Marvel Rivals Season 9

Season 9 Vanguard Tier List

Season 9 reshapes the Vanguard landscape with a major Team-Up overhaul. Peni Parker dominates early season with unmatched nest control, while Hulk and Thor surge with new regen synergies. Team-Ups now define tank viability more than base kits alone.

Peni #1 Win Rate Team-Up Overhaul 12 Vanguards Ranked Dive Meta Active

Meta Overview

How to Use This Tier List

Season 9's Team-Up overhaul means synergy matters more than individual hero strength. A B-tier Vanguard with the right Team-Up can outperform an S-tier pick without one. Prioritize heroes with strong anchor synergies (Hela for percent damage, Mantis for walls and healing, Gamma for anti-heal). Comfort beats tier on ladder - pick your best 2-3 Vanguards within the top two tiers rather than forcing a pick you cannot execute.

Full Vanguard Tier List

Must Pick / Meta-Defining

Game-deciding impact, ban or pick immediately

Peni Parker

56%

#1 win rate all ranks, 65%+ in Diamond+. Unmatched nest control, mines, and frontline dominance define space even post-hotfixes.

Elite / Strong Meta Picks

Consistent high-impact picks across ranks

Hulk

53%

Excellent dive with new ground-slam Team-Up, regen health, and mobility. Flexible anchor for dive comps.

Thor

52%

Strong gains with regen + Hela Team-Up revive and protection. High damage and peel in coordinated play.

Devil Dinosaur

52%

Strong all-ranks pub bully with sustain. Slightly demoted in high-elo but dominant in lower brackets.

Venom

51%

Strong dive disruptor with new Team-Ups. Excels in aggressive frontline with lifesteal and survivability.

Solid / Viable Meta

Strong picks in the right compositions

Groot

51%

Good damage, walls, and crowd control. Strong in poke and protective setups with Mantis synergy.

Captain America

51%

Reliable peel and engage. Good when Peni is taken, strong shield play for objective control.

The Thing

50%

Situational strong performer with durability and CC tools in close-range fights.

Deadpool

50%

Viable disruptor with taunts and dives. Hela team-up guns and aura shred make him strong in brawl.

Playable / Situational

Niche picks, work in specific matchups

Angela

49%

Flying Vanguard with axes. Decent in specific matchups and Diamond+ but demoted overall.

Rogue

48%

Lower win rate with niche power-copy playstyle. Needs health buffs to compete consistently.

Doctor Strange

48%

Situational Gamma synergies only. Frontline cooled off in current dive meta.

Emma Frost

48%

Mantis team-up diamond form has value but generally underperforms compared to top picks.

Magneto

48%

Situational with Emma or strong damage synergies, but has cooled off from previous seasons.

Struggling / Niche Only

One-tricks possible, not recommended for climbing

Mister Fantastic

47%

Consistent brawl potential but outclassed by top Vanguards in nearly every composition.

Top 3 Team Compositions

Composition 1

Dive / Aggro

Tank Hulk or Venom

DPS Daredevil / Black Panther / Magik

Support Rocket / Ultron or Cloak & Dagger

Composition 2

Peni Anchor / Poke-Protect

Tank Peni Parker + Groot or The Thing

DPS Storm / Magik (poke DPS)

Support Rocket / Mantis / Ultron

Composition 3

Team-Up Synergy Stack (Gamma / Enhanced)

Tank Hulk + Doctor Strange

DPS Iron Man / Star-Lord

Support Adam Warlock / Ultron

Key Decision Points

Solo queue vs. stacked - which Vanguards?

In solo queue, pick self-sufficient Vanguards like Peni, Venom, or Deadpool with high agency. In a stacked team, enable Team-Up combos like Groot + Mantis walls or Hulk + Strange Gamma chains.

Which Vanguard for which map type?

Poke maps favor Peni or The Thing for area denial. Dive and brawl maps suit Venom, Deadpool, or Angela. Point hold maps are where Groot shines with wall isolation.

Enemy comp has heavy CC - what to pick?

Avoid squishy picks like Rogue or Doctor Strange into heavy CC. Favor Hulk or Captain America for their mobility and shield tools. Swap early if your pick is getting countered.

New to Vanguard role - where to start?

Start with Peni Parker or Deadpool - both are forgiving and have high agency without requiring deep team coordination. Once comfortable, expand to Hulk or Venom for dive playmaking.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

! Ignoring Team-Ups. Sticking to old mains without testing Season 9 Team-Up versions leads to massive power loss. Test 1-2 Team-Ups per Vanguard in QP before ranked.

! Overcommitting to immovable tanks. Playing Angela or Strange into heavy CC and displacement gets you punished. Swap to mobile picks when the enemy has multiple displacement tools.

! Not adapting to counters. Staying on Devil Dinosaur against hitscan and Punisher compositions is a common trap. Swap early if your pick is getting countered.

! Poor Team-Up coordination. Team-Ups shine with comms. In disorganized lobbies, prioritize self-sufficient picks over synergy-dependent ones.

! Chasing the perfect meta pick. Many players say all Vanguards are viable with the right Team-Up. A well-piloted A-tier pick beats a poorly executed S-tier pick.