Bringing Them Down: The Best Counters to Flying Characters in Marvel Rivals

In the high-flying, fast-paced world of Marvel Rivals, the ability to control the skies is a huge advantage. Characters like Iron Man, Storm, and Human Torch can dominate a match, raining down damage from above and leaving ground-based opponents scrambling for cover. While their aerial advantage can feel overwhelming, there are a number of heroes with the specific tools and abilities to counter them effectively. From hitscan sharpshooters to acrobatic grounders, this guide will break down the best counters to flying characters in Marvel Rivals, offering you a clear strategy to bring them back down to Earth. This is a crucial read for anyone looking to improve their Marvel Rivals strategy and dominate the competitive scene.

The key to countering flying heroes is to understand their weaknesses. While they have excellent vertical mobility, many of them are vulnerable to characters that can either deliver consistent damage from long range, interrupt their abilities, or force them to land. Choosing the right hero for the job can completely change the outcome of a match and turn a seemingly impossible matchup into a decisive victory.

Top-Tier Anti-Air Duelists

Duelists are your primary damage dealers, and many of them have the range and accuracy needed to take on airborne threats. These are your go-to heroes when the enemy team is stacked with flyers.

• Hela: The current meta choice for dealing with flyers. Hela’s projectiles are “hitscan,” meaning they land instantly where you aim, with no travel time. This makes her incredibly effective against fast-moving aerial targets. A skilled Hela player can land multiple headshots and quickly eliminate an enemy flyer before they can react. She is the definitive “hard counter” to most flying compositions.
• The Punisher: Similar to Hela, The Punisher’s assault rifle is a great tool for dealing with flying enemies. While his projectiles are not hitscan, they are very fast and have a high rate of fire, allowing him to apply consistent pressure and chip away at a flyer’s health. His ultimate, when timed correctly, can also be a massive threat to a flying team, forcing them to reposition or risk being eliminated.
• Star-Lord: This is a more complex counter, but a highly effective one. Star-Lord’s jet boots allow him to quickly close the gap with flying enemies, and his “Blaster Barrage” ability can deal massive burst damage at close range. If you can land your shots and get close enough, Star-Lord can be a devastating anti-air pick, as most flyers are not prepared for a close-range engagement.
• Scarlet Witch: With her long-range projectiles and homing abilities, Scarlet Witch is an excellent counter to flying characters, especially on maps with a lot of open space. Her primary fire can track opponents, making it easier to land hits on a distant, moving target. She can force an enemy flyer to retreat or switch characters entirely.

Vanguards and Strategists Who Can Handle Flyers

While Duelists are the main anti-air force, a few Vanguards and Strategists have unique abilities that can completely shut down a flying team, often without having to rely on perfect aim.

• Hulk: Hulk is a powerful anti-air Vanguard due to his ability to “ground” flying characters. His “Gamma Slam” ability can bring a flying enemy crashing down to the ground, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from his entire team. This is a fantastic “utility” pick that can turn the tide of a fight by disrupting the enemy’s formation and forcing them to play on your terms.
• Invisible Woman: As a Strategist, Invisible Woman’s abilities are all about battlefield control. Her “Force Field” can block the projectiles of flying enemies, and her “Psionic Vortex” can pull opponents out of the air, interrupting their abilities and making them easy targets for her teammates. She is a great pick for her ability to deny an enemy’s air advantage and create openings for her team.
• Warlock: This Strategist can also be a surprisingly effective counter. His primary attack has a long range, allowing him to chip away at flying enemies, but his real value lies in his ultimate ability, which can shut down an entire enemy team’s offensive, including those in the air. This gives his team the breathing room they need to regroup and counter-attack.
• Magneto: As a Vanguard, Magneto can be a great anti-air pick due to his ability to manipulate metal. His projectiles have a wide area of effect, and he can use his “Magnetic Field” to control the movement of opponents, making it difficult for them to fly or dodge his attacks. His “Metal Shard” ability can also deal a lot of damage from a distance, making him a consistent threat to flyers.

While flying characters have a clear advantage in certain situations, they are far from unbeatable. The key is to understand your role and choose the right character to counter them. By utilizing the long-range firepower of Hela and The Punisher, the utility of Hulk and Invisible Woman, or the burst damage of Star-Lord, you can take back control of the skies and ensure that your team emerges victorious. The battlefield is ever-changing, and the ability to adapt to a flying meta is a skill that will separate the good players from the great ones.