Marvel Rivals: Most Banned Characters this Season

As a dedicated gamer immersed in Marvel Rivals, I can tell you that the meta, or the ever-evolving strategy landscape, is constantly shifting with each patch. It’s like a game of musical chairs where the tunes change, new characters join, balance adjustments are made, and strategic discoveries are unearthed. This dance impacts pick rates, win rates, and most importantly, ban rates. Ban rates serve as a clear indicator of which heroes players find overpowered or unfair to face, making them a must-ban in drafts.

This analysis of data from RivalsMeta.com for the current season reveals some frequently seen top contenders, along with a few surprising entries. In this comprehensive exploration, we will delve into the five most commonly banned Marvel Rivals characters, explain why they are frequently banned, and offer strategies to counter them or leverage them for your own gameplay success.

Why Ban Rates in Marvel Rivals Matter

The ban phase is akin to the initial skirmish in a game similar to Marvel Rivals. In this stage, each team is granted two bans, amounting to four in total. This allows you to prevent your opponents from using their strongest characters. A high ban rate typically indicates that a character is either:

1. Overpowered and frequently selected by many players (making it a common target for banning)
2. Counter-effective against the strategies of other teams, necessitating its removal from the game pool to ensure fair play.

Too hard to counter; you can’t really stop their abilities.
Defining the meta, the teams built around them win too often.
Intimidating, even average players don’t want to risk facing them.

Monitoring ban rates provides insights into potential gaps in your game setup, enabling you to strategize your draft more effectively. Additionally, it indicates which characters most players consider overpowered.

Most Banned Heroes in Marvel Rivals Season 2

1. Hulk

Ban Rate: 40.55%
Win Rate: 53.08%
Pick Rate: 12.62%

Why Hulk Gets Banned

In simpler terms, it can be said that Hulk stands out as an unparalleled front-liner in any team, a fact well-known by many. His exceptional crowd control and capacity to endure massive damage make him a formidable force during team battles. When skillfully played, Hulk initiates the fight, takes a significant amount of damage, and disrupts the enemy team with his ground slams and roars, leaving them disorganized and off-balance.

His jumps penetrate deep into the opposing team’s defense line. Given his resilience, it takes significant effort to eliminate him, hence requiring either extended cool-down periods for abilities or concentrated attacks from multiple players. His ultimate ability knocks everyone back and disrupts ongoing ultimate abilities that require channeling.

By removing Hulk, opponents also weaken Iron Man’s viability, effectively a “two-for-one” ban.

2. Groot

Ban Rate: 39.13%
Win Rate: 49.73%
Pick Rate: 9.95%

Groot’s High Ban Rate

Even though Groot might not always come out on top with a higher victory rate compared to the Hulk, he’s still nearly as feared due to his ability to control areas. His durable tank-like structure adds to the terror, as opponents find it challenging to penetrate his walls during battle.

3. Human Torch

Ban Rate: 27.76%
Win Rate: 50.65%
Pick Rate: 7.55%

The Human Torch Threat

The equipment of the Human Torch primarily revolves around maintaining a continuous blaze and hindering enemy advancement. Compared to the Vanguards, he’s less restricted but still formidable when skillfully played at an advanced level. His abilities like Flame Wall and Fire Pillar inflict punishment on clumped enemies and hinder pushes. Additionally, Flame Dash provides him with effective repositioning capabilities.

This character is frequently banned due to the significant harm he inflicts, coupled with an easy targeting system and a compact hit zone. People dislike being burned repeatedly from above with persistent damage. His 50.65% win rate indicates that he tends to contribute more to victories than losses, but his low usage rate of 7.55% implies a steep learning curve, which means opponents often prefer to ban him instead of taking on a skilled Torch player.

4. Iron Fist

Ban Rate: 23.72%
Win Rate: 50.78%
Pick Rate: 11.52%

Iron Fist’s Danger

Iron Fist excels in delivering powerful, single-target burst damage and performs optimally when teamed with other heroes who initiate dives. His ultimate ability can flatten supports if they’re not in the right position. He also possesses dashes and stun combinations, making him ideal for swift and intense encounters. A skillful Iron Fist masterfully evades abilities and strategically chooses when to engage. His 50.78% win rate, achieved at an 11.52% pick rate, indicates a high-risk, high-reward profile.

It’s not only his high damage output that gets him banned; when Iron Fist plays poorly, he can delay team goals by charging at the enemy backline without successfully executing his combos. This leaves his teammates disappointed because they were counting on him for kills or controlling crucial opponents.

5. Spider-Man

Ban Rate: 22.82%
Win Rate: 47.74%
Pick Rate: 16.37%
Matches Sampled: 244,235

Why Spider-Man Is Banned

Spider-Man excels in agility and unpredictability, but also has a lot of ups and downs. His web-slinging and wall-climbing abilities keep enemies on their toes. Just like Iron Fist, when played skillfully, he can be extremely frustrating for opponents; however, if not played effectively, he may end up being more of a hindrance than a help—it’s a tough call either way.

Despite having Namor or Luna as counter characters, he significantly alters the gameplay experience so much that many players choose to ban him. Disturbing footage of Spiderman main players dragging tanks off the map adds to the community’s anxiety. To reduce his overpowered bans, a mid-season update reduced the damage in his web combo. However, his win rate below 50% indicates that he underperforms more than half the time, particularly during ranked matches.

In essence, bans frequently stem from perceived danger as much as sheer strength. On a larger scale, characters such as Hulk and Groot dominate engagements, while individuals like Iron Fist and Spider-Man excel in delivering precise penalties at a smaller scale. Understanding the reasons behind the disdain of other players – perhaps it’s their annoying abilities, lethal combos, or simply how frustrating they are to face – helps you strategize your drafting decisions more effectively.

2025-05-19 20:42