The best Vanguard hero plays the role of both the initiator and damage sponge in Marvel Rivals. They are the ideal frontline that disrupts the enemy formation and provides room for the team’s Duelists to get their combos off without getting interrupted.
Vanguards come with both CC and utility, giving them a lot of play-making potential. They boast a fair bit of DPS as well, and when played right they take over an entire teamfight.
So if you are looking to main this role in the MOBA, below is a list that goes over the best frontliners that you should be picking up.
Marvel Rivals Season 0 Vanguard tier list
| Tier | Characters |
|---|---|
| S | Doctor Strange, Magneto |
| A | Hulk, Groot, Thor |
| B | Captain America, Venom |
| C | Peni Parker |
The picks for the best Vanguard hero in Marvel Rivals will depend on a few factors, with the most important one being the type of playstyle that you are going for. Each hero in the game has a unique set of abilities so the character that fits you will likely not be ideal for another player.
Moreover, some characters come with team-up abilities that allow them to exploit a synergy that they have with another hero on your team.
However, picking the best Vanguard for you will take a while. You will need to be more familiar with some of the game mechanics as well as what all the characters in the game are capable of.
But before you start learning the ropes, it’s best to pick up one of the S and A-tier Vanguard from the list. They are comparatively easier to learn and will have a much bigger impact on the game state even if you are not properly executing them.
Best frontline Vanguard heroes in Marvel Rivals Season 0
Here are the best Vanguard characters in season 0 of Marvel Rivals:
1) Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is simply the best Vanguard in Marvel Rivals. Whenever he is not banned in high ranks, he is the primary Vanguard for almost any team.
He has consistent damage output, an incredibly versatile teleport ability, a large and powerful shield to take space, and one of the best CC ultimates in the game.
Doctor Strange ticks the boxes of everything a Vanguard should be, which makes him a strong choice in pretty much any match.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Has incredibly damage output for a Vanguard – The most potent shield in the game – Great burst damage and one of the best ultimates in the game. – Can make game-changing plays with his teleport – Strong team-up synergy with Hulk – The best solo Vanguard in the game. | – Lacks horizontal mobility and is not the best tank into heavy dive comps. – Requires decent spatial awareness and game sense to make the most out of his kit |
2) Magneto
Magneto is the undisputed second best Vanguard in the game, closely behind Doctor Strange. Magneto lacks the same playmaking potential and damage as Doctor Strange.
However, he makes up for this with far more survivability and is a stalwart in any team composition. He is capable of dealing with dive comps better than Doctor Strange as well.
When paired with Doctor Strange, they form up a tough to crack frontline that can create havoc on the battlefield.
Magneto also has a fantastic defensive ultimate that can block some of the hardest hitting ultimates in the game such as Star Lord’s Galactic Legend, Punisher’s Final Judgement, and Iron Man’s Invincible Pulse Cannon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Has a lot of shields built into his kit that makes it challenging to kill him or his allies. – Is capable of peeling for his Duelists, making him the go-to choice against dive comps. – Is a deceptively strong damage dealer – One of the best defensive ultimates in the game. – A very potent solo Vanguard that can allow diverse team comps | – Lacks any type of mobility which makes him prey for heroes like Wolverine. – Requires good awareness of the game at all times to get value from his shields. |
3) Hulk
Hulk is one of the hardest Vanguards to pilot, but a very rewarding one once players get comfortable with his playstyle.
Hulk is all about disrupting the formation of the enemy team and creating hysteria on the backline. He is an excellent tank to deal with meta Strategists like Luna Snow and Mantis.
Hulk also enables one of the most powerful team-ups in the game, which buff Iron Man and Doctor Strange to extreme levels.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Incredibly mobile tank and the premier choice in dive comps. – Strong shielding and 1v1 potential. – A decent ultimate that can cause chaos in the backline or stall long enough for his team to turn the fight around – One of the best team-ups in the game with Iron Man and Doctor Strange | – Heavily team dependent and can fall apart in an instant if the team is not on the same page. – The hardest Vanguard to master – Considerably weaker without Doctor Strange and Iron Man on his team. |
4) Groot
Groot is a solid Vanguard for players to get used to the role. He isn’t too mechanically demanding, apart from creating unique walls.
Groot has a simple playstyle that should see him be in the thick of battle constantly walling off important chokepoints and sightlines to either funnel teams into a specific location, pick off targets, or allow safe passage into an area.
Groot also has an incredibly powerful ultimate that synergises well with other ultimates such as Namor’s Horn of Proteus, Thor’s God of Thunder and Moon Knight’s Hand of Khonshu.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Walls can cut off hotly contested chokepoints, and section off enemies for quick picks. – One of the best ultimates in the game. – Has really strong damage output – A powerful team-up with Jeff the Land Shark and Rocket Raccoon | – Has no form of mobility and is one of the slowest characters in the game – Becomes an ultimate battery against team comps that outrange him. – Creative wall usage takes a bit of time to master. |
5) Thor
Thor is definitely a Vanguard that is not meant for casual play, as he requires a lot of time and investment to get the best use out of him.
Playing around his Thorforce passive takes a lot of practice and game sense since almost every ability requires the usage of Thorforce.
However, once mastered, he becomes an extraordinarily powerful Vanguard that can tear apart enemy backlines with a competent team. The God of Thunder can single-handedly win games if enemy teams do not draft the right composition to deal with him.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – One of the few Vanguards that can solo-carry a game – Extremely strong 1v1 potential and backline disruption – Highly mobile and is a top choice in dive comps – Great survivability and can get himself out of sticky scenarios unlike other Vanguards. | – One of the worst ultimates in the game. – Struggles immensely into heroes like Namor and Cloak and Dagger. – A very tough Vanguard to master as he requires lot of though process on when to go in and out. |
