Look, the roster in Marvel Rivals is getting crowded. With over 33 heroes (and more constantly leaking from the 2026 roadmap), picking a "main" isn't just about who looks the coolest in a cape. It’s about not getting flamed in chat because you picked a high-skill floor character like Spider-Man when you actually have the aim of a Stormtrooper.
Picking the right hero is basically a vibe check.
If you’re staring at the character select screen and the timer is ticking down, don't panic. You’ve got three main flavors: Vanguards, Duelists, and Strategists. But even within those, characters play so differently that "Vanguard" can mean anything from "literally a brick wall" to "I am going to jump into their backline and die immediately."
Who Should I Play in Marvel Rivals if I’m New?
Honestly, if you're just starting out in 2026, stop looking at the S-tier lists. High-tier characters like Hela or Black Panther are amazing, but they require you to actually hit your shots or time your resets perfectly. If you miss, you’re useless.
For a much smoother entry, try these:
- Star-Lord (Duelist): He’s the "soldier" of this game. Simple guns, a straightforward dash, and an ultimate that basically plays the game for you. You fly around, you shoot things, you look good doing it.
- The Thing (Vanguard): You’re a big rock. You have a ton of health. You jump in, you clap your hands, and you stun people. It’s hard to mess up being a giant orange tank.
- Rocket Raccoon (Strategist): If you want to heal but also want to shoot things, Rocket is your guy. His healing is relatively "set it and forget it," and his mobility lets you escape when a hungry Venom decides you look like a snack.
The biggest mistake beginners make is picking Loki because they like the movies. Loki is a nightmare to play. You have to know the kits of every other hero to use his ultimate effectively. Save him for when you’ve put in at least 20 hours.
Finding Your Role: The "Playstyle" Quiz
Instead of looking at who is "best," look at how you actually enjoy playing games. Most people fall into one of four buckets.
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The "I want to be the Main Character" Type
You want the kills. You want the Play of the Game. You should play Duelists.
Characters like Magik or Namor are currently dominating the 2026 meta because they can delete squishies in seconds. If you have "diamond aim," Black Widow is a monster, but if you're more of a "spam buttons and pray" type, Scarlet Witch offers massive area-of-effect damage that's much more forgiving.
The "Stay Behind Me" Protector
You’re the mom of the group. You play Vanguards.
But wait—do you want to be a shield or a bully? Doctor Strange and Magneto are your classic "protectors" who create barriers. However, if you want to be a disruptive nuisance, Hulk is the way to go. He doesn't just sit there; he leaps into the enemy team and forces them to deal with him while your team captures the point.
The "Big Brain" Tactician
You care about the win, not the scoreboard. You play Strategists.
This isn't just "holding a heal beam." Invisible Woman is a top-tier pick right now because she provides shields and stealth, which is basically a "get out of jail free" card for your team. If you like turning the tide of a losing fight, Adam Warlock has a team-wide resurrection that is genuinely broken if timed right.
The Chaos Agent
You just want to ruin someone’s day.
Play Spider-Man or Venom. These are "Dive" characters. Your job isn't to kill everyone; it's to jump on the enemy's healers, make them scream, and then zip away before their tanks can turn around. It's high stress, but high reward.
The 2026 Meta: Who is Actually Strong?
Things have shifted since the early seasons. Right now, the "Triple-S" lineup usually involves Magneto, Groot, and Gambit.
Groot is currently a menace. He isn't just a tank; he's a wall-builder. A good Groot can literally split the enemy team in half with a well-placed vine wall, turning a 6v6 fight into a 6v3. It’s mean, it’s effective, and it’s why he’s a must-pick on most maps.
On the Duelist side, Hela remains a queen. Her Nightsword Thorns hit like a truck. If you can click heads, she has the fastest "time-to-kill" in the game. But again, if you can't aim, you’re just a goth lady standing in the back doing nothing.
Gambit has also climbed the ranks lately. His ability to poke from a distance and then burst someone down with charged cards makes him incredibly versatile. He's less "all-in" than someone like Black Panther, which makes him safer for solo queue.
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Don't Sleep on Team-Up Bonuses
This is the "secret sauce" of Marvel Rivals that most people ignore. Certain characters get massive buffs when played together.
If you’re playing Hulk, try to get someone to play Iron Man. Hulk can "gamma-charge" Tony, giving him extra damage. It turns a decent Duelist into a nightmare. Similarly, Rocket Raccoon can ride on Groot’s shoulder. It sounds like a gimmick, but it makes Rocket much harder to kill while he pumps out heals and damage.
Before you lock in your hero, look at what your teammates are hovering over. A "B-tier" hero that has a Team-Up bonus with your squad is often better than an "S-tier" hero who is playing a solo game.
Summary of Who to Pick
| If you like... | Play this Hero |
|---|---|
| Sniping from afar | Black Widow or Hawkeye |
| Being unkillable | Hulk or The Thing |
| Pure Chaos/Mobility | Spider-Man or Black Panther |
| Healing & Utility | Luna Snow or Invisible Woman |
| Easy Learning Curve | Star-Lord or Captain America |
| High Skill/High Reward | Loki or Iron Fist |
Practical Next Steps
Stop overthinking it. The best way to find your main is to head into the Practice Range for 10 minutes.
- Test the movement: If the character feels "heavy" and you hate that, skip the Vanguards and look at fliers like Iron Man or Storm.
- Check the Ultimate: Some ults are "press button, get kills" (like Scarlet Witch), while others require massive setup (like Magneto). Pick one that matches your brain power after a long day of work.
- Play 3 matches: Don't judge a hero by one bad game. Sometimes your healers are just asleep. Give a character three full matches before you decide they "suck."
Go lock in Venom and see how it feels to swing around. If you find yourself dying every 30 seconds, maybe switch to Groot and be the sturdy tree your team actually needs. Stay flexible, watch your positioning, and for the love of Odin, stop chasing the enemy Tracer—I mean, Spider-Man—halfway across the map.