You’ve seen the trailers. You’ve probably seen the 6v6 chaos. But if you’re jumping into Marvel Rivals thinking it’s just another hero shooter where you can solo-carry with aim alone, you’re in for a rough night.
Honestly, the way this game handles its "trinity" is a bit different from what you might be used to in games like Overwatch or Paladins. Sure, we have tanks, DPS, and supports, but NetEase decided to get fancy with the naming.
They call them Vanguards, Duelists, and Strategists.
It’s not just a name change for the sake of being "Marvel-themed," either. The flow of a match in January 2026 feels way more aggressive than the early launch days. If you don't understand how these roles actually interact—especially with the new Season 6 changes—you’re basically just feed for the enemy Spider-Man.
The Vanguard: More Than Just a Human Shield
Most people think being a Vanguard means standing on a point and holding a button. Wrong. In Marvel Rivals, if you play like a statue, you’re dead.
Vanguards are the "space makers." They have the big health bars (often double a Duelist's HP) and the mitigation tools, but their real job is to be annoying. Think of Hulk. He’s not there to "protect" you in a traditional sense; he’s there to leap into the backline, cause a panic, and force the enemy Strategists to focus on him instead of healing their team.
Then you’ve got guys like Doctor Strange. He’s a Vanguard, but he plays like a moving fortress. His Dark Aggregation can catch projectiles, and his portals are literally game-breaking if you use them right. I’ve seen Strange players drop a portal in front of an enemy spawn that exits off the side of a cliff. Dirty? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
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The Roster of Heavy Hitters
- The Aggressive Divers: Venom and Hulk. These guys want to be in the enemy's face.
- The Anchors: Magneto and Captain America. They provide more structured defense with shields.
- The Oddballs: Peni Parker and Groot. They’re all about "zone denial." Peni litters the floor with mines, and Groot builds literal walls to split the enemy team in half.
Why Duelists Are the Most Misunderstood Role
Everyone wants to play Duelist. It’s the "cool" role. You get the kills, you get the MVP screen, and you get the flashy ultimates.
But here’s the thing: Duelists in this game are incredibly squishy. If a Strategist isn't "pocketing" you, you can vanish in about 0.5 seconds. The role is split into two distinct styles that most players fail to balance. You have your hitscans (Punisher, Hela) who stay back and click heads, and your flankers (Spider-Man, Black Panther, Wolverine).
If you’re playing Spider-Man and you’re just running into the front line, you’re doing it wrong. You need to wait for your Vanguard to initiate. When the enemy team is distracted by a rampaging Venom, that is when you zip in, delete a Mantis, and get out.
The newest addition, Deadpool, has actually turned the Duelist role on its head in Season 6. He’s technically the game’s first "triple-role" hero. While he’s a beastly Duelist with his katanas and pistols, he can actually swap kits at the spawn point to act as a Vanguard or a Strategist. It sounds broken, but it’s mostly just Deadpool being Deadpool.
Strategists: They Aren't Just "Heal Bots"
If you call a Strategist a "healer" in a high-rank lobby, you’ll probably get muted.
Yes, they heal. Adam Warlock can link souls to spread damage and even revive the whole team. Luna Snow can freeze enemies solid while keeping her Vanguards topped off. But the "Strategist" name is literal. You are managing the flow of the fight.
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Take Loki. He’s arguably the most complex character in the game. He can create illusions to distract enemies, swap places with those illusions, and his ultimate lets him become any hero on the enemy team. If the enemy has a Galactus-tier Iron Man, Loki can just copy him and turn the tables.
Strategists You Should Know
- Pure Sustain: Adam Warlock and Mantis. High raw healing output.
- Utility & Chaos: Loki and Invisible Woman. They use stealth and clones to keep the enemy guessing.
- The Hybrids: Rocket Raccoon and Jeff the Land Shark. Jeff can literally swallow the entire enemy team and spit them off a map. It's hilarious and devastating.
The Secret Sauce: Team-Up Abilities
This is where Marvel Rivals character roles get complicated. Role identity isn't static because of Team-Up Abilities.
Normally, a Strategist stays back. But if you have Rocket Raccoon and Groot on the same team, Rocket can hop on Groot’s shoulder. This turns them into a single, terrifying unit. Rocket gets a massive defense boost, and Groot gets increased firepower.
There’s also the Gamma Charge synergy. If you have Hulk, he can charge up Iron Man (a Duelist) or Doctor Strange (a Vanguard) with gamma radiation. This gives them entirely new properties on their attacks. You aren't just playing your role; you’re playing your relationships.
The Current Meta: What Works in 2026?
Right now, the "2-2-2" (two of each role) is the standard, but it’s not a rule.
In "Domination" modes, I’m seeing a lot of triple-Vanguard setups. It’s hard to move a team when you’ve got Venom, Magneto, and Thor all rotating shields and crowd control. On the flip side, "Convoy" maps (the payload ones) favor high-mobility Duelists like Human Torch and Star-Lord who can harass the backline while the cart moves.
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Watch out for the Hela and Hawkeye duo. If your team has both, they get a "Chilling Assault" buff (if paired with Luna Snow) that lets Hawkeye fire frost arrows through walls. It’s oppressive if you don’t have a Vanguard like Magneto to block the projectiles.
How to Actually Win More Games
Stop picking a third Duelist. Seriously.
If your team has two Duelists and you pick a third one, you’re basically asking to lose. The most successful teams I’ve seen—and this is backed by stats from the recent Season 5 championships—prioritize Strategist survival.
If your Strategists die, your Vanguards become big bags of ultimate charge for the enemy. If your Vanguards die, your Duelists have nowhere to hide.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Match:
- Check the Team-Up Screen: Before the match starts, look at the icons. If you see a grayed-out icon for a synergy (like Namor needing Luna Snow), consider swapping. Those buffs are often stronger than any individual character's base kit.
- Focus the Strategist: In a 6v6 fight, ignore the Hulk. I know he’s big and scary, but if you don't kill the Mantis or Adam Warlock behind him, that Hulk is never going to die.
- Learn One Hero Per Role: Don't be a "one-trick." You need to be able to flex. If the enemy team has a sniper, you need to be able to swap to a "dive" Vanguard like Venom to shut them down.
- Use the Environment: This isn't a flat arena. The maps are destructible. If a Vanguard is hiding behind a pillar, have your Duelist blow up the pillar.
Mastering the roles in Marvel Rivals isn't about having the best aim; it's about understanding the "rock-paper-scissors" of the roster. You've got the tools. Now go out there and actually use them.