Quick Links
Moon Knight, the avatar of Khonshu,is one of the best DuelistsinMarvel Rivals, utilized primarily as a sniper-like enemy who deals damage from concealed positions. His kit is extraordinarily simple and focuses on two key mechanics — bounce-type attacks and rapid mobility — and, when combined, are a devastating combo if he goes uninterrupted.
Like Peni Parker’s Spider-MinesandNamor’s squids, Moon Knight has a powerful tool to increase his lethality: the ankhs. His primary and alt fire is barrage-like with bouncing properties, and these ankhs essentially pull those shots to the central point with greater bounce, granting him auto-aim with much greater damage. As such, knowing how to tackle this absurdly tactile DPS hero can be extremely advantageous in certain matches.
How To Counter Moon Knight
Moon Knight’s core strategy revolves aroundaccessing remote and hidden parts of the map with his mobility, placing an ankh out of plain sight within enemy-populated spots, and just unleashing a fury of attacks.
The ankhs are, by far, the most dangerous part of his toolset, shredding any hero within its radius, and it’s so unsuspectingly quick that you’re usually dead before you even realize what happened.
Another formidable part of his kit is the Ultimate Ability, Hand of Khonshu, whichopens a portal atop enemies followed by a barrage of high-damaging talons. After buffing this ability in Season One, it’s absolutely devastating and caneasily clear objectives and backlines.The fact it has no counterplay cements its unstoppable nature.
Thus, the most productive way to deal with Moon Knight comes down to three simple actions:destroying the ankhs, finding where he’s attacking from, and making sure he doesn’t run away.
Unlike other ranged Duelists like HelaandHawkeye, Moon Knight is at amajor disadvantage in close-rangeengagements.
All you have to do ismake sure he doesn’t get into key positionsand, if he does, ensure he doesn’t stay there for too long.
He virtually can’t do anything if he’s always on the run, and sincehe doesn’t have solid horizontal mobility, you may oftencorner him on most maps.
As for his ultimate, you really can’t do much exceptanticipate where he’ll use it(which will often be near an objective) andmove out of the attack’s effective rangeas swiftly as possible.
How To Counter Moon Knight As A Vanguard
Moon Knight’s all aboutdealing high damage,and aVanguardcanabsorb most of his attacks. Therefore, if he places his ankh, it’syour responsibility as a Vanguard to track down and destroy itsince you’re typically the only role in Marvel Rivals capable of eliminating it before it kills you and becomes a serious threat.
Onto hero-specific counterplays,Doctor StrangeandMagneto are a nuisance for Moon Knightbecause they cancompletely block off his shots with their shields. While they lack the offense and range to deal with him directly, they can stillact as a great defense mechanismfor the team.
Hulk is another excellent counter against Moon Knight— not only is he amelee powerhouse that can reach Moon Knight with his leaps, but he can also use his stun, Radioactive Lockdown, toimmobilize him and prevent him from running away.
Magneto’s Metal Bulwark and Iron Bulwark abilities can fully negate Moon Knight’s ultimate damage.
How To Counter Moon Knight As A Strategist
As a Strategist, you definitely need to go the extra mile to counter Moon Knight, especially when you can’t see him coming. However, withconsistent movement and regular strafing, you can avoid most of his attacks, which is generally all you’ll need to do.
Since he usually stays away from a typical Strategist’s range, youdon’t necessarily need to go out of your way to find or attack him.
Fortunately,mobility is where almost every Strategist excels, but you need tobe careful when you hear an ankh being placed nearbyand try toget out of its domain as soon as you can. If you can find Moon Knight,stun abilities like Mantis’s Spore SlumberorLuna Snow’s Absolute Zero are a great way to restrain himand get a quick kill.
As a whole, though, your overall game plan needs to bestrafing around and constantly trying to outhealMoon Knight’s incoming damage. His main goal is to break team synergy and isolate Strategists, so the sneakier you are, the more ineffective he’ll be.
How To Counter Moon Knight As A Duelist
Moon Knight’s ankhs are a huge risk against Duelistsdue to their absurd damage output and how they serve as a distraction during an encounter. Reaching him is the real problem since he’ll kill you before you can get to him or dash away if you do, so the most reliable route is toobserve and find out where he is, then try to sneak up on him.
Once you reach him, he’s basically a sitting duck with no choice but to retreat, so you have toattack and apply pressure the moment you’re able to do so.
Given that strategy, it’s clear that assassin heroes,like Spider-Man,Black Panther,Iron Fist, and more, specialize in taking him down.
However, it’s worth noting thathe can still deploy an ankh near him at the last minute to escape, so you need to be extremely quick if you want to secure a kill.
Besides that, Moon Knight’sprojectile-based shots make him fairly weak against aerial Duelists,namely StormandIron Man. They can dodge his slow attacks by strafing and don’t even have to worry about ankh placements (since ankhs only stick to surfaces). So, with Iron Man or Storm on your team, you’ll have anatural counter-pick for Moon Knight on your team.
