Marvel Rivals introduces a diverse roster of 33 characters, each bringing unique abilities and playstyles that often mirror heroes from other popular games, notably Overwatch. Here’s a breakdown of each Marvel Rivals character and their gaming counterparts.

Duelists

Duelists specialize in one-on-one combat, focusing on dealing damage and eliminating targets in Marvel Rivals.

Black Panther

T’Challa’s agility and melee prowess are reminiscent of Genji from Overwatch. Both utilize swift movements and close-range attacks to outmaneuver opponents. Black Panther’s ability to pounce on enemies and deliver rapid slashes mirrors Genji’s swift strike techniques, making him a scary presence in close-quarters combat.

Black Widow

Natasha Romanoff’s stealth and precision align her with Widowmaker from Overwatch. Both are adept snipers, excelling at eliminating targets from a distance. Black Widow’s use of gadgets and stealth tactics enhances her lethality, much like Widowmaker’s venom mines and grappling hook, which allows for strategic positioning and surprise attacks.

Hawkeye

Clint Barton’s archery skills parallel Hanzo from Overwatch. Both characters use bows to deliver precise, high-damage shots. They’re basically the same person, but people seem more impressed with Marvel’s take on the archer class.

Hela

Hela is the first on the list who reminds me of multiple heroes. Her passive is like the reverse of Junkrat’s passive, where killing an enemy will explode the resulting Crow afterward. Hela’s Nightsword Thorns feel like a slower, bigger, harder-hitting version of Kiri’s primary fire. The combination of high damage and mobility has made her a strong pick in the first season of Marvel Rivals.

Iron Fist

Danny Rand’s martial arts and chi-powered strikes are similar to Street Fighter’s Ryu, focusing on melee combat and energy attacks. Iron Fist’s ability to channel his chi into powerful punches mirrors Ryu’s Hadouken, delivering devastating blows to opponents.

Iron Man

Tony Stark’s flight and ranged attacks with his suit’s weaponry are comparable to Pharah from Overwatch. As aerial combat experts, they both like to try to control the skies. Similarly, Man’s repulsor beams are similar to Echo’s beam in Overwatch. His ult is basically like a thrown D. Va bomb, so he has a nice mix of influences from around the OVerwatch cast.

Magik

Illyana Rasputina’s teleportation slightly resembles Tracer from Overwatch, utilizing quick movements and close-range attacks. Magik’s ability to open portals for rapid repositioning mirrors Tracer’s blink ability, enabling her to confuse and outmaneuver enemies.

Moon Knight

Marc Spector’s versatile combat style and gadgets are similar to Batman in the Arkham series, employing stealth and a variety of tools. Moon Knight’s use of crescent darts and grappling hooks allows for strategic takedowns and swift movement across the battlefield.

Namor

He’s practically a better, more fun version of Overwatch’s Torbjron. Namor has two “turrets” that can’t be thrown very far but are a pain to deal with if your team doesn’t shoot them. He can also do nice poke damage from distance or quickly take out enemies at close range, assuming you can hit your shots. 

Psylocke

Betsy Braddock’s psychic blades and agility are reminiscent of Katana from Mortal Kombat, focusing on swift, lethal melee attacks. Psylocke’s telekinetic abilities allow her to manipulate objects and enemies, adding a layer of strategy akin to Katana’s fan attacks.

Scarlet Witch

Wanda Maximoff’s chaos magic and reality-warping abilities parallel Moira from Overwatch, both manipulating energy to damage. They each have auto-locking damage, can teleport, and have great sustain in combat. 

Spider-Man

Peter Parker’s web-slinging and agility remind me again of Genji (you’ll notice a trend of dive attackers who I put into this bucket). Spidey emphasizes mobility and rapid attacks. Spider-Man’s ability to traverse the battlefield quickly and incapacitate enemies with webbing mirrors Genji’s movement and playstyle.

Squirrel Girl

She’s Junkrat, and everyone knows it. You lob explosives into choke points and spam the opposing team until they rage. She also has a stun, which is similar to Junk’s trap. 

Star-Lord

Peter Quill’s dual blasters and mobility resemble Tracer from Overwatch, utilizing rapid-fire attacks and quick movements. Star-Lord’s jet boots allow for enhanced mobility, enabling hit-and-run tactics similar to Tracer’s blink and recall abilities. Additionally, his ultimate is similar to Soldier 76’s, with the bonus of being able to fly.

Storm

Ororo Munroe’s weather manipulation is comparable to Elemental Shamans in World of Warcraft, controlling natural elements to attack and support. Storm can summon lightning strikes and gusts of wind to damage and displace enemies, much like an Elemental Shaman’s chain lightning and wind shear abilities.

The Punisher

Frank Castle’s arsenal and combat style are similar to Soldier: 76 from Overwatch, focusing on ranged attacks and tactical gameplay. The Punisher’s use of various firearms and grenades allows for sustained damage output, akin to Soldier: 76’s pulse rifle and helix rockets. He also transforms himself into a Bastion turret to dish out insane DPS from a stationary position. 

Winter Soldier

Bucky Barnes’ proficiency with firearms and melee combat parallels now Cassidy from Overwatch, combining precise shooting with close-range capabilities. Winter Soldier’s cybernetic arm grants enhanced strength for melee attacks, complementing his sharpshooting skills similar to Cassidy’s revolver prowess.

Wolverine

Logan’s ferocious melee attacks and healing factor resemble Doomfist from Overwatch, excelling in close-quarters combat. Wolverine’s adamantium claws allow for rapid, high-damage strikes, while his regenerative abilities keep him in the fight, much like Doomfist’s aggressive playstyle and shield generation.

Vanguards

Vanguards act as Marvel Rivals’ tanks, absorbing damage and protecting allies.

Captain America

Steve Rogers’ shield and leadership are reminiscent of the more mobile version of Reinhardt from Overwatch, both providing frontline defense and disruption. Captain America’s ability to block incoming attacks with his shield and lead charges into battle mirrors Reinhardt’s barrier field and charge abilities. He’s more mobile and a bit more “brawly”, but I can comfortably put him into a Rein slot for Rivals.

Doctor Strange

As the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Stephen Strange gracefully wields ancient spells to turn the tide of even the most impossible battle. However, magic always comes at a cost, and each use of his arcane abilities gradually awakens the darkness within him. He’s got a shield that is the size of Rein’s, with the primary fire of Sigma from Overwatch. 

Groot

Groot’s regenerative abilities and protective nature are similar to Ivern from League of Legends, focusing on support and sustainability. Players can create barriers and heal allies, providing a sturdy frontline defense. His ability to summon flora to aid in battle mirrors Ivern’s capacity to summon brush and allies, emphasizing a supportive playstyle that enhances team survivability. You’ll also notice hints of Mei in his kit, with the walls + immobility ultimate mirroring the Overwatch DPS.

Hulk

Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Hulk and his brute strength are akin to Winston from Overwatch, leaping into battle and disrupting enemies. Hulk’s ground-shaking attacks and immense durability make him a formidable Vanguard, capable of absorbing significant damage while dishing out powerful melee strikes. His ability to initiate combat by leaping into the fray mirrors Winston’s jump pack, allowing for rapid engagement and crowd control. He also has a bit of D. Va in him, with the character effectively being ejected into a less powerful version of himself once he takes too much damage.

Magneto

Erik Lehnsherr’s control over metal and defensive capabilities resemble Sigma mixed with Zarya from Overwatch, manipulating the battlefield with magnetic powers. Magneto can create barriers and hurl metallic objects at enemies, providing both offense and defense. His ability to control the environment to his advantage mirrors Sigma’s gravitational manipulations, allowing for strategic positioning and area denial. His bubbles work similarly to Zarya’s, but he only gets one at a time so you need to be more selective about how you use them.

Peni Parker

Peni Parker’s mech-based combat is comparable to D.Va from Overwatch, utilizing a mech suit for versatile attacks. Peni can engage in both ranged and brawler combat, with unlimited ammo and a nice speed boost within her web. You’ll most often use her to lock down a position, which makes her slightly better on defense than attack. 

Thor

The God of Thunder’s hammer and lightning attacks are similar to Raiden from Mortal Kombat, wielding thunderous power in combat. Thor can summon lightning strikes and utilize Mjolnir for devastating melee attacks, controlling the battlefield with elemental fury. His ability to call down thunderbolts mirrors Raiden’s electric attacks, providing both crowd control and high damage output.

Venom

Eddie Brock’s symbiote-enhanced strength and aggression are fairly unique. He’s a dive character who is probably closest to Wrecking Ball from Overwatch, and was declared one of the strongest Vanguards in the game when it first came out. He can get health back in the heat of battle, just like Hammond, and swing effortlessly around the map. 

Strategists

Strategists provide support to their team, often healing and providing buffs to attack or speed.

Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock’s cosmic powers allow him to heal and enhance his allies, similar to Zenyatta from Overwatch. Both characters offer a balance between support and offense, utilizing energy-based abilities to influence the battlefield. He also has a Mercy rez, albeit on an ultimate vs the Overwatch cooldown. 

Cloak & Dagger

The duo’s synergy and support roles resemble Moira from Overwatch, with the ability to quickly alternate between damage and healing. Cloak will be the primary damage dealer, while Dagger can put up impressive healing numbers. Their ultimate also mirrors Moira’s, dealing both damage and healing simultaneously to anyone caught in its path. 

Jeff the Land Shark

Jeff’s support role in Marvel Rivals is unique, with no direct counterpart, but his playful nature and assistance can be likened to Poro from League of Legends. Jeff provides utility by distracting enemies and offering situational support, adding an element of unpredictability to encounters. His presence on the battlefield brings a lighthearted yet effective approach to the Strategist role.

Loki

The God of Mischief’s illusions and trickery are similar to Shaco from League of Legends, using deception to outplay opponents. Loki’s ability to create decoys and manipulate enemy perceptions allows for strategic advantages, disrupting enemy plans and creating openings for his team. He also takes queues from Baptiste’s lamp and Echo’s duplicate in Overwatch. 

Luna Snow

Seol Hee’s ice-based healing and attacks are a mix of Zen and Ana from Overwatch. Her freeze is just like Ana’s sleep, her ultimate is basically Zen’s transcendence, and she has excellent burst damage. You can also essentially place a harmony orb on a teammate to heal them up when out of your view. If you can get the hang of landing her sleep, you’ll be in a decent position to punish incoming enemy flankers whenever they get too close! 

Mantis

Mantis’ empathic healing abilities are akin to Soraka from League of Legends and Zen from Overwatch. She has no damage fall-off, can consume resources to boost her team, and has a stun that replicates Ana’s sleep. Mantis also gets a nice speed boost, which is similar to Soraka’s passive. 

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket’s gadgets and support weaponry parallel Baptiste from Overwatch. His weapon’s primary fire is an assault rifle with decent damage, and his healing orbs are similar to Bap’s secondary fire, with some bouncing for funsies. The two also have ultimates that parallel each other, offering increased damage boost to their team. 

What’s to Come for Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals already has an ambitious roadmap of new heroes on the way, with the Fantastic Four entering the fray next. All four will drop simultaneously, bringing the total roster to 37 playable characters. In 2025, it’s tough to have a completely unique character, but I’m hopeful that Rivals will be able to continue delivering novel game mechanics in its growing team shooter.