Vanguards are Marvel Rivals take on the Tank class / Image credit: NetEase Games
TL;DR
Vanguards are the Tank class of Marvel Rivals.
At the time of writing, there are 11 Vanguards in Marvel Rivals.
With every patch and update, the meta of the game shifts, and some heroes become more effective in competitive matches than others.
Emma Frost, Peni Parker, and Doctor Strange are currently the S-Tier Vanguards in Marvel Rivals.
The least effective Vanguard in competitive play right now is Angela.
Vanguards are vital parts of a team composition in Marvel Rivals. These tank-like heroes offer protection and can absorb a significant amount of damage thanks to their high health bars. Each Vanguard offers something unique, but with the ever-changing meta of the game, it can be hard to keep up with which Vanguards are best suited for the current competitive scene.
That’s where our tier list comes in. We’re going to be ranking all the Vanguards currently available in the Marvel Rivals roster. Each of these heroes will be ranked on a scale of S-Tier to D-Tier based on how effective they are in the game’s meta.
Marvel Rivals Vanguard tier list explained
The Thing is a particularly fun Vanguard to play as, but he isn’t as effective as others in competitive play / Image credit: NetEase Games
As is the case with most online multiplayer games, the Marvel Rivals meta is constantly shifting with each update, patch, and new season. Hero changes are frequent, as the developers do what they can to maintain balance. Characters can be nerfed or buffed, which in turn can change how well they do in certain situations. When it comes to playing the game competitively, it’s important to keep track of these hero changes if you want to improve your chances of climbing through the Marvel Rivals ranks.
Team-ups are also an important factor to consider when it comes to the changing meta. Team-up abilities allow certain Marvel Rivals characters to gain an additional skill when they are paired up with another particular hero. With every new season, some team-ups are altered, while others are removed. New teamwork skills are also introduced. These changes can lead to certain heroes being picked or banned more often, so it’s important to keep them in mind when considering the meta of the game. At the time of writing, our tier list is based on the Season 5 Marvel Rivals update.
How our Marvel Rivals Vanguard tier list was compiled
Venom has had various buffs and balance changes over the course of four and a half seasons / Image credit: NetEase Games
Before we get into the tier list, let’s first take a look at the S-Tier to D-Tier ranking system that each Vanguard will be ranked within.
S-Tier: The top choices for the current meta that can profoundly impact gameplay. These heroes often have high win rates and pick rates, though they can be prone to high ban rates, too.
A-Tier: Reliable characters that can work in a range of situations in the current meta, but they don’t dominate like S-Tier heroes.
B-Tier: Can be excellent to use in certain team compositions or on particular maps, but they are more situational than S and A-Tier heroes.
C-Tier: Niche heroes who can be countered easily, have been nerfed or don’t have as much power as other characters.
D-Tier: These heroes are not effective in the current meta. Only pros will be able to play them effectively in a comp situation (none of the Vanguards in Marvel Rivals rank as D-Tier at the time of writing).
Our rankings are based on the most recent patch notes, pro-play trends, and community performance data. Some of the community platforms we use include Rivals Tracker, Marvel Rivals.gg, and Mobalytics. Players can also look at the stats of each hero in each role via the Hero Hot List on the official Marvel Rivals website. We’ll be compiling our list with information from that, too.
Marvel Rivals Vanguard tier list in brief
Doctor Strange has been a consistent top-tier Vanguard pick since the game was released / Image credit: NetEase Games
At the time of writing, there are 11 Vanguard heroes in the game. Let’s take a quick look at where each of them is placed on our Marvel Rivals tier list.
TierHeroSEmma Frost
Doctor Strange
Groot
MagnetoAGroot
VenomBCaptain America
Hulk
Thor
The ThingCAngelaDNone in the current meta
Marvel Rivals Vanguard tier list
S-Tier
Peni Parker, Dr Strange, Emma Frost, and Magneto, the S-tier Marvel Rivals vanguards / Image credit: NetEase
Peni Parker’s defences are second to none thanks to her Biotic Spider Nest and Arachno-Mines. When placed appropriately, these traps can keep the enemy team at bay while dealing a ton of damage. Parker has also seen a much higher ban rate since her team-up ability with Rocket Raccoon was introduced in Season 2.5, and it’s easy to see why. Parker was already a strong defensive tank, but she becomes even more effective when this team-up is active.
Doctor Strange is another top-tier Vanguard who has excellent defences. However, his skills are more versatile than Parker’s in that they don’t revolve solely around defence. Strange has escapability and manoeuvrability thanks to his Cloak of Levitation, but he also has offensive and defensive skills.
Doctor Strange’s Pentagram of Farallah portal remains one of the strongest utility abilities in Marvel Rivals, though it can be ineffective if not placed properly. His ultimate is also a top-tier crowd control manoeuvre that can wipe out entire teams when combined with well-timed attacks. Strange’s versatility makes him one of the strongest Vanguards in Marvel Rivals with the Season 5 meta.
Much like Doctor Strange, Emma Frost is the perfect blend of offence and defence. She is a powerhouse thanks to a significant health bar and her Diamond Form, which reduces her damage and makes her immune to crowd control abilities. She is a great damage absorber who can protect her team with her Mind’s Aegis shield while dealing damage with her Telepathic Pulse primary attack.
Frost’s Psionic Seduction ability can also turn the tide of a game when used correctly, as enemies caught within her field will become uncontrollable and walk towards Frost, leaving them highly vulnerable for a few seconds. This combination of offence, defence, and self-preservation makes Emma Frost a top-tier Vanguard.
Magneto could easily be in a tier of his own right now. He was already extremely strong, being one of the toughest frontline heroes to take down, but now he has a bit more to his offence thanks to his team-up with the newest of the Marvel Rivals characters, Gambit. His kit makes him effective in practically any team comp, making him a safe pick, and while he can be reliant on a team that will push with him, due to low mobility, no one is as reliable as Magneto.
A-Tier
Guardians of the Galaxy Groot and Agent Venom Marvel Rivals skins / Image credit: NetEase
Groot is a tricky Vanguard to master, as players need to be able to quickly place his walls with precision and efficiency. However, if played with skill, Groot can be a fantastic control tank. Groot’s walls can block the sight lines of enemies, isolate supports, and prevent escapes, but they can also block allies or even ruin a teammate’s ultimate if not used correctly. The ease with which Groot can become a detriment to his own team if played by someone without experience places him in A-Tier.
Venom has seen a rise in his standing since Marvel Rivals was released, as he has received several significant buffs in Season 4.5 that have remained unchanged in Season 5. These buffs have increased his survivability, made his ultimate more effective, and allowed him to become even stronger as a disruptive dive tank. That being said, while his diving and self-preservation are top-level, Venom cannot protect the rest of his team, so we can’t put him any higher than A-Tier.
B-Tier
The Thing, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America / Image credit: NetEase Games
The Thing is undoubtedly a fun melee Vanguard to play as, but he is more of a situational pick in the competitive scene. He packs a serious punch, so his frontline play can be highly effective with the right team composition. He can also protect his allies and escape from danger with his Embattled Leap ability. That being said, he lacks reliable mobility, as his Yancy Street Charge can be difficult to control. His crowd control ultimate isn’t always the most reliable either, as it can be dodged easily thanks to its short range. Compared to the S-Tier tanks, The Thing is inconsistent
Thor offers plenty of brute strength with his kit, but he lacks the follow-up manoeuvres to ascend to the higher ranks of this tier list. He hits very hard with his regular attacks, but his survivability is weak compared to a lot of the other Vanguards. Thor is often used as a bruiser rather than the team’s main tank because of this. He is also vulnerable to various crowd control abilities and can become a slave to his cooldowns.
Hulk is another dive Vanguard like Venom, but he lacks consistency and is tough to master. Hulk has great mobility thanks to his leaping skill, allowing him to dive in and out of the backline and cause chaos. He also has a massive health bar and significant durability. However, his attacks are only melee-based when he is in Hulk form, and this can be difficult to balance in certain team compositions. He is strong, but his attacks are slow, so it can be easy for enemies to dodge them or escape his line of sight.
C-Tier
Angela from Marvel Rivals / Image credit: NetEase Games
Angela is, at the time of writing, the most recent Vanguard to join the game. There are still plenty of kinks and balance issues to work out due to her newbie status, but she’s been around long enough to earn a spot on our tier list.
As of right now, Angela isn’t as effective as she could be, despite having tons of potential. Her health is very low for a Vanguard, and her role as the only flying tank can make her an easy target. Despite being effective when played in the right hands, Angela is far too inconsistent to be a top-tier Vanguard with the current meta.
Conclusion
That’s everything you need to know about our Vanguard tier list for the Marvel Rivals Season 5 meta. Don’t be discouraged if your favourite Vanguard has been placed in a lower tier. Any hero can be an effective presence in a competitive game if they are played by the right person or are used in particular situations. That being said, the Vanguards in the higher tiers are the best to use in competitive games right now, as they are the most effective in the widest range of scenarios.
FAQs
What is a Vanguard in Marvel Rivals?
A Vanguard in Marvel Rivals is a hero class similar to the Tank archetype often used in online multiplayer games. Vanguards have high health pools and can absorb damage while protecting their allies or diving into the enemy team.
How many Vanguards are in Marvel Rivals?
At the time of writing, there are 11 Vanguard heroes in Marvel Rivals.
Who is the best Vanguard in Marvel Rivals?
The best Vanguard in Marvel Rivals is a matter of personal opinion, preference, and favoured gameplay style. However, from a competitive perspective, the Vanguards listed in the S-Tier and A-Tier above are the most effective in the current meta of Marvel Rivals.
