Marvel Rivals: 4 Best Vanguards With the Highest Survivability in Season 1
To be a Vanguard in Marvel Rivals, you need to embrace the role of a frontline defender, acting as a strong shield for your team. There are eight Vanguards in the game, but some are noticeably tankier than others. In this guide, we’ll highlight the four best Vanguards with the highest survivability in Marvel Rivals Season 1.
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Why does Venom have high survivability in Marvel Rivals?
Venom is an exceptionally durable Vanguard in Marvel Rivals, thanks to his natural strength and ability to generate shields. HisSymbiotic Resilience (E)skill is his core defensive ability, granting him a shield based on his missing health. The lower his health, the greater the bonus health he generates. This mechanic makes him one of the most powerful tanks in the game.
Venom’s playstyle also revolves around diving into enemy lines to disrupt their healers and strategies. He can endure sustained damage from the entire enemy team, activate his shield to absorb hits, and retreat usingVenom Swingwhen the shield is about to break. With his high survivability, Venom is great at breaking enemy formations and forcing opponents to react, creating opportunities for his team to engage. Even with minimalhealing from Strategists, he can dive in and hold his ground effectively.
2. Doctor Strange
Why does Doctor Strange have high survivability in Marvel Rivals?
Next is the Sorcerer Supreme,Doctor Strange, who is currently the most popular Vanguard, boasting thehighest pick rate in competitive playat a staggering19.3%. Why is he the top choice? Simply put, he is an incredibly strong tank with a highly valuable kit for his team.
HisShield of the Seraphimis his standout ability, letting him deploy thelargest shield in the game. This shield provides cover for all teammates behind him. Not only does this shield offer massive protection, but he can also hold it as long as its durability lasts. It can even block powerful ultimates, including Hela’s and Scarlet Witch’s, making Doctor Strange an important frontline protector.
Additionally, Doctor Strange also has a mobility skill that lets himfloat while keeping his shield up, boosting his survivability by allowing him to move while protected. Although he doesn’t have Venom’s healing ability, his large shield and mobility make him one of the hardest Vanguards to defeat.
3. Magneto
Why does Magneto have high survivability in Marvel Rivals?
The father ofall mutants, Magneto, rises as one of the strongest tanks in Marvel Rivals. Taking him down is no easy task, as he possesses multiple layers of shields that keep both himself and his teammates alive. HisMetallic Curtain (Shift)skill is a powerful defensive ability that fits any team composition. With only a3-second cooldown, this skill makes Magneto incredibly difficult to kill, allowing him to refresh his protection constantly.
What truly elevates his survivability are hisMetal and Iron Shield Bubbleabilities(E and F), which give him extra layers of protection These shields make him nearly unbreakable, especially with healer support. He can also share the shields with teammates, offeringmore assist to his mutant allies.
HisMag-Cannon (RMB) also improves his survivability. When fully charged, it knocks enemies back by 6 meters, giving Magneto a way to escape when he’s in danger. Pairing Magneto with his daughter, Scarlet Witch, makes him even more formidable, thanks to theirMetallic Fusion team-up ability. This synergy allows Magneto to form adevastating swordthat deals massive damage, proving that sometimes, the best defense is a strong offense.
Why does Groot have high survivability in Marvel Rivals?
Groot rounds out this list as the final entry. HisFlora Colossusability makes him an incredibly tough opponent to bring down. He is the go-to Vanguard when a team desperately needs a frontliner who candisrupt enemy attacksand hold the line.
Groot’s core strength lies in hiswooden wall abilities. HisThornlash Wall (Shift)canblock both enemy movement and projectiles, while alsostriking nearby enemies. When used strategically, this ability can frustrate opponents while dealing decent damage.
However, what truly makes Groot one of the most survivable Vanguards in Marvel Rivals is hisIronwood Wall (E). Many players misuse this ability, but when positioned correctly—preferably blocking enemy paths, and beside Groot—it serves as a lifeline. By continuously attacking enemies near the wall, Groot can awaken it, granting himselfbonus healthand making him even harder to kill. With his wall abilities on short cooldowns, Groot is both tough and disruptive, making him a key protector in any team setup.
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These four Vanguards—Venom, Doctor Strange, Magneto, and Groot—stand out for their exceptional survivability in Marvel Rivals Season 1. Each brings unique defensive capabilities to the battlefield. Their durability and defensive skills make them essential for teams needing a strong frontline. The upcoming addition of The Thing as a new Vanguard will reveal if he can outshine the tanks in this list. We will see!
Shida Aruya
Shida is a gaming writer at TechWiser who loves getting comfy with a good book. When she is not writing, you’ll catch her growing crops in Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria, or exploring Fortnite. For Shida, nothing beats a day split between reading books and playing games.
