Marvel Rivals Tier List Update

Season 10 brought another major shake-up to the Marvel Rivals meta with Gorr the God Butcher, Scarlet Witch’s rework, and a fresh round of balance changes. Season 10.5 has made further adjustments to several heroes, with buffs to Phoenix, Cyclops, and Jubilee giving them more room to compete, while other picks have lost a bit of ground as the meta continues to shift.

With the latest patch now live, here’s our updated Marvel Rivals tier list for October 2026, ranking all 54 playable heroes by their current strength in competitive and high-ranked play.

S+ Tier | S Tier | A Tier | B Tier | C Tier | D Tier | Tier List

S+-Tier Marvel Rivals Heroes in October 2026

These heroes stand above the rest of the roster and offer exceptional value in the current meta. Season 10.5 has shifted a few matchups, but the picks in this tier still have the damage, utility, or team-fight presence to make a major difference in your matches.

Gambit

Gambit remains one of the hardest Strategists to replace. His healing, damage, and ultimate give him plenty of ways to influence a fight, and the reduced card charge time in Season 10.5 makes him even stronger. His ultimate took a hit to its range and jump boost, but he still brings too much value to leave out of the top tier.

Devil Dinosaur

Devil Dinosaur took a small health nerf in Season 10.5, dropping from 850 to 825 HP, but he remains one of the strongest Vanguards in the game that everyone in the match must respect. His ability to consistently (and easily) disrupt enemy formations and create space for his team makes him a serious problem to deal with, especially when his teammates can follow up on his engagements.

Phoenix

Phoenix received some welcome buffs in Season 10.5, with increased primary fire and Spark damage giving her more offensive pressure. Her ultimate now applies two Sparks instead of one, while the changes to her self-healing make her survivability work a little differently. She has even more room to make an impact now, and coordinated teams can get plenty of value out of her damage.

Elsa Bloodstone

Elsa remains one of the best hitscan Duelists in Marvel Rivals. Her damage, self-sufficiency, and ability to punish exposed targets make her useful in almost any composition, while mechanically gifted players can turn her aim-dependent kit into a constant source of pressure. She has the tools to hold her own against the strongest Duelists without needing her team to build around her.

Hela

Hela continues to be a dangerous pick thanks to her consistent ranged damage and ability to punish enemies who step into her line of sight. As a true “poke” hero, she can easily pressure opponents without having to commit to any close-quarters engagements, making her a reliable choice across different team compositions.

S-Tier Marvel Rivals Heroes in October 2026

These heroes are strong enough to fit into most team compositions, even if they don’t quite match the ridiculous value of the S+ picks. Some may be a little more dependent on execution or team coordination, but none of them feel should like a bad choice in the right hands in Season 10.5.

Psylocke

Psylocke is the kind of Duelist who can make an enemy backline fall apart before anyone realises what’s happening. She can slip past the frontline, pressure Strategists, and get out before the enemy team has time to react. She’s not the easiest hero to master, but in the hands of someone who knows when to strike and when to leave, Psylocke can be an absolute menace.

Emma Frost

Unlike some of the other tank heroes in the game, Emma Frost is more than just a wall of health standing between your team and the enemy. She can hold her ground under pressure, punish anyone who gets too close, and switch up her approach depending on what course a fight takes. She’s particularly good in brawl-heavy compositions, where enemies have little choice but to deal with her up close.

Invisible Woman

A good Invisible Woman can make an enemy dive feel like a complete waste of time. She keeps teammates alive, disrupts anyone trying to push through the frontline, and has the tools to get herself out of trouble when things go south. She might not rack up flashy elimination numbers like, say, Luna Snow or White Fox, but her ability to keep a team standing makes her one of the most dependable Strategists around.

Wolverine

Wolverine is the ultimate “tank buster” of Marvel Rivals who wants to be right in your face, and he has the tools to make sure you regret letting him get there. Once he latches onto a vulnerable target, escaping can be a real struggle. He’s not someone you can blindly charge into a fight with, though. Pick the right target, time your approach, and Wolverine can turn an enemy’s bad positioning into a quick trip back to spawn.

Loki

Loki rewards players who know how to use his clones to mislead enemies and keep them guessing. His healing helps sustain the team, while Deception gives him a way to escape when opponents catch on. His real strength, however, lies in his ultimate, which lets him copy any of the other 11 heroes in the match, including their ultimates. Knowing which hero to mimic and when to use their ultimate can turn a losing fight around, giving Loki plenty of value in the hands of a quick-thinking player.

Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier is built for players who can keep their aim steady when a fight gets messy. His damage makes him dangerous at mid-range, and his ultimate can turn one elimination into a chain of them if the enemy team can’t shut him down. He doesn’t have much room for careless positioning, but land your shots and pick the right targets, and Bucky can be terrifying.

Deadpool (Vanguard)

Tankpool is one of the strongest Vanguards right now, especially once you unlock the right upgrades. He can poke enemies from a distance, protect his teammates, initiate fights, or dive the enemy backline, making him incredibly versatile. The upgrades you prioritize determine which role he excels at, and once you get the right build going for the match, he becomes a serious threat to the opposing team.

Peni Parker

Peni Parker is at her best when the enemy has to come to her. Her mines, webs, and Spider-Nest can turn an objective into a minefield, forcing opponents to think twice before pushing in. She loses some of that control when a fight moves away from her setup, but give her the right map and enough room to work, and getting past her can be one heck of a miserable experience.

Deadpool (Strategist)

Deadpool’s Strategist role is a good fit for players who’d rather stay involved in the action than sit back and play a conventional support. Getting consistent value out of him takes practice, and his unusual approach won’t suit every team. Still, in the right hands, he can contribute to fights in ways that opponents may not be prepared for.

A-Tier Marvel Rivals Heroes in October 2026

These heroes are strong ranked picks, even if they don’t dominate every matchup. Some need the right team composition, while others reward mechanical skill or smart positioning. They can carry fights, but they’re not as universally reliable as the tiers above.

Magneto

Magneto can protect his team with his shields while dishing out damage with his metal projectiles. His ultimate is a direct counter to many high-threat ultimates (and to grouped enemies), and good shield management can keep teammates alive through heavy fire. That said, he’s less effective when opponents spread out or force him to burn through his defensive tools too quickly.

Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange has quietly become a better pick after his 9.5 buffs. His Daggers of Denak now deal more damage and carry more charges, while the Hulk Team-Up gives Gamma Maelstrom a shorter cooldown. His game-changing portal remains one of the biggest reasons to pick him, but the rest of his kit is now pulling more weight too.

Venom

Venom is a disruptive frontline diver who can leap into the enemy backline, soak up damage, and force enemies to turn away from your team and waste all their cooldowns on him instead. That said, his bonus health helps him survive rough engagements, but it won’t save him from a chain of crowd control abilities. Pick your entry carefully, or you’ll be feeding the enemy team an easy elimination.

Groot

Groot is another reliable Vanguard who can make entire sections of the map awkward to navigate for his opponents. His walls give his team control over where fights happen, while his Team-Up options let him either protect himself or add more utility for his team. He’s particularly valuable when a team wants to play around a strong frontline hero who can soak up a ton of damage while dishing out his own.

Luna Snow

Luna Snow keeps allies topped up while adding damage from the backline. Her ultimate can swing a team fight, making her especially valuable when both teams commit to an objective. She isn’t difficult to understand, but staying alive takes awareness: get caught by a diver too far from your allies and your team loses a big source of healing.

Daredevil

Daredevil wants to get in close, overwhelm a target, and keep moving before the enemy team can respond. He’s dangerous when he catches someone alone, but diving into a group is another story. Know your target and your exit route before committing, because his aggression can turn into a quick death without either.

Mantis

Mantis can heal, boost allies’ damage, and put dangerous enemies to sleep. Her ultimate gives the team a way to survive heavy incoming pressure, so she’s useful in both aggressive pushes and defensive fights. The trick is managing her abilities without getting distracted by damage. A dead Mantis can’t keep anyone alive, after all.

Namor

Namor’s turrets do much of the work for him, applying pressure while he attacks from a safer position. They’re particularly useful against flying heroes, who can struggle to avoid their damage. The problem is that Namor loses a lot of that pressure when his turrets are destroyed, or the fight moves away from his setup.

Spider-Man

Spider-Man can reach the enemy backline faster than most heroes and punish anyone caught without support. His combos can delete fragile targets, but landing them consistently takes practice (a LOT of practice). Miss your opening or dive too deep, and you’ll have several enemies waiting for you when your mobility runs out.

Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock has become a more consistent support pick since the Season 9 team-up overhaul, with better healing uptime and utility beyond his resurrection ultimate. He shines most in triple Strategist compositions, where coordinated teams can get more out of his kit. That reliance on teamwork can make him a tougher sell in lower ranks, though.

Iron Fist

Iron Fist is a close-range menace who can chase down targets on his own and make life miserable for the enemy backline. His mobility helps him stick to targets, but he struggles when opponents keep their distance or peel for one another. Charging straight into a coordinated team rarely ends well too, even if you win the first exchange.

Jubilee

Jubilee can heal teammates while adding damage and disruption to the fight. Her passive-aggressive abilities give her quite the fun playstyle beyond simply staying behind the frontline, but you still need to watch your positioning when you’re playing her. Get caught away from your team, and it’s difficult to provide support or escape before enemies close the gap.

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket’s small hitbox and mobility make him annoying to catch, while his healing and utility help his team stay in the fight in different ways. He can be particularly useful when he has room to reposition and keep supporting from different angles. Don’t mistake his size for invulnerability, though. An experienced diver who catches him out can still take him down quickly.

Star-Lord

Star-Lord is one of the more self-sufficient Duelists in the Marvel Rivals roster. His mobility lets him take aggressive angles, pressure enemy Strategists, and escape when things go wrong. He doesn’t have the raw threat of the S+ Duelists, but players who understand his movement can still make him a constant problem for the enemy backline.

Thor

Thor is a frontline brawler (with exceptional mobility for a tank hero) who builds Thorforce through his attacks and abilities, then spends it to keep his pressure up. You can toss targets around with Storm Surge, trap them with Lightning Realm, and use Awakening Rune to turn yourself into a much bigger threat in close quarters. He can be difficult to dislodge, but wasting Thorforce mindless might leave you with fewer options to sustain said aggression.

Rogue

Rogue’s value depends heavily on who she’s fighting. Getting close lets her steal or absorb powers and disrupt key opponents, but some matchups give her far more to work with than others. While she can be a proper nightmare for the right target, picking your fights mindlessly (aka without any consideration for your opponents’ lineup) can leave you struggling to make an impact.

Angela

Angela is at her best when she can commit to a fight and force the enemy frontline to respond. Her mobility lets her close the gap and pressure priority targets, while her durability helps her stay in the thick of the action. She isn’t a hero who can dive without a plan, though; you must pick your entry carefully and give your teammates a chance to follow up by bringing your targets to them.

Black Widow

Black Widow is no longer just a sniper waiting for the perfect headshot. Her new primary fire gives her more consistent damage, while her batons, grappling kick, and ground slam let her fight back when enemies close the gap. Her ultimate brings back the piercing sniper shots for a burst of long-range pressure. She’s far more flexible now, though her rifle’s damage falloff and the higher ultimate cost keep her from dominating every range.

Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger are easy to pick up and provide reliable healing without demanding much mechanical precision. The downside is their limited damage output compared with the other Strategists ranked above them. They can keep a team alive through drawn-out fights, but offer less offensive pressure when you need to help secure eliminations yourself.

The Punisher

The Punisher brings dependable ranged damage, with his rifle for sustained fire and shotgun for enemies who get too close. His turret and smoke grenade give him two more ways to hold a position or disrupt an approaching dive, while his ultimate can punish enemies caught in the open. He does struggle when mobile opponents get past his firing line, so good positioning and team protection matter.

B-Tier Marvel Rivals Heroes in October 2026

These heroes can pull their weight in ranked matches, but they have more noticeable limitations than the higher tiers. Some depend on specific matchups or team compositions, while others struggle to keep up with stronger picks. They’re viable options, just harder to justify in every game.

Magik

Magik can take over a fight when she reaches the enemy backline with her cooldowns ready, and her ultimate can swing a team fight if she gets enough room to work. The problem is getting that opening consistently. Skilled players can carry with her, but the number of ways opponents can shut her down makes her a rather difficult choice for your ranked matches.

The Thing

The Thing is a brawl specialist who wants enemies close enough for his fists to do the talking. He’s difficult to push off an objective and can disrupt mobile opponents who rely on diving in and out. His weakness is reach: poke-heavy teams that can deal damage from afar and kite him when he gets near can render his whole kit useless.

White Fox

White Fox brings strong healing and useful utility, but she doesn’t always offer the same immediate fight-winning impact as the Strategists above her. She can fit into different team compositions and support aggressive teammates, while also holding her own against any divers. The problem, however, is that the supports ranked above her can often provide more value without needing as much from the rest of the team.

Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch’s rework gave her more room to show skill, but she is still easier to punish than the top Duelists. Her damage can build quickly against a team that lets her operate freely, while her limited mobility makes it difficult to escape once opponents focus her.

Gorr the God Butcher

Gorr arrived with enough damage and pressure to make the entire enemy team respect his presence, but Season 10.5 has taken some of the edge off. His Shadow Scythe and Shockwave deal less damage, and his ultimate lasts two seconds less. He can still be oppressive when he gets going, but opponents have a better chance to survive his all-in and punish him afterward.

The Hood

The Hood’s half-demon form can still make him a problem, particularly in slower fights where he has time to build towards it. However, he can’t absorb pressure the way he once could, and stronger ranged damage makes his overall kit harder to execute. He’s more of a situational, team comp-specific pick now.

Cyclops

Cyclops has lost the dominance he enjoyed in his debut season, and the competition from other hitscan Duelists has made him a harder sell in ranked. He’s still a reliable source of ranged damage, but heroes like Elsa Bloodstone, Hela, and Black Widow offer more ways to pressure opponents. Cyclops is a solid pick, just rarely the first one you would/should reach for.

Captain America

Captain America is a solid choice against teams that rely on ranged damage to hold high ground and control off-angles. He can contest those positions without leaving his team entirely exposed, and his ultimate gives him a useful way to lead a push. However, he offers less kill pressure than some other tanks, which can make him harder to justify outside those matchups.

Jeff the Land Shark

Jeff’s healing and ultimate can swing a fight, particularly when his team is grouped up or trying to survive overtime. His large hitbox, however, makes him an easy target for accurate hitscan players, and he has a harder time keeping everyone alive when the team spreads out. He can still get plenty done, but other Strategists are often better suited for most situations.

Hulk

Hulk can be a real problem when his team is built to support his dives, especially alongside Doctor Strange and their Gamma Team-Up. Without that help, opponents can interrupt his engages with crowd control and keep him from reaching the backline. He has the tools to be effective, but his success depends heavily on the enemy lineup and how well his team covers his weaknesses.

Storm

Storm works best with teammates who can stay close enough to benefit from her speed and damage boosts. She can help a coordinated team control a fight, but she struggles to match Duelists who can apply pressure more independently or threaten the backline without much help. If her team cannot protect her while making use of her buffs at the same time, she has a hard time justifying the pick.

Iron Man

Iron Man can deal heavy damage when a team gives him room to operate, but his flight makes him a clear target for good hitscan heroes that always dominate any hero tier list. His beam also forces him closer to the fight, where he is easier to punish. He can work in a composition built around protecting and healing him at all times, but that level of support is hard to count on in ranked.

Ultron

Ultron can provide steady healing while dealing damage from the air, but his large profile makes him an easy target for enemy Duelists. Divers who can reach him can also force him to turn his attention away from supporting teammates. He works best when his team can keep opponents occupied and give him room to do his job.

Human Torch

Human Torch can be a menace against teams that struggle to challenge airborne heroes, dealing area damage while moving between angles. However, he needs room to operate and support to survive focused fire. Against teams with strong aim and reliable ways to pressure flyers, you can have a much harder time making an impact as Johnny.

C-Tier Marvel Rivals Heroes in October 2026

These heroes can still find success in the right hands, but their limitations make them harder to justify over stronger picks. Some demand near-perfect execution, while others struggle to keep up with the damage, mobility, or survivability available elsewhere on the roster.

Black Cat

Black Cat can take out targets quickly, but she takes a lot of practice (alongside knowing her kit inside out) to play well. Other dive heroes are easier to get value from and have a more reliable time reaching their targets, leaving Black Cat as a tougher pick to justify unless you’ve put some serious hours into her.

Black Panther

Black Panther can do well when enemies aren’t paying attention to him, but he struggles once they start watching for his dives or switch to counter him. He can still work in the right hands, though much like Black Cat, other dive heroes are generally easier to get consistent value from.

Moon Knight

Moon Knight can deal plenty of damage when enemies are grouped around his Ankhs, but that pressure drops off quickly when opponents destroy them. He’s a decent answer to vanguards with huge hitboxes like Devil Dinosaur and Groot, though most other matchups leave him struggling to keep up with stronger Duelists.

Deadpool (Duelist)

Deadpool’s Duelist form takes too long to get going, since he needs to build upgrades before he can reach his full potential. His Vanguard and Strategist forms offer more consistent value, making it harder to justify picking him as a Duelist over other options./

Mister Fantastic

Mister Fantastic remains one of the most awkward Duelists to fit into the current meta. While he can absorb pressure in brawls and disrupt the frontline, being the pseudo-Vanguard DPS he is, he lacks the mobility, burst damage, or consistent threat needed to compete with the stronger melee heroes. Teams that can keep him at range can also limit much of his value.

Blade

Blade can be useful in a few specific team compositions, but getting close enough to make an impact is a problem against teams with strong ranged damage. He struggles to find openings in those matchups, leaving him with fewer opportunities to get value from his kit.

D-Tier Marvel Rivals Heroes in October 2026

These are the hardest heroes to recommend in ranked, with weaknesses that are difficult to work around even when the player knows the character well.

Hawkeye

Hawkeye can hit hard with his charged shots, but his slow movement and lack of a reliable escape make him an easy target for divers. Heroes like Hela and Black Widow have better ways to handle pressure, while Hawkeye can struggle to survive long enough to fight back.

Squirrel Girl

Squirrel Girl can punish enemies who group up, but landing damage doesn’t always translate into eliminations against teams with even moderately strong healing. Her ultimate also struggles to turn the fight in her team’s favor, leaving her less impactful than Duelists who can secure kills more consistently.

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Here’s our full Marvel Rivals heroes tier list for October 2026, with all 54 heroes accounted for:

Rank/TierHeroes

S+ Tier	Gambit, Devil Dinosaur, Phoenix, Elsa Bloodstone, Hela
S Tier	Psylocke, Emma Frost, Invisible Woman, Wolverine, Loki, Winter Soldier, Deadpool (Vanguard), Peni Parker, Deadpool (Strategist)
A Tier	Magneto, Doctor Strange, Venom, Groot, Luna Snow, Daredevil, Mantis, Namor, Spider-Man, Adam Warlock, Iron Fist, Jubilee, Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord, Thor, Rogue, Angela, Black Widow, Cloak & Dagger, The Punisher
B Tier	Magik, The Thing, White Fox, Scarlet Witch, Gorr the God Butcher, The Hood, Cyclops, Captain America, Jeff the Land Shark, Hulk, Storm, Iron Man, Ultron, Human Torch
C Tier	Black Cat, Black Panther, Moon Knight, Deadpool (Duelist), Mister Fantastic, Blade
D Tier	Hawkeye, Squirrel Girl

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The Hood has joined the roster, several heroes have changed tiers, and the meta looks different again. Which of our placements do you disagree with most? Let us know in the comments below!