The Best Tanks In Marvel Rivals, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Choosing heroes in Marvel Rivals is based on roles like Vanguard, Duelist, or Strategist
Each hero has unique perks and drawbacks, influencing gameplay strategies
Some heroes, like Venom, are easier to play and excel at specific roles in the game

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the Vanguard class in Marvel Rivals is undeniably the heart and soul of any team. Each character brings their unique strengths to the battlefield, making for a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.

Picking the ideal character to use in Marvel Rivals can be quite challenging, given there are 33 heroes available. Apart from determining which role – Vanguard, Duelist, or Strategist – fits your playstyle best, you also need to invest time playing with each hero within that category to eventually find a hero that truly suits you.

Each character in this game boasts unique strengths and weaknesses; some are tougher to take down, while others deal immense damage. This analysis focuses on the Vanguard heroes, specifically the tanks, by evaluating them based on various aspects such as learning difficulty and the rewards a player can expect after investing time into mastering each hero.

8. Captain America

Raise A Shield

Health: 650
Difficulty: 3 Stars

Captain America stands out as one of Marvel’s iconic figures, easily identifiable by many fans. In combat, he operates as a frontline tank, utilizing his shield for defense against incoming attacks from enemies and also protecting his teammates. Additionally, he can hurl this shield, dash swiftly with it, and generate an area that enhances movement speed and restores health.

In some group setups, Captain America performs admirably. Yet, when there aren’t any healers capable of matching his high-intensity gameplay, he may find it challenging to safeguard an objective from the rapid attacks of enemy Duelists who can overpower him swiftly.

7. Peni Parker

Cover The Battlefield In Spiderbots

Health: 650
Difficulty: 4 Stars

For enthusiasts of mechanical entertainment, Peni Parker is an engaging character, despite not typically taking the role of a pilot. Instead, her skills revolve around preventing enemy access rather than absorbing damage. She lays down a web-laden battlefield, which intermittently summons spiderbots that heal Peni and harm adversaries.

Her exceptional skill enables her to swiftly eliminate an objective filled with adversaries by shoving them back and generating vast expanses of spiderbots, mines, and webs. She’s a delightful character to control, but she encounters some challenges when required to serve as the main tank of a team on the frontline, as she performs optimally as a utility hero.

6. Magneto

Use Magnetic Energy To Shield Allies

Health: 650
Difficulty: 2 Stars

Magneto exhibits an unconventional playstyle, blending elements of both Vanguard and Duelist roles. His primary attacks inflict substantial damage from afar, and he possesses abilities that enable him to control magnetic energy for self and team protection. His ultimate skill transforms into a cataclysmic meteor strike capable of annihilating vast areas; this destruction can be amplified by performing a charge-up animation, absorbing enemy attacks during the process.

“Magneto’s primary issue lies in his sluggish movement and challenges with close-quarters combat, particularly when it comes to melee-ranged fights. However, teaming up with Scarlet Witch enhances his melee abilities and helps alleviate some of these weaknesses. But on his own, Magneto may find it difficult to hold his ground against the tank characters in this list who tend to get up close.

5. Thor

The God Of Thunder

Health: 500
Difficulty: 3 Stars

Thor, contrary to expectations, boasts a relatively low health reserve. However, don’t underestimate him because he can become a formidable challenge for the opposing team’s support characters. He can swiftly close in and dish out significant damage at distances ranging from close to mid. Moreover, each of his skills grants Thor temporary protective shields, which compensates for his base health deficiency.

Thor’s top ability is exceptionally powerful for swiftly eliminating game objectives due to its massive area damage. However, even with such strength, if he lacks a well-coordinated team, he may encounter difficulties. His playstyle demands players to boldly charge into the enemy camp, which could result in being overpowered by greater numbers.

4. Bruce Banner/ The Hulk

Hulk Out And Pummel Foes

Bruce Banner Health: 200
Hero Hulk Health: 650
Monster Hulk Health: 1400
Difficulty: 4 Stars

Bruce Banner stands out on this list, being one of only 2 characters in the game with multiple forms. Initially appearing as the fragile Bruce Banner, players can utilize his primary skill, “Weakling Banner”, to metamorphose into Mighty Hulk, a formidable tank character with a focus on close-combat.

In an impressive transformation, Hulk’s ultimate form turns him into Giant Monster Hulk – a colossal creature that boasts immense vitality. This titanic version of Hulk possesses a powerful grab ability that can swiftly eliminate a single opponent, rendering them incapable of further combat. Unfortunately, novice players often find it challenging to master Bruce Banner, as he controls the abilities of three distinct forms. A significant drawback is that when Hero Hulk perishes, Banner remains, and being stuck in this form can be problematic for both the player and their team, who are left without a tank.

3. Doctor Strange

The Master Of Magic

Health: 650
Difficulty: 2 Stars

As a fan, I find Doctor Strange to be an engaging choice when it comes to ranged Vanguards in the game. Unlike Magneto, who requires a bit more finesse, Doctor Strange is quite approachable even for newcomers. His unique skillset mainly revolves around protecting his comrades by sacrificing his own body as a shield and transporting them across the battlefield using portals. He’s also capable of dishing out reasonable damage with his primary fire, and due to his levitation ability, can become quite bothersome for the opposing team.

As a gamer, I’ve found that the challenge with Doctor Strange lies in his dark magic accumulation. With each spell he casts, a meter fills up and can be released using his E ability. However, if this gauge becomes too high, Doctor Strange enters a state where he can’t heal himself, making him extremely vulnerable. So, it’s crucial to keep an eye on that meter all the time.

2. Groot

Wall Off Opponents And Protect Allies

Health: 700
Difficulty: 2 Stars

Among the characters on this list, Groot stands out as the one with the highest natural durability, boasting 700 health points instead of the typical 650. This trait aligns perfectly with Groot’s gameplay style, which focuses on his wall-building capabilities and encourages players to engage aggressively, splitting up the enemy team or obstructing objectives.

Groot’s ultimate move can quickly eliminate an entire opposing team if utilized strategically when they’re all clustered together. Typically, Groot makes an excellent tank, but his primary disadvantage lies in his limited mobility skills and relatively slow base speed, which often leaves him out of combat for a considerable duration following each death.

1. Venom

Consume Foes To Grant Health

Health: 650
Difficulty: 1 Star

The last character on this roster, standing out as the top choice, is Venom. He boasts higher health levels compared to others, and his primary attack possesses the capability to deliver critical hits at an unexpected distance. Moreover, his swing move allows him to dive straight into the heart of the battlefield regardless of his initial position.

Venom’s E ability and ultimate boost his health, depending on the amount of health he lacks and the damage he inflicts respectively. When Venom is positioned among enemy backlines, it becomes challenging to dislodge him, making him a significant threat, particularly when supported by Strategists and Dualists executing coordinated attacks following his explosive assault.

2024-12-10 00:26