Ever jumped into a match as Hulk, feeling like an unkillable god, only to get melted in three seconds by a Hela you didn't even see? It happens. A lot. Most players look at the character select screen and assume "big guy equals tanky" and "small guy equals fragile." While that’s kida true in most games, Marvel Rivals plays by its own weird rules.
Basically, if you aren't tracking the actual HP pools and movement speeds, you're just guessing. And guessing gets you sent back to the spawn room.
Honestly, the stats in this game are a bit of a moving target. NetEase has been tweaking numbers faster than Peter Parker dodges rent collectors. But as we sit here in 2026, the meta has finally settled into something we can actually analyze without it changing by Tuesday. Let's look at what's actually happening under the hood of your favorite heroes.
The Health Pool Divide: Who Actually Survives?
You've probably noticed that some "Vanguards" feel like they're made of wet paper, while some "Duelists" just won't die. It’s not just your imagination. The base health stats in Marvel Rivals are divided into three distinct tiers, but the "Team-Up" bonuses throw a massive wrench into the works.
Take Groot. He's the absolute unit of the game. With a base health of 850, he’s the beefiest thing on the roster. But here's the kicker: his size makes him a literal magnet for every projectile in a 50-mile radius. Compare that to Venom, who sits at 800 HP if he’s teamed up with Spider-Man or Peni Parker. Venom is arguably "tankier" because he can zip away, whereas Groot just has to sit there and eat the damage.
Then you have the middle ground. Thor and Captain America usually hover around the 600 to 675 HP range. It’s enough to lead a charge, but you can’t just stand in the open. Cap, specifically, gets a +100 Max Health boost from certain team-ups, which is often the difference between surviving a Scarlet Witch ultimate and becoming a red smear on the floor.
Most of the roster—your favorite Duelists like Black Widow, Iron Man, and Magik—sits comfortably (or uncomfortably) at 250 HP. It’s the magic number. If an ability does 125 damage, you’re a two-hit wonder. Spider-Man and Scarlet Witch are also in this club. It’s fragile. One wrong dash and you're cooked.
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Some outliers exist, like Mister Fantastic with 375 HP or Blade at 350 HP. These guys are brawlers. They need that extra padding because they’re constantly in people’s faces. If they had 250, they'd be unplayable.
Speed and Mobility: The Stats Nobody Mentions
Speed is the most underrated stat in Marvel Rivals. Period. Most characters have a base movement speed of 6 m/s. It sounds standard, but in a game this fast, "standard" is slow.
- Black Panther and Wolverine are the track stars at 7 m/s.
- Hulk and Thor are surprisingly nimble at 6.5 m/s.
- Iron Man and Star-Lord can hit a staggering 12 m/s while flying or sprinting.
Why does this matter? Because if you’re playing Mantis (250 HP, 6 m/s) and a Black Panther decides he doesn't like you, you cannot outrun him. You literally can't. You have to hit your sleeps or you’re dead. Understanding that some characters are fundamentally faster on their feet than you are changes how you position yourself near corners.
What Most People Get Wrong About Role Stats
There’s this common myth that Strategists are just "healers" with low stats. That's a trap. Luna Snow and Jeff the Land Shark might only have 250-275 HP, but their effective health is way higher because of self-healing.
Jeff is a menace. He has 250 HP, but when he's "swimming," he hits 9.6 m/s. He is faster than almost everyone. You think you’ve got him cornered, and then the shark just vanishes into the floor. It's frustrating, but it's the stat-line that makes him a top-tier pick.
Then there's the Adam Warlock situation. He has 250 HP, which is standard, but his Soul Bond ability essentially lets him share a massive damage pool with his team. He doesn't need 800 HP because he's technically using everyone else's health as a buffer.
Damage Falloff and Precision
We can't talk about Marvel Rivals characters stats without mentioning how damage drops off. This isn't a stat you see on the main menu, but it's what makes The Punisher better than Winter Soldier in certain hallways.
Most projectile heroes deal flat damage, but hitscan characters (the ones where the bullet hits instantly) have massive falloff. If you’re playing Black Widow, your damage is lethal at 30 meters but feels like a breeze at 60. Conversely, Namor’s projectiles deal the same damage whether he's an inch away or across the map.
If you're playing a character with high falloff, you're essentially playing with "fake" high stats. Your DPS might look great on paper, but if you're not in the optimal range, you're basically tickling the enemy.
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Actionable Strategy for Your Next Match
Stop looking at the roster as just "DPS" or "Tank." Start looking at the numbers.
1. Check your team-ups immediately.
If you're playing Hulk and no one picked Dr. Strange or Iron Man, you're missing out on a massive health boost. You are literally a weaker version of yourself. If the team-up isn't there, you have to play more conservatively.
2. Respect the 250 HP threshold.
If you're a Duelist, know that two hits from most heavy projectiles will kill you. Don't ego-duel a Hanzo—I mean, a Hawkeye—unless you know his cooldowns are down.
3. Use the speed gap.
If you’re playing a 7 m/s character like Black Panther, use that extra 1 m/s to kite enemies. It doesn't sound like much, but over a 10-second chase, you gain 10 meters on your opponent. That’s the difference between escaping around a corner and getting shot in the back.
4. Track the Vanguards' health shifts.
When Emma Frost goes into Diamond Form, her effective HP skyrockets. Don't dump your ultimate into her while she's shiny. Wait for the form to drop, then hit her when she's back to her base stats.
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Mastering Marvel Rivals isn't just about having good aim; it's about knowing which fights you can actually win based on the math. Next time you're in the hero select screen, take a second to actually look at those health bars and movement icons. It might just save your rank.