Marvel Rivals Season 4 hero tier list (Sept 2026) — Phoenix, Gambit, and the post-rework meta

How we ranked them

This Marvel Rivals Season 4 tier list is current to the Sept 12, 2026 launch (the patch with Phoenix and Gambit as the new heroes and the 37-hero balance pass). The list reflects the projected ranked meta after the patch lands.

We ranked every hero by:

• Damage per second at typical engagement range (10-30m for melee, 30-80m for ranged, 80m+ for snipers)
• Survivability — how much HP, shields, and self-heal the hero has
• Ultimate impact — how game-changing the ultimate is in a 6v6 team fight
• Augment ceiling — how much better the hero gets with the launch augments
• FNCS pick rate projected from the current competitive scene

The list is split into 4 sections: Duelists, Strategists, Vanguard, and the new heroes. The S-tier overall — the heroes you should always lock or ban first — are Phoenix, Gambit, Iron Man (rework), and Storm (post-buff).

Duelists (14 heroes)

S Tier

Phoenix (NEW) — The Season 4 launch Duelist with the highest skill ceiling. Phoenix's Telekinesis + Fire Blast combo is a guaranteed kill on any squishy (1.5s lift into a short-range cone AOE), and the Dark Phoenix ultimate is the most powerful transformation in the game. Phoenix's pick rate is projected at 30-40% on launch, dropping to 15-20% as the meta settles. The meta-defining Duelist.

Iron Man (REWORK) — The Season 4 rework that gives Iron Man the "Iron Legion" ultimate (4 drones that fire on nearby enemies for 8 seconds). The rework turns Iron Man from a single-target burst hero into a sustained AOE damage hero, and the Iron Legion is the most powerful ultimate in the game. Iron Man's pick rate is projected at 25-30% on launch. The most-requested rework in the game's history.

Storm (POST-BUFF) — The Season 4 patch increases Storm's damage by 15% across all abilities and reduces her ultimate cooldown from 120s to 100s. Storm is now the strongest magic damage Duelist in the game. The pick rate is projected at 20-25% post-buff. The Storm buff is the biggest mid-season balance change in the game's history.

A Tier

Scarlet Witch (POST-BUFF) — The Season 4 patch increases Scarlet Witch's Telekinesis lift duration from 1.0s to 1.3s and her ultimate damage by 20%. The Telekinesis + Chaos Control combo is now the longest single-target setup in the game (1.3s lift + 1.0s stun = 2.3s total CC). Scarlet Witch's pick rate is projected at 15-20% post-buff.

Hela (PRE-NERF) — The Season 4 patch decreases Hela's damage by 20% across all abilities and her ultimate damage by 30%. Hela is still the highest single-target burst Duelist in the game, but the nerf brings her down from S-tier to A-tier. The pick rate is projected at 15-20% post-nerf.

Magik — Magik is unchanged in Season 4 but still the best dive Duelist. The Darkchylde transformation is the highest single-target burst damage in the Duelist pool, and the Stepping Discs are the best mobility in the Duelist pool. Magik's pick rate is projected at 12-18%.

Spider-Man (PRE-NERF) — The Season 4 patch decreases Spider-Man's web swing speed by 15% and his Web Bomb radius by 20%. Spider-Man is still the highest-mobility Duelist in the game, but the nerf brings him down from S-tier to A-tier. The pick rate is projected at 10-15% post-nerf.

B Tier

Blade — Blade is unchanged in Season 4 but still the best sustain Duelist. The Daywalker Dash is the best engage tool in the Duelist pool, and the Blood Sword heal is the best self-sustain. Blade's pick rate is projected at 8-12%.

Black Panther — Black Panther is unchanged but still the best single-target assassin. The Vibranium Claws combo is the highest single-target burst damage in the Duelist pool. The pick rate is projected at 6-10%.

Human Torch — Human Torch is unchanged but still the best AOE Duelist. The Fiery Nova is the highest AOE damage in the Duelist pool. The pick rate is projected at 5-8%.

Moon Knight — Moon Knight is unchanged but still the best sustained Duelist. The Ankh is the best self-sustain in the Duelist pool. The pick rate is projected at 4-6%.

C Tier

Hawkeye — Hawkeye is unchanged but still the best poke Duelist. The Stormbreaker arrows are the best single-target poke in the Duelist pool. The pick rate is projected at 3-5%.

Punisher (POST-NERF) — The Season 4 patch decreases the Punisher's frag launcher damage by 15% and turret health by 20%. The Punisher is now the worst poke Duelist in the game. The pick rate is projected at 2-4% post-nerf.

Winter Soldier — Winter Soldier is unchanged but still the worst all-around Duelist. The Bionic Arm is the worst single-target burst in the Duelist pool. The pick rate is projected at 1-3%.

D Tier

Star-Lord — Star-Lord is unchanged but still the worst mobility Duelist. The Element Guns are the worst single-target damage in the Duelist pool. The pick rate is projected at 1-2%.

Strategists (8 heroes)

S Tier

Gambit (NEW) — The Season 4 launch Strategist with the most balanced kit. Gambit's Royal Flush is the best AOE heal in the game (3-second AOE heal that scales with the number of allies inside), and the 52 Pickup ultimate is the best damage boost in the game (10-second 50% damage boost to every ally in the AOE). Gambit's pick rate is projected at 20-30% on launch. The meta-defining Strategist.

Mantis (POST-BUFF) — The Season 4 patch increases Mantis's healing by 25% and her sleep duration from 1.5s to 2.0s. Mantis is now the strongest solo-queue Strategist in the game. The pick rate is projected at 15-20% post-buff.

A Tier

Loki (REWORK) — The Season 4 rework that gives Loki a teleport mechanic instead of the clone mechanic. The new Loki is a single-target burst damage hero, and the teleport is the best engage tool in the Strategist pool. The pick rate is projected at 12-18%.

Luna Snow — Luna Snow is unchanged in Season 4 but still the best group heal Strategist. The Light of the Moon is the best AOE heal in the Strategist pool, and the Ice Arts is the best AOE damage. The pick rate is projected at 10-15%.

Adam Warlock — Adam Warlock is unchanged but still the best single-target heal Strategist. The Soul Bond is the best single-target heal in the Strategist pool. The pick rate is projected at 8-12%.

B Tier

Cloak & Dagger — Cloak & Dagger is unchanged but still the best hybrid Strategist. The Light and Dark Fields are the best AOE damage + heal combo. The pick rate is projected at 6-10%.

Jeff the Land Shark — Jeff is unchanged but still the best chaos Strategist. The Itsy Bitsy Sharky is the best AOE damage in the Strategist pool. The pick rate is projected at 4-6%.

Invisible Woman — Invisible Woman is unchanged but still the best single-target burst Strategist. The Force Fields are the best AOE CC in the Strategist pool. The pick rate is projected at 3-5%.

C Tier

Rocket Raccoon — Rocket is unchanged but still the worst all-around Strategist. The B.R.B. is the worst AOE damage in the Strategist pool. The pick rate is projected at 2-3%.

Vanguards (6 heroes)

A Tier

Hulk (REWORK) — The Season 4 rework that gives Hulk a shield mechanic instead of the rage mechanic. The new Hulk is a sustained team fight presence hero, and the Indestructible Guard is the best team-wide shield in the Vanguard pool. The pick rate is projected at 12-18%.

Doctor Strange — Doctor Strange is unchanged but still the best AOE shield Vanguard. The Shield of the Seraphim is the best AOE shield in the Vanguard pool. The pick rate is projected at 10-15%.

Venom — Venom is unchanged but still the best dive Vanguard. The Symbiotic Surge is the highest single-target burst damage in the Vanguard pool. The pick rate is projected at 8-12%.

Captain America — Captain America is unchanged but still the best frontline Vanguard. the Vibranium Shield is the best single-target shield in the Vanguard pool. The pick rate is projected at 6-10%.

Groot — Groot is unchanged but still the best AOE CC Vanguard. The Bramble Prison is the best AOE root in the Vanguard pool. The pick rate is projected at 4-6%.

B Tier

Thor — Thor is unchanged but still the best AOE damage Vanguard. The Mjolnir is the best AOE damage in the Vanguard pool. The pick rate is projected at 3-5%.

What's next

Season 4 launches Sept 12. The next article in this series will be the Season 4 launch recap (Sept 12), followed by the Season 4 Week 1 meta shift (Sept 19) and the Season 4 Mid-Season tier list (Oct 17).