How to play Venom in Marvel Rivals – abilities and tips

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Marvel Rivals has plenty of characters in its impressively sized roster, but if you’re going to play as a Vanguard (tank), you’ll want to learn how to play with Venom. The Spider-Man villain has lost some of his threat in recent years after straddling the line between good and evil, but in Marvel Rivals he is a certified menace. Despite only being a one-star difficulty character, Venom can be pretty challenging to get the best out of him, but remains more accessible than some of the other tanks, thanks to a few of his abilities. We’ve explained all of his abilities below, as well as some tips for how best to use him in matches.

Venom abilities

Just like with the majority of the other Vanguard characters, using Venom requires you to draw focus in battle, allowing the Duelists some breathing room. Managing his abilities, knowing when to charge, and when to back off will dictate your success with Venom.

AbilitiesDescription
Dark PredationUnleash tentacles forward
Venom Swing Launch webbing forward, allowing for a singular swing in the desired direction
Symbiotic Resilience Generates Bonus health against damage; the lower the health, the more that’s granted
Frenzied Arrival Once in the air, launch towards a target location, damaging enemies and launching them in the air
Cellular Corrosion Unleash tentacles to Slow enemies within reach
Alien BiologyCrawl and sprint up walls
Fest of the Abyss Burrow underground to move quicker and then devour enemies above, dealing damage on enemies whilst taking some health for yourself

How to use Venom in Marvel Rivals

The first thing you want when paying Venom is turn off the easy swing. This gives you more control over how Venom’s Swing works, and it can now be used like a grapple to close space.

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Venom doesn’t possess any range, although his tentacles are slightly longer than your average melee character, so you must pick the right moments to be aggressive and get into the thick of the fight. By launching yourself up, you can dive in and scatter opponents, then target the weakest; when this tactic is used appropriately, it can be devastating and difficult to avoid. You want to remain at the front, being aggressive and taking damage. It’s important not to get too far from your squad as you’re not quite invincible and have limited mobility, excluding the Venom Swing.


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In a one-on-one scenario, Venom is nearly unstoppable thanks to Symbiotic Resilience, which grants a huge health boost. You can also trap your opponents using Cellular Corrosion, making sure they don’t escape your threat. If there is no reload on your attack, you can constantly barrage an enemy when cornered.

About the Author

Morgan Truder

Morgan has a wealth of experience when it comes to gaming, having previously edited Realsport, a website dedicated to sports games. At VG, Morgan focuses on Football Manager news and features.

Marvel Rivals

  • Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
  • Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter