Want to dominate in Marvel Rivals? Understanding which Vanguard heroes are worth your time can make a huge difference. In Season 1, some tanks clearly stand above the rest, while others might need some love from the developers. Let’s break down every Marvel Rivals Vanguard character from worst to best, based on their performance in the game.
When ranking Vanguards in Marvel Rivals from worst to best, it’s not just about who’s the toughest character in the game. A good Vanguard isn’t just someone who stands there taking hits, they need to know when to protect their healers and when to jump in and mess up the enemy team’s plans. Here is our Marvel Rivals Vanguards tier list:
Table of Contents
8. Captain America
Captain America is currently, and sadly might we add, struggling to find his identity making him one of the worst Vanguards in Marvel Rivals. After the recent Season 1 buff, Captain America has definitely improved but still isn’t quite top-tier material. While his shield-blocking mechanics are solid, other tanks just do their job better right now.
 Captain America | |
| Health | 675 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Reliable shield blocking – Faster shield recovery – Frequent mobility skills |
| When to Pick | Choose Cap when you want a balanced tank that can both protect and dive without excelling at either. |
7. Venom
Playing Venom is the definition of a high-risk, high-reward playstyle. If you’re good at jumping into the enemy team’s backyard and taking out their healers, you’ll do great with Venom. But here’s the thing. If you’re up against a team that actually knows what they’re doing and protects their support, you’re gonna have a rough time. Venom only works best as a vanguard in dive compositions where his aggression is supported by the whole team.
 Venom | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Strong backline disruption – Web swing mobility – Good in dive comps – Sustain through healing |
| When to Pick | Only pick Venom when your team is running a dive composition. |
6. Peni Parker
Peni Parker’s pretty interesting to play in Marvel Rivals. She’s basically the queen of setting traps! She’s amazing on defense, especially when you know where to put those mines at choke points. Even when enemies are smart enough to avoid your traps, you can still zip around with your web swing and never have to worry about running out of ammo. She’s not the strongest pick right now, but she can be super annoying to play against if you know what you’re doing.
 Peni Parker | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Strong zone control with mines – Fast web movement – Unlimited ammo – Good at defensive setups |
| When to Pick | Choose Peni when defending objectives and controlling choke points is crucial. |
5. Magneto
While no longer as overpowered vanguard as he used to be, Magneto remains a solid choice. His best trick is using his shields and bubbles because they stay up for a set time, which lets you and your team push forward without worrying about damage. When you time his ultimate ability correctly, you can easily shut down the entire enemy team’s attack. Magneto is also great at keeping enemies away from important areas. If you’re new to tanks, he’s a pretty good pick to learn with!
 Magneto | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Time-based shields – Area control specialist – Consistent damage output |
| When to Pick | Pick Magneto when you need to control areas and protect your team from multiple angles. |
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4. Thor
Thor is a great pick for vanguard if you are good at managing his charges. You can keep attacking aggressively, and when he goes into Awakened State, he becomes really tough to take down in long fights. Thor should be teamed up with Hela as she can bring you back to life, which is super helpful. But here’s the downside – his ultimate ability is kind of tricky to use right, and that’s what keeps him from being in the S-tier. You really have to pick the perfect moment to use it, or it’s just a waste!
 Thor | |
| Health | 525 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Strong dash attacks – Extra health in Awakened State – Great synergy with Hela – Good sustain in fights |
| When to Pick | When you want an aggressive tank that can survive long fights. |
3. Doctor Strange
If you’re trying to decide when to pick Strange, he’s your go-to when you want to outsmart the enemy team rather than just bash through them. His portals are probably his best trick, imagine being able to teleport your whole team behind the enemy when they least expect it. His shields aren’t just for blocking damage either. You can use them to protect your team from enemy ultimates. Plus, he can fly around the map, which makes him super hard to pin down.
 Doctor Strange | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Game-changing portals – Wide-range protective shields – Flight mobility – Strong ultimate for zoning |
| When to Pick | Pick Strange when your team needs strategic positioning and protection from heavy damage. |
2. Groot
Groot is one of the most frustrating Vanguards to play against. That also makes him one of the best vanguard in Marvel Rivals. His ultimate is particularly devastating in coordinated teams, setting up perfect combo opportunities. With the highest base health pool and strategic wall placement abilities, he excels at splitting enemy teams and creating opportunities for his allies.
 Groot | |
| Health | 700 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Highest base health – Powerful wall creation – Strong crowd control – Team-fight winning ultimate |
| When to Pick | Pick Groot when you need to control space and set up combos with your team. |
1. Hulk
It’s amazing how far Hulk has come since launch. Initially, he was considered weak, however, players have figured out how to maximize his jumping and Gamma Shield mechanics. It doesn’t just protect the team but also enables an aggressive playstyle. When paired with Iron Man, he becomes a nightmare for enemy teams because they have to be prepared to deal with either Iron Man shooting from above or Hulk smashing them on the ground. This combo makes Hulk the best vanguard in Marvel Rivals right now.
 Hulk | |
| Health | 200 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | – Strong Gamma Shield generation – Good aerial mobility – High burst damage in close-range – Excellent synergy with Iron Man |
| When to Pick | Choose Hulk when you need a tank who can both protect the team and dive deep into enemy lines. |
Keep in mind that this Marvel Rivals Vanguards tier list is just showing who’s good right now in Season 1. Things can change pretty fast, players might find new ways to use characters we thought were weak, or the developers might buff or nerf characters in updates.
Also, don’t worry too much if your favorite character is low on the list. If you’re really good with them and your team knows how to play together, you can still win a lot! By the way, when The Thing joins the game soon, he might change how good each tank is compared to others too. Who is your favorite Vanguard character for this season?
