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Players have wasted no time discovering the most efficient heroes for proficiency grinding in Marvel Rivals' new 18v18 Annihilation mode. Since the mode launch, community members have reported reaching Lord status in a fraction of the usual time because of certain heroes who excel in the chaotic 36-player environment. With matches requiring 120 eliminations and minimal respawn times, the proficiency gains are stacking up fast for those who know which heroes to pick.
How Proficiency Works in 18v18?
The new Annihilation mode counts as an arcade mode, which means it uses the arcade proficiency requirements listed on the right side of each hero's proficiency page. Players can complete proficiency quests up to five times per day in arcade modes and and since it's much easier to complete these tasks in 18v18, you'll be able to max out your daily quest completions significantly faster than in standard modes.
Best Characters to Grind Lord for in 18v18 Mode
It's nearly faster for almost every hero to grind for Lords in this mode, but the biggest winners are heroes with quests that are harder to complete in regular modes. Characters like Adam Warlock, Moon Knight, Jeff the Land Shark, and Storm have quests tied to specific abilities that become much easier in the 18v18.
The standard quests are also much easier to complete since there are more enemies. While there are a few characters whose hero-specific quests don't really change with this mode, most of the roster gets significant benefits. Here's a short list of heroes we believe benefit the most. If you have any other character recommendations, let us know in the comments.
- Adam Warlock
- Moon Knight
- Jeff the Land Shark
- Storm
- Hulk
Beyond proficiency, players have discovered that 18v18 is excellent for completing achievements. Several achievements are much easier when there are 18 enemies on the map. Team-up achievements also become simpler since you're more likely to have the required partner hero on your team.
Lord Status Concerns
Some community members are worried that the new mode will devalue Lord icons since they're becoming much easier to obtain. Previously, reaching Lord required hours of grind on a single character. Now players can reach Lord in a fraction of that time by farming proficiency in 18v18 matches.
However, others argue that Lord status never meant much beyond showing dedication to a character. The title doesn't indicate skill level—just time invested. The new mode simply makes that time investment more efficient, which benefits players who want the cosmetic rewards without grinding for dozens of hours per hero.
Final thoughts
The 18v18 Annihilation mode has changed the proficiency grind significantly. Whether this devalues Lord icons or simply makes them more accessible is up for debate, but for players who've been grinding their favorite heroes for months, the new mode offers a welcome shortcut to unlocking cosmetic rewards.
