How to Counter Doctor Strange Hero In Marvel Rivals

Doctor Strange is one of the most impactful Vanguards in Marvel Rivals, capable of turning fights with his ultimate, creating space with portals, and mitigating damage with his shield. When played correctly, he can be extremely difficult to deal with, as his abilities allow him to control the battlefield and protect his team.

His ultimate ability is a game-changer, capable of shifting the momentum of a fight in an instant. Combined with well-placed portals for mobility and repositioning, Doctor Strange can disrupt enemies and make it difficult to land clean engagements. On top of that, his shield makes him incredibly durable, allowing him to soak damage while setting up plays for his team.

To effectively counter Doctor Strange, you need to exploit his weaknesses, break through his defenses, and prevent him from controlling the fight. In this guide, we’ll go over the best strategies and hero picks to shut him down, so let’s get started!

How to Counter Doctor Strange In Marvel Rivals

To effectively counter Doctor Strange, you need to find ways to bypass or break through his Shield of the Seraphim, as it’s his primary tool for mitigating damage and protecting his team. There are two key strategies to deal with this:
1. Break the Shield – Use high-damage characters to burn through his shield quickly and force him into a vulnerable state.
2. Flank and Bypass – Instead of directly engaging him, flank around and target his teammates, forcing him to reposition and disrupting his control of the fight.

Melee heroes generally struggle against Doctor Strange due to Maelstrom of Magic, which can deal up to 100 dark magic damage when fully charged. This makes long-range duelists the best option for countering him—as long as you have a way to get past his shield.

Additionally, pay attention to his anti-heal effect. If Doctor Strange holds onto Dark Magic for too long, a purple anti-heal aura will appear around his health bar, preventing his teammates from receiving healing. This is the perfect opportunity to pressure his team and secure eliminations before he can reset.

By playing aggressively when his shield is down and exploiting his positioning, you can effectively shut down Doctor Strange and prevent him from controlling the battlefield.

Countering Doctor Strange as a Vanguard

If you’re playing a dive Vanguard, Doctor Strange isn’t a major threat unless he actively peels for his team. As long as he’s focused on the frontline, you’ll have room to pressure his teammates without worrying too much about his abilities. However, other frontline Vanguards have multiple ways to contest him directly.
• Peni Parker is a great pick against Doctor Strange, as her Bionic Spider-Nest loaded with Arachno-Mines can slow him down and limit his melee damage. Since Strange frequently uses Maelstrom of Magic in close-range fights, these mines force him to reposition and make it harder for him to engage effectively.
• Groot is another strong option, but timing is key. While walling off Doctor Strange is an effective way to control him, his Cloak of Levitation lets him fly over obstacles. If you wait until his flight is on cooldown, you can trap him in an enclosed space where he has no escape, making him an easy target.
• Magneto can also shut down Strange’s impact by using Mag-Cannon to push him away. This is especially useful when Strange tries to activate his ultimate or use Maelstrom of Magic, as knocking him back interrupts his abilities and prevents him from hitting your teammates.

By disrupting his positioning, limiting his melee effectiveness, and timing your abilities to shut down his mobility, Vanguards can effectively neutralize Doctor Strange’s influence in fights.

Countering Doctor Strange as a Strategist

Since Doctor Strange primarily plays defensively, Strategists in the backline don’t have to worry too much about him diving them. However, his ultimate ability is a major threat, so it’s crucial to stay aware and have ways to counter his impact when he engages.
• Luna Snow is an excellent counter to Doctor Strange because of his large hitbox and relatively slow movement. This makes him an easy target for Absolute Zero (Ultimate), which can freeze him in place, preventing him from using his abilities and giving your team a window to take him down.
• Adam Warlock is also a strong choice against Doctor Strange. Since Warlock’s healing operates on a cooldown, he can output consistent damage in between his heals, making him a valuable asset when dealing with Strange’s defensive playstyle.
• If your entire team is focusing on Strange, Adam Warlock’s Cosmic Cluster (Secondary Fire) is especially effective. It deals significant damage to Strange’s shield and is easy to land, helping to break through his defenses quickly.

As a Strategist, your role in countering Doctor Strange is to pressure his shield, keep him from safely using his abilities, and control him with well-timed crowd control. If played correctly, you can limit his effectiveness and prevent him from protecting his team.

Countering Doctor Strange as a Duelist

As a Duelist, your main goal when facing Doctor Strange is to force him out of position and make it difficult for him to protect his team. Since he relies heavily on his shield and strategic placement, disrupting his positioning will limit his effectiveness and make him an easier target.
• Winter Soldier is one of the best duelists against Doctor Strange. His Bionic Hook allows him to pull Strange away from his team, breaking his defensive formation and making him vulnerable to focused attacks. While Wolverine can also pressure Strange, Winter Soldier has the edge due to his ranged advantage, allowing him to engage without taking too much damage from Strange’s abilities.
• Long-range duelists are the best options for dealing with Strange, as they can poke down his shield from a safe distance or find angles to flank around him. Punisher excels in this matchup, especially when using turret mode, as he can shred through Strange’s shield quickly and force him to reposition.
• Dive-focused heroes like Magik and Iron Fist may not be the best direct counters to Strange, but they can still play in the backline to pick off his teammates, negating his defensive impact. By eliminating his allies before Strange can protect them, these heroes reduce the effectiveness of his shielding and positioning.

To counter Doctor Strange as a Duelist, focus on disrupting his positioning, breaking his shield, and applying constant pressure to prevent him from safely protecting his team. If played correctly, you can force him into bad situations and take control of the fight.

Conclusion

Doctor Strange is one of the most challenging Vanguards to deal with in Marvel Rivals, thanks to his powerful shield, strategic portals, and game-changing ultimate. However, he has clear weaknesses that the right strategies and hero picks can exploit. Whether you’re a Vanguard disrupting his positioning, a Strategist chipping away at his shield, or a Duelist forcing him away from his team, there are multiple ways to shut him down and limit his effectiveness.

By focusing on breaking his shield, flanking to bypass his defenses, and capitalizing on his cooldowns, you can prevent him from controlling fights and protecting his team. Understanding how to counter Doctor Strange will give you the upper hand, ensuring that he doesn’t dictate the pace of battle. Adapt your playstyle, pick the right heroes, and turn the fight in your favor.