One of the biggest prevailing discussions to always have a perpetual relevance inMarvel Rivalswill be class roles.Marvel Rivalsdivides Marvel characters into Vanguards, Duelists, and Strategists(tanks, DPS, and healers), and so far there’s been some hubbub about iconic characters not necessarily being suitable for the class that defines their kit in gameplay.
In a perfect world, classes inMarvel Rivalswould be highly dynamic and allow for multiple strategies beyond what purpose each individual one serves on the battlefield. For instance, tanks aren’t an especially desirable class to play unless there’s at least one healer nearby to support them. It’s a tale as old as time for hero shooters, but inMarvel Rivals’ infancy it’s interesting that Peni Parker, one of five Vanguards currently in the game, has such a unique approach to tank gameplay in her kit.
Marvel Rivals’ Vanguards All Have Their Strengths and Weaknesses
Duelists far outnumber Vanguards and Strategists inMarvel Rivalsand Vanguards desperately need a healer on the team, which is why few tanks are ever seen insta-locked unless somebody adores that character. That said, each tank has a wonderful gimmick with certain circumstances proving more advantageous than others:
How Marvel Rivals’ Peni Parker Subverts Common Vanguard Tropes
Marvel Rivals’ Peni Parker, on the other hand, denies most tank tropes as her move set chiefly revolves around environmental traps that thwart enemies and suffocate choke points. Peni doesn’t have a traditional shield function like every other Vanguard inMarvel Rivals, and instead she is best employed on the battlefield as a means of sneakily laying down a Bionic Spider-Nest drone, Cyber-Web Snare, and Arachno-Mines to harm or make enemies sluggish and vulnerable.
Therefore, rather than simply staring down a whole enemy team with a shield erected, Peni is more methodical—Peni can even temporarily ensnare enemies in webbing and receive free hits on them, not unlike Mantis’ Spore Slumber ability that knocks enemies into a temporary sleep state, and her Spider-Sweeper Ultimate is a fluid rush of SP//dr’s abilities while covering a wide area and popping enemies up. It’s intriguing, then, that Peni is the only tank that doesn’t have an obvious defensive option aside from staying within her webs and relies solely on securing a point or preventing enemies from entering a choke.
Peni is particularly strong on Yggsgard’s Throne Room map due to its incredibly narrow corners and doorways where SP//dr’s abilities can be deployed effectively and subversively, but Convergence/Convoy maps are Peni’s downfall due to the objective always being on the move and rendering her meticulously placed traps futile.
