Marvel Rivals has officially entered Season 2.5, and players are eager to know who stands at the top and who’s falling behind.
Meta picks are always a cornerstone of competitive games, especially in hero-shooters like Overwatch 2 and Valorant. Marvel Rivals is no exception.
Vanguards (or Tanks) have always served as the frontliners in Marvel Rivals. They’re built to soak up damage and protect the backline from incoming divers. A good team composition starts with a solid Vanguard. Without one, your team’s foundation crumbles.
As a Celestial III player this season, here’s my personal tier list of all Vanguards in ranked Diamond and above:
Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Vanguard tier list (Diamond+)
Marvel Rivals Vanguard Tierlist Season 2.5
S-Tier Vanguards
Magneto
Magneto remains the most meta-defining pick in Marvel Rivals Season 2.5. His presence alone boosts both team survivability and overall damage output. Thanks to his Bubbles, he can save allies from certain death, and his Magnetic Barrier blocks nearly all projectiles, including Iron Man’s Ultimate.
He also plays like a high-damage Vanguard with his Metallic Volleys and a high-impact Ultimate. He counters heroes like Cloak & Dagger, Invisible Woman, and Luna Snow with a single well-placed Meteor M drop.
Doctor Strange
After a rough patch due to damage and health nerfs last season, Doctor Strange has steadily climbed back into S-Tier. With the Maelstrom of Madness buff, the Sorcerer Supreme can now dish out more damage than ever.
His Shield of the Seraphim is especially effective against hitscan threats like Hela and Punisher, and his Portals are some of the best clutch tools in the game. With strong burst damage and crowd control from his Dark Magic abilities, he’s lethal to squishies. And as always, his Ultimate, “Eye of Agamotto,” remains a game-changing threat in tight matches.
Emma Frost
The newest tank in Marvel Rivals has quickly risen to S-Tier. Emma Frost is a lethal hybrid Vanguard who dominates close-range encounters. Her Telepathic Pulse primary attack can melt tanks in seconds.
Her portable Barrier can save both herself and teammates in clutch moments, especially useful against snipers like Hela and Hawkeye.
She’s highly effective against Diver comps. With her Diamond Form, she becomes an indestructible force who can grab and slam elusive enemies like Black Panther and Spider-Man. While her Ultimate is situational, it can also be devastating against teams lacking shields. It's best saved for disrupting key Strategist plays.
A-Tier Vanguards
Peni Parker
Peni’s new synergy with Rocket Raccoon launches her into a whole new level of annoyance. She comfortably sits in A-Tier now, thanks to her ability to deploy two Peni Nests, both packed with Spider Mines that can shred even a tank.
She’s a disruptive area-denying powerhouse in higher elos, especially on maps with tight corridors like Midtown and the new Arrako map.
Groot
Despite nerfs to his walls, Groot remains a solid choice, particularly against teams with high poke damage. He’s the ideal counter to comps built around heroes like Hela, Hawkeye, and Punisher.
His walls deny healing and force awkward positioning. When played well, he can isolate enemy tanks and break team formations. However, with no mobility tools, he struggles against mobile threats like Wolverine.
Hulk
Hulk has found better footing in the current meta now that his ban rate has dropped. After the Gamma Boost reduction affecting both him and Iron Man, Hulk has re-emerged as a common sight in higher elos.
He’s excellent at diving in and diving out, able to harass deep into the backline and get out before the enemy can react. A skilled Hulk can take out key Strategists and lone targets quickly; while his Gamma Shield also offers protection against high-damage Ultimates like those of Magneto and Iron Man.
B-Tier Vanguards
Venom
Dive comps have taken a major hit this season, especially with the rise of anti-dive heroes like Ultron. As a result, Venom has slipped in viability.
Though his survivability is still among the best in the Vanguard class, his damage output is underwhelming. That said, he still holds value against poke comps and snipers like Black Widow, Hela, and Hawkeye.
Thor
Thor's recent rework traded survivability for more burst damage. He can now threaten frontline enemies with his Mjolnir Dash, but the health trade-off makes him more vulnerable.
Thor remains viable, but he demands skill to unlock his full potential. Otherwise he’d just be a free Ultimate resource. A good player can maximize Thorforce to punish grouped enemies. Unfortunately, his Ultimate still feels underwhelming since launch.
C-Tier and below Vanguards
Captain America
Captain America is an odd fit for the Vanguard role. While his high health and shield make him tanky on paper, his playstyle is more suited to disruption than frontlining.
He’s not a damage dealer but excels at diving into enemy backlines and picking off stragglers. A good Cap plays independently from the team, hunting isolated targets. But without strong team coordination, he becomes easy prey for coordinated enemies.
The Thing
The Thing has taken the biggest fall this season. With the Dive Meta nerfed, there’s rarely a compelling reason to pick him, unless the enemy has all three of Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Iron Fist.
Otherwise, he risks becoming an Ultimate battery for the opposing team. With little shielding or defensive utility, he often ends up feeding enemy Ult charges unintentionally.
These are my personal rankings for the current Vanguard meta in Marvel Rivals Season 2.5. While tier lists are always subjective, I feel confident (especially as a higher-elo player) that these heroes are right where they belong in today’s competitive landscape.
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