Summary
Raising your competitive rank in team shooters can feel like an uphill battle at the best of times. Luckily,Marvel Rivalsis more forgiving to rank climbing than some. The varied abilities and designs of heroes offer many routes to securing victory. Carrying a match while playing strategist is very possible, which is rarely seen from supports in most games.
This flexibility isn’t kept from duelists either, with characters capable of assisting teammates or holding space as other roles would. This sounds like forming a team should be a breeze; however, maintaining a balanced composition still becomes an issue at times. Thankfully, Rivals includes flex picks that can help the team comp without sacrificing your enjoyment. Here you can find which picks are best to learn while maintaining your favorite playstyle.
10Venom
Confirm Kills Quickly
Venom is a Vanguardthat can dive into the enemy to secure kills. They sustain themselves in fights using Symbiotic Resilience, gaining large pools of bonus health. It often feels best to play Venom if you enjoy skill expression through good aim and quick combos. Venom’s primary attack can score critical hits, so Duelists with a strong eye looking to play someone tanky can obliterate the enemy with headshots.
While Venom doesn’t have the same level of mobility, Spider-Man mains will feel at home. You will need to adapt to only one swing while on Venom, but the mechanic functions the same otherwise. In high-skill lobbies, there are more meta relevant picks; however, Venom contributes plenty when a team comp is in dire need of bulk. Duelists who want a flex Vanguard that can still deal good damage should consider Venom.
9Iron Fist
For The Melee Lovers
Iron Fist is a Duelist who focuses on melee fights and mobility. Using Dragon’s Defense lets him negate incoming damage then make a strong counterattack. Although Duelist is not a role you’d think requires a flex pick, a lack of damage can happen. If you want to remain on Duelist, he provides some more protection and health to a team than other picks. If you are picking Iron Fist on a tank-light team, maintain good positioning and manage your health and cooldowns conservatively.
Although opening space for the team isn’t easy on Iron Fist, he does work great as a flex pick for Vanguard players who love melee fights. Similar to Hulk or Thor, he offers mobility and strong damage output once you get in the enemy’s face. If you are flexing from a tank role, remember that your sustain is far less than someone like Thor. Iron Fist has a limited ability to grant himself bonus health, so you’ll need to rely more on mobility to keep yourself alive.
8Jeff
For Making Big Plays
Jeff the Land Shark is a Strategist that places healing bubbles and spews heals from a distance. His ultimate, It’s Jeff, allows him to transform a team fight by devouring the enemy for a huge tempo swing. Duelists or Vanguards who live for that highlight play will enjoy using Jeff to toss the entire enemy team into the void. While his ultimate is not as safe as other supports, it can be used defensively. Swallowing your own team proactively can keep them from harm, but it is slow compared to a Luna or Mantis ultimate.
Whenever possible, you should avoid falling off map to eliminate swallowed foes. Aiming downward before spitting them out is often enough, and surviving is even more important when your team is lacking in defensive ultimates. Practice using his dive and bubble together to defend yourself from divers and bubble your tanks as you spray them when they need burst healing. Jeff can deal respectable damage, so mixing in alternate fire as appropriate helps bring down targets quickly.
7Peni Parker
Build A Strong Defense
Peni Parker is a Vanguard that plays best when defending an area, especially using her mines. She has access to self-healing and a powerful stun using her webs. Peni is a great flex pick for Strategists familiar with projectile weapons; adapting to her bullet speed and kit will be quick if you are used to a support like Mantis who is constantly multitasking. On defense your mines, spider nest, and constant barrage will oppress the enemy. She doesn’t need to reload so keep her primary fire going whenever possible.
As you place your nest, choose spaces out of enemy line of sight, such as down a hall or around a corner. You can place a web near the edge of its radius to extend its reach into choke points, so don’t fret over the distance. Placing mines on doorways and backlines will help manage flanks and the explosions notify your team of enemy approach. Mines also become useful in do-or-die fights for the objective, launching them into foes mid teamfight will add damage that could turn the tide in your favor.
6Captain America
For Dive-Happy Duelists
Captain America is a Vanguardtailor-made for striking vulnerable targets and defending his teammates. Good mobility lets him attack or peel to help backliners with ease, feeling familiar for those who play dive like Psylocke or Magik. Taking down a target in the backline will often require more finesse than heroes like Psylocke who has lots damage and mobility in their kit. Engaging with refreshed cooldowns and with your shield throw already active will make all the difference.
With your shield and ability to dive at targets, you’re an excellent guard for the backline. If an enemy diver jumps your support, you can engage quickly and confidently, as Captain America has better health and sustain than most heroes who target your Strategists. Fighting in the frontline is also possible when cautious and the situation allows, providing some space for your team to work in. When you can, make two melee strikes, then hold. His shield throws will finish targets that try to escape and let you engage at range.
5Loki
To Use Interesting Abilities
Loki is a Strategist who can define a fight in the right circumstances.He doesn’t heal as much other supports, but he has the widest variety of utility in the game. His ability to copy other character ultimates is powerful, but can fail to be enough if your team has no defensive ultimates. Consider another Strategist if your team needs a flex to pair with Rocket or Warlock. Players with excellent game sense will go far with Loki, as good positioning and hero knowledge are a major advantage for him.
If you’re a Duelist who want a support flex that’s entertaining, you’ll want to try Loki. His kit offers endless opportunity for players to outplay the enemy team through cunning and skill. If you aren’t used to the support experience, practice your ability to multitask, as Loki has many things to track alongside the health of his team. With his heals being slow compared to others, the only choice for quick saves is a well-placed Doppleganger chained into Regeneration Domain.
4Mr. Fantasic
A Tanky Duelist
Mister Fantasic is a Duelist that can open up space like a Vanguard when played skillfully. Reflexive Rubber lets him deflect damage and plentiful bonus health keeps him alive in rough team fights. If you’re interested in hard-maining Duelist, you should fold Mr. Fantastic into your character training. Whenever a team is light on bulk to soak enemy damage and Vanguard isn’t a choice, Mr. Fantastic is the answer. He maintains excellent damage with good range while being capable of keeping teammates safe.
Granting a shield to a support getting attacked or using Reflexive Rubber to prevent lethal damage will contribute in a way that other Duelists simply can’t replicate. Vanguard lovers and Groot mains are also excellent candidates to learn Mr. Fantastic. He can provide additional damage while feeling familiar when your team already has two Vanguards stacked. His durability can also make him a good counterplay, particularly for opposing teams with a lot of lethality.
3Mantis,
Long-Ranged Damage
Mantis is a Strategist that can deal an alarming amount of damage in the right hands. With excellent heals and a defensive ultimate, she is a reliable pick with a high skill ceiling. Any player with high mechanical skill should put hours on Mantis, as precise aim paired with her attacks are a nightmare for enemy heroes. It’s important to note that Mantis can reliably damage heroes at long range, something most supportive characters do poorly.
The team-saving Soul Resurgance may not be as impactful as Luna’s ultimate can be; however, Mantis keeps the ability to attack. Add that her stun is generous in hitting enemies, and you have a sturdy healer with high damage potential, making her a difficult target for opposing divers. Another advantage to Mantis as a choice of flex character is her skill floor. She is very approachable in early play while remaining relevant once you’ve entered high ranks.
2Invisible Woman
Flank As A Healer
Invisible Woman is a Strategist who can heal and damage multiple targets when they’re in a line. Her stealth lets her disrupt or escape the enemy and her defensive ultimate is powerful. She does very well in the hands of skilled players, offering a simultaneous output of heals and damage with proper positioning. Invisible Woman can use her passive stealth to ready a flank after a team fight to start engagements.
Don’t treat her like a dive character, as that is not her function.
Prepping a team fight with disruption to the enemy team is powerful when planned and communicated, but it is a quick maneuver. Her jump must be ready to allow for a stealthy and speedy return to your team’s backline. Playing this way can secure a pick in good circumstances, although you should maintain the survival of yourself and your team over off-angle attacks or ambushes. When using Invisible Boundry, aim to cover dangerous chokepoints or protect your team from enemy ultimates.
1Magneto
Improve Your K/D Ratio
Magneto is a Vanguard with incredibly high potential. Steady aim and good positioning will let him block absurdly high damage while dealing lethal hits of his own. He is one of a few characters with an ultimate well suited to both offense and defense. You will need impeccable game sense when playing Magneto, as he has no escape options and limited shielding. Overextend and you’ll be having a very bad time. Low mobility aside, Magneto is one of the best Vanguards to learn.
Due to a well-balanced kit and high skill ceiling, Magneto is an excellent pick in nearly every team and rank when played well. If you’re willing to invest time in learning flex picks, mastering Magneto will carry you well in your competitive climb. Duelist fans will do well to flex as Magneto, as he can eradicate enemies with good aim. Playing him also forces you into improved game sense and positioning, which will be helpful when playing any character in Rivals.
