Marvel Rivals Season 1 Meta Guide: Top 10 Dominant Characters in January 2025
Image Credit: Marvel Rivals
Season 1 of Marvel Rivals is finally here, and with the changes from Season Zero, including major buffs and nerfs, a new meta is forming. Here are the 10 best characters that stand out in Season 1—characters you should consider maining or learning how to counter.
1. Wolverine
Wolverine received a slight nerf to his Undying Animal ability (damage reduction reduced from 50% to 40%) but gained more base health (300 to 350). Despite this, Wolverine has emerged as one of the most dominant characters. His high damage that scales with max HP makes him a tank killer. He thrives against tanks and forces teams to abandon double-tank setups. Wolverine's ability to disrupt team compositions and shred through frontlines makes him a must-learn.
2. Thor
Thor saw multiple improvements, including synergy buffs with Captain America and Storm, and gained an extra 25 HP. The most significant change is that his ultimate is now crowd-control resistant, making it far more reliable. Thor remains one of the best carry tanks, especially in lower ranks, where his high skill ceiling and carry potential shine.
3. Cloak and Dagger
Already a top-tier support, Cloak and Dagger got even stronger with buffs to her cooldowns. The Heal Dome Storm cooldown was reduced from 15 seconds to 12, and her ultimate now allows four dashes instead of three. With the nerfs to other supports like Mantis, Cloak and Dagger is now a standout choice. Just remember to end your ultimate in a safe position to avoid being punished by crowd control.
4. Neymar
Neymar is climbing in popularity due to his burst damage, anti-dive potential, and synergy with Luna. He excels at shutting down mobile characters and can hold his own in a dive-heavy meta. His high damage and low skill floor make him a great DPS for players transitioning from tank or support roles.
5. Rocket Raccoon
Rocket Raccoon’s synergy with Punisher and Winter Soldier has become more powerful due to reduced cooldowns and buffs to those characters. His ultimates charge faster, and nerfs to divers like Psylocke and Black Panther mean Rocket has fewer threats to worry about. Pairing him with Punisher or Winter Soldier can lead to easy wins.
6. Magneto
Magneto's synergy with Scarlet Witch received buffs, making him more viable. He also excels in a meta defined by crowd control, as he can survive abilities from Wolverine and Winter Soldier that pull other tanks out of position. With nerfs to alternative tanks like Doctor Strange, Magneto is a solid pick for teams relying on CC-heavy compositions.
7. Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock didn’t receive direct changes but remains incredibly strong. His burst healing and Soul Bond ability can completely shut down enemy plays. However, Adam Warlock requires strong mechanical skill and positioning to maximize his potential. If mastered, he can be one of the most impactful supports in the game.
8. Winter Soldier
Winter Soldier received buffs across the board, including increased HP, higher damage, and more HP gain when using abilities. He excels at both pulling tanks out of position and shutting down flankers with his crowd-control abilities. With nerfs to his counters like Black Panther and Hawkeye, Winter Soldier is set to dominate in both high and low ranks.
9. Venom
Venom’s buffs to survivability and his ultimate have pushed him into the meta spotlight. He now excels in dive compositions and can soak up a lot of damage. Timing is crucial when playing Venom—coordinate with your team and be sure they can follow up on your dives.
10. Squirrel Girl
Squirrel Girl’s ultimate was reworked to bounce and follow targets, significantly improving her playmaking potential. She performs best on maps with tight corridors, where she can quickly charge her ultimate multiple times in a fight. While she still struggles on open maps, players who master her in the right scenarios will find her incredibly rewarding.
These are the 10 big winners of Season 1. Whether you’re looking to main a character or build strategies around countering them, these heroes are shaping the meta.
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