Marvel Rivals Beginner Guide: How to Play and Win
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- Marvel Rivals basics
- The three roles
- How a match works
- Other modes
- Abilities, ultimates and team-ups
- Tips for your first games
- Progression and rewards
- Frequently asked questions
- Is Marvel Rivals free to play?
- How many players are on a team in Marvel Rivals?
- Is Marvel Rivals crossplay?
- What level do you need to play ranked in Marvel Rivals?
- What are the game modes in Marvel Rivals?
- How does the ultimate ability work in Marvel Rivals?
Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play 6v6 team shooter from NetEase Games, played in third person as Marvel heroes and villains. Your team wins by playing the objective, not by getting the most eliminations. This beginner guide covers how matches work, the three roles, the game modes, abilities and team-ups, and the habits that help most in your first games. It's based on NetEase's official site and patch notes.
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
Marvel Rivals basics
| Release date | December 6, 2024 |
| Price | Free to play. All heroes are free, and you only pay for cosmetics |
| Platforms | Windows PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, NetEase's launcher), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S |
| Crossplay | Yes, all platforms play on the same servers |
| Team size | 6 vs. 6 in the standard modes |
| Heroes | 54 as of Season 10.5, in three roles |
| Current season | Season 10.5, since October 9, 2026 |
Check that your PC can run it with our Marvel Rivals system requirements guide.
The three roles
Every hero belongs to one of three roles. The exception is Deadpool, who can play all three.
- Vanguard (14 heroes): the tanks. They have the most health, carry shields or disruption tools, and lead the team onto the objective. Examples: Doctor Strange, Magneto, Groot.
- Duelist (27 heroes): the damage dealers. Their job is to get eliminations and pressure the enemy backline. Examples: The Punisher, Iron Man, Psylocke.
- Strategist (12 heroes): the healers and supports. They keep the team alive and add buffs, shields and other utility. Examples: Luna Snow, Mantis, Rocket Raccoon.
A team with nobody healing falls apart quickly in a long fight. If your team has no Strategist when you're picking, filling that gap usually helps more than adding another Duelist. The full roster is in our Marvel Rivals heroes list.
How a match works
The three core modes are objective-based. A team that stands on the point or pushes the vehicle wins, even with fewer eliminations.
| Mode | Objective |
|---|---|
| Domination | Both teams fight over one central point. Hold it uncontested to fill a capture bar to 100%. Matches are best of three rounds. |
| Convoy | Attackers escort a moving vehicle to the end of the route. Defenders try to stop it until time runs out. |
| Convergence | Attackers first capture a point. Then it becomes a Convoy-style escort to the end of the map. |
These three modes make up Quick Match and Competitive. In Competitive, Convoy and Convergence are played over two rounds so both teams get to attack and defend.
Objective progress stops while an enemy is contesting it. If your team is losing a fight, standing on the point or next to the vehicle can stall the enemy, which buys time for your teammates to respawn.
Other modes
| Mode | Type | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Practice vs. AI | Unranked | The core modes against AI opponents, the safest way to learn a hero |
| Doom Match | Arcade | Free-for-all for 8 to 12 players. The top half of the scoreboard wins |
| Conquest | Arcade | Elimination mode on Tokyo 2099: Ninomaru. Each defeated enemy scores 1 point, and the first to 50 wins |
| Free Fight | Arcade | Quick Match rules, but duplicate heroes are allowed and each team can ban heroes |
| Competitive | Ranked | The core modes for rank, unlocked at account level 15 |
| Path to Doomsday - Avengers: Infinity War | Limited time | 12 players in six duos race to collect all six Infinity Stones, until December 11, 2026 |
| 18 vs. 18 | Large-scale | Team battles with 36 players at once |
Competitive has its own rules for bans, placements and rewards. Our Marvel Rivals ranks guide covers them.
Abilities, ultimates and team-ups
Each hero has a main attack, several abilities with cooldowns and an ultimate ability. The ultimate charges up over the match, mainly as you deal damage or heal. On PC, the main attack is on left click, abilities sit on keys like Shift, E and right click, and the ultimate is on Q by default.
Every hero also has two team-up abilities, of which you equip one. Since Season 9, a team-up works on its own, and it gets an enhanced effect when a specific partner hero is on your team. Most use the C key on PC. Our team-ups guide lists all 108.
Many maps also have destructible environments. Walls and cover can break, so a spot that protected you early in a fight may not be there later.
Tips for your first games
- Learn heroes in Practice vs. AI. Try a few heroes from each role before you queue with real players.
- Play the objective. Domination rounds and Convoy pushes are won by bodies on the point or the vehicle.
- Move with your team. Joining a fight one at a time while your team respawns is a common way to lose. Wait a few seconds and group up.
- Stay near your Strategists, or protect them if you are one. Healers are a favorite target for enemy divers, and losing them makes every fight harder.
- Track enemy ultimates. When the enemy team uses several ultimates at once, back off or answer with your own instead of fighting into them.
- Pick a backup hero in each role. That way you can fill whatever your team is missing.
- Don't rush ranked. Competitive unlocks at level 15. Quick Match until then is a good time to find a few heroes you like.
Progression and rewards
Every season has a battle pass with a free track and a paid Luxury track, and you unlock its rewards with Chrono Tokens from missions and events. Ranked players earn a free costume each half-season for reaching Gold, and season events often give a free costume as well. Between matches you can visit Times Square, a non-combat social map for up to 100 players. Read our battle pass guide and the guide to free skins for details.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marvel Rivals free to play?
Yes. Marvel Rivals is free on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and every hero is unlocked for free. Money only buys cosmetics like costumes and the Luxury battle pass, which don't affect gameplay.
How many players are on a team in Marvel Rivals?
Standard matches are 6 vs. 6. Some limited modes differ, such as 18 vs. 18 battles and the 12-player Path to Doomsday mode, and Doom Match is a free-for-all for 8 to 12 players.
Is Marvel Rivals crossplay?
Yes. NetEase runs one set of servers for all platforms, so PC, PlayStation and Xbox players can play together.
What level do you need to play ranked in Marvel Rivals?
You need account level 15 to unlock Competitive mode. Until then, Quick Match uses the same three core modes without affecting a rank.
What are the game modes in Marvel Rivals?
The core modes are Domination, Convoy and Convergence, played in Quick Match and Competitive. The Arcade has Doom Match, Conquest and Free Fight, and limited-time modes rotate in with seasons.
How does the ultimate ability work in Marvel Rivals?
Your ultimate charges over the match, mainly from dealing damage or healing. When the meter is full you can use it, with Q as the default key on PC.
