Marvel Rivals Characters Have a Clear Parallel with Some Overwatch 2 Heroes

With NetEase Games’ highly-anticipated super-hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, officially in its pre-Alpha phase, the game has garnered quite a bit of attention. Though the playtest is only set for ten days, the most dominant characters have quickly become apparent. Intriguingly, boasting nineteen heroes in the closed Alpha, Marvel Rivals throws players into a world of diverse hero abilities and ultimates to learn and manage.

Notably, players familiar with hero shooters like Overwatch 2 and Paladins, or MOBAs like Smite, will likely find their experience influencing their character choices in Marvel Rivals. With comparisons already drawn between Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals, some characters’ abilities could be reminiscent of those found in Blizzard’s game. As such, these similarities suggest some strategies and tactics from the former could be strong in this game too.

Marvel Rivals Player Uses Doctor Strange Portal to Wipe Out Enemy Team

During the ongoing Marvel Rivals alpha test, a player channels the power of Doctor Strange to wipe out an entire enemy team with portal magic.

Experience With Overwatch 2’s Heroes May Be An Advantage for Marvel Rivals

Hela, the Asgardian goddess of Death, has quickly become a top performer in Marvel Rivals. Players liken her to a more damage-focused version of Overwatch 2‘s Kiriko since they share similar throwing weapons and possess an escape ability. However, Hela has an incredibly high time to kill and an ultimate capable of one-shotting enemy squishies, which makes her a force to be reckoned with. Additionally, since Hela doesn’t have any means to heal her teammates, she doesn’t need to support her team in the way that Kiriko does.

With Hela performing so well in the closed Alpha, NetEase Games may make adjustments to her damage output by the time the game officially launches.

For players accustomed to hitscan heroes like Ashe, Widowmaker, or Bastion in Overwatch 2, The Punisher may feel familiar. Equipped with a versatile weapon system, The Punisher can seamlessly transition between an automatic rifle for mid-range engagements and a devastating shotgun for close-quarters combat. Additionally, he can utilize a deployable cable akin to Widowmaker’s Grappling Hook to get to high ground. Combined with a turret form reminiscent of Bastion’s Assault configuration, this Duelist is a compelling choice because he can get significant value without being overly aggressive.

Marvel Rivals’ Heroes With More Niche Kits May Also Feel Familiar

Intriguingly, Black Panther shares similar traits to Overwatch 2‘s Genji. With a kit that gives him a lunge that refreshes if he hits an enemy, it parallels Genji’s Swift Strike, which resets after securing an elimination. Coupled with melee abilities and a wall climb called Subtle Step, Black Panther excels at getting in and out of the enemy backline. If given teammates who can follow up on his targets, the Duelist has immense potential.

Furthermore, Moira players who enjoy a more offensive playstyle should find a kindred spirit in Scarlet Witch. Both characters possess basic attack abilities that deal significant damage without being aim-dependent. Remarkably, her Mystic Projection gives her an escape mechanism via free flight, much like Moira’s Fade. However, unlike Moira’s Coalescence, Scarlet Witch’s ultimate ability unleashes a devastating attack, akin to the massive damage dealt by D.Va’s Self-Destruct.

“Moira players who enjoy a more offensive playstyle should find a kindred spirit in Scarlet Witch.”

Star-Lord’s skillset offers an intriguing blend of mechanics reminiscent of several Overwatch 2 flank DPS heroes, namely Soldier: 76, Tracer, and Reaper. With Dual Element guns, Star-Lord thrives when he can pressure the enemy team from off angles. Additionally, his Blaster Barrage, which is on an eight-second cooldown, is comparable to Reaper’s Death Blossom, though it has significantly less damage output. On top of an ultimate that allows him to lock on to enemies, akin to Soldier: 76’s Tactical Visor, Star-Lord can be extremely lethal in the right hands.

Support Players From Overwatch 2 May Find Comparable Traits in Marvel Rivals

For those who opt to play a Strategist in Marvel Rivals, Mantis may feel familiar because she seemingly borrows abilities from Overwatch 2 heroes like Brigitte, Ana, Mercy, and Lucio. Though she has a limited number of Life Orbs, analogous to Brigitte’s Repair Pack, Mantis has Healing Flowers that grant allies healing over time. Alongside her immense healing output, she has a Spore Slumber that can sedate unsuspecting enemies, a damage boost, and an ultimate that resembles Lucio’s Sound Barrier because it grants both healing over time and a movement boost.

In a similar vein, the ice-skating Luna Snow may be Marvel Rivals‘ answer to Lucio and Zenyatta. Luna Snow possesses an Idol Aura capable of attachment to an allied character, providing them with continuous healing, mirroring the functionality of Zenyatta’s Orb of Harmony. Further augmenting her strategic utility is her Mei-like ice shards and game-changing ultimate. Her ultimate ability, theorized to share similarities with Zenyatta’s Transcendence, empowers Luna Snow to dynamically toggle between a damage amplification effect and an area-of-effect heal for her teammates, solidifying her position as a highly adaptable support character.

Finally, Rocket Raccoon is one of the game’s best Strategists, mostly because he can heal both his teammates and himself, resurrect teammates, and inflict heavy damage. After debuting in the closed Alpha with Cosmic Yarn Amplifier (C.Y.A), an ultimate that gives his team a damage boost, it’s clear why many players in Marvel Rivals‘ leaderboard are running compositions with the anthropomorphic raccoon. In many ways, he mirrors Baptiste, though the latter can only heal himself with his Regenerative Burst.

Honorable mentions of other heroes with Overwatch 2 reminiscent abilities include, but aren’t limited to:

Magneto – Reinhardt’s Barrier Field, Zarya’s Projected Barrier, and Sigma’s Gravitic Flux
Iron Man – Echo’s Flight, Echo’s Focusing Beam, and Pharah’s Barrage
Loki – Sombra’s Stealth, Soldier: 76’s Biotic Field, and Echo’s Duplicate
Bruce Banner – D.Va’s Eject, Winston’s Jump Pack, and Winston’s Primal Rage
Groot – Mei’s Ice Wall and Zarya’s Graviton Surge paired with Mei’s Blizzard