Marvel Rivals offers a vast selection of heroes and villains from the rich comic book universe, giving players plenty of strategic options. However, understanding which characters work as counters against others is one of the key factors to turning the tide of battle.
Characters in Marvel Rivals fall into three main categories: Duelist, Strategist, and Vanguard. Duelists excel at raw damage output, prioritizing offense above all else. Vanguards act as the frontline warriors, boasting higher health and damage reduction abilities while Strategists provide essential support, enhancing team performance through buffs or healing, and aiding in controlling the battlefield.
Here’s a guide to help you pick the best heroes for the job, as well as the counters to tackle them in Marvel Rivals.
Best counters for all Marvel Rivals heroes
All Marvel Rivals hero counters explained
Adam Warlock
NetEase GamesDefeating Adam Warlock requires shutting him down swiftly before he can gain momentum. Heroes with straightforward hitboxes, such as Squirrel Girl, are reliable options. Alternatively, characters who excel in defense and disruption, like Magneto, can effectively counter his abilities.
Black Panther
NetEase GamesCountering Black Panther provides a few strategic options depending on your preferred playstyle. You can either maintain distance to keep him at bay or engage him head-on using durable Vanguard heroes like Groot and Venom.
Black Widow
NetEase GamesFor Black Widow, her effectiveness heavily relies on the player’s skill. Her strength lies in long-range damage, so selecting a fast and elusive character can significantly limit her impact. Spider-Man is an excellent choice due to his mobility, though other characters capable of repositioning or disappearing from sight can also work effectively.
Captain America
NetEase GamesCaptain America, true to his comic and cinematic persona, thrives as a close-quarters brawler. However, his limited range and lack of fast gap-closing abilities leave him vulnerable to long-range attacks. His shield offers some defense, but it’s not enough to compensate for his lower health compared to other Vanguard heroes, making ranged characters particularly effective against him.
Cloak and Dagger
NetEase GamesSimilar to Adam Warlock, Cloak and Dagger rely on space to maximize their abilities, which leaves them vulnerable to champions who can close the gap quickly or approach unpredictably.
Doctor Strange
NetEase GamesDoctor Strange is one of the most formidable characters in Marvel Rivals, making it tricky to counter him effectively. Your best strategy is to use tanky Vanguard heroes who can endure his powerful abilities or melee-focused characters who can disrupt his attacks up close.
Groot
NetEase GamesAs expected from a tree-like hero, Groot is incredibly resilient and challenging to defeat. However, each role has viable counters. Duelists should opt for ranged characters to chip away at him, while Vanguards like Magneto can match Groot’s durability while outputting superior damage.
Hawkeye
NetEase GamesHawkeye’s long-range prowess makes him difficult to approach without sustaining heavy damage. To counter him, use elusive characters like Loki, who are challenging to target, or durable Vanguards capable of breaking through to his position and neutralizing his impact on the battlefield.
Hela
NetEase GamesHela is a formidable opponent and a strong counter to many top-tier champions, making it crucial to choose wisely against her. Ranged Duelists are a reliable option, while Strategists like the ever-persistent (and adorable) Jeff the Land Shark can effectively neutralize key parts of her abilities.
Hulk
NetEase GamesThe Hulk may not have unexpected tricks up his sleeve, but his sheer toughness makes him a challenge to defeat. Your best strategy is to pick a character capable of delivering high damage, ideally from a distance. The Punisher remains a consistently excellent choice in this matchup.
Iron Fist
Charlie IntelIron Fist has impressed players with his exceptional abilities, but there are ways to counter his strengths. Strategists like Loki and Mantis are great for avoiding damage and crowd control, while Peni Parker stands out as a top pick for this matchup. Keep in mind, however, that Peni’s versatility might be limited against other characters.
Iron Man
NetEase GamesIron Man’s ability to remain airborne throughout matches often renders close-range brawlers ineffective. Characters like Hawkeye, The Punisher, and Doctor Strange are currently the best counters to him, capable of dismantling Tony Stark with surprising efficiency.
Jeff the Land Shark
NetEase GamesDon’t let Jeff the Land Shark’s adorable appearance fool you; he’s one of the top picks in Marvel Rivals right now. Tanky characters tend to fare well against him, as Jeff lacks the firepower to deal significant damage quickly. On the other hand, melee-focused heroes like Wolverine can end the fight swiftly if they manage to close the gap and catch him.
Loki
NetEase GamesLoki, the Norse God of Mischief, is notoriously difficult to eliminate due to his unpredictable toolkit. The best way to counter him is with champions who can silence or suppress his abilities. Characters like Venom excel at finishing him off before he has the opportunity to react.
Luna Snow
NetEase GamesLuna Snow won’t be on the frontlines, but she poses a serious threat with her ability to sustain her entire team. To counter her effectively, use ranged heroes or those who can dive into the backline safely and quickly. With the right approach, you can neutralize Luna before she becomes a major problem.
Magik
NetEase GamesLike many melee-based heroes in Marvel Rivals, Magik is best dealt with from a distance. Characters such as The Punisher are excellent options to counter her, while easy-hit picks like Squirrel Girl can also dispatch her before she gets too close.
Magneto
NetEase GamesDespite being a powerhouse in his own right, Magneto is one of the easier champions to counter. Vanguard players can out-tank him, Duelists should opt for mobile heroes like Spider-Man, and crafty Strategists can also keep him in check. This variety leaves you with plenty of viable choices during drafts.
Mantis
NetEase GamesMantis offers unique support abilities but lacks the traditional presence of damage dealers or tanks. Characters like Groot or Hulk are effective counters, allowing you to largely ignore Mantis during the match while focusing on higher-priority targets.
Moon Knight
NetEase GamesMoon Knight is somewhat underutilized in the current meta, partly due to the numerous counters available against him. Black Widow and Hela dominate in one-on-one situations, while Captain America can easily handle anything Moon Knight brings to the table.
Namor
NetEase GamesNamor is versatile and relatively strong, making him harder to counter directly. The best approach is to select heroes who can out-damage him, with Black Widow and Hela being excellent examples.
Peni Parker
NetEase GamesPeni Parker’s high health pool is her most significant advantage, but she doesn’t have any particularly unique mechanics requiring specialized counters. Any high-damage Duelist should handle her effectively.
Psylocke
NetEase GamesPsylocke faces a range of potential counters, making her easier to handle regardless of your preferred playstyle. Strategists can negate her core abilities, while top-tier Duelists can quickly bring her down with focused attacks.
The Punisher
NetEase GamesThe Punisher stands out as the best long-range character in Marvel Rivals, making it challenging to close the gap and take him down. Tanky heroes are a reliable choice, while highly mobile characters can evade his shots unless controlled by an exceptionally skilled player.
Rocket Raccoon
NetEase GamesRocket Raccoon‘s small stature is a major advantage, making him hard to target consistently, especially for precision-based ranged characters. To counter him effectively, use melee-focused champions like Black Panther to close the gap and take him down swiftly. That said, it’s hard not to feel bad about targeting such an adorable character.
Scarlet Witch
NetEase GamesScarlet Witch, despite her immense power in the lore, hasn’t lived up to expectations in the current meta. She struggles against ranged attacks, and heroes like Jeff the Land Shark and Venom, who can close the distance without exposing themselves, are particularly effective at exploiting her vulnerabilities.
Spider-Man
NetEase GamesSpider-Man’s agility and unique movement mechanics make him a challenging opponent to deal with in the hands of a skilled player. To counter him, choose characters like Venom, Scarlet Witch, or The Punisher, aiming to lock him down and eliminate him quickly before he can leverage his mobility.
Squirrel Girl
NetEase GamesSquirrel Girl made waves early on in the game but has since become easier to counter due to her limited mobility. High-damage or long-range heroes typically have the upper hand, while tanky champions can withstand her attacks and push through to secure a win.
Star-Lord
NetEase GamesStar-Lord offers a mix of accessibility and depth but struggles against certain characters. Heroes like Doctor Strange, Peni Parker, Loki, Luna Snow, and Jeff the Land Shark can significantly reduce his effectiveness in combat, making him a less formidable foe.
Thor
NetEase GamesThor is a powerhouse when left unchecked, but he’s relatively easy to counter early in the game. Doctor Strange is an excellent choice, offering a combination of durability, damage, flight, and utility to neutralize Thor’s strengths.
Venom
NetEase GamesVenom is arguably the strongest character in the current meta, with few direct counters available. Your best bets are ranged heroes, durable tanks, and tricky characters like Jeff the Land Shark to disrupt his momentum.
Winter Soldier
NetEase GamesWinter Soldier excels at wreaking havoc on the backline, but ranged heroes can usually deal with him effectively. If that doesn’t work, Adam Warlock is a great pick, providing healing and control to neutralize his more disruptive abilities.
Wolverine
NetEase GamesWolverine relies heavily on closing the gap to unleash his devastating melee attacks. To counter him, focus on ranged heroes who can keep their distance and eliminate him before he gets close enough to cause problems.
Now that you know about the counters of all Heroes in Marvel Rivals, be sure to check the best controller and PC settings to gain an advantage in matches. If you’re looking to rename yourself in the game, here’s how to change your name in Marvel Rivals.