In Marvel Rivals, Vanguard heroes serve as the team’s front-line defenders, absorbing damage to give attackers and healers the opportunity to advance without being easily eliminated. These heroes excel in tanking with abilities like projectile-blocking shields, temporary health regeneration, and significantly larger health pools than most other characters in the game. In this guide, we will explore the 8 best Vanguard heroes in Marvel Rivals and share tips on how to play them effectively.
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8. Hulk
While Hulk is classified as a Vanguard hero, he does not quite live up to expectations when it comes to soaking up damage and dishing it out in Marvel Rivals. He can absorb a lot of damage as The Hulk, but when he reverts to Bruce Banner his health drops to 200.
His lack of ranged attacks makes him more of a nuisance to the enemy team than a true threat.
How to Play Hulk
Despite Hulk’s limitations, there are still ways to maximize his effectiveness in battle. The key is to pair him with Doctor Strange and Iron Man. This combination activates the Gamma Boost team-up.
Here’s how it works: Hulk charges Doctor Strange and Iron Man with gamma radiation. When Doctor Strange uses his Maelstrom of Madness, he unleashes the Gamma Maelstrom, and when Iron Man activates Armor Overdrive, he triggers a gamma upgrade.
While this team-up does not directly enhance Hulk’s combat abilities, it significantly boosts both your tank and duelist. They gain an ability that deals gamma-infused damage, and both Hulk and Monster Hulk get a 150 max health boost.
With this boost, you have a bit more room to be reckless. Charge into the enemy team, target healers or duelists (who typically have 250 health points), and deal some solid damage before retreating behind your allies.
Just make sure to do this before Hulk transforms back into Bruce Banner. If you transform while behind enemy lines, it will take some time to revert back to Hulk, leaving you vulnerable and likely to be eliminated.
As Hulk, your best role is to act as a distraction. Leap into enemy positions, forcing them to focus on you while your teammates pick off their damage dealers and attackers one by one.
7. Peni Parker
While Peni Parker belongs to the Vanguard hero category and boasts a larger health pool than Duelists or Healers, she isn’t the ideal choice for frontline play. Unlike traditional vanguard heroes designed to absorb damage, Peni excels as a trapper, using her unique abilities to control areas and disrupt the enemy team rather than tanking hits.
How to Play Peni Parker
The most effective way to play as Peni Parker is by focusing on area denial through traps and drones. Her abilities, Arachno-Mine and Bionic Spider-Nest, are the cornerstone of this strategy.
- Bionic Spider-Nest: Deploys a Spider-Nest in a targeted area that periodically spawns Spider-Drones and creates Cyber-Webs. While standing in a Cyber-Web, Peni gains Healing Over Time and a Movement Boost. Any excess healing is converted into Bonus Health.
- Arachno-Mine: Deploys mines that can be concealed within the boundaries of a Cyber-Web, adding an extra layer of surprise and area control.
Once you have set your traps, position yourself at a distance and start attacking enemies approaching the objective. Peni’s ranged attacks are highly effective, especially since her Cyber-Web Cluster projectiles do not require reloading, allowing you to maintain continuous fire without interruptions.
While Peni has some self-healing capabilities via her Cyber-Web Snare, which immobilizes enemies and grants Healing Over Time within the web, her limited health regeneration makes her less effective as a standalone tank.
You can deploy up to three Cyber-Webs to maximize healing, but sustained frontline play will still require the support of a dedicated healer to keep Peni Parker in the fight.
Peni’s role is best utilized with strong team coordination. By distracting enemies and controlling key areas with traps, she allows her allies to focus on offense while the enemy struggles to navigate her web of hazards. With the right teammates by her side, Peni Parker can shine as a versatile and strategic vanguard hero.
Related: Marvel Rivals: Loki Hero Guide – Best Way to Play
6. Thor
Thor is one of the most effective offensive and DPS-style vanguard heroes in Marvel Rivals. He excels at dashing into combat, disrupting the enemy team, and quickly eliminating healers and damage dealers, particularly in one-on-one situations.
However, Thor comes with a steep learning curve. This makes him less approachable for beginners, as mastering his abilities and mechanics requires practice and precision.
Once you get a solid grasp of the game’s mechanics and learn how to channel Thor’s potential effectively, you will come to appreciate his power and versatility. Until then, Thor remains a challenging but rewarding choice for experienced players.
How to Play Thor
To play best as Thor in Marvel Rivals, you must embrace an aggressive playstyle. The key to his effectiveness lies in micro-managing Thorforce, which acts as the backbone of his offensive strategy.
- Thorforce: This resource can be spent to gain bonus health or activate the Awakening Rune, which provides boosts to health and damage. Throughout the match, you will need to balance between going on the offensive and using Thorforce defensively to sustain yourself in battle.
Thor’s primary focus should be on disrupting the enemy team by using Storm Surge to relocate quickly, whether by dashing across the battlefield or leaping to higher ground. Once in position, attack enemies with Mjolnir, deal as much damage as possible, and retreat to a safe spot.
This hit-and-run strategy keeps the enemy team off balance. By targeting Duelists or Strategist heroes—who usually have around 250 health points—you can quickly eliminate key threats while forcing the enemy team to focus their attention on you. This distraction creates openings for your teammates to deal with the enemy’s frontline vanguard heroes.
Thor’s ability to apply constant pressure, deal significant damage, and then retreat makes him a frustrating opponent. The enemy team is forced to divide their attention between you and your allies, disrupting their coordination.
For added synergy, team up with Loki and Hela. Together, these three characters activate the Odinson Reborn team-up ability, granting Thor 50 bonus health.
You can also consider including Captain America and Storm on your team. Their presence will activate additional lightning-based abilities, further enhancing Thor’s offensive capabilities in the team.
5. Magneto
Magneto excels as a shield provider and damage absorber, utilizing his unique abilities to protect allies while also holding his own in combat. Similar to Doctor Strange, Magneto offers excellent team support but can turn into an aggressive damage dealer when paired with Scarlet Witch, creating a powerful synergy.
How to Play Magneto
Magneto’s strength lies in prioritizing team support over direct offense. To maximize his potential, focus on deploying his shield abilities:
- Metallic Curtain: Alters the magnetic field to create a metallic curtain, blocking all incoming projectiles and providing a safe zone for allies.
- Metal Bulwark: Conjures a protective metal shield around a chosen ally. Any damage absorbed by the shield converts into rings that form on Magneto’s back, enhancing his durability.
These abilities are critical for giving your team’s Duelists the opportunity to advance, engage enemies, and secure or recapture objectives.
While Magneto can deal significant damage in one-on-one scenarios, his lack of speed makes him vulnerable in fights against multiple opponents. If you are being targeted by two or more enemies, repositioning is essential.
Find cover to regenerate health before re-engaging, rather than risking death and a lengthy return from the respawn zone.
The key to playing Magneto effectively is to prioritize shielding your team and soaking up damage. This allows your teammates to push forward confidently, knowing they have reliable protection. While Magneto is not as fast or aggressive as other vanguard heroes, his defensive capabilities make him a valuable asset when used strategically.
With the right approach, Magneto becomes a dependable and effective choice for players who value teamwork and calculated plays in Marvel Rivals.
4. Groot
While Peni Parker excels as a Vanguard hero for area denial and damage through mines, Groot stands unrivaled in controlling space on the battlefield. His ability to block incoming projectiles with vine walls and create barriers that force enemies to take alternate routes—often leading them into ambushes—sets him apart.
When it comes to blocking enemy paths and controlling access to objectives, Groot is easily the best tank in Marvel Rivals.
How to Play Groot
Groot’s vine walls are his standout feature, and using them effectively is the key to mastering him in combat. He can deploy up to two Thornlash Walls and one Ironwood Wall at a time:
- Thornlash Wall: Strikes nearby enemies attacked by Groot and his allies when awakened.
- Ironwood Wall: Grants Groot bonus health based on damage dealt by him and nearby allies when awakened.
This allows Groot to create up to three vine walls simultaneously, making him a powerhouse for area denial. For example, if you are defending an objective, placing the walls in front of the enemy’s path can funnel them to the sides, where your teammates can set up ambushes for easy eliminations.
Alternatively, enemies might try to break through the walls. This wastes their time and gives your damage dealers an opportunity to attack while the enemy is distracted. With cooldowns of just 6 and 8 seconds for these abilities, Groot can quickly replace any destroyed barriers.
Groot’s walls not only absorb damage but also disrupt enemy strategies, making him an excellent tank with a naturally high health pool. This dual role as a damage absorber and area controller cements his position as a top-tier Vanguard hero in the game.
For missions requiring the defense of objectives, Groot’s unique ability to control the battlefield makes him an indispensable ally and arguably the best Vanguard character in Marvel Rivals.
3. Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is one of the best vanguard heroes in Marvel Rivals, excelling at absorbing damage thanks to his impressive shield-casting abilities. His Shield of the Seraphim not only covers a large radius but also boasts a hefty 800 health, making Doctor Strange an invaluable asset on the battlefield. This ability alone allows your team to push objectives confidently, reducing the risk of taking damage from distant enemies.
How to Play Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is a straightforward vanguard hero. Unlike Venom, Captain America, and Peni Parker, he lacks significant agility on the ground or mobility in the air, making him a more stationary unit. However, he excels at supporting teammates during pushes with his go-to abilities: Daggers of Denak for offensive attacks and Shield of the Seraphim to block incoming ranged fire.
The most effective way to play Doctor Strange is simple: block with the shield, move forward, attack, and repeat. While his playstyle may lack complexity, his effectiveness at anchoring a team and advancing objectives is undeniable.
One of Doctor Strange’s standout abilities is the Pentagram of Farallah. This creates a portal between two locations, offering a tactical advantage by instantly transporting recently respawned teammates to the objective or defensive positions. This unique ability can quickly turn the tide of battle by ensuring your team regroups and reinforces key locations without delay.
Beyond its defensive use, you can also get creative with the portal. For example, cast it strategically to allow ranged teammates, such as Punisher or Star-Lord, to attack enemies from a safe distance without exposing themselves to danger. This versatility makes the Pentagram of Farallah a powerful tool for both offense and defense.
When engaging in one-on-one battles, Doctor Strange is best suited to taking on other vanguard heroes. With his shield blocking incoming damage, he can outlast opponents while keeping their attention focused on him. This distraction frees up your team’s DPS heroes to focus their attacks and eliminate the enemy vanguard efficiently.
By mastering these strategies, Doctor Strange becomes an essential powerhouse on the battlefield, capable of leading his team to victory with his unique blend of offense, defense, and abilities.
2. Captain America
Captain America is another standout vanguard hero in Marvel Rivals, excelling at absorbing damage and providing frontline support. His ability to protect teammates and create opportunities for them to push toward objectives makes him an invaluable asset to any team.
Unlike Doctor Strange, Captain America boasts impressive mobility, including a dive-like ability similar to Venom’s. However, what sets him apart is his ground speed—he is the fastest-moving vanguard character on foot, thanks to a dedicated sprint ability. This allows him to return to the front lines quickly after being eliminated, making him a persistent and challenging force for the opposing team.
How to Play Captain America
To make the most of Captain America’s abilities, focus on targeting Duelist characters and taking them down as quickly as possible. Most Duelists have around 250 health points, while Captain America’s higher health pool gives him a clear advantage in direct confrontations.
Captain America shines as a melee-focused hero but also has excellent ranged capabilities. His iconic shield toss deals damage at medium to close range, giving him versatility in combat. If Thor is on your team, you gain access to the Charged Aegis team-up ability.
- Charged Aegis: When Thor is present, Captain America can enhance his shield with an electrifying charge. This imbues the shield with thunder power, electrocuting nearby enemies. Additionally, Captain America receives a movement boost, making him even more effective at closing the distance to his targets.
This synergy makes Captain America a serious threat to the enemy’s Duelist characters. However, to maximize his effectiveness, focus on isolating and eliminating them one by one. While Captain America can block incoming damage and reflect some of it with his shield, its durability diminishes quickly.
Unlike Venom, Captain America does not have health regeneration abilities (except for the ultimate ability), so timing and positioning are key.
Adopting this playstyle ensures Captain America remains a constant threat to the enemy team’s damage dealers. Once the opposing DPS characters are neutralized, your teammates can join you in overwhelming the remaining enemy forces and securing objectives with ease.
1. Venom
Venom is by far the best Vanguard character in Marvel Rivals. He embodies every quality you would expect from a top-tier Vanguard, including being a self-sustaining tank, nearly unkillable, a master damage absorber, and a hero capable of getting out of tough situations on his own.
If you’re looking for the ideal Vanguard hero, Venom should be your go-to pick. His abilities are straightforward to learn, and his overall learning curve is approachable, making him an excellent choice for both new and experienced players.
How to Play Venom
To maximize Venom’s potential, take full advantage of his high mobility, enabled by his symbiote swinging ability. Use this to target the enemy team’s Strategists, who are typically positioned in the back row. Venom can swing through open areas and dive directly onto these critical targets with ease, especially on maps with wide open spaces.
Venom’s survivability is one of his greatest strengths, thanks to his Symbiotic Resilience and Feast of the Abyss abilities:
- Symbiotic Resilience: This ability allows Venom to generate Bonus Health whenever he takes damage. The lower his health drops, the more Bonus Health he generates, making him incredibly tough to take down.
- Feast of the Abyss: Venom burrows underground for free movement. After a set duration (or by activating with a left click), he bursts out to devour enemies above him. This deals damage based on the enemies’ current health and generates Bonus Health equivalent to the damage dealt.
These abilities make Venom exceptionally hard to kill, which is why targeting enemy healers should be your top priority. Most teams tend to pick at least two healers, and eliminating them early in the fight ensures your squad can dominate the front lines without the enemy regenerating health.
Once the healers are out of the picture, your team can apply constant pressure, dealing damage and eliminating enemies with ease.
While focusing on healers is the most effective strategy, Venom can also be used to target Duelist heroes in the enemy team. However, keep in mind that Duelists primarily deal damage, and while neutralizing them can weaken the enemy’s DPS (damage per second), healers are the real backbone of any team. Prioritize taking them down first for the greatest impact on the battle.
By using Venom this way, you will ensure your team has the upper hand and capitalize on his unique abilities to lead your squad to victory.
That covers everything you need to know about the top Vanguard heroes and how to make the most of their abilities in Marvel Rivals. For more tips about the game, we recommend you check out our Adam Warlock Hero Guide, and How To Fix the Marvel Rivals DirectX 12 Error on PC guides.
Published: Dec 12, 2024 03:23 am