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Marvel Rivals Season 2.5, which launched on May 30, marked a significant shift in the game’s meta, boosting flying characters such as Iron Man, Storm, Ultron, and Human Torch to prominence. This midseason update brings Ultron as the first flying healer, with a high-damage beam and a healing drone that make him a deadly backline enemy.
Iron Man and Storm dominate as DPS powerhouses, with Iron Man’s Unibeam and Storm’s Omega Hurricane wreaking damage from above. Human Torch, teaming up with Storm via Team-Ups such as Omega Fire, amps up the aerial assault, turning battles into high-flying spectacles. However, the rising “flying meta” has apparently ruined lobbies for players, with many melee heroes feeling marginalized as aerial threats exploit off-angles and resist standard attacks.
But fret not, if you’re one of the affected ones, we’ve got the perfect way for you to counter these overpowered heroes to dominate Rivals lobbies once again.
The Punisher and Black Widow can put a definite end to Marvel Rivals’ flying meta in Season 2.5
In Marvel Rivals Season 2.5, the flying meta can be countered by The Punisher and Black Widow, who are highly effective, aided by their new Team-Up ability, Operation: Microchip. This synergy improves their ability to demolish airborne threats with precise and prolonged damage, making them the go-to pair for grounding flyers.
The Punisher’s hitscan arsenal, which includes his assault rifle and Culling Turret, delivers constant mid-to-long-range damage, making it suitable for targeting fliers like Iron Man, who have limited air evasion. His shotgun and ultimate deal burst damage to vulnerable fliers like Human Torch or Storm, whose mobility suffers under persistent bombardment.
Several players compliment his ability to “shred flyers” by securing sightlines and limiting aerial flanking. With Operation: Microchip, The Punisher obtains 25 HP and 5% more damage, allowing him to chip away at Ultron’s healing drones or Storm’s health pool.
Similarly, Black Widow’s sniper rifle specializes in taking down flyers from a distance, countering Ultron’s backline presence and Human Torch’s unpredictable movement. Her Season 2.5-buffed Red Room Rifle, when used with the Operation: Microchip Team-Up, provides a piercing pulse shot when looking down sights, allowing her to attack numerous flying enemies at once. This makes her a formidable threat to crowded flyers. Her ult’s vulnerability effect increases team damage, ensuring that flyers like Storm fall soon.
However, if you’re playing as a flying hero like Ultron yourself, check out how to play him and make the best use of his buffed-up abilities right here.
About the Author
Marvel Rivals
- Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter
