Hey there, future hero! Ready to step into the boots of a mighty Marvel Vanguard and become the impenetrable wall your team needs? Excellent. Forget about just blasting away as a Duelist or healing from the backlines as a Strategist. This guide is all about embracing the frontlines, soaking up damage, and making the enemy regret ever stepping onto the battlefield with you.
Let's dive in and learn how to become a true Vanguard in Marvel Rivals!
Step 1: Embrace Your Role as the Frontline Savior
First and foremost, let's get one thing straight: you are not a damage dealer. Your primary objective is not to get the most kills. Your primary objective is to be the anchor of your team. You are the immovable object against the enemy's unstoppable force. You are the shield that protects your allies and the battering ram that breaks through enemy defenses. Your success is measured in damage absorbed, abilities denied, and space created for your team to dominate. So, are you ready to become a bullet sponge for a good cause?
Step 2: Know Your Vanguard Archetype
Not all Vanguards are created equal. In Marvel Rivals, they can be broadly categorized into a few different playstyles, and understanding which one your chosen hero fits into is crucial.
Sub-heading: Brawl/Anchor Vanguards
These Vanguards are the classic, unmoving tanks. They excel at holding a point, controlling a chokepoint, and staying right in the thick of the fight. They thrive when their team is close by, as they can provide consistent protection and crowd control.
Hulk (Bruce Banner): The ultimate brawler. Hulk's kit is all about getting up close and personal. His ability to switch between Bruce and Hulk forms gives him multiple health bars, making him incredibly hard to kill. You'll be using his leaps and smashes to disrupt enemy formations and force them to focus on you.
The Thing: A true brawler who excels in close-quarters combat. The Thing is all about absorbing damage and dishing it out in return. His abilities are designed to interrupt and control enemies who get too close.
Groot: While he can be a brawler, Groot is a master of area control. His walls can create chokepoints, block lines of sight, and deny enemy pushes. He excels at holding a static objective or creating a safe zone for his team to push from.
Sub-heading: Dive Vanguards
These Vanguards are highly mobile and excel at disrupting the enemy's backline. Their goal is to get in, cause chaos, and get out, forcing the enemy's attention away from your team's damage dealers and healers.
Venom: The most clear-cut dive Vanguard. Venom's symbiote-enhanced mobility allows him to zip across the map and ambush unsuspecting enemies. He's a menace in the backline, making their Strategists and Duelists uncomfortable.
Captain America: Cap can be a brawler, but his charge and shield toss allow him to quickly close distances and disrupt a backline. He's great at picking off isolated targets and forcing the enemy to fall back.
Thor: The God of Thunder is a damage-dealing Vanguard who can also dive. His abilities allow him to deal massive damage and disrupt formations, but he lacks some of the self-sustain of other Vanguards, so he needs to be smart with his engagements.
Sub-heading: Shield/Utility Vanguards
These Vanguards are all about protection and utility. They use their abilities to create shields, absorb projectiles, and control the battlefield from a slightly safer distance.
Doctor Strange: With his portals and shields, Doctor Strange is a master of battlefield control. He can redirect enemies, create safe zones for his allies, and even immobilize enemies with his ultimate. His shield is a game-changer.
Magneto: The Master of Magnetism excels at denying enemy projectiles and providing shields. His abilities can be used to control enemy movement and create barriers, making him a fantastic pick for holding a lane or a choke.
Peni Parker: While she can deal damage, Peni Parker is a specialist in area denial. Her mines and webs can turn an area into a deathtrap, making it incredibly difficult for divers to get to your backline. She's all about setting up and protecting a fortified position.
Step 3: Master the Fundamentals
Once you know your hero's archetype, it's time to learn the core gameplay loop of a Vanguard.
Sub-heading: Positioning is Everything
As a Vanguard, your positioning is more important than anyone else's. You are the frontline, so you need to be positioned between your team and the enemy.
Always be in front of your Duelists and Strategists. If a sniper is looking to take out your healer, you should be the one they see first.
Control choke points and objectives. Use your abilities to block off routes and force the enemy to fight on your terms.
Be aware of your team's positioning. Your Duelists need a clear shot at the enemy, and your Strategists need a line of sight to heal you. Don't push so far that you lose their support.
Sub-heading: Use Your Abilities Wisely
Your abilities are your toolkit for controlling the battlefield. Don't just spam them off cooldown.
Absorb Damage, Don't Avoid It: This may sound counterintuitive, but your high health and defensive abilities are meant to be used. Step in front of that incoming Ultimate. Block that barrage of projectiles. Every bit of damage you absorb is damage your teammates don't have to heal or avoid.
Engage and Disengage: Knowing when to push forward and when to fall back is crucial. As a Dive Vanguard, you need to know when to strike and when to retreat to your team for healing. As an Anchor, you need to know when to hold the line and when to concede ground.
Communicate with your team: Let them know when you are going in, when you are using your ultimate, and when you are low on health. A coordinated Vanguard is a powerful Vanguard.
Step 4: Synergy and Team Composition
A Vanguard is only as good as their team. You need to synergize with your allies to be truly effective.
Sub-heading: Find Your Perfect Partner
Pair with a strong Strategist: A good Vanguard needs a good healer. Characters like Luna Snow, Cloak & Dagger, and Mantis can provide the consistent healing you need to stay in the fight.
Team-Up Abilities are key: Many Vanguards have special Team-Up abilities with specific heroes. For example, Venom and Spider-Man can perform a powerful Team-Up. Use these to your advantage and coordinate with your teammates to pull them off.
Complement your Duelists: If you have a Melee Duelist like Black Panther, a Brawl Vanguard like Hulk can create the space they need to get in and do damage. If you have a Sniper Duelist like Hawkeye, a Shield Vanguard like Doctor Strange can protect them from enemy dives.
Step 5: Learn from Your Mistakes and Practice
Playing Vanguard can be frustrating at first. You might feel like you're not doing enough damage or that you're just dying all the time. But every mistake is a learning opportunity.
Review your gameplay: Watch back your matches and ask yourself: "What could I have done better?" Did you push too far? Did you fail to protect your healer? Did you misuse your ultimate?
Experiment with different Vanguards: If you're struggling with a Dive Vanguard, try a Shield Vanguard. If you're not a fan of area control, try a brawler. Find a hero whose playstyle clicks with you.
Don't be afraid to die: Sometimes, a sacrificial death to absorb an ultimate or hold a point for just a few more seconds is the right play. It's about buying time for your team to win.
Remember, being a Vanguard is a thankless job, but it is the most important one. You are the backbone of your team, and when you play your role well, your victory is all but guaranteed.
Now get out there and Vanguard, hero!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to choose the best Vanguard for my team? The best Vanguard depends on your team's composition and the map. If your team is running a "poke" comp with long-range Duelists, a Shield Vanguard like Doctor Strange or Magneto is a great choice to protect them. If your team has mobile Duelists and wants to be aggressive, a Dive Vanguard like Venom or Captain America would be a better fit.
How to deal with enemy Vanguards as a Vanguard? As a Vanguard, your job isn't to solo duel the enemy Vanguard. Instead, focus on creating space and disrupting their team. Try to bait their abilities, and if they push too far, use your crowd control to isolate them for your Duelists to take down.
How to know when to use my ultimate ability? Ultimate abilities are game-changers. Use them to initiate a team fight, counter an enemy ultimate, or hold a critical objective. For example, Hulk's ultimate is great for starting a push, while Doctor Strange's can shut down an enemy team's advance.
How to protect my Strategist from a Dive Duelist? Position yourself between your Strategist and the enemy Duelist. Use your crowd control abilities like stun, knockback, or imprisonment to peel for your healer and make it difficult for the enemy to reach them.
How to know when to fall back and regroup? If you're low on health and your healer is down, it's often better to fall back and regroup. A dead Vanguard can't protect their team. Use your mobility or defensive abilities to retreat to a safe position and wait for your team to respawn.
How to use the map to my advantage? Learn the choke points, health pack locations, and high ground on each map. Use walls and terrain to your advantage to block enemy lines of sight and create cover for your team.
How to be a good team leader as a Vanguard? Communicate with your team! Use voice chat or pings to call out enemy positions, coordinate pushes, and let your team know when you're engaging or falling back. Your team often follows your lead, so be vocal.
How to deal with snipers as a Vanguard? As a Vanguard, your job is to absorb the sniper's shots. Use your shield or high health to soak up their damage and get in their face. A sniper who is being pressured by a Vanguard is a sniper who can't get a clear shot at your teammates.
How to get better at aiming with Vanguard heroes? Practice makes perfect. Many Vanguards have abilities that require good aim. Spend time in the training grounds or in quick play matches to get a feel for their projectile speeds and hitboxes.
How to be an annoying Vanguard for the enemy team? Be a constant presence on the frontlines. Use your abilities to disrupt their plans, block their pushes, and force them to waste their cooldowns on you. The more time they spend focusing on you, the less time they have to deal with your team's damage dealers.
