Do We Need the Marvel Rivals Tier List in 2025?
First and foremost, we need to compile and regularly update the Marvel Rivals tier list after the release of new characters, meta and patches in Season 2.5. Whether you are a veteran who slings webs with Spider-Man or a new player who tries to figure out why Hulk keeps smashing you into all the surfaces, the list of characters made by the BandurArt team can be helpful. Hopefully, aspiring devs will also find it useful if they are working on a similar project.
Marvel Rivals is not just about shooting and smashing – it is like a love letter to the sprawling universe of Marvel heroes. The hero shooter game has an interesting lore to explore. At its core, it explores the Multiversal Convergence. Doctor Doom who is meddling with the Timestream Entanglement Device caused this cosmic event. That is why universes have started to collide and pull heroes along with villains from different parallel realities into one chaotic arena.
The latest season 2.5. update is called “Frost and Flames”. It introduced a new beloved character – Emma Frost. She is a hot telepathic powerhouse from the X-Men franchise. Her role is a Strategist with buffs, shields, and the stunning ultimate skill. Such an appearance can deepen the rivalry between the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants.
Among other updates brought together with Season 2.5. in Marvel Rivals meta:
- Balance Changes. Captain America and Venom got damage buffs. They are in the A-tier threats. Scarlet Witch and Iron Man saw slight nerfs but still remain on the S-tier lists in Marvel Rivals. Thor and Namor got only minor tweaks but need more polishing, IMHO;
- New Map “Asteroid M”. Right now we have the magnificent floating fortress of Mr. Magneto. It is a vertical playground with tight corridors and open platforms. It is better for long-range Strategists like the new Emma Frost or Duelists;
- Team-Up Reworks. Human Torch and Psylocke have a new synergy that can set enemies ablaze. In their turn, Groot and Hulk’s unique combo delivers a damage boost – choose for a tankish terror;
- Cosmetic and Events. Get the Frostfire Battle Pass offers skills like Diamond Form Emma Frost and Punk Rock Spider-Man. The event “Mutant Mayhem” ties into the X-Men lore with exclusive perks and rewards for cosmetics mostly.
Ranking the Heroes after Season 2.5. – Marvel Rivals Tier List from BandurArt
As of May 2025, we’ve got 30+ unique Marvel characters in the Rivals. The roster includes heroes and villains from iconic Marvel franchises – Avengers, X-Men, and cosmic weirdos. Our tier list covers the skills, skins, and ultimate combos to categorize the characters from S to C. Community sentiments and gamers’ discussions were not taken into account. We’ve played for 50+ hours to conclude this Marvel Rivals tier list.
S-Tier Characters in Marvel Rivals – The Best of The Best
The S-tier heroes and villains dominate matches and fit into almost any team build. These characters are versatile, powerful, and can be nightmares for your enemies.
The BandurArt team picked such Marvel Rivals S-tier list characters:
- Emma Frost. She is everyone’s new Strategist queen. Her telepathic shields and damage buffs make teammates unstoppable. Her ultimate skill called Diamond Mind stuns enemies in a wide radius. She is hard to kill and easy to win with;
- Scarlet Witch. Her Chaos magic can easily melt foes. Her reality-warping ultimate clears all the opponents. Mobility and crowd control just keep her untouchable;
- Psylocke. Buffed in Season 2.5., her ninja’s agility and psi-blade combo shred tanks. Her Team-Up with Human Torch is basically a death sentence for all the foes in the arena;
- Human Torch. Insane mobility and high damage make him control all the space. His ultimate skill is a team-wipe machine. It is better to pair him with Psylocke for extra chaos;
- Iron Man. He was nerfed significantly but still belongs to the elite S-tier. His repulsor blasts and flights make him a mobile menace. His Ultimate skill works as a precision nuke.
A-Tier Characters – Strong and Reliable Picks
These characters also shine but only in the right team and combinations.
Typically, they are meta staples who have minor weak points:
- Captain America. His buffed shield throws hit like a truck. His charge and Ultimate skill soak damage and erase backlines easily. He is a tanky Duelist team;
- Venom. Also buffed, Venom’s symbiote swings and grabs give him mobility and pick potential. His ultimate is a team-fight beast;
- Storm. Weather control dominates open maps. Her lightning and wind combos lock down enemies. Ultimate is a game-changer on objectives;
- Doctor Strange. Portals and shields make him a slippery Strategist. His ultimate, Eye of Agamotto, resets fights. Needs coordination to shine;
- Spider-Man. Web-slinging mobility and stuns make him a pest. The damage is solid, but he’s squishy without support.
B-Tier Characters – Situational Stars
Such characters are quite viable but they require specific builds and maps to excel.
They are not meta-defining characters that come to mind once you launch the game:
- Hulk. Smashes objectives and tanks damage. His Team-Up with Groot is brutal, but he’s slow and vulnerable to kiting;
- Groot. A tanky Strategist with healing roots and crowd control. His ultimate traps enemies, but he’s map-dependent;
- Magneto. Metal manipulation controls space, but he’s clunky without a coordinated team. Great on tight maps;
- Black Panther. Stealth and burst damage are fun, but he’s outshined by Psylocke. Needs buffs to climb tiers;
- Wolverine. A healing factor and claws make him scrappy, but he struggles against ranged foes. Solid for dive comps.
C-Tier Characters – Only for Experienced Players
These characters are quite fun to play. Unfortunately, they struggle after the nerfs and buffs brought by Season 2.5. update.
They are very situational and recommended only for the players with major skills:
- Rocket Raccoon. Gadgets and mobility are cute, but his damage is lackluster. Better as a meme pick than a main character in the team;
- Thor. His hammer throws hit hard, but he’s slow and predictable. His ultimate is strong but telegraphed;
- Namor. Water-based skills are unique, but he’s squishy for a Vanguard. Needs a rework to compete;
- Mantis. Her healing is decent, but her kit lacks impact. Other Strategists like Emma Frost outclass her easily;
- Hawkeye. Trick arrows are satisfying, but he’s fragile and map-dependent. Struggles in fast-paced fights.
Tips for New Players – How to Win Every Time?
Even the best Marvel Rivals tier list won’t give you the mindset required to win in every battle. The fast-paced action and diverse roster with multiple combos are thrilling but overwhelming.
Here are tips to help you go from zero to hero instantly from the second match (the first one is a tutorial ☺):
- Learn the roles of each character. There are Duelists who can deal damage, Vanguards who operate like tanks, and Strategists who support other allies. Consider adding all three to your team to dominate each battle;
- Positioning is important. Stay closer to covers and use high grounds. Maps like “Asteroid M” punish reckless players;
- Be mobile. Characters like Spider-Man and Storm thrive on vertical maps. Practice swift moves to outmaneuver foes;
- Track the Ultimate skills of your enemies. Scarlet Witch can wipe out the entire team. Save counters like Doctor Strange’s shields if your enemy team has her.
Check the table with the best characters – consider this as our beginner-friendly Marvel Rivals tier list.
| Hero | Role | Why to Pick Early? |
| Spider-Man | Duelist | Easy mobility, forgiving stuns |
| Hunk | Vanguard | Tanky, simple smash mechanics |
| Doctor Strange | Strategist | Portals and shields are very friendly |
Why Does Marvel Rivals Stand Out?
Marvel Rivals feels really special. It is far better than any other hero shooter, according to our biased opinion. The game accurately blends Overwatch’s teamwork and Marvel’s larger-than-life characters. Every hero feels exclusive thanks to unique skills – e.g. Rocket Raccoon’s chaotic gadgets or Magneto’s metal-bending gravitas. The lore ties all these bright characters and makes each match feel like a comic panel comes to life.
The community is positive too. X posts and Reddit threads show love for Emma Frost skins and hot debates about Captain America’s glow-up. The game’s accessibility is another reason to love this game – play everywhere from PC to mobile. Voice mode on iOS and Android adds immersion.
Summing up, Marvel Rivals is a great game we can’t recommend enough for new players to try.
FAQ
Who’s the best Marvel Rivals character?
Emma Frost is arguably the best character in Marvel Rivals. Her telepathic shields, damage buffs, and stunning ultimate skills. She is a versatile Strategist. She fits any team and dominates all high ranks for a reason. Swing her with ease no matter if you are a novice player or veteran.
What are the sub-roles in Marvel Rivals?
There are Duelists, Vanguards and Strategists. Each role adds unique dynamics to the team. Make sure to play equally in each role to understand which suits you better.
Who is the invisible woman in Marvel Rivals?
Sue Storm is a playable character in Marvel Rivals as of May 2025.
Final Thoughts
The BandurArt team loved playing Marvel Rivals in May 2025 after the release of Season 2.5. It truly captures the heart of Marvel’s universe. Our Marvel Rivals tier list doesn’t cover all 30 characters, so make sure to check other sources. Also, we encourage you to check our other tier lists like the one about the Honkai Star tier list. We continue to post our guides and articles if you support our blog with your follows and sharing. In addition, we want to collaborate with partners and fellow developers to create awesome game art, code, and assets. We can develop beautiful games together!
