With Marvel Rivals, the support characters (or “Strategists” in-game) , are notoriously fun, and each of the stunning characters have similar potential to be some heavy hitters. The role of a Strategist is to keep a team active, either through healing or stunning enemies, in order to complete objectives.
To celebrate the release of Season 1: Eternal Night Falls, I thought to make a list of all currently available strategists found in Marvel Rivals. Because of how important it is for a Strategist to keep themselves alive, this list will be based on what I believe characters can not only support, but hold their own against any incoming trouble.
8. Jeff: The Land Shark
This carnivorous puppy-dog is not someone you want to mess with. If you see an opposing team with a Jeff of their own, likely, their frontline become sponges.
Jeff The Land Shark definitely has the upper hand with mobility and healing when compared to some other Strategists, but this featured creature has an abundance of dangerous openings that can be exploited as well.
Jeff The Land Shark is really just a giant head with four stubby legs, and the hitboxes given to him respect that. Jeff’s frame makes it so he is vulnerable to headshots, and that’s because there’s more of his “head” to aim at.
Even when considering the land shark’s upsides, they are still possible to be outshined by other certain characters like Cloak & Dagger and Rocket Racoon; speaking of which…
7. Rocket Racoon
The furry dumpster diver Rocket Racoon is one of my favorite characters in the Guardians of the Galaxy, but that bias doesn’t help him here. Similarly to Jeff The Land Shark, Rocket’s benefits come with risky hiccups in his playstyle.
With mobility and revival abilities, he plays his part well. Running up walls along with his smaller frame lends him an advantage when up against larger enemies. The furball’s revival ability that can have you respawn nearby can also give your team an upper hand.
That minigun however, holds Rocket back from doing some real damage. Rockets Minigun is his primary weapon as well as his downfall. With no hit scan and weaker far-range attacks, this character relies heavily on the teammates he’ll be supporting. Rocket Racoon essentially works as the “glass canon” of the Strategists with just as many positives as negatives.
6. Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock is a cosmic entity that brings astronomical advantages to the team he’s in.
Splitting damage taken between teammates, chain healing and his ultimate ability “Karmic Revival“, can flip the tables in a match when done right. He has some of the best consecutive healing in the game and a reliable crutch when things get to hectic.
In combat and other possibly stressful situations, you will soon realize that this evolutionary human is… slow. Adam Warlock is as mobile as a car put underwater. When caught off-guard, the chances of survivability become slim when you don’t have a Vanguard or Duelist watching your back.
Adam Warlock has impressive damage output as well as reliable support, but he is also vulnerable to any heavy hitters that could pick him off from the rest of the team.
5. Mantis
Mantis, the empathetic alien, is my personal go-to Strategist, and for good reason.
Mantis has some of the best DPS potential as a support, due to her ability to damage buff her allies as well as herself. The change in damage output as a team noticeably increases, and can greatly effect the tides of the match.
Mantis also has a reliable means of mobility as she is given a speed boost when healing as well as an ability to hypnotize enemies to sleep just enough to flee from the scene.
When it comes to her healing itself however, one drawback becomes apparent. Mantis’s healing is a gradual effect relying on her “life orbs” that are also consumed to damage boost allies. This makes it so you have to ration what abilities you decide on pulling depending on what seems more effective.
4. Luna Snow
Luna Snow, K-pop sensational superstar, is what I’d consider one of the best designed Strategists in the game.
With an emphasis on long-range support, Luna Snow can keep your allies alive without risking her own. Her primary attack deals both damage and heals allies, making her move set a lot less overwhelming.
She can also hold her own efficiently by casting ice blocks at enemies and freezing them, granting herself heals as well. However, her self sufficiency isn’t all that great and can be vulnerable to diving attacks from the other team.
All in all, Luna Snow is very versatile and popping her Ultimate move “Fate of Both Worlds” at the right time can tip the scale to your favor.
3. Invisible Woman
Sue Storm, better known as “Invisible Woman”, is a Strategist that can dramatically control the playing field. Her survivability in Rivals is nothing to scoff at. She can heal herself by going invisible and gaining gradual health, as well as getting out of rough spots.
Her damage and healing is under the same primary weapon she uses, making her just as versatile as Luna Snow. Unlike Luna Snow however, Sue Storm is less vulnerable to tanks and dive attackers due to her mobility.
Though Sue Storm has a good damage and healing ratio, her primary attack range doesn’t go so far. Because she is required to get up close and personal with enemy players, it’s easy to lose your footing and leave any openings for the opposing players.
With the right strategy however (no pun intended), this Strategist can support like crazy and set up some good kills for their teammates as long as her positioning is to her favor.
2. Cloak & Dagger
Cloak & Dagger embody what I believe is an ideal Strategist. Two characters in one, with each of them prioritizing either damage or healing.
As Cloak, you can attack with a channeled energy beam that hits nearby enemies when pointed in their general direction. Cloak can also obstruct enemy teams vision as well as have their own teammates vanish temporarily.
Dagger is given primary weapons that, you guessed it, resemble daggers. The bounce off terrain and have a slight homing effect that can track down nearby enemies. Her secondary attack is what does the healing and support along with all of her other abilities.
Due to the fact that these are technically two characters, many liberties were taken in order to make them more balanced. Dagger has little to no mobility and is very vulnerable when healing. Cloak also has a lower max health and would put him in risk in close range combat.
Mastering this character can definitely help reduce the chances of coming up exposed though. The two, forever intertwined, work as amazing strategists and are easy to rely on for any Vanguards or Duelists who are maybe looking to heal.
1. Loki
Loki, the sinister God of mischief himself, is someone you shouldn’t take lightly.
Loki is what I believe to be a very good balance between an efficient healer as well as an efficient fighter who does phenomenally well in range combat.
The Asgardian prince has heals that spread in an “area of effect” or AoE. This helps it so you don’t have to worry about running around to support. Loki can also place clones that both do damage and heal allies as well.
Loki seems to only be found vulnerable when his skills are on cooldown. No healing or any decent damage output can be dealt due to a lot of them being reliant on his abilities. Just like Mantis, you need to be able to decide when and where you want to use them to not leave yourself exposed.
Loki’s ultimate ability, “God of Mischief”, is what really takes the cake. With it, Loki is able to disguise himself as any character of the opposing team along with all the benefits. His potential as only just a Strategist highlights just how godly he is.
Conclusion
To sum up, each Strategist in Marvel Rivals have particular skills and potential that they could apply to the battlefield; some are excellent at healing and providing support, while others strike a balance between offensive and defensive tactics. With their flexible abilities that can be used in every circumstance, characters like Loki and Cloak & Dagger are the most valuable allies.
Any of these characters can help a well-coordinated team win, but the ideal Strategist for your team largely relies on your playstyle and plan. Every Strategist has the ability to have a significant effect on every match, but it’s up to the player to utilize it.
Featured Image Credit: NetEase Games
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