Marvel Rivals Season 2 is here, introducing a new Vanguard, Emma Frost, along with various buffs, nerfs, and gameplay changes. Several Team-Ups have been adjusted or newly added, shifting the current meta. Based on the latest update, this Marvel Rivals Season 2 Vanguard Tier List ranks all tank heroes from least to most powerful.
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Marvel Rivals Season 2 Vanguard Tier List
Before getting into specific characters, it’s important to note that Season 2 has brought a strong “brawler meta,” where melee combat is much more common. This change has shaken up the rankings, weakening some top picks from before and boosting others who were previously ignored. Characters that can handle close-range fights or counter brawlers are now more valuable than ever.
10. Doctor Strange
Once a powerful force, Doctor Strange has dropped in our rankings significantly after Season 2 nerfs. His main attack lost damage output, curse burst damage was reduced, and a strong Team-Up ability was removed. The current brawler meta further hurts him because his shield can be bypassed by melee attacks easily.
 Doctor Strange | |
| Health | 600 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | Portal utility and momentum-shifting ultimate. |
| When to Pick | When your team needs utility over raw power. |
Despite these challenges, Doctor Strange still offers valuable utility through his portal, and his ultimate ability can give your team incredible momentum. He remains viable in specific situations but requires more careful play than before.
9. Venom
Sadly, Venom has struggled to maintain relevance in Season 2’s shifting meta. As a diving tank, Venom excels at terrorizing enemy backlines, but he currently lacks the power of other tank options.
 Venom | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | Backline disruption. |
| When to Pick | When the enemy backline is vulnerable. |
8. Peni Parker
Season 2 has been good for Peni Parker, giving her big buffs that helped her move up in the rankings. Her main weapon now has a better chance to land critical hits, so she no longer has to rely on mines to do damage. She’s particularly effective at stopping mobile characters like The Thing or Magik from escaping combat.
 Peni Parker | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | • Great area denial. • Increased damage output. |
| When to Pick | • When facing mobile characters. • If your team needs to control space. |
7. Captain America
After numerous buffs, Captain America has finally climbed our Marvel Rivals Season 2 Vanguard tier list to become a solid mid-tier pick. Cap excels at jumping around objectives, making it extremely difficult for opponents to dislodge him or push forward. His ability to constantly contest points makes him ideal for preventing offense from moving objectives or keeping points alive during overtime.
 Captain America | |
| Health | 675 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | • Best at controlling objectives. • Great pick for backline harassment. |
| When to Pick | When you need to stall objectives or disrupt enemy healers. |
6. The Thing
The Thing secures the number 6 spot in our Marvel Rivals Season 2 Vanguard tier list. He excels at rushing in and out of combat zones, making him a constant threat that’s difficult to pin down. However, his effectiveness is severely limited when facing a skilled Groot player who can block his movement with well-placed walls.
 The Thing | |
| Health | 700 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | • The Thing can’t be knocked back or pushed around, making him hard to stop. • He deals strong melee damage, stuns enemies, and gives shields to teammates. |
| When to Pick | When Groot is banned or has already been picked by your team, then it’s time to use The Thing. |
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5. Magneto
Although Magneto’s ultimate ability now takes longer to charge, and he can’t stop healer ultimates early in the match like he used to, Magneto is still a decent mid-tier pick with the power to turn fights. He also lost his Team-Up with Scarlet Witch, which makes him less dangerous. However, the new Team-Up with Emma Frost makes him harder to kill, thanks to the double shield and shield bubble. Not to mention, he can confuse enemies with his illusion now.
 Magneto | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | • Magneto can protect teammates with strong shields, block projectiles, and power up his attacks while defending. • He can counter big enemy attacks and is great for holding defensive positions. |
| When to Pick | When the enemy team has a projectile-heavy composition. |
4. Thor
Thor has rocketed up the rankings thanks to significant Season 2 buffs. Thor’s increased health and movement speed make him nearly impossible to escape from once he engages. He can constantly pressure opponents and is extremely difficult to take down. His Team-Up with Hela remains strong this season, giving him additional utility and damage potential.
 Thor | |
| Health | 525 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | • Thor can dive into enemy backlines, push threats away, and deal steady damage. • His Ultimate hits hard, and Team-Ups with Hela or Storm boost his survivability with revives or extra health. |
| When to Pick | When you need a frontline fighter who can also chase down opponents. |
3. Bruce Banner (Hulk)
Similar to Thor, Hulk got big buffs this season, making him one of the top picks from the roster. He’s now faster, has more health, and once he gets close to you, it’s extremely difficult to get away from him. Additionally, his new Team-Up with Namor also makes him a lot stronger and a more popular pick.
 Hulk | |
| Health | 200 (Bruce Banner), 650 (Hero Hulk), 1400 (Monster Hulk) |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s and 6.5m/s |
| Key Strength | • Tank with crushing close-range damage. • His Ultimate makes him even stronger with more health, faster moves, and a big slam attack. |
| When to Pick | • When you need a character who can both absorb and deal significant damage. • If you want to activate the Gamma Charge team-up |
2. Emma Frost
As the newest addition in Season 2, Emma Frost has immediately secured a top ranking. Emma Frost brings unique utility to any team with her diamond wall, which acts like a placeable shield that your team can shoot through, but enemies cannot. Her grapple ability is especially powerful, as it immobilizes opponents for an extended period, making them easy targets.
 Emma Frost | |
| Health | 650 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | • Amazing area control and ability disruption. • Has a dual form. • Can do mind control to enemies. |
| When to Pick | • If you need to counter healer ultimates or control specific areas. • When you have Magneto or Psylocke in your team. |
1. Groot
Groot claims the top spot in our Marvel Rivals Season 2 Vanguard tier list, with his unmatched area control and team utility. With the highest base health of all Vanguards, Groot excels at absorbing damage while providing strategic value through his wall placements. In competitive play, skilled Groot players can completely change the flow of a match by isolating key targets or cutting off escape routes.
 Groot | |
| Health | 850 |
| Movement Speed | 6m/s |
| Key Strength | • Can block enemy fire and protect allies by building wooden walls. • His walls can be awakened for healing or bonus damage. |
| When to Pick | When facing mobile characters like The Thing or when needing to protect your backline. |
How to Adjust to Marvel Rival’s New Brawler Meta
Season 2 now favors close-range fighters, so players need to play smart. Here are some tips that you can practice while playing:
- Protect your backline teammates from brawlers that try to dive in.
- Pick heroes who are good at fighting off melee enemies, like Peni Parker.
- Work on staying in safe spots to avoid getting picked off.
- Use the map terrain and features to put space between you and aggressive enemies.
Right now, Groot is the strongest hero, with Emma Frost and Hulk right behind. On the other hand, Doctor Strange dropped in power because of nerfs and the new meta. Things can always change with updates, so keep learning, stay flexible, and try out different heroes to find what works best in Season 2 of Marvel Vanguards.
