Marvel Rivals Season 3 has changed the competitive scene, with strategists becoming game-changing players in every match. These support heroes provide crucial healing, crowd control, and tactical benefits that can quickly turn the battle around. While flashy plays and high-octane action dominate the highlight reels, it’s the strategic masterminds who truly shape the meta and elevate team performance.
In this blog post, I have listed the top 5 strategists who are currently dominating the game in season 3.
What are Marvel Rivals Strategists?
Strategists are the third of three fundamental roles of heroes in Marvel Rivals, and are paired with Duelists and Vanguards. They are the support class, but their place is much more than that of healing. Strategists are the tactical backbone of any team as they provide a combination of healing, utility, crowd-control, and damage support that can shift the tide of battle when properly utilized.
Top 5 Marvel Rivals Strategists in Season 3
1. Rocket Raccoon
Rocket Raccoon dominates Season 3 due to several key advantages that make him superior to other Strategists.
Exceptional Healing Output
Rocket’s bouncing healing orbs provide both instant healing (55 HP) and healing over time (50 HP/second). Advanced players can exploit a beneficial interaction where orbs reset their instant healing component each bounce, achieving double or triple healing from strategic wall bounces. This creates healing numbers that are “absolutely incredible” compared to other Strategists.
Unmatched Self-Sufficiency
Unlike other Strategists requiring protection, Rocket is “completely self-sufficient and very hard to kill”. His mobility toolkit includes Jetpack Dash, wall-crawling abilities, and slow-fall mechanics, making him “extremely difficult to dive”. He can heal from impossible angles while staying safe.
Combat Effectiveness
Rocket delivers 192 damage per second at close range, capable of winning 1v1s against diving enemies. His weapon “does more damage per second than The Punisher at close range”.
Game-Changing Utility
His B.R.B. beacon automatically revives teammates and spawns armor packs, while his ultimate provides a 40% damage boost to the team. These unique abilities, no other Strategist can match, make him invaluable in Season 3’s fast-paced meta.
2. Mantis
Mantis is a game-changing strategist in Marvel Rivals Season 3. Her ability to disrupt enemy formations with precise crowd control makes her a nightmare for coordinated teams. The Sleep Inducement skill allows her to temporarily remove key threats from team fights, creating opportunities for her allies to take advantage of.
Her tactical skills are evident in these key abilities:
- Empathic Healing – Scales with percentage-based healing, perfect against dive compositions
- Mental Manipulation – Creates zones of control that force enemies to change their approach
- Defensive Positioning – Natural synergy with backline defenders
Mantis works well with aggressive damage dealers like Iron Man or Thor. Her healing output keeps them in their forward positions while her crowd control abilities shield them from counter-engagements. This combination turns regular team setups into powerful attacking units.
3. Ultron
Ultron adds a unique element to strategic gameplay by being able to support triple-strategist compositions. His mechanical skills allow him to:
- Drone Management – Create additional healing sources across the battlefield
- Shield Distribution – Provide damage mitigation to multiple allies at once
- Area Denial – Force enemies to divide their attention between multiple threats
The success of Ultron-based compositions relies heavily on team coordination. Players need to:
- Time drone deployments with team engagements
- Position shields to maximize protection during crucial moments
- Coordinate ultimate abilities with other strategists for maximum effect
Ultron especially excels in teams that heavily rely on flyers, where his ability to move vertically complements heroes like Vision or Captain Marvel. His presence ensures ongoing aerial superiority while also maintaining control on the ground through strategic placement of drones.
4. Loki
Loki is a powerful character in Marvel Rivals, using deception and strategy to dominate the battlefield. Despite a recent nerf to his ultimate ability’s charge rate, skilled players still find ways to make him highly effective.
Key Strengths:
- Ultimate ability that grants invincibility
- High mobility for quick escapes
- Strong crowd control abilities
- Effective counter against damage-focused ultimates
Loki excels at playing mind games with his enemies, creating confusion and uncertainty through his illusion-based powers. Players can use his Decoy skill to trick opponents into using their abilities prematurely or set up surprise attacks on unsuspecting foes.
5. Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock brings a unique combination of cosmic power and tactical versatility to Marvel Rivals. While he may not be the most mobile character, his strategic value shines in specific team compositions.
Battlefield Control:
- Denying areas with energy barriers
- Reviving himself when defeated
- Working well in teams with multiple strategists
- Countering teams that rely on diving tactics
His Soul Gem abilities allow for precise control over the battlefield, creating safe spaces for allies while punishing aggressive positioning from enemies. Adam Warlock’s skills are particularly effective in:
- Setting up defensive strategies
- Managing resources efficiently
- Coordinating team fights
- Controlling specific zones
Players who master Adam Warlock’s timing-based abilities can turn the tide of battles by carefully managing his resource-heavy skills. His presence forces enemies to adapt their plans, creating openings for teammates to exploit disrupted enemy formations.
The combination of Loki’s deceptive tactics and Adam Warlock’s cosmic control abilities represents the pinnacle of strategic gameplay in Marvel Rivals Season 3. These characters reward players who invest time in understanding their complex mechanics and team synergies.
Other Strategists Worth Considering in Season 3
- Cloak & Dagger shine with their dual-character mechanics. Their defensive bubbles protect allies while debuff walls punish aggressive opponents. The duo’s teleportation abilities create unexpected angles of attack, catching enemies off-guard.
- Luna Snow dominates the battlefield through precise crowd control. Her freeze shot disrupts enemy formations, while her healing capabilities sustain teammates during intense fights. Her ultimate ability turns the tide of battle by creating safe zones for her team.
- Invisible Woman masters battlefield control with her force field manipulation. She excels at isolating key targets and protecting vulnerable allies. Her psionic vortex ability creates no-go zones, forcing enemies to take unfavorable positions or risk heavy damage.
These strategists bring unique playstyles that can adapt to various team compositions and counter specific enemy strategies. For more insights into these characters, visit Rivals Heroes for comprehensive information about all Marvel Rivals Characters, including release dates, live tier list, cosmetics, team-ups, and much more.
Summing Up
The best Marvel Rivals strategist picks shape team dynamics through their unique abilities and playstyles. Loki’s deceptive tactics create opportunities for aggressive plays, while Mantis excels at disrupting enemy formations. Ultron brings versatility to triple-strategist compositions, and Rocket Raccoon maintains his position as a reliable ranged support.
Success in Season 3 depends on mastering these strategists’ distinct mechanics:
- Understanding matchup-specific counters
- Adapting to evolving meta-strategies
- Coordinating ultimate timing with teammates
- Maximizing positioning for optimal ability impact
Your team composition preferences should align with your strategist choice – Loki thrives in dive-heavy lineups, Mantis enables sustained teamfights, and Ultron supports aerial-focused squads. The key lies in balancing personal comfort with your team’s playstyle and the current competitive landscape.
