You’ve been there. You lock in Hulk, leap into the backline, get deleted in four seconds, and then watch your Strategists get run over by a stray Spider-Man. It's frustrating. Honestly, the "tank" role in Marvel Rivals—officially called Vanguard—is a bit of a trap for players coming from other hero shooters. You aren't just a meat shield with a lot of HP. You are the tempo setter.
If you aren't dictating where the fight happens, you're losing.
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With the Season 6 "Night at the Museum" update dropping just yesterday on January 16, 2026, the meta has shifted significantly. We’ve got Deadpool jumping into the Vanguard pool with his weird unicorn shields, and some long-overdue buffs to the big green guy.
The Vanguard Meta Right Now: Who Is Actually Winning?
Let’s be real: some heroes just feel better to play right now. We are currently in a weird spot where "anti-dive" is the name of the game. If you can't stop a Magik or a Venom from eating your supports, you’re basically a glorified health pack for the enemy team.
S-Tier: The Must-Picks
Magneto remains the undisputed king of the frontline. It’s almost annoying how well-rounded he is. Between his Metallic Curtain and the ability to bubble teammates with Metal Bulwark, he provides more "active" protection than almost anyone else. He doesn't just sit there; he forces the enemy to play around his rhythm.
Groot is the other powerhouse. If you haven't mastered his wall placement yet, you're missing out. His ability to isolate a single healer with an Ironwood wall is basically a death sentence for the enemy. Plus, his ultimate, Strangling Prison, is still the best setup tool in the game for big AOE follow-ups.
Emma Frost has climbed up here recently because of how much "dive" is in the queue. Her Diamond Form makes her essentially unkillable for a few seconds, and her chokeslam is the perfect "sit down" button for slippery Duelists. She's less of a traditional tank and more of a frontline bully that punishes mistakes.
A-Tier: Strong, But Conditional
Peni Parker is incredible, but she’s a specialist. You play Peni on defense maps where you can set up your "spider-nest" and turn a choke point into a literal deathtrap. On offense? She struggles. If the enemy team has a good way to clear her mines, she loses half her value.
Doctor Strange just got some mobility buffs to his Cloak of Levitation in the January 15 patch. You can now cancel the cloak and change trajectory mid-air, which makes him much harder to pin down. He’s still the master of the "big blue shield," but he requires a team that actually stands behind it—which, as we know, is a tall order in solo queue.
Hulk finally feels like a real hero. NetEase reduced his leap charge time and gave his Monster Hulk form immunity to knockback. It’s huge. You can actually stay in the fight now instead of being bounced around like a pinball. He’s still a high-skill pick because managing the Bruce Banner-to-Hulk transformation cycle is a nightmare if you get caught out of position.
Why "Solo Tanking" Is Usually a Disaster
Most people try to play this game like it's a 1-2-2 setup, but Marvel Rivals shines in the 2-2-2 or even triple Vanguard compositions. If you are the only Vanguard on your team, you are going to have a bad time.
Why? Because the damage output in this game is insane.
A single Thor cannot hold a point against a Hela and a Punisher without help. You need a "Main Tank" like Magneto or Strange paired with an "Off-Tank" or "Bruiser" like Venom or Thor. This creates a frontline that has both staying power and kill pressure.
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The Problem With Angela and The Thing
Kinda hurts to say, but Angela is struggling. Her shield value just got nerfed from 350 to 300, and being the only flying tank makes her a massive target for any hitscan player. If you aren't pixel-perfect with your dives, you’re just feeding.
The Thing is also in a weird spot. He's great at brawling, but Groot walls shut him down so hard it’s almost comical. If you see a Groot on the enemy team, maybe reconsider the clobberin' time.
Breaking Down the New Arrival: Vanguard Deadpool
Deadpool is the first "triple-role" hero, and his Vanguard form is... weird. He has 500 HP and uses a unicorn plushie to project barriers.
Is he a "main tank"? Absolutely not.
He plays more like a harasser who happens to have a shield. His biggest strength is his "style points" mechanic, which lets him charge his ultimate faster by being flashy. In the Vanguard role, he’s great for teams that want to play chaotic and fast, but don't expect him to hold a payload by himself for long. He’s the ultimate "secondary" tank.
Real Strategy: How to Actually Climb as a Vanguard
Stop focusing on your damage numbers. I know it’s tempting to try and out-frag your Duelists, especially as someone like Thor or Venom. But your job is space.
- Trade Cooldowns, Not Health: If you use your shield, wait for it to come back before you push again. If you dive in as Venom without your Symbiotic Resilience ready, you are throwing.
- Watch Your Strategists: Most Vanguards have tunnel vision. Turn around. If your Luna Snow is being bullied by a Black Panther, your frontline dominance doesn't matter because you won't be getting healed for much longer.
- Use the Environment: This game has destructible environments. If you’re playing Groot or Peni, use the rubble and the tight corridors. Force the enemy into narrow lanes where your AOE abilities get maximum value.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Next Match
If you want to actually win your ranked games this week, stop auto-locking your favorite Avenger and look at the map.
- On Defense: Pick Peni Parker or Groot. Lock down the lanes and make the enemy work for every inch.
- On Offense: Go with Magneto or Doctor Strange. You need a mobile, reliable barrier to get your team through the choke points.
- Against Dive: If the enemy team has a Spider-Man or Magik that is ruining your life, swap to Emma Frost. Her stun and Diamond Form are the hard counters you need.
- If You Have a Second Tank: This is when you bring out Thor or Venom. Use them to follow up on the main tank's engagement and clean up the backline.
The meta will keep evolving as people figure out Deadpool’s role-swapping shenanigans, but for now, sticking to the "solid frontline" fundamentals is how you’ll climb out of Gold.