Vanguard plays a crucial role inMarvel Rivals, which, at times, is necessary to pick. Vanguard picks are vital; you must choose the one that synergizes with your team composition.
They fight enemies head-on and block damage that can shred your team in a few seconds. That’s why it’s essential to have at least one Vanguard to control the flow of the battle.
A usual team composition will have two from each class. However, does it usually happen? You know the answer. With no role queues or locks inMarvel Rivals, you’re at the mercy of your teammates' mood and may need to pick a Vanguard character to support the team.
That needs a decent understanding of Vanguard heroes, who shine in niche situations and help you achieve victory. That said, let’s review our ranking for Vanguards inMarvel Rivalsand see which can help you manage unique circumstances on the battlefield.
Here He Comes
Description
Hulk Smash
Transform from Hero Hulk into Monster Hulk for a limited period
Indestructible Guard
Generate gamma shields for Hero Hulk and nearby allies, absorbing and converting damage into energy for Hulk Smash.
Radioactive Lockdown
Emit gamma energy to render enemies immobilized and immune to all ability effects. Using Heavy Blow or Gamma Burst will prematurely remove this status.
Incredible Leap
Hold SPACE to perform a charged leap that allows Hero Hulk to Knock Down flying enemies.
Gamma Burst
Emit gamma-ray bursts to inflict damage
If you’re not being aggressive with Hulk, you’re really not Hulking at all. He’s not someone you play defensively, sincemost of his abilitiesfocus ondiving into the enemies' backlineand disrupting their formation. I prefer to dive into the enemy’s backline andfocus on their Strategists, the most important targets. However, you won’t get far unless you have a pocket healer.
Most of his abilities have a short duration, and if you transform into Bruce Banner, chances are, you’re going back to spawn. You have Hulk’s IncredibleLeap, which allows you to evade potential traps, but you must account for the battle’s casting time.
However, Hulk’s really not as good as a Vanguard because you have to bereally close to enemies to hit them.Unless you’re in their face, your melee attacks won’t affect them, and if youfumble a leap, you’ll be in their backline, where you’ll possibly melt in a fraction of a second.
He can shield allies, but who will you shield in the front? Unless you plan to flank enemies with your Duelists, I don’t see the use of a shield. I think the developers must buff Hulk’s damage or rework an ability or two. He feels underwhelming to play as a Vanguard.
The main focus while playing Hulk is to gain as much energy as possible to transform into Monster or Hero Hulk.
The God Of Thunder
God Of Thunder
Soar upwards and smite the ground after changing for a duration, inflicting damage on enemies within range.
Storm Surge
HOLD to spin Mjolnir before dashing forward and Knocking Back enemies
Lightning Realm
Summon lightning to restore Thorforce based on the number of enemies hit
Awakening Rune
Consume Thorforce to enter the Awakened state, granting Bonus Health and enhancing Mjolnir Bash.
Hammer Throw
Throw Mjolnir forward then returns
Like Hulk, Thor’s playstyle focuses on being active at the frontline, fighting other tanks. However, you have torely on Thorforce to activate your abilities, which may be cumbersome for those unfamiliar with precise technical gameplay.
Thor is quite technical to play because you have to manage abilities, such as cooldown, positioning, and combat, and Thorforce, a mechanic to enhance your abilities. However, the higher the risk, the higher the reward. You can Knock Back enemies and buff your damage in an instant.
you may gainBonus Health in the Awakened state, but you must maintain enough Thorforce to have decent uptime. That’s why I suggest requesting theStrategist to fuel enough healingto fight enemy tanks head-on.
But if you’re not pocketed enough, you may not have enough time to recharge your Thorforce. Unless you’re in the Awakened state, you’re just a damage sponge.
Sure, you have a quick dash with Mjolnir and a damage boost in the Awakened state, but managing all that alongside requires experience, which isn’t for everyone when we have better options.
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Mutant Power
Draw in all materials around to forge an iron meteor that deals massive damage upon impact. Absorbing enemy Projectiles enhances its power.
Metallic Curtain
Change the magnetic field to form a metallic curtain, blocking all incoming Projectiles.
Metal Bulwark
Conjure a metal shield around a chosen ally
Iron Bulwark
Conjure an iron shield around himself
Mag-Cannon
Convert the iron rings into a Mag-cannon and launch a metallic mass forward. The higher the stack, the higher the damage.
I haven’t seen any Magneto players for a while; where are you guys? No offense, but I’m yet to come across decent Magneto players in ranked matches. Magneto’skit is entirely defensive, whichmakes him a damage sponge.
His shield, which you can summon after a short cooldown,can block any incoming damageand has abilities thathelp shield him and his allies,but that’s all about it. Sure, he has a basic knockback attack, but that doesn’t compensate for his lack of mobility and offensive skills.
However, he’s not that bad. With such abilities, you canpocket your flankers and shield Dueliststo melt down enemy tanks. Sure, you won’t dish out much damage, but you’ll be soaking enemy Duelists' bullets in exchange for protection for your Duelists.
When it comes to protecting teammates, he’s a solid option alongside Groot; however, the short duration of the shield often makes him vulnerable. Helacks mobility and has too much defensein his kit. Even the ultimate is defensive in nature, as it can absorb incoming projectiles.
He perfectly fills the role of a point tank, a Vanguard that holds the objective but doesn’t have enough damage to slay enemies, which is disappointing.
5Captain America
Avengers Assemble
Freedom Charge
Shield held high, carve a path forward, granting teammates Bonus Health and Movement Boosts. Using Living Legend or Leading Dash while this ability is active can Launch enemies.
Leading Dash
Boost speed and enable Fearless Leap to leap into the air
Vibranium Energy Saw
Hurt the energy-charged shield to strike enemies in a path
Liberty Rush
Raise the shield and charge forward
Super-Soldier Slam
Slam down from the sky onto the targeted area, Launching Up enemies
Living Legend
Raise the shield to deflect incoming Projectiles, sending them ricocheting in random directions.
Ahypermobile dive tankthat can easily disrupt the enemy team’s flow and escape finicky situations when the moment arrives sounds simple, but it isn’t. I’ve been having fun withCaptain America in games; however, his playstyle is entirely selfish, just like Venom, who can’t protect the team.
Sure you may ricochet Iron Man’s ultimate with Captain America’s shield, but youcannot protect your entire team like Groot. What I suggest with Captain America is to ask your healer topocket you for flanking the enemy team. You can go in and out at your will and surprise dive at them to throw them off.
However, make sure to put up the shield before you plan for an evasion tactic. Theshield isn’t instant, so you have to bear the delay. Never stay in one place while playing; keep fighting while moving and gather intel on enemies' locations.
Playing as Captain America is fun, but you’re out of options as soon as you’re stunned. You’re risking everything to dive into enemies' backlines and fight them head-on. The Vibranium shield can tank some damage but doesn’t have enough HP to protect you for long.
Unlike Venom, who can survive the brunt of heavy firepower, Captain America doesn’t have many options to survive in enemies stronghold.
Captain America’s Sprint has no cooldown; use that to your benefit.
4Penny Parker
It’s Spider Time!
Spider-Sweeper
Enhance the SP//drr suit, Launching enemies in its path and deploying Arachno-Mines, Spider-Drones, and Cyber-Webs repeatedly.
Bionic Spider-Nest
Generate a Bionic Spider-Nest at a targeted area, periodically spawning Spider-Drones and creating Cyber-Webs. While on the cyber-web, you can gain healing over time, movement boost, and bonus health.
Arachno-Mine
Deploy Arachno-Mines that can be concealed within the confines of a Cyber-Web.
Cyber-Bond
Shoot a web strand that links to the targeted area or Cyber-web. If stretched too far, it will trigger a pullback.
Cyber-Web Snare
Cast a webbing that Immobilizes enemies or creates a Cyber-Web. While in Cyber-Web, gain Healing Over Time, Movement Boos,t and Bonus Health
Penny Parker is a pretty underrated Vanguard, in my opinion; sure, people onHigh ELO can counter her Bionic Spider-Nestsand Arachno-Mines, but shedominates low-rank matches.
What’s crazy is her snare skill, whichimmobilizes enemies and their ultimate forms(some heroes' ultimate). And that can be recast every 3s, which makes it a pretty insane skill.
You can stun a tank or flanker for a few seconds, have the team focus on them, and voila! They’re not a problem on the battlefield.
Her Cyber-Webs grant herHealing Over Time, Movement Boost, and Bonus Health, which are exceptionally valuable while fighting at the frontlines.
If you want a Vanguard who punishes people for mistakes, she’s a good pick. However, youdon’t have any defensive skills. Enemies will have a clear line of sight, and you’ll have to tank the damage. You need a dedicated healer to stay alive or position yourself behind walls.
Though you can use Cyber-webs to close some distance, it’s not enough to avoid enemies' sight. Duelists likeSquirrel Girl or Moon Knight can easily destroy your minesand punish you for being in the open.
Playing Penny Parker is risky unless you have a Vanguard who can shield you. you’re able to solo tank with her against squishy heroes, but you need tobe aware of your equipment’s positioningagainst other Vanguards. Losing your equipment is a major blow to DPS, and you don’t want that on the battlefield.
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Chaos Incarnate
Feast Of The Abyss
Burrow underground for unrestricted movement, devious enemies above to deal damage and generate equivalent Bonus Health.
Venom Swing
Launch webbing forward, allowing for a singular swing in the desired direction.
Symbiotic Resilience
Generate Bonus Health against damage. The lower Venom’s health, the greater the Bonus Health.
Frenzied Arrival
Dash to the target location from a certain height. Upon landing, damage nearby enemies and Launch Them Up.
Cellular Corrosion
Unleash tentacles to Slow enemies within reach. Enemies unable to break free in time will suffer damage.
Like Captain America, his primary role is to be adive tank that helps flankerstake out Strategists. You’re out of options if you don’t have heroes with Crowd Control abilities on your team to deal with Venom.
Venom’saggressive playstyleallows him to drop into the enemies' backlines, throw them in chaos, andtank massive damage with his abilities.He can dive in the backline and come back with the Venom Swing, allowing him totraverse through large distances.
All you need to do with Venom is to focus yourbasic attacks (which can be shot)on enemies,use abilities at the right time, especially the bonus shield, and get out of the combat for a quick regroup.
A good Venom player can easily flank a Duelist or Strategist and return to the team, pretending nothing happened. Venom’s mobility is a godsend in a game where a tank like Groot has to walk from the respawn to the objective.
However,don’t dive blindly into the enemy’s backlineif they have a Luna Snow, Mantis, or Penny Parker since they can easily stun you for a while, making you a vulnerable target. Wherever you dive, you have to be in healers' sights.
You have a lot of survivability as Venom, but you’reprone to crowd-control abilities. Thebonus shield isn’t permanent; if it runs out, you’re often 1 HP. The swings may be a hit or miss, and if you dive too deep into enemy territory, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
In a nutshell,mobility is a double-edged sword;you can go on a quick reconnaissance mission or give them a free kill; there’s no in-between.
You can turn off Easy Swing in settings to have more control over your Venom Swing.
I Am Groot
Strangling Prison
Fire a massive vine cluster that pulls nearby enemies to its center and Imprison them.
Thornlash Wall
Target a location and grow a Thornlash Wall. When Awakened, it strikes nearby enemies attacked by Groot and his allies,
Ironwood Wall
Target a location and grow an Ironwood Wall; when Awakened, damage dealt by Groot and nearby allies gives Groot Bonus Health.
Spore Bomb
Throw an explosive Spore Bomb that splits into multiple tiny explosive spores.
Anytime I go solo tank, which is 70% of my ranked gameplay, because my team choose to go with 4-5 Duelists, and I have to take one for the team, I go with Groot.
Sure, he’snot as agile as Venom, Captain America, or Penny Parker, but what he does is something no other Vanguard can do. That is, zoning an area.
Groot’swalls are indispensable when isolating heroesfrom their team. When you see a Vanguard like Thor rushing at you, you can immediately place walls around them, leaving themno chance to run back and melt them with your team.
The walls work in tandem with your abilities, granting youBonus Health and Healing effects, which are fantastic when you fight head-on. Hisultimate can imprison and group multiple enemies at one spot, making them vulnerable to your team’s Duelists.
What’s more interesting is that you can place hiswalls to shield your teamand have them healed by your Strategists, giving you breathing room to read the room and focus on potential flankers or Duelists.
Groot is a formidable tank that is really hard to kill. His ultimate can group up enemies and set them up for a team-kill. However,he suffers from slow movement.He’s in the same boat as Magneto, who has to walk from the spawn point and lacks movement skills.
You can lose an objective if your Vanguard isn’t present around it. The Squishy heroes will melt in a few seconds, and by the time Groot arrives, enemies have reached another checkpoint.
The walls can potentially shield enemies from your Duelists' line of sight, which is another problem. If you don’t have agood game sense and spatial awareness, you’re bottlenecking your team’s damage and giving an advantage to the other team.
However, you’ll learn on the go, and once you’ve gotten the hold of basic gameplay, Groot will work wonders. Squishy heroes will be afraid to step into your melee zone, and you’ll be stopping tanks from rushing to the objective.
1Doctor Strange
The Power Of Magic
Eye Of Agamotto
Separate nearby enemies' Souls from their bodies. Damage dealt to these Souls is transferred to their physical bodies.
Cloak Of Levitation
Ascend and then enter a brief state of sustained flight
Maelstrom Of Madness
Release Dark Magic to deal damage to nearby enemies
Pentagram Of Farallah
Open portals between two locations, enabling all units to travel through them.
Shield Of The Seraphim
Create a protective barrier against damage
What I like aboutDoctor Strangeis the portal that can be used to flank the enemy team. You canteleport your entire team behind enemies' backlinesand instantly take out their Strategists, quickly securing your objective.
Doctor Strange’s massive regenerative shield helps him tank massive incoming damage. With hisgame-changing ultimate, Doctor Strange can shift the tide of battle in one go. Instead of one, you essentially gettwo hitboxes on enemies in hit ultimate, which lets you focus more on the damage and less on the aim.
Though he cannot swing like Venom, he’s not slow, either. You can useCloak Of Levitation to ascend in the airand fly back to your team, or even better, survive a bad Jeff ultimate (Good luck if Jeff plans to dive off the map).
you’re able to also absorb a Hela ultimate with your shield, which is a boon since her ultimate’s AoE range is massive and can take out your Strategists and Duelists in a second.
However, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. There’s one thing that you should keep in mind, and that is managing Dark magic stacks.
It would be best tomanage Dark Magic stacks to avoid Anti-Heal, which effectively counters the healing received. Doctor Strange doesn’t have technical gameplay as Thor has, but it’s not that simple, either.
If nothing works out, you can always summon the portals, send your team or an Iron Man ultimate into it, and secure the objective. He’s a very strong Vanguard who can shield his team, reposition them, and escape from a fight whenever he wants.
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