This guide contains our rankings for the Tank Heroes in Marvel Rivals and, while you can't fairly compare characters between different classes, we are focusing on the Vanguard class in this tier list. If you want to see more characters, check out our Strategist Meta Tier List and Duelist Meta Tier List, where we rank the Supports and DPS in their own classes!
For any tier list to make sense in this style of game, you need to understand the kind of players this list is designed for. Pro players and casual players will play characters very differently, so their rankings can vastly differ. In these tier lists, we are ranking for high ranking and competitive players, which refers to Diamond rank and above.
This means a less experienced or new player may have a very different experience playing these higher tier characters, or lower tier might be really good for you. If you are a new or more casual player, the Meta can look very different than at higher competitive levels. For a more casual take on the meta, check out our Vanguard Casual Tier List!
S Tier
A Tier
B Tier
Season 2 Overview
This is a preliminary update to the tier list based on:
- Balance adjustments for Season 2.
- Changes to Team-Ups for Season 2.
- Win Rate and Pick Rate stats at end of Season 1.5.
- New Season 2 Hero: Emma Frost.
A more full update and more in-depth report will follow shortly after the season starts.
Any low tier ratings for characters doesn't mean the character is outright bad. You can play any character in this game, practice them a bunch, and perform well in a match despite a tier rating.
C Tier
For Vanguards, each character has really found a solid use in the meta in one way or another. None of them are bad characters in the current meta. Due to this, it doesn't feel right to assign any of them to C-Tier.
B Tier
Season 2 has made some significant changes to Vanguards, and Doctor Strange was arguably the most affected. He lost damage output to his main attack, lost even more damage on his curse burst, and he lost a decent Team-Up. While he does have a new Team-Up, he isn't as strong in this meta. Since his shield can be ignored with melee attacks, the new brawler meta just makes him hard to be consistent with. He can still offer great utility with his portal, and his ultimate can give your team incredible momentum, so he is still viable and not C-Tier.
Venom is another victim of the meta shift. Diving tanks are great at terrorizing a backline for long periods of time, but he simply isn't as strong as other tanks right now. His main appeal is giving Spider-Man an invulnerability and kill move, but with Spidey getting frequent bans, the Team-Up consistently falls flat. Don't get me wrong, Venom can still be very effective in the right matchups. He just isn't a popular or consistently strong pick in the current meta.
The Season 2 patch gave Peni Parker a very hefty buff, giving her primary gun a critical hit chance. Her main damage source used to be her mines, but this change makes her significantly more viable at higher level play. She's a great option for stopping mobile characters like The Thing or Magik from running away from combat, allowing you to lock in the kill. Her mines are also a great counter to the brawler meta by making it risky for them to rush you or your backline. Her biggest struggle right now that keeps her at B-Tier is being too slow and vulnerable. Her web grapple doesn't always connect correctly, leaving her stranded too often. Her large hit box and slow movement makes her too easy to take down unless she is getting pocket healed.
A Tier
Captain America has finally found some solid meta usage after his numerous buffs. He mainly gets used as a stall technique or back line interference. When he jumps around the objective, especially with his ultimate, he becomes incredibly annoying to get rid of. He can constantly stay on point to prevent offense from moving the objective, or to keep the point alive during overtime as your team recovers. If the back line is unprotected, he works well to rush down healers and separate them from their team. Simply put, Cap is a great pick for acting as an annoying mosquito your opponent has to constantly put up with. The new Team-Up with Winter Soldier also gives him a slight damage boost and leap ability, giving a little extra "umph" that he needed.
Thor recieved some Season 2 buffs that have made him a bit stronger. While the meta is centered around brawlers, Thor just isn't as quick as other tanks. You can use your dash with Mjolnir to get in close quickly, but you use up Thor force in the process. His Awakened State is still his best feature though. It pumps out enough damage to quickly take out healers, dps, and even some tanks if you land every hit. Even at A-Tier, in the right hands, Thor can easily dominate a match.
Everyone's favorite immovable rock, The Thing, is holding his place in A-Tier this season. While he borders that line of S-Tier, he is too easily countered by Groot. Putting up a couple of walls prevents him from rushing in or out of an area, and it blocks him from jumping back to his team. If Groot is banned, he can really shine! If not, Groot makes him very difficult to use successfully.
S Tier
Season 2 brought significant buffs to Bruce Banner (Hulk). His changes have brought him back to the top of the meta. With an increase in health and movement speed, it has made him very difficult to get away from. Hulk's new team-up with Namor also makes him significantly more popular. He fits the meta of getting in close and brawling your opponents down, so it's clear why he has returned to S-Tier.
Magneto has returned to the top of the meta. His shield has a quick recharge time, making him a popular replacement for Doctor Strange. While his ultimate does take longer to charge, it is still a great counter to healer ults. The fact that his shielding is time based, not damage based, makes him S-Tier. A good player that can manage his cooldowns well can often feel unkillable. He's the best anchor tank in the game right now, which is definitely needed with the brawler meta in full force.
Emma Frost launched with Season 2, and she has already made an impact on the meta. Her diamond wall can essentially give the team a place able Doctor Strange shield, protecting your team while you can still fire through it. Her grapple holds an opponent down for a surprisingly long period of time, making them an easy target for your team to finish off. Her ultimate has made the biggest impact though so far. Preventing opponents in the active zone from moving or using any abilities is a great way to stop healers from counter ulting. Plus, it also pulls healers out of their existing ults, giving you a chance to kill them and cancel their ult. It's possible players get used to her and find good counter play as the season progresses. In the meantime though, she's a solid S-Tier.
Groot is one of the most infuriating Vanguards you can play. In the wrong hands (like casual players), he can constantly wall off opponents, making it impossible to finish them off in a fight and letting them regroup. For a competitive player though, he can strategically use his walls to separate opponents from their healers, or stop large threats before they hurt the team. He has the highest base health of the Vanguard, and is one of the best characters for taking damage head on. His ultimate ability works perfectly with a coordinated team, as it groups up your opponents and stuns them. This can let your team focus fire, or combo with you using a second ultimate to team wipe.
Wrap Up
That's all for this Vanguard Meta Tier List for competitive players! As new characters are added and balance changes are made, we will release updated tier lists for these characters. If you haven't already, be sure to check out our tier lists for Strategist and Duelist!
