The Punisher is one of the strongest Duelists in Marvels Rivals. Despite not having supernatural abilities like the other characters, he utilizes the weapons available at his disposal. Whilst he doesn’t boast a huge health pool (275 HP) and doesn’t necessarily have high mobility in his attributes, he still manages to become a menace for the enemy team.
The good thing about this character is his difficulty—level 1. This means that players, no matter their skill level in the game, can master The Punisher. If you’re looking to do the same, here’s a guide on how players can get the most out of him in Marvel Rivals.
How to Play as The Punisher in Marvel Rivals?
Here’s how to make the most out of The Punisher in Marvel Rivals.
Using The Punisher’s Primary and Secondary Weapons Efficiently
As mentioned, The Punisher has two weapons he can use during combat, Adjudication (Assault Rifle) and Deliverance (Shotgun). Knowing when to use each of them is key.
Generally, Assault Rifles are used for long-range combats. Since they’re ‘heavy’ to use, it’s recommended to use them at a distance. Using ARs at a close range means giving the enemy team the advantage since it takes time for the weapon to fire or ADS.
To balance this, The Punisher comes with Deliverance—a shotgun. In cases where you’re forced to have close combat with your opponents, you must equip the shotgun since it has a faster fire rate and doesn’t necessarily require you to aim—hip fires work too.
The only thing to be wary of here is the animation delay, which takes place while switching between the two weapons.
Using Vantage Connection to Position Yourself
The Punisher doesn’t have special skills. He has guns. He doesn’t boast great mobility either, so when faced with opponents that have unique abilities at their side, players need to focus on their positioning with the Punisher. Using his grappling hook, otherwise known as the Vantage Connection is key. It allows players to travel across the map efficiently and with ease.
This is essentially a zip line that only The Punisher can use. While players can place multiple grappling hooks across the map, the limit is three, before the new one replaces one of the former ones.
Using the Culling Turret For Offense and Defense
The Culling Turret is another deadly weapon in The Punisher’s arsenal which essentially forms a turret in the marked area, blazing enemies with armor-piercing ammunition. From the outset, it’s a huge advantage for The Punisher, but knowing how to place it is crucial, otherwise, you’ll end up disabling your mobility in the long run.
For starters, players must use this ability specifically on choke points. This stops enemies from marching forward. Additionally, players typically stay near the turret supporting fire—and while this strategy is understandable—it’s detrimental at times.
In that case, players must always be mobile despite having their turrets supporting them. This stops the enemies from critically damaging the Punisher. Additionally, it also opens him up to new angles from where he can be a menace to the opposition.
In cases where your players do take damage, they can use the Scourge Grenade for escape.
Using the Punisher’s Final Judgment Ultimate Ability
The Punisher’s ultimate ability is considered to be one of the strongest abilities in Marvel Rivals due to its significant damage. That being said, players must know when to use it for maximum efficiency.
For starters, players should use it during team battles. This typically catches the enemies off guard and makes it difficult for them to come up with any counters whatsoever. Additionally, it also helps your team to grab a ‘breather’, recharge, and take/defend the objective.
Talking about objectives, the second time players can use the Final Judgment ability in Marvel Rivals is while defending an objective—or taking charge of it.
Pro tip: Players can use Vantage Connection before using their ultimate. This allows them to position themselves in a way where opponents cannot counter or reach them.
The Punisher Best Team-Ups in Marvel Rivals
As with any other character in the game, certain heroes in Marvel Rivals help bring out the best in The Punisher. Below, you’ll find the best team-ups for The Punisher in Marvel Rivals.
Ammo Overload: Rocket Raccoon and The Punisher
This team-up is also called Ammo Overload. Here, the Punisher benefits from Rocket Raccoon’s Ammo Overload Device, allowing him to receive unlimited ammo whilst boasting an enhanced fire rate in the game.
Despite retaining the same HP and attributes, this team-up in particular is great for The Punisher as it allows him to place constant pressure on the enemy team. Since there’s unlimited ammunition, the opposition receives more damage before they can counteract it.
The Punisher + Doctor Strange + Groot
Another great team-up for The Punisher is one with Doctor Strange and Groot. Where Strange’s magical abilities stop the incoming fire from reaching The Punisher, Groot’s healing abilities can maximize his health. This makes up for Punisher’s main disadvantage: his health bar (275 HP). With that gone, he instantly becomes a menace to the enemy team.