Marvel Rivals: 8 Best Duelists

Released in 2024, Marvel Rivals has quickly gained recognition as one of the most engaging free-to-play games of the year. Often compared to established titles like Overwatch 2, this hero-based action game has captivated players with its diverse roster and unique gameplay. Much like its contemporaries, team composition plays a critical role in Marvel Rivals, with Duelists standing out as the primary damage-dealing role.

In this article, we’ll focus on the best Duelists in Marvel Rivals. These high-impact heroes bring devastating damage and impressive versatility to any team. From their standout abilities to the strategies that make them exceptional, we’ll break down what makes these characters must-haves for any Duelist fan. So, let’s dive into the top Duelists dominating the battlefield!

#8: The Punisher

Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, is one of the most straightforward yet effective Duelists in Marvel Rivals. His versatility lies in his arsenal, allowing him to switch between an automatic rifle for sustained damage and a shotgun for devastating close-range hits. This adaptability makes him a reliable choice for players who prefer direct combat.

What sets The Punisher apart is his ultimate ability, which upgrades his weaponry into a gatling gun paired with missile launchers. This devastating combo can decimate fragile enemies in seconds, making him a nightmare for squishy targets. While his gameplay is easy to grasp, his lack of mobility demands a more aggressive approach to keep enemies on the back foot and ensure survival.

#7: Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch stands out as one of the top Duelists in Marvel Rivals due to her powerful ultimate, beginner-friendly mechanics, and survivability. Her primary attack automatically locks onto enemies, making precision less critical and allowing players to focus on charging her Chaos Energy. This energy powers her secondary fire, an explosive attack capable of dealing significant damage.

Her ultimate is one of the most devastating in the game. Taking flight, she unleashes a barrage of high-damage attacks that can annihilate almost any enemy, provided they aren’t protected by shields. Additionally, her phasing ability grants her temporary invulnerability and increased mobility, making it an excellent tool for escaping dangerous situations or repositioning in battle. Scarlet Witch’s mix of offense and survivability makes her a fan favorite for Duelists.

#6: Hela

Hela is widely regarded as one of the strongest Duelists in Marvel Rivals, especially for players with sharp aim and quick reflexes. Her kit rewards precision with devastating critical damage, making her a formidable force in any match. Additionally, when paired with Loki and Thor, her team-up ability activates, granting bonus health and even reviving fallen allies—a significant advantage during intense battles.

Her ultimate is highly effective and user-friendly, allowing her to rain down multiple shots from above, dealing massive damage to enemies below. However, Hela does have a weakness: she struggles against melee-focused opponents like Spider-Man or Iron Fist. To maximize her potential, players should maintain medium-range positioning and avoid close-quarters engagements to outmaneuver flanking enemies.

#5: Spider-Man

Spider-Man is one of the trickiest Duelists to master in Marvel Rivals, but when played skillfully, he becomes a nightmare for the enemy team. His strength lies in his unparalleled agility and adaptability. With abilities like web-swinging, web-zipping, wall-crawling, and double jumps, Spider-Man excels at flanking and taking out vulnerable targets in the backline.

Although his primary attack doesn’t deal significant damage, his ability to chain combos can quickly punish poorly positioned enemies. Spider-Man’s hit-and-run playstyle requires strategic precision, but in the right hands, he can disrupt and dismantle the enemy team with ease.

#4: Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier thrives in close-to-mid-range battles with his explosive pistol and rapid-fire attacks, making him a force to be reckoned with. His abilities allow him to control engagements by displacing enemies while dealing consistent damage.

What sets Winter Soldier apart is his ultimate, which can be chained multiple times for devastating team-wiping potential if timed correctly. However, despite his effectiveness in controlling the battlefield, his lack of mobility makes it challenging to reposition quickly, requiring careful placement to maximize his impact.

#3: Hawkeye

Hawkeye is the epitome of a character that rewards precise aiming. His Archer Focus passive grants bonus damage for accurately placed shots, enabling him to eliminate low-health enemies with ease. Whether facing single opponents or groups, his versatile toolkit—including Blast Arrows for area damage and Hypersonic Arrows for high-impact strikes—makes him a formidable presence on the battlefield.

To hold his ground, Hawkeye has defensive options like Ronin Slash and Crescent Slash, which deflect incoming projectiles and push back foes. However, despite his high damage output, his limited mobility leaves him vulnerable to flanking enemies, requiring careful positioning to stay effective.

#2: Moon Knight

Moon Knight is a highly versatile Duelist with exceptional mobility and impressive damage potential. His movement options include grappling hooks, double jumps, and gliding, making him perfect for navigating the battlefield with ease. From elevated positions, Moon Knight can hurl darts that ricochet between multiple enemies, dealing widespread damage.

To amplify his damage output, players can strategically place an Ankh, allowing his darts to bounce between enemies and the Ankh for maximum impact. When facing clustered opponents, Moon Knight’s ultimate ability can turn the tide, delivering devastating damage and potentially wiping out the entire enemy team.

#1: Iron Man

Iron Man stands out as one of the best Duelists in Marvel Rivals due to his versatility and beginner-friendly kit. Constantly airborne, he effortlessly avoids melee-focused enemies like Iron Fist, giving him a significant advantage in close encounters. His primary attack delivers substantial area-of-effect damage, while his secondary ability excels at eliminating nearby threats.

Iron Man’s ultimate ability is a game-changer, capable of instantly taking down most enemies unless they are shielded. However, his primary weakness lies in dealing with long-range adversaries like Black Widow, so strategic positioning is crucial to maintaining his dominance on the battlefield.

Conclusion

Duelists in Marvel Rivals bring a unique mix of mobility, precision, and high damage output to the battlefield, making them essential for taking out high-priority targets and shifting the tide of combat. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, characters like Iron Man, Moon Knight, and Scarlet Witch offer powerful and accessible options to master. Each Duelist comes with distinct strengths and weaknesses, allowing players to experiment and find the hero that best suits their playstyle. With the right strategy and practice, any of these Duelists can become a game-changer in your matches.