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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Season 1.5 S-tier picks in the Times of India’s February 24, 2025 list were Doctor Strange and Venom for Vanguard; Hela, Moon Knight, Scarlet Witch, and The Punisher for Duelist; and Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, and Rocket Raccoon for Strategist. This is a casual-player-oriented editorial ranking from a specific February 2025 patch period—not an official tier list or a guide to Marvel Rivals’ current meta.
Season 1.5 S-tier characters by role
The rankings below reproduce the Times of India Sports Desk’s recommendations for casual players. They are not based on published win rates or a quantified ranking method.
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| Role | S-tier picks | Rationale given in the list |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | Doctor Strange; Venom | Doctor Strange is highlighted for his protective shield and team movement; Venom for survivability and the ability to disengage. |
| Duelist | Hela; Moon Knight; Scarlet Witch; The Punisher | The list groups these choices around damage output and survivability, without providing individual performance statistics. |
| Strategist | Jeff the Land Shark; Luna Snow; Rocket Raccoon | Jeff is noted for a fire-rate buff, Luna Snow for ease of use, and Rocket Raccoon for combining healing, damage, and team damage support. |
These are the publication’s assessments, not measured comparisons of hero performance. Its own qualification is that “Any hero can perform S tier when mastered and played effectively.”
How to use this list when choosing a main
Start with the role you want to play, then use the named picks as a shortlist rather than a universal order. Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist describe different team roles, so the heroes are not interchangeable. The ranking offers no evidence-based way to compare, for example, a Vanguard against a Duelist.
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#1 Best Overall
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- Want to protect or enable your team? The list’s Vanguard choices are Doctor Strange and Venom.
- Want to focus on damage? Its Duelist recommendations are Hela, Moon Knight, Scarlet Witch, and The Punisher.
- Want to support while contributing damage? Its Strategist picks are Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, and Rocket Raccoon.
Personal comfort, mastery, team composition, and the rank you play at can matter more than a letter grade. The Times of India list is aimed at casual players and cautions that gameplay changes substantially at Diamond rank; it should not be treated as competitive advice for Diamond and above.
Why the ranking is specific to the February 2025 patch
Season 1.5 was the second half of Season 1. NetEase’s season announcement describes seasons as having two halves and identifies the game’s roles as Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist (official Season 1 announcement). The official notes say Season 1.0 ended February 21, 2025 at 08:00 UTC; the February 20 update introduced Human Torch and The Thing (official February 20 patch notes).
Rank #2
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Balance changes around the transition further show why a tier list needs a date. In its February 19, 2025 balance post, the game’s developers described the update as a “refinement” of heroes. The notes say Doctor Strange’s base health went from 650 to 600, while Captain America gained the ability to shield during a leap and his Freedom Charge energy cost dropped from 3100 to 2800 (official February 19 balance post). These patch details do not establish why the Times of India placed any character in a particular tier.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this tier list can—and cannot—tell you
The official patch notes document changes; they do not publish a definitive character ranking. The S-tier placements come from one publication’s casual-player-oriented editorial list. The cited material provides no statistical method or win-rate data to establish that the picks are strongest across all ranks, regions, modes, or team compositions. Read it as a dated recommendation for Season 1.5, not an objective measure of every hero’s viability.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Rank #3
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