Summary
Since the launch ofMarvel Rivals, there have been countless discussions in the community regarding thebest characters in the game, with a clear meta emerging over time. Characters like Hawkeye, Iron Fist, and Hela have remained at the forefront, taking all the spotlight. However, not every hero has received the recognition they deserve.
Some characters in the game offer incredible utility, strong synergies, and awesome playstyles, but are rarely picked in matches, making them highly underrated. Whether it’s due to a higher skill ceiling, a lack of flashy abilities, or simply being overshadowed by the top choices, these heroes remain underappreciated despite their high potential.
1Groot
He Doesn’t Just Build Walls
Whenchoosing a Vanguard inMarvel Rivals,most players immediately flock toward characters like Venom and Thor, and understandably so, as these characters are immensely powerful and offer amazing utility.
However, a Vanguard that often slips under the radar despite being just as capable as the others isGroot. On the surface, it may seem like Groot just has one job: building walls, but there’s so much more to this character hidden underneath the surface.
When placed, hisThornlash Wallstrikes nearby enemies, greatly increasing his damage output. Meanwhile, his other barrier - theIronwood Wall- grants bonus health to himself and nearby allies when awakened. With his ability to tank damage, control chokepoints, and support his team, Groot is a well-rounded Vanguard who deserves far more recognition.
2Black Panther
The King For A Reason
Black Pantheris quite a versatile character. His abilities aresimple enough for beginners to grasp, but mastering their intricacies can take some time, making him a rewarding pick for skilled players.
The most important ability in his kit isSpirit Rend, which may seem like a standard lunge attack at first glance. However, when used against enemies marked with theVibranium Mark,it instantly refreshes itself and grants bonus health. So, with good timing, Black Panther players can spam their lunge attack multiple times, catching enemies off-guard and dealing insane amounts of damage within seconds.
Another great thing about this character is that he gains a 20% damage boost when below 100 HP, making him deadlier in clutch situations. Combine this with the healing he gains from Spirit Rend, and Black Panther becomes a self-sustaining powerhouse of a duelist.
3Namor
A Surprisingly Powerful Duelist
While some duelistsin the game are admittedly underpowered,Namoris definitely not one of them. Many players assume that his damage output is lacking due to the relatively low raw damage of hisTrident of Neptuneability. While this is technically true, Namor’s real strength comes from how well his abilities can be chained together. When executed properly, his damage can skyrocket, making him a far bigger threat than most players expect.
His true strength lies in hisMonstro Spawns, which are basically turrets that Namor can place on the battlefield. These spawns boast a large health pool, deal good damage, and can attack from far away, allowing Namor to pressure enemies while staying safe. On top of this, Namor has aTeam-Up ability with Luna Snow, one of the most popular picks in the game. This synergy not only boosts his damage output but also enhances his Monstro Spawns, granting them a slow effect that makes it hard for enemies to retreat. With all these abilities, Namor can be an absolute menace when utilized properly — he just needs more players to recognize his potential.
4The Hulk
A Strong Vanguard With Amazing Team-Up Passives
Hulkis a hero with an unexpectedly low pick rate inMarvel Rivalsdespite having all the qualities of a powerhouse. On his own, he boasts impressive damage output, solid abilities, and a tanky health pool, but his true potential shines when he’spaired with the right teammates.
When Hulk enters a match alongside Iron Man and Doctor Strange, he activates a uniqueTeam-Up passivethat significantly boosts Iron Man and Doctor Strange’s damage, while also removing Strange’s healing debuff — allowing him to support the team even more effectively. With these synergies, Hulk doesn’t even need to land every hit to make a major impact; just by being on the battlefield, he can passively farm assists. Given how much utility he brings to the table, it’s surprising that Hulk remains such an underutilized pick.
5Rocket Raccoon
The Most Underutilized Strategist
Rocket Raccoonis hands down themost underrated Strategist in the game. While he tends to get overshadowed by his fellow Guardian, Mantis, Rocket Raccoon should not be overlooked by any player looking to fill the Strategist role for their team.
His healing ability,Repair Mode, is arguably one of the strongest in the game. It allows him to rapidly fire spheres that bounce around the arena, healing allies. What makes this ability great is that each sphere can bounce up to ten times, enabling Rocket to heal his allies constantly.
Rocket pairs well with most other characters in the game, but his strongest allies are Groot, the Winter Soldier, and the Punisher. For players looking for a versatile and underappreciated Strategist, Rocket Raccoon is well worth considering.
6Loki
A Difficult But Rewarding Strategist To Master
Despite being one of the most popular characters in theMarveluniverse, Loki remains one of the least-picked Strategists inMarvel Rivals. This is surprising considering how versatile he is, boasting solid damage, reliable healing, andone of the best ultimates in the game.
The main reason for his low pick rate likely comes down to his complexity. Unlike some other Strategists, Loki requires a strong understanding of his kit to be played effectively. His abilities demand good timing and positioning, making him a high-risk, high-reward character. However, in the hands of a skilled player who can fully utilize his abilities, Loki can be an incredibly powerful Strategist.
7Wolverine
Arguably The Most Underrated Duelist In The Game
SinceMarvel Rival’srelease, Wolverine has been one of the most talked-about characters, as most of the community believes he’s nowhere near as powerful as the other Duelists in the game. This is reflected in his pick rate, which is one of the lowest among the entire roster.
Thankfully, some players are now starting to realizejust how strong this X-Men member is. For starters, hisFeral Leapability is extremely useful as it allows him to pull an enemy away from their team. This means that Wolverine can easily isolate Vanguards and take them down.
Furthermore, the quirk with Wolverine’s damage is that it scales with the enemy’s health pool — the more health they have, the more damage he does. Therefore, with a well-timed Feral Leap and some accurate strikes, Wolverine can take down a Vanguard within seconds, making him one of the strongest characters in the entire game.
