Strategist Meta In Marvel Rivals Gets Major Shakeup After The Healer Nerf

Published Feb 26, 2025

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powerful Strategist ultimates like Cloak and Dagger, but with the release of Season 1.5, a round of major nerfs have shocked the meta. With Cloak and Dagger majorly nerfed and Adam Warlock receiving some tuning to his kit, Season 1.5 is already turning team comps on their heads.

Previously powerful heroes like the dynamic duo of Cloak and Dagger have seen their pick rate drop. Meanwhile, some of the most unlikely heroes have taken their place. Loki has dramatically improved in his standing, and Mantis has made a grand return to the meta with the nerfing of other heroes. Maining a Strategist in Season 1.5 of Marvel Rivals could be a completely different experience than it was before.

The Best Strategists In Marvel Rivals Season 1.5

Loki Has Risen Through The Ranks

When Season 1 began, most players would have laughed at the idea of Loki being considered an S Tier Strategist. Even with a nerf slowing his ultimate charge, The God of Mischief has become a force to be reckoned with due to his high survivability and flexibility in battle. During a recent match on the new Central Park map, I went up against a Loki who seemed to never be in the same place for long and practically impossible to kill.

The Human Torch from Marvel Rivals with Luna Snow and The Invisible Woman

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The Human Torch is Marvel Rivals' latest duelist, and his team up will make a Strategist's job even harder after the nerfs from the new season.

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Now that other heroes have been lowered back to her level, Mantis is able to make a surprising return to the meta Even with her movement speed nerf at the beginning of Season 1, Mantis has become a great choice for both damage and healing. Adam Warlock has also seen an increase in picks, with his damage buff making The Perfect Human even more dangerous than before.

The New Healer Meta in Marvel Rivals Brings Mantis Back To The Battlefield

A Major Comeback For An Early Legend

Mantis has remained consistent with a high win rate throughout Season 1 of Marvel Rivals. However, her pick rate saw a steady decline after the introduction of Invisible Woman. With Cloak and Dagger's ultimate nerf, Mantis has begun to climb the ranks. Her unique blend of high damage output and Duelist buff potential makes her an incredible pick. Combining her abilities with the new Storm and Human Torch team-up has resulted in devastating damage capable of melting even an ulting Luna Snow.

While all Strategists are still relatively reasonable picks, some are much more likely to result in strong team comps than others. Loki, Mantis, and Adam Warlock are all capable of really shaking up the battlefield and making it easier to climb the ranks. These traditionally lesser-picked characters are sure to throw a wrench into the enemy team's plans, especially when combined with the new backline-destroying combos added in Marvel Rivals' latest 1.5 update.