Tanks in Marvel Rivals (officially called Vanguards) are the big, beefy heroes meant to soak up damage, create space, and control the flow of a match.
They aren’t just there to stand in front of everyone; they’re here to make plays, protect teammates, and sometimes, turn the entire fight upside down.
If you’ve been playing Marvel Rivals for a while and wondered which Vanguard is worth maining, or if you’re thinking about trying the tank role for the first time, this article is for you.
We’ll go through how many tanks there are, who they all are, which ones are standing out in the meta, and how to play and counter them effectively.
How Many Tanks (Vanguards) Are There in Marvel Rivals?
The exact number of tanks (Vanguards) in Marvel Rivals has grown over time as the game has been updated with new seasons and heroes.
Early in the game’s life, there were around eight Vanguards, but more have been added across multiple seasons.
Based on the most recent information from reliable sources and character lists, there are 13 Vanguards currently in the game (counting Deadpool).
That includes the core classic tanks like Hulk and Captain America, as well as newer fighters like Angela and Rogue.
That’s still small compared to Duelists, but it gives players a decent assortment of playstyles, from bulky frontline anchors to more agile, disruptive tanks.
All Tanks (Vanguards) in Marvel Rivals
Here’s a rundown of the Vanguard roster in Marvel Rivals. This list includes confirmed tanks from the official character guides and seasonal updates:
- Angela – winged fighter with space control abilities.
- Captain America – classic shield-based tank.
- Doctor Strange – defensive magic tank with portal utility.
- Emma Frost – versatile frontliner (sometimes listed as Vanguard).
- Groot – area control and wall-based disruption.
- Hulk – massive health pool and frontline energy.
- Magneto – magnetic defense and zoning tank.
- Peni Parker – ranged tank/controller with digital abilities.
- The Thing – heavy bruiser with strong durability.
- Thor – melee bruiser with crowd control.
- Venom – mobile bruiser with healing mechanics.
- Rogue – recent Vanguard with power-stealing abilities.
- Deadpool - muti-role hero recently added
That gives players a solid sample of tanks with very different strengths, some are traditional heavy tanks, others are more about disruption and mobility.
The role continues to evolve with new seasonal characters.
What Are The Best Tanks in Marvel Rivals?
Ranking tanks in Marvel Rivals is less about who has the most health and more about who consistently delivers value in ranked matches.
The best Vanguards are the ones that can control space, protect teammates, survive focused pressure, and still influence fights even when they are not securing eliminations.
Below is a tier list that reflects current ranked play trends, team synergy, and overall reliability rather than niche or gimmick potential.
S Tier – Meta-defining Vanguards
These tanks are strong in almost every composition and map. They bring reliable value even when the match is chaotic, which is why they are frequently prioritized in ranked play.
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange sits at the top because of how much control he brings to team fights. His defensive tools allow teams to stabilize under pressure, while his utility gives his team options both offensively and defensively.
He excels at holding objectives, managing choke points, and enabling coordinated pushes. In ranked matches where teamwork matters, Doctor Strange consistently delivers impact without needing to overextend.
Peni Parker
Peni Parker is one of the strongest space-control tanks in the game. Her ability to deny areas, protect objectives, and punish careless pushes makes her extremely effective in ranked environments.
She performs especially well against aggressive teams that rely on dives or flanks. While she may not feel flashy, her ability to slow the pace of the game and force enemies into bad positions makes her a top-tier Vanguard.
Also read: The Best Enchantments for Wings in Mabinogi
A Tier – Strong and reliable picks
These tanks are excellent choices and can dominate matches in the right hands, but they usually require better positioning, matchup awareness, or team coordination than S-tier options.
Magneto
Magneto is a highly effective Vanguard when used properly. His defensive and zoning tools allow him to control space and protect teammates from incoming damage.
He performs particularly well in structured team fights, where positioning matters more than raw aggression. However, Magneto can feel weaker if forced into constant close-range brawls or chaotic engagements.
Hulk
Hulk remains one of the most intimidating frontline tanks due to his durability and disruptive presence. He excels at creating pressure simply by existing in the fight. Hulk works best in aggressive team compositions where teammates can capitalize on the chaos he creates.
His main weakness is predictability, as experienced players know how to kite or avoid him.
The Thing
The Thing is a straightforward but effective Vanguard. He does not rely on complex mechanics, which makes him reliable in ranked play.
His strength lies in his consistency. He holds space well, absorbs damage, and punishes enemies who get too close. While he lacks the high utility of S-tier tanks, he rarely feels like a bad pick.
Angela
Angela brings a different flavor to the Vanguard role thanks to her mobility and vertical presence.
She is excellent at disrupting backlines and contesting elevated positions. In the right hands, Angela can feel oppressive. However, she requires good decision-making and timing, as poor engages can leave her isolated.
B Tier – Situational but playable
These tanks can still perform well, but they tend to be more dependent on team composition, map design, or player skill to succeed consistently.
Venom
Venom offers strong mobility and self-sustain, making him effective in skirmishes and extended fights.
He works best in dive-oriented compositions where he can harass enemies and retreat safely. In ranked play, Venom can struggle if the team lacks follow-up or if opponents focus him with coordinated damage.
Thor
Thor is a solid melee Vanguard who performs well in close-range engagements. He can disrupt enemies and apply pressure in tight spaces.
However, he tends to struggle against ranged-heavy teams and poke compositions, which are common in ranked play. His effectiveness often depends on map layout.
Captain America
Captain America is dependable but currently less impactful than other tanks. He can protect teammates and hold objectives reasonably well, but his overall influence in high-level ranked matches is limited compared to stronger Vanguards.
He is still a viable pick, especially for players who value defensive play, but he rarely defines the outcome of a match.
Overall Ranked Perspective
In ranked Marvel Rivals, the best tanks are not always the ones that survive the longest. They are the ones that shape fights, protect teammates at critical moments, and force enemies to react.
Doctor Strange and Peni Parker currently lead the pack because they do all of this consistently, while A-tier tanks shine when played with awareness and coordination.
What Are The Strengths and Weaknesses of Tanks in Marvel Rivals?
Tanks aren’t just bulky health bags. They bring a specific toolkit to the team, but that toolkit has limitations if you don’t know how to make the most of it.
Strengths of Tanks (Vanguards):
- Durability: Vanguards have bigger health pools than Duelists and can stay alive longer in fights.
- Space control: Many have tools that control zones or block damage (like shields or walls).
- Team utility: Tanks help their squad push objectives or disengage when needed.
- Crowd control: A lot of Vanguard kits include stuns, slows, or disruptive ultimates.
Weaknesses of Tanks:
- Lower damage output: Compared to Duelists, tanks generally don’t kill as fast. They have to rely on allies for finishing blows.
- Mobility limits: While some tanks like Venom or Angela are more mobile, most aren’t as agile as Duelists.
- Role pressure: In team queues, tanks often get stuck in role responsibility — if you mess up positioning, your team can struggle.
- Imbalance in competitive play: There are fewer tanks than other roles, so team compositions can feel unbalanced.
Tips to Play With Tanks in Marvel Rivals
Playing a Vanguard well isn’t just about standing in front of people. Here are some tips to help you get real value from tank characters:
- Stay aware of your teammates: Tanks don’t kill by themselves; your damage dealers need room to work. Position yourself where you can block damage from them.
- Manage your abilities: Many tank abilities can change the flow of a fight: shields, walls, crowd control effects. Use them proactively, not just reactively.
- Control objectives: Tanks are great at holding space. On control or payload maps, don’t just chase fights, anchor positions strategically.
- Communicate: Let your team know when you’re engaging or peeling so supports and duelists can follow up.
How to Counter Tanks in Marvel Rivals?
Even the toughest tank has counters if you’re strategic:
- Focus fire: If the Vanguard is isolated, coordinate fire to burn down their health pool before they’re healed or backed up.
- Poke from range: Tanks usually excel in close range; using ranged pressure forces them to choose between defense and damage loss.
- Use crowd control: Stuns, slows, and displacement effects can disrupt their positioning and reduce their impact.
- Dive in with coordination: Tanks are frontline anchors, but if your team dives together on their backline, you can collapse their formation.
FAQ
Q: Are tanks necessary in every team composition?
Not always. Some team strategies skip tanks for aggressive Duelist-heavy comps, but in coordinated play, tanks make a big difference in securing objectives and controlling fights.
Q: Which Vanguard is best for beginners?
Many players find The Thing or Hulk easier to pick up because of their straightforward durability and clear roles in fights.
Q: Do tanks deal damage?
Yes, tanks can deal meaningful damage, just not as much as dedicated Duelists. Their main job is survivability and space control.
Q: Can a tank be a carry?
Absolutely. In the right hands, tanks like Magneto, Doctor Strange, or Peni Parker can carry games by creating pressure and enabling their team’s damage dealers.
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