blast keeps up a steady stream of damage.
But she doesn't have much burst damage, and her ultimate is pretty easy to predict, so she struggles against high-mobility heroes.
Squirrel Girl (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Ultimate can be easy to predict, has low damage output, and struggles against flying enemies.
Squirrel Girl is an eccentric hero who combines damage-dealing and crowd-control abilities.
Her Squirrel Tsunami can be devastating, but it’s often too slow and predictable to land effectively.
Although she has respectable mobility and a useful utility skill in Squirrel Blockade, her weak burst damage and erratic Ultimate limit her relevance in high-level gameplay.
The Situational Heroes (C-Tier)
Not every hero in Marvel Rivals can be a top performer across the board, and that’s where these situational picks come in.
C-tier heroes have potential but often require the right conditions or team support to shine.
While they may not be your first choice, they can still turn the tide if used strategically.
Storm (Strategist)
Weaknesses: Low mobility, lack of self-peel, and struggles against flying enemies.
Despite the value of Storm’s Goddess Boost in supporting her team, her limited mobility and fragility make her a tough character to master.
Her Ultimate can devastate the enemy ranks, but it requires careful positioning.
Overall, Storm is an effective support but is vulnerable when exposed, especially when up against faster or more agile heroes.
Black Panther (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Can be hard to execute properly and struggles against crowd control and healing heroes.
Thanks to his speed and heavy hits, Black Panther is a beast in close combat.
His Subtle Step lets him get behind enemy lines, but he doesn't do enough consistent damage to be as effective as Duelists like Iron Fist.
His combat relies on seamlessly chaining abilities, where a single slip-up can turn the tide against him.
Namor (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Weak damage without Monstro Spawn, slow Ultimate, easy to counter.
Namor can call forth Monstro Spawn and protect himself with Blessing of the Deep, making him a solid tank.
Although his Monstro Spawn is easy to counter, his damage output is minimal without their support.
While his Ultimate can disable enemy mobility, it’s slow to charge and can be easily avoided.
Namor can't keep up the pressure consistently and lacks the flexibility other Vanguards bring.
Wolverine (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Relies on cooldowns, and struggles against teams with high mobility.
Thanks to his powerful attacks and quick mobility, Wolverine is a tank's worst nightmare.
However, his lack of ranged abilities and reliance on cooldowns make him less effective against teams that can easily peel him off.
When his Rage passive is active, he’s incredibly difficult to kill, but outside of this, he struggles to keep up with high-mobility heroes.
He excels in 1v1s but can be overwhelmed in group fights.
Spider-Man (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Requires team coordination, damage output can be inconsistent.
Spider-Man's quick moves and crowd control make him great against support heroes.
His knack for Web-Swinging and interfering with enemy backlines makes him a solid pick in different situations.
However, his damage depends on his team's follow-up, and without proper coordination, he can struggle to secure kills.
His Ultimate hits hardest when used smartly, which makes him a bit tricky to master.
Thor (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Low mobility, predictable, and vulnerable to fast, ranged heroes.
Thor is a strong Vanguard who excels at disrupting enemies with his Storm Surge and provides solid tanking.
His Ultimate has the potential to disrupt and dominate the battlefield, but it demands precise positioning to maximize its potential.
However, his low mobility and predictable playstyle make him vulnerable to faster or ranged heroes.
He may be a tank but struggles to outpace more agile characters.
Heroes That Don’t Quite Cut It (D-Tier)
The D-tier heroes are the ones who find it tough to keep up with the pace of high-level play.
While they might have some interesting abilities, they generally don’t offer enough to outweigh their weaknesses.
If you want to win consistently, saving these heroes for specific, niche situations is best.
Bruce Banner/Hulk (Vanguard)
Weaknesses: Vulnerable when in Bruce Banner form, low damage output.
Hulk is a heavy hitter, but his large size and lack of mobility make him an easy target.
Although he can absorb damage and excel in his Ultimate mode, he becomes vulnerable once he reverts to his Bruce Banner form.
His lack of ranged abilities and weak overall damage output make him less effective against high-mobility enemies.
He is often considered the weakest Vanguard, struggling to keep up with faster, more versatile heroes.
Black Widow (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Lacks mobility, vulnerable to fast-diving enemies, lower DPS.
Black Widow is a top choice for those who favor precision and impactful abilities.
She can dish out solid damage from afar and use her Ultimate to slow down enemies, but her mobility and survivability aren’t the best.
If she’s out of place or swarmed by faster enemies, she can go down quickly.
Since her Ultimate’s easy to counter, she’s not as effective in tougher matches.
Magik (Duelist)
Weaknesses: Slow, clunky mobility, tricky to master.
Magik has an intriguing ability set, but her sluggish movement and clunky abilities hinder her effectiveness.
Limbo’s Might gives her some mobility, but since her portals only go a short way, it’s tough to escape or get in there.
She performs well against dive comps but struggles with more complex team setups.