Marvel Rivals Vanguard hero tier list (January 2025)

When you heed the call of battle in the Marvel multiverse, who will lead you on the frontlines?

The Vanguard role is a great name for tanks in Marvel Rivals since the word means “the troops moving at the head of an army,” according to Merriam-Webster. And that’s exactly what a tank is in any hero shooter or similar game within the genre.

When it comes to overall variety in Vanguards, it’s clear the launch roster needs some work. Hopefully NetEase Games has some new ones in the pipeline for this role to expand, especially since it’s so important to a team composition.

Here are our rankings for the best Vanguards (tanks) in Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals: Vanguard hero tier list – Best tanks

S tier

Doctor Strange

The master of the mystical arts, the Sorcerer Supreme reigns supreme when it comes to tanks. Doctor Strange can deal decent damage with his Daggers of Denak and Maelstrom of Madness, has good mobility with his Cloak of Levitation, and has one of the more unique abilities in the game with his Pentagram of Farallah portal, which can be used for some very sneaky and game-altering flanks.

But Doctor Strange’s best ability as a Vanguard is the Shield of the Seraphim, a massive circular shield capable of taking 800 damage before breaking. This is excellent for advancing on the objective while your other, higher-damage teammates are on the offensive.

Peni Parker

The young girl with a psychic bond with her spider mech, SP//dr, is one of the more interesting Vanguards in Marvel Rivals. Peni Parker‘s primary fire is her weakest asset, since she can control enemies with Cyber-Web Snare, deal more damage with Arachno-Mines, and fly into and out of the fight with her Cyber-Bond web shot.

Considering how many dive heroes there are, Peni may always be a popular pick to switch to when your backline is having trouble with someone like Spider-Man, Iron Fist, Venom, or Hulk, as Cyber-Web Snare will immobilize the enemy to give your healers a chance to escape while you finish off their assailant.

A tier

Thor

Thor boasted one of the best win rates in season zero, meaning he’s more than capable in the right hands. But his kit is more complex than some of the others, so he’s not quite as popular as some of the simpler tanks.

If you can master the Thorforce and utilize his cooldowns, he’s a solid rushdown tank that’s also able to buff his teammates, and his ultimate is excellent for clearing off a point or finishing a teamfight.

Magneto

The Master of Magnetism is also a master of teamwork in Marvel Rivals. His biggest asset is his Metallic Curtain shield along with his Metal Bulwark, which puts a protective bubble on allies, but his damage-dealing capabilities leave something to be desired when compared to some others.

Magneto’s Meteor M ultimate is arguably one of the weakest in the game so far, but his ability to protect himself and allies with his shields makes him worth using.

Bruce Banner/Hulk

Hulk is a popular character for obvious reasons, but right now, he’s feeling a bit weaker after a nerf to begin season one. That said, he’s strong up close and having zero cooldown on his long-jump is the way to go when you need a tank to be able to both pressure supports and drop back in on his own to shield them.

Still, he’s easily outranged and doesn’t do nearly enough damage. But his best asset is his Incredible Leap-Indestructible Guard-melee combo, making him one of the only true dive/off-tanks in the game so far.

B tier

Venom

While Strange is the best defensive tank, Venom is the best for offense and diving into teamfights or onto the opponents’ supports. He has great mobility with his web swing, self-sustainability with his overhealing, and the ability to use his tentacles to keep enemies from running from his grasp.

Groot

Groot can be an absolute nightmare with his Thornlash Wall and Ironwood Wall when played properly. Marvel Rivals features many small chokepoints, and his walls have a low cooldown timer and a decent amount of health, making them a real pain to deal with.

The rest of his kit isn’t anything too special, but his deceptively long-range Vine Strike and AoE Spore Bomb allow him to deal some good damage, while his Strangling Prison ultimate will gather the enemy team for you to deal big damage as a squad.

C tier

Captain America

Captain America is a brawler in Marvel Rivals without much range to speak of, so he needs to get up close to be effective. But his mobility does not lend itself well to this playstyle, as it does for Venom, so he is best when paired up with another tank who can help keep him up.

After a buff in season one, Cap is still lagging behind some other tanks, but he can fit well in a composition that can heal him at range or another Vanguard that can pair up with him to protect him while he retreats.

This article will be updated with more information with each update and new hero.