Marvel Rivals is a team-based hero shooter featuring dozens of iconic Marvel heroes and villains with unique powers and play styles. As a beginner, diving into this 6v6 game can feel like being dropped into the Marvel Multiverse without a map. Fear not! We’ve assembled ten essential tips to help you level up your gameplay. Whether you’re a casual Marvel fan or new to competitive shooters, these tips will make sure you go from “Rookie” to “Super Hero” (spandex optional).
1. Understand the Roles – Tank, DPS, and Support
Marvel Rivals uses its own role terms: Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist, which correspond to tank, damage-dealer, and support roles respectivelyreddit.com. Understanding these roles is key: a Vanguard’s job is to soak up damage and lead the charge, Duelists deal high damage (often aiming to eliminate supports), and Strategists heal or buff the team. Play to your hero’s role – if you’re Captain America or another Vanguard, be the sturdy front-line shield for your squad; if you’re a Strategist like Mantis, hang back and keep your team topped up. Knowing your role means you’ll stop trying to Hulk-smash everything solo when you’re actually the medic – a mistake even Deadpool would facepalm at.
2. Start with a Few Beginner-Friendly Heroes
Marvel Rivals has a massive roster of heroes, but don’t get overwhelmed by the buffet of superpowers. Pick one or two heroes in each role that appeal to you and learn their abilities inside-out.The game even labels heroes by difficulty (from 1★ to 5★); stick to 1-star or 2-star characters at first to learn the basics. For example, Scarlet Witch, Rocket Raccoon, or The Punisher are beginner-friendly choices with simpler playstyles. Mastering a few heroes will build your confidence and muscle memory. After all, even Tony Stark needed time in the garage before he perfected the Iron Man suit – so give yourself time to practice a couple of favorites rather than trying to avenge with every Avenger at once.
3. Balance Your Team Composition
Going into battle with six Duelists and no support is like assembling the Avengers without a healer – bold move, but probably doomed. In Marvel Rivals, a well-balanced team generally includes a mix of Vanguards, Duelists, and Strategists. Each role brings something vital: tanks to absorb damage, DPS to secure kills, and supports to keep everyone alive. Teams that coordinate picks usually fare better; for instance, a classic 2-2-2 composition (two of each role) is a strong starting point. So before a match begins, communicate and ensure your squad isn’t all squishy damage dealers or all heavy tanks. A team of only Wolverines might look scary, but without a Doctor Strange or a Groot to back them up, they’ll go down faster than Loki’s ego at an Avengers reunion.
4. Leverage Those Team-Up Abilities
One of Marvel Rivals’ coolest features is the Team-Up Ability – essentially a special power activated by certain hero combinations. Think of it as “the power of friendship,” Marvel-style: when you have a matching pair (an anchor hero and a specific partner), you unlock a bonus ability you can trigger (default keys “Z”, “X”, or “C” on PC). These team-ups can turn the tide of battle in hilarious and devastating ways. For example, pairing Rocket Raccoon with The Punisher or Winter Soldier grants unlimited ammo and a faster rate of fire for those characters – say hello to an infinite bullet barrage. Or team up Groot with Rocket (or Jeff the Land Shark) and Groot literally lets them ride on his shoulders, reducing incoming damage for your pint-sized pals. Coördinate with your team during hero select to include combos that activate these abilities, and don’t forget to press that Team-Up key when the moment is right. It’s like getting an extra mini-ultimate for free – who wouldn’t want that? (Just imagine Groot giving Rocket a piggyback while chaos ensues. Adorable and effective.)
5. Play the Objective, Not Team Deathmatch
Marvel Rivals is an objective-based game, so if you play it like a deathmatch you’ll end up as the ghost of Tsushima… er, of New York. Each map has goals: capturing control points, escorting a payload (Convoy mode), or securing multiple points in sequence. Pay attention to the mission prompts (e.g. “Capture the Bifrost Garden” means get your butt on that point!) and prioritize that over chasing one more elimination. Being the hero who stands on the objective is way more valuable than the hero with the top kills but no objective time – trust us. In modes like Domination or Convergence, matches are often won by the team that remembers to stand in the circle when it counts. If your team has captured a point, do not wander off on a solo adventure; hold your ground and defend it. “It doesn’t matter how much you die as long as you keep the objective,” as one seasoned player wisely said. So channel your inner Captain America and yell “whatever it takes!” to secure that win condition (preferably before your team starts wondering why nobody is pushing the payload).
6. Stick with Your Team (Don’t Go Lone-Wolf)
In the Marvel universe, the lone genius playboy might save the day, but in Marvel Rivals, charging in alone is a recipe for an on-demand respawn. Coordinate with your teammates and push as a group. If you just died and your tank and healer are a few seconds behind on the respawn timer, wait for them and regroup – don’t rush in 1v6 hoping for a miracle. Likewise, if you spot an enemy support or damage hero out of position, alert your team and pounce on that opportunity (numbers advantages can swing a fight). Teamwork makes the dream work: focus fire on targets together and protect each other. A coordinated 3v1 is much more effective than three separate 1v1s. And please, please don’t be that player who runs off alone thinking they’re Wolverine on a solo mission – even Wolverine often teams up with the X-Men for a reason. In short: fight together, win together. Your future self (and your win rate) will thank you.
7. Mind Your Positioning – Use Cover and Watch the Flanks
Good positioning separates the superheroes from the sidekicks. Always be aware of where you are relative to both enemies and allies. Use cover on the maps – duck behind walls, obstacles, or that convenient chunk of Stark tech debris – to avoid unnecessary damage, and take the high ground whenever possible (Obi-Wan would approve) since high ground offers better lines of sight and extra cover. Marvel Rivals maps are destructible, meaning cover won’t last forever: you can literally blast apart walls, ceilings, and floors to expose hiding enemies – and yes, the enemy can do the same to you, so don’t get too cozy behind that crate. Also, always watch your flanks. Mobile Duelist heroes like Iron Fist can dash in from the sides or behind to pick off easy targets. If you’re a Strategist (support), try not to stand in the open or you’ll be as popular a target as Loki at a family reunion. Stick near your team’s Vanguard for protection, and keep an eye (of Agamotto) on side routes where sneaky enemies might appear. In summary: cover is your friend, high ground is your advantage, and situational awareness will save your spandex.
8. Communicate with Your Team (Ping is Your Pal)
You might not have Professor X on comms to telepathically coordinate the team, so use the tools the game gives you. Communication is key in a team game – even a little bit goes a long way. If you’re not using voice chat, make liberal use of the ping system to call out enemy locations, signal objectives, or request help. A quick ping on that sneaky Spider-Man flanking, or on the objective you’re rushing to, can alert teammates who might not see what you see. This non-verbal communication is easily understood by everyone (no mic required and no worry about your accent or your pet parrot squawking in the background). Also, don’t hesitate to type quick strategic notes in chat if needed – just keep it positive and focused. And if someone on your team is being toxic or distracting, remember you can mute their voice/text in the settings. No need to listen to J. Jonah Jameson-level negativity while you’re trying to save the world. By keeping communication clear (or muting the unhelpful noise), you’ll lead your team more effectively. After all, the Avengers won in Endgame because they coordinated – not by six heroes running in six different directions silently!
9. Use Your Ultimate Abilities Wisely
Nothing feels more epic than landing a massive ultimate ability – but unleashing your “Press Q to Win” power at the wrong time can be as futile as firing repulsor beams at Thanos without a plan. Timing is everything. If the enemy team just went all-in and dumped several ultimates to win a fight, consider not throwing yours out in a lost cause; it’s often better to save your ultimate for the next engagement rather than ulting into a 1v6 just to go down in a blaze of glory. Conversely, don’t hold onto your own ult forever waiting for the perfect five-man sweep (we get it, you want that highlight reel). It’s perfectly fine to use an ultimate to secure one or two crucial kills at the right moment – for example, if you notice the enemy Groot (tank) and Mantis (healer) huddled on the point, that might be the ideal time to drop an ult on their heads and remove those key anchors. Eliminating even a couple of opponents can turn the tide so your team can mop up the rest. The key is to read the situation: combine ults with teammates for combos when you can, and don’t be afraid to initiate with an ult to start a winning fight. Smart ultimate management (a little strategy, not just button-mashing) will have the enemy team wondering how you always seem to have that game-changing ability up your sleeve.
10. Practice, Learn, and Adapt (Stay Updated)
Like any great hero, you won’t master Marvel Rivals overnight. Take advantage of the practice modes and tutorials to hone your skills. The game offers training options including practice vs. AI bots and even specific tutorials for heroes or game modes – these are perfect for getting comfortable with new characters or learning the maps without the pressure of PvP. Don’t be ashamed to start on easy bots and work your way up; even the most legendary players started by punching virtual sandbags. Also, keep in mind that Marvel Rivals is an ever-evolving battleground – the developers regularly add new heroes, maps, and balance changes. (Case in point: remember when Wolverine was ridiculously overpowered? The devs issued an “Emergency Nerf” to tone him down, so metas can shift quickly!). Stay up-to-date with patch notes and seasonal updates so you know what’s changed or who got buffed/nerfed. For example, a new season might introduce fresh strategies or adjust the effectiveness of certain tactics. The Marvel Rivals universe is continually evolving, with plenty more surprises and updates on the horizon. Adaptability is your superpower here – the more you learn and adjust, the better you’ll get. So keep practicing, keep learning from each match (even the losses), and soon you’ll be carrying your team like Iron Man carrying a nuclear missile through a wormhole – in other words, like a true hero.
Bonus Tip
Have fun! It’s easy to get caught up in the competitive grind, but remember why you’re playing – you love Marvel and a good challenge. Enjoy the process of improving. Wins will come, and so will losses, and En Garde rewards you for both! Oh and a positive mindset will make you truly great (and it’s way more fun than raging). Now go out there and show them what you’ve got. Good luck, and see you on the battlefield, Rival!
