Top 15 Best Marvel Rivals Duelists: All Ranked with Abilities

In Marvel Rivals, the Duelist class (sometimes called DPS) is all about offence, landing kills, outplaying opponents, and swinging team fights with high damage and mobility. If you like being out in front (or sneaking in the back), making an impact, and carrying matches through your individual skill, Duelists are for you.

Not all Duelists, however, are equal; some excel in ranged pew-pew, others in flanking, burst, stealth, or taking down tanks. In this article, we will explain what this role is all about, and then rank the top 15 Marvel Rivals duelists in the current meta, with details of their abilities so you know why they are good, how to use them, and when they shine.

What are Duelists in Marvel Rivals?

Here's everything you need to know about Marvel Rivals duelists:

• Duelists are one of the three main roles in Marvel Rivals, along with Vanguards (tanks/soakers) and Strategists (supports/healers).
• Duelists have one main job: damage dealing quickly, eliminating priority targets, flanking, pressuring, and confirming eliminations. Duelists typically have good mobility, bursts of damage, or abilities that punish enemies who are out of position.
• There are ranged Duelists (snipers, long-shots), melee Duelists, and hybrid Duelists. Duelists have high-risk/high-reward traits - if they get caught with no cooldowns or misuse their cooldowns, they can become victims. But in the right hands and with proper positioning, a Duelist can swing an entire match.

Top 15 Best Marvel Rivals Duelists

Here are our rankings of the top 15 Marvel Rivals duelists as of Season 4 (or the latest meta). We have ordered them based on their effectiveness. These are our top picks for the best duelist Marvel Rivals:

Detailed Analysis of Each Duelist

Starting from Rank 15 up to Rank 1, here’s what makes each Duelist shine, their abilities (where known), what to watch out for, and when to pick them. Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about the game, then check out our Marvel Rivals Guide.

15. Scarlet Witch

Why she’s here: She has decent utility and crowd control, but her damage output and range are often lower than other Duelists. Needs favorable circumstances to shine.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Uses long-range tether/damage attacks. Her primary/tether can slow or injure over time.
• Her kit leans more toward utility than pure burst; crowd control/stun or slow is her strength.
• Best used to support or pick off already weakened enemies rather than initiating duels.

Weaknesses:

• Fragile in close combat or when focused.
• Cooldowns and damage may not be sufficient if the enemy team is coordinated.

14. Black Widow

Why she’s here: Precision sniping, good when you can stay safe, but lower durability and less forgiving.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Likely primary fire is sniper-style shots or precision hits.
• Utility probably includes some escape or defensive measure (batons, maybe slows).
• Good in long-range sightlines or when enemy flanks are covered.

Weaknesses:

• Close-range fights are risky.
• If mobility or vision is compromised, she becomes an easy target.

13. Spider-Man

Why he’s here: Great mobility, flanking, disruptive play. But fragile and demands skill to avoid being punished.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Webs or grappling hooks to traverse the map fast.
• Likely an ultimate or ability that can displace or crowd-control.
• Good at surprise attacks, backline harassment.

Weaknesses:

• A low health pool makes mistakes costly.
• Needs awareness: flanked or focused, he dies fast.

12. Iron Man

Why he’s here: Versatile, ranged, reliable. But in high-skill matches, they may be outclassed.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Ranged blasts, possibly area damage, or mid-range sustained fire.
• Good gadgets or defensive tools to help survive.

Weaknesses:

• Less burst vs tanks or mobile Duelists.
• Positioning is key; vulnerable if caught unprepared.

11. Moon Knight

Why he’s here: Good burst, especially when enemies bunch up; mobility helps, but it's somewhat situational.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Probably has teleport or jump-in tools, maybe area denial or high damage combos.
• Strong in skirmishes and when the enemy line is exposed.

Weaknesses:

• Cooldown reliant; if abilities are down, he lacks ranged options.
• Vulnerable to ranged harassment and crowd control.

10. Namor

Why he’s here: Good poke, turret, or zone control can disrupt enemy movement. He is one of the more effective Marvel Rivals duelists that players can choose.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Likely can deploy autonomous helpers or turrets.
• Strong in controlling the area, denying flanks.

Weaknesses:

• If turret or zone control is neutralized or countered, the value drops.
• Needs a team to coordinate or capitalize on his zoning/poke.

9. Hawkeye

Why he’s here: Excellent long-range precision, headshots can swing fights, but require good aim and supportive positioning.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Strong critical potential (headshots).
• Likely has utility (arrows with effects, slows, or traps).

Weaknesses:

• Close combat is dangerous.
• Needs good sightlines; might be countered by mobility Duelists or shield/tank comps.

8. Human Torch

Why he’s here: AoE damage + mobility; straightforward kit but effective. Good pick for players who want impact without super high skill demand.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Fire-based attacks, flame AoE, possibly sustained damage over time.
• Mobility to dodge or reposition.

Weaknesses:

• May suffer vs high burst or shielded opponents.
• Needs careful management of position; risk when engulfed by melee Duelists.

7. Black Panther

Why he’s here: Burst, mobility, especially strong in skilled play. Good at diving and eliminating squishy or mid-health heroes. The Black Panther will help you sweep through lobbies, enhancing your Marvel Rivals rank.

Abilities & Highlights:

• High movement speed, strong melee damage.
• Possibly combos, movement abilities to evade or close gaps.

Weaknesses:

• Fragile to ranged pressure.
• Needs map awareness; wrong flank = downfall.

6. The Punisher

Why he’s here: Solid, straightforward damage output; less flashy, but reliable. Good mid-range damage, works with many comps.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Likely heavy weapons, high damage projectiles, maybe suppression or area pressure.

Weaknesses:

• Mobility might be lower.
• Can be overwhelmed by more mobile Duelists or those who can close quickly.

5. Magik

Why she’s here: Her teleport/portal tools allow unpredictable movement, surprise attacks, and map control. Plays well if you can master positioning and time teleports.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Portals (teleportation), possibly short‐range bursts combined with flanking.
• Can exploit terrain to ambush.

Weaknesses:

• If enemies anticipate portals or have vision, harder to surprise.
• Might have weaker sustained damage.

4. Phoenix

Why she’s here: Very strong recent pick; versatile, AoE, burst, very effective in grouped fights; has strong team-up potential.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Cosmic Flames (Primary): Ranged attacks that deal damage and apply “Spark” stacks. After enough stacks, an explosion that damages nearby enemies & heals Phoenix.
• Telepathic Illusion: Teleport with illusion that explodes, applying spark.
• Dark Ascent: Flight mode, movement speed, and ammo regeneration, allowing aerial positioning.
• Telekinesis Burst: Volley blasts that stun or slow. Good for crowd control and disrupting enemy setup.
• Ultimate – Endsong Inferno: Leap/dive-bomb attack that deals AoE damage, disrupts enemies, and possibly kills grouped foes.

Weaknesses:

• Must land hits to build up Sparks.
• Exposed when engaging; skill-shot reliant.

3. Psylocke

Why she’s here: One of the most powerful close-range Duelists; excels at flanking, quick kills, and escaping. Very good in the hands of players with good mechanical skill.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Primary Fire (LClick): Psionic Crossbow – fires bolts that damage and also reduce cooldowns of her abilities. Good for chaining.
• Shift: Psi-Blade Dash – she dashes forward and slices through enemies; good for engaging or disengaging.
• E: Psychic Stealth – go invisible, get movement boost. Great for repositioning or escaping.
• Right-Click (RClick): Wing Shurikens – volley of shurikens that attach to enemies; deal damage and grant her bonus health. You can recall them.
• Ultimate (Q): Dance of the Butterfly – powerful melee slash around her; good burst in close quarters.

Weaknesses:

• Close range required; dangerous if caught without mobility or invisibility.
• Learning curve is high.

2. Hela

Why she’s almost at the top: Hela is one of the most feared ranged Duelists. If you can aim, position well, she can dominate from afar, pick off enemies, survive with her utility, and pressure from distance.

Abilities & Highlights:

• Primary Fire – Nightsword Thorn: Throws (or shoots) sword projectiles (“thorns”) that are hitscan or very fast projectiles. Good range.
• Secondary Fire – Piercing Night: Fires 4 projectile blades that stick to enemies; after a delay, they explode or detonate an area, dealing damage around those who have blades stuck.
• Ability: Astral Flock (Shift): Transforms into a crow, flies in any direction; invulnerable to many forms of damage/CC during flight. Great for reposition/escape.
• Ability: Soul Drainer (E): Lobbed energy orb that deals modest damage and has a stun or pull effect in a small radius. Good to interrupt, pull enemies toward danger.
• Ultimate – Goddess of Death: Hela ascends, gains a separate health bar (?) while throwing large area attacks (Nastrond Crows) from the air that explode on impact; huge damage to groups and a powerful finisher.

Weaknesses:

• Cooldowns are long, so managing ability timing is crucial.
• Aim-dependent: missing primary or headshots reduces her threat significantly.
• Vulnerable to divers or flankers when her abilities are down.

1. Wolverine

Why he’s #1: He combines high survivability, strong damage especially vs high-HP heroes (Vanguards), mobility, and good team synergies. He can dive in, kill, and survive. Balanced kit. Wolverine is also regarded as the best duelist Marvel Rivals.

Abilities & Highlights:

• From fandom/guides:
• Primary / melee attacks with claws (flat damage + % of target’s max health). Excellent vs tanks.
• Vicious Rampage: Dash forward with claw strikes. Good for closing distance or escaping after a burst.
• Feral Leap: Leap to snatch the first enemy hit, slam them. After this, his basic attacks get enhanced (Berserk Claw Strike) for a limited time. Great for 1v1 or isolating key targets.
• Undying Animal: AoE or ability that reduces incoming damage (or gives damage reduction) momentarily; helps him survive when focused.
• Passive – Regenerative Healing Factor & Berserker Rage: Berserker Rage builds up as Wolverine deals damage or takes hits; it increases his damage. Regenerative Healing Factor allows him, when his health drops to zero, to start a heal/hp bonus and resist some death sentences — giving him second chances.

Weaknesses:

• Needs to go in, which means risk. If the team doesn’t support him or if enemies are ready, he can be shut down.
• Cooldowns matter: once his burst or mobility is used, he can be vulnerable.

Also, do not forget to check out recent coverage on the latest Marvel Rivals accessories that were released alongside the September patch.