When asg roles to its roster of heroes, Marvel Rivals makes some unexpectedly clever choices, but there's still room for improvement. Each playable hero in Rivals is assigned to one of three classes: Duelist, for characters whose focus is on dishing out as much damage as possible; Vanguard, for tanks designed to soak up damage and protect their teammates; and Strategist, for healers who keep the rest of their team alive as long as possible.

A hero's role and their unique kit of abilities is designed to reflect their personality and the powers they have in the original source material of Marvel comics. While it seems like most characters would be easily sorted into one of three roles, some heroes end up with a role that seems contrary to what would be the most obvious. This aspect of the roster is one of Rival's best features, and yet they could be going even further with it.

Marvel Rivals Plays Against Type With Its Hero Roles

A Hero's Role Isn't Always What You'd Expect It To Be

With only three roles available, asg most characters in the Marvel library to a role in Rivals should be straightforward. The Punisher, for example, is all about guns and violence, so it doesn't make much sense for him to be anything other than a damage-dealing Duelist. Captain America always leads the charge into battle and wields a shield as his primary weapon, so Vanguard is a natural fit for him. For the most part, the Rivals roster aligns with this pattern.

More exciting are the heroes who seem to be in a role that's at odds with how most fans would perceive them based on their depiction in the comics or MCU movies, like Rocket Raccoon. Traditionally portrayed as a gun-toting mercenary, it would have been easy to make him a Duelist equipped with a full arsenal of firearms and explosive devices. Instead, he's a Strategist with a kit focused primarily on healing and limited offensive options.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Doctor Strange seems like a natural fit for a healer in Rivals. He wields an array of spells and enchantments that could be used for healing or applying buffs to teammates--and he is, quite literally, a doctor. Yet Rivals casts him as a tank, a bulky damage sponge with a deep health pool and a shield that he can use to protect his teammates. These kinds of role assignments certainly have some players scratching their heads, but it actually proves that Marvel Rivals has an appreciation for its characters that goes beyond the surface level.

Subversive Roles Show Marvel Rivals Understand Its Characters

The Obvious Choice Isn't Always The Right One

Working with a license as huge and universally beloved as Marvel is going to come with lofty expectations, and the developers at NetEase have clearly made an effort with Marvel Rivals. The level of care they've shown for all 30+ of the game's heroes comes through loud and clear in the various voice lines, costumes, and team-up moves found throughout the game. They've done their homework with every character they represent, and that really shines with the role they select for each hero.

Yes, Rocket is a trigger-happy gun for hire, but he's also a genius mechanic and ing member of a team, so casting Rocket Raccoon in the role of a healer in Rivals makes perfect sense for him. Doctor Strange may be a doctor, but he's also the Sorcerer Supreme tasked with safeguarding the world from mystic threats, so protecting others first and foremost as a Vanguard fits his character.

The fact that NetEase didn't go with the most obvious choice for heroes like Rocket and Doctor Strange proves that they dug deeper and tried harder when deg their heroes. In so doing, they've made an even more faithful depiction of these classic characters, one that rings more true to their identity. Yet even with all the good work they've achieved, it still feels like more could be done.

More Unexpected Roles Would Help Balance Marvel Rivals

Some Duelists Would Make More Sense In Other Roles

Marvel Rivals is enjoying massive popularity, but even as it rolls along into season 1, players are already grumbling about balance problems. The game's main issue stems from the uneven allotment of roles across the roster as the Duelists vastly outnumber Vanguards and Strategists, and subsequently, teams in Rivals matches all too often end up being Duelist-heavy.

With the launch of season 1, the hero roster in Marvel Rivals currently consists of 8 Vanguards, 8 Strategists, and 19 Duelists.

One solution to this problem would be reconsidering the current role assignments of heroes already in the game to give them something further off the beaten path. Storm may be one of the most powerful mutants in the X-Men, but with abilities that affect the entire area around her, she may be a better fit for a Strategist than a Duelist, especially with how her kit in Rivals echoes that of Overwatch hero Lucio. Similarly, Magik's abilities that allow her to charge into the fray and generate bonus health could easily be tweaked to make her viable as a Vanguard.

More decisions like this could accomplish a lot in balancing the hero meta in Rivals while staying true to the goal of delivering an authentic Marvel experience. The characters are the lifeblood of any hero shooter, especially when they come with as much pre-established lore and popularity as someone like Spider-Man. By diversifying the roles they assign to future heroes, Marvel Rivals can continue to be a source of excellent fanservice while also becoming a more polished and balanced game.