Marvel Rivals Guide#
Developed and published by NetEase Games, Marvel Rivals is an officially licensed Marvel 6v6 third-person hero shooter. Two teams of six draft heroes from across the Marvel Universe — heroes and villains alike — and clash on destructible maps around payload, point control, and similar objectives. It is a PC and console title, live on Steam, the Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and there is no mobile version.
The game is free to download, with every hero and map unlocked from the start. The only paid content is purely cosmetic and grants no stat boosts of any kind.
Current Season at a Glance#
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Current season | Season 10 “Gorr’s Desecration” (started September 11, 2026) |
| Total heroes | 54 |
| Role split | 14 Vanguard / 27 Duelist / 12 Strategist / 1 multi-role (Deadpool) |
| New hero this season | Gorr (Duelist, the 54th hero) |
| Latest patch | September 24, 2026 update |
| Season length | About 8 weeks, with a mid-season X.5 update |
The Three Roles at a Glance#
Marvel Rivals divides its roster into three roles, with the official English names as follows.
| Role | Official Name | Count | Responsibility | Example Heroes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank | Vanguard | 14 | Hold ground, contest points, initiate fights | Hulk, Thor, Doctor Strange |
| Damage | Duelist | 27 | Secure kills, apply pressure, flank | Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther |
| Support | Strategist | 12 | Heal, buff, counter | Mantis, Loki, Rocket Raccoon |
Deadpool belongs to no single category and can swap between Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist on the fly — the only multi-role hero in the game.
Quick Start Guide#
New to Marvel Rivals? Read the guide in this order:
- Beginner basics — controls, modes, and what to do in your first match
- All heroes explained — the roles and core mechanics of all 54 heroes
- Hero deep dives — how to pick your first main
- Roles and team comps — what each role does and how lineups fit together
- Combat system — damage, healing, ultimates, and ultimate rotation
- All maps explained — objectives and key positions on every map
- Ranked system — nine ranks, placement matches, and how to climb
- Battle pass — how to buy the pass and claim rewards
- Version meta — the strongest heroes in the current patch
Core Gameplay#
Every match pits two teams of six against each other across three objective modes. Victory rarely comes down to raw aim — what matters is whether your lineup covers the tank, damage, and healing bases, and how well you chain Team-Up abilities with ultimates.
The Three Phases of a Match#
| Phase | Rough Timing | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | First 1-2 minutes | Contest favorable positions and probe with skirmishes |
| Mid-game | Minutes 2-5 | Ultimates come online one after another and team fights grow more frequent |
| Decisive phase | Final 2 minutes | Overtime and objective contests, where every death costs the most |
Resources to Watch#
- Health: maintained by Strategist healing and the health packs placed around the map
- Ultimate charge: builds by dealing damage, taking damage, and scoring kills
- Respawn timers: grow longer as the match progresses — a late death can hand over the objective outright
- Team-Up activation: when your designated partner is nearby, Team-Up skills upgrade to enhanced versions
What Each Role Does#
Vanguard#
Vanguards are the team’s first line of defense, with health pools generally above 600, responsible for holding key terrain, soaking damage, and starting fights for the team. Playing a Vanguard is about managing your advance distance: push too deep and you detach from your backline; sit too far back and you waste the space your size creates.
Duelist#
Duelists carry the team’s damage output, split into three styles: frontline pressure, dive assassins, and long-range snipers. Assassins circle around to eliminate healers, snipers hold high ground to control long sightlines, and frontline Duelists advance alongside their Vanguards. Duelists generally have low health, so positioning awareness sets the ceiling on survival.
Strategist#
Strategists provide healing, buffs, and counter-play. A great Strategist does more than top off health bars — they track enemy divers and use crowd control to keep teammates alive. How long a Strategist stays up often decides how long a team fight can last.
Best Heroes for Beginners#
| Role | Recommended Hero | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | Hulk | Multi-stage transformation with a high margin for error — even when downed you return to Banner form and keep fighting |
| Vanguard | Groot | Walls that section off the battlefield; no precise aim needed |
| Duelist | The Punisher | Hitscan rifle — the easiest damage dealer to pick up |
| Duelist | Squirrel Girl | Bouncing projectiles are forgiving in tight corridors |
| Strategist | Rocket Raccoon | Steady healing and a small frame that is hard to hit |
| Strategist | Mantis | Healing and damage-boosting orbs, straightforward to play |
FAQ#
Is Marvel Rivals free to play?#
Yes. The game is free to download, all heroes and maps are free, and the only paid content is cosmetics.
Which platforms does it support?#
PC (Steam and the Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Is there cross-platform play?#
Yes. Console and PC players can be matched into the same lobby.
Is there a ranked mode?#
Yes. Competitive mode unlocks once your account reaches level 15.
Do heroes need to be unlocked?#
No. Every hero is available from the start.
How long does a match last?#
Roughly 10-15 minutes, depending on the mode and whether overtime happens.
Is there a gear or loadout system?#
No. There is no equipment, item, or loadout system — a hero’s power comes entirely from skills and Team-Ups.
Do cosmetics give stat bonuses?#
No. Cosmetics are purely visual.
Does the battle pass expire?#
No. Once purchased, a deluxe pass stays claimable even after the season ends.
How many players are in a match?#
6v6 — six players per team.
About This Guide#
This guide uses the official English hero and role names throughout: Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist for roles, and heroes such as Hulk, Thor, Doctor Strange, and Mantis. Season content and the hero roster change with every patch, so everything here reflects public Season 10 information.
Related Rankings#
Best Shooters · Best Co-Op Games
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics, all 54 heroes, role and team composition guides, the combat system, hero combos, every map and mode, the ranked system, battle pass and store details, and version meta — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Marvel Rivals section.