Marvel Rivals Heroes and Their Overwatch Counterparts

Marvel Rivals and Overwatch share similarities in gameplay, with team-based objectives, unique hero abilities, and a focus on strategic battles. Being a hero shooter, it’s basically impossible to not have some similar heroes. This is a blessing in disguise though, because it makes it easier for Overwatch players to dive into Marvel Rivals. Here’s an in-depth look at 10 Marvel Rivals heroes and their Overwatch counterparts.

Thor and Reinhardt/Junker Queen: In-your-face melee tanks

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Thor shares Reinhardt’s role as a frontline powerhouse and Junker Queen’s mid-range disruption abilities. Like Reinhardt, Thor wields a hammer. Sure, both of these hammers have completely different use cases. However, they do share the same attack pattern: smashing the enemy team’s faces with their hammers.

One great thing about Mjölnir is that you can throw it for ranged damage.  This ability resembles Junker  Queen’s Jagged Blade throw. Both of these weapons return to the wielder after dealing damage.

These shared traits make Thor a familiar pick for Overwatch players who value tanky, aggressive gameplay with team-supportive tools.

Lastly, Thor’s Storm Surge allows him to charge through enemy lines, akin to Reinhardt’s Charge. You basically spin your hammer and then dash into an enemy pinning them down into a wall or isolating them from the team. His ultimate, God of Thunder, rains destructive AOE damage like Doomfist’s Meteor Strike.

In summary, Thor’s mastery of Mjölnir combines elements of Reinhardt and Junker Queen’s skill sets. His hammer swing deals heavy melee damage, reminiscent of Reinhardt’s main attack, while Hammer Throw mimics Junker Queen’s Jagged Blade for engaging enemies at mid-range

Iron Man and Pharah: Raining down rockets from above

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You can’t have a hero shooter based on superheroes without having characters that can fly. You also can’t have a Marvel Shooter without the star of the Marvel universe: Iron Man. 

Iron Man’s kit heavily resembles Pharah’s from Overwatch. First, they are flying heroes that rain down rockets onto the enemy team. However, unlike Pharah, Iron Man doesn’t run out of fuel and can stay in the air indefinitely. 

The primary attacks of both characters are rockets that deal AOE damage and are projectile-based. In short: both heroes rely on their ability to hover above the battlefield, raining explosive projectiles on enemies below. 

For players familiar with Pharah’s knack for aerial combat, Iron Man’s flight mechanics and area-damage attacks feel right at home. To be honest, Iron Man feels much better to play than Pharah, just because he doesn’t have to drop to the ground every so often to charge his jetpack. Plus, he has the mobility to get out of tough situations instead of being a sitting duck in the air.

Black Widow and Widowmaker: Deadly snipers with mobility

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Black Widow mirrors Widowmaker’s sniper-centric gameplay, offering long-range precision with her rifle. She is pretty much what you would expect from a sniper character in a hero shooter. 

The overall idea of the kit design is more or less similar, though there are some clear difference between the two. Black Widow has a mobility ability that allows her to sprint and leap whereas Widowmaker has a grappling hook. Widowmaker’s rifle turns automatic for close distance, whereas Black Widow takes out her batons for a melee fight.

Their shared emphasis on high-damage, single-shot attacks makes them ideal picks for players who excel at positioning and timing, ensuring their team stays one step ahead.

Hawkeye and Hanzo: Bow-wielding mobile menaces

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Hawkeye’s bow-wielding gameplay feels natural to Hanzo’s mains. His Precision Arrow delivers pinpoint damage like Hanzo’s primary fire, while his Shockwave Arrow adds an AOE element. 

While their other abilities might not be as a similar, there’s one more thing that they do share: it can be insanely frustrating to face them in a match. One headshot from Hanzo or Hawkeye will send you back to your spawn.

Both heroes cater to players who enjoy staying on the move while delivering impactful, pinpoint attacks from a safe distance.

Magneto and Sigma: Flexible barrier tanks

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Magneto and Sigma both manipulate physical forces to control battles. Magneto’s Metallic Curtain provides a flexible shield similar to Sigma’s Experimental Barrier, protecting allies from incoming fire. 

His Mag-Cannon requires charging, much like Sigma’s primary fire, delivering high-impact shots. Magneto’s ultimate, Meteor M, devastates enemies with an AOE attack, echoing Sigma’s Gravitic Flux.

This makes both characters strong picks for tank players who enjoy controlling the flow of battle.

Venom and Doomfist/Wrecking Ball: Dive tanks with high mobility

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Venom’s aggressive playstyle makes him a blend of Doomfist and Wrecking Ball. His Venom Swing allows him to traverse the map quickly, similar to Wrecking Ball’s Grappling Claw. Venom’s dive bomb ability is a loose combination of Doomfist’s Rocket Punch and Wrecking Ball’s Piledriver, used for launching enemies and disrupting their formations.

Venom is essentially Marvel Rivals’s best dive tank. With his mobility, he can easily isolate enemies or take map control. If you enjoy that style of dynamic tanking gameplay, Venom can be your main hero.

Luna Snow and Lucio: Skating healers

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Luna Snow shares Lucio’s love for music. Her ultimate is a version of Lucio’s crossfade, where she can swap between damage boost and healing while dancing around.

Luna Snow also skates around the map much like Lucio, but she can’t skate on walls. She also has a crowd control ability to help her take care of dive duelists: she throws an ice shard which can freeze enemies. Lucio has a similar ability but instead of freezing he can knock enemies back to make a quick escape. 

If you enjoy Lucio’s dynamic style of providing support, you will definitely love Luna Snow.

Doctor Strange and Symmetra/Ramattra: Teleporting around the map

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Doctor Strange blends Symmetra’s utility with Ramattra’s defensive abilities. His Shield of the Seraphim acts like a deployable barrier while his teleportation ability, Pentagram of Farallah, is a game-changing trump card. His ultimate, Eye of Agamotto, immobilizes enemies, functioning similarly to Ramattra’s Ravenous Vortex.

Doctor Strange is a versatile hero for players who enjoy combining team support with battlefield control. Both characters shine when played by players who value utility and adaptability in high-pressure situations.

Punisher and Soldier 76: The CoD-style shooter heroes

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Punisher channels Soldier: 76’s straightforward yet effective playstyle. He is basically the CoD character in Marvel Rivals, equipped with a high-damaging Assault Rifle, a grenade, and some mobility. Just like is the case with Soldier: 76, these characters are designed to be beginner-friendly.

In short, Punisher is ideal for players transitioning from traditional FPS games. He offers simplicity without sacrificing impact. Both Punisher and Soldier 76 offer that classic shooter feel, making absorbing the hero-shooter aspect much easier.

Mantis and Zenyatta/Anna: Fragile healers offering buffs as well

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Mantis and Zenyatta aren’t very similar but they share a similar kit and playstyle. Mantis has leaves that she can use to heal or damage buff her team. Similarly, Zenyatta has orbs that he can attach to teammates to recover them. 

Her ultimate, Soul Resurgence, boosts healing and movement speed, functioning like Zenyatta’s Transcendence. Mantis also has an ability that can put enemies to sleep exactly like Anna’s sleep dart. 

Mantis’ balance of healing and utility makes her a great pick for players who want to influence battles without being on the frontlines. She is a balanced healer that can also go on the offensive when needed.

Conclusion

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There are only so many abilities and concepts you can draw from when creating a hero shooter. As such, some overlap between different heroes is inevitable. Do note that we did not make this article to ‘call out’ any specific game. It’s merely meant as a handy guide for experienced Overwatch players who are wanting to dive into the world of Marvel: Rivals. These heroes should make you feel right at home if you’re new to the game, and they’ll serve as an ideal platform to get familiar with the many other heroes that Marvel Rivals has to offer.