Doctor Strange, with his exceptional control over space, time, and reality, is undoubtedly one of the most formidable heroes in Marvel Rivals. His area-of-effect (AoE) damage, crowd control abilities, and ability to heal and shield make him a constant threat in battles. However, understanding how to counteract his strengths can level the playing field and give you the upper hand in combat.
The Challenge of Facing Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange's ability set makes him particularly troublesome in large-scale team fights:
- AoE Damage: Spells like Crimson Bands of Cyttorak and Bolts of Balthakk allow him to deal massive damage to multiple enemies at once.
- Crowd Control: His Eye of Agamotto can temporarily immobilize opponents, rendering them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
- Sustain and Utility: Strange can both heal and shield, which prolongs his durability and his team's survivability.
- Teleportation: With the ability to teleport, he can easily escape danger, making him hard to pin down.
In order to effectively counter Doctor Strange, it’s important to disrupt his strategic gameplay and target his weaknesses.
Top Heroes to Counter Doctor Strange
Loki – Master of Deception
Loki excels at creating confusion and throwing off opponents like Doctor Strange who rely on strategy and precision. His unique abilities make him an effective counter by confusing Strange’s targeting and dodging his AoE attacks.
Key Abilities:
- Illusory Decoy: Creates false targets, which makes it difficult for Doctor Strange to land his powerful spells.
- Ethereal Blink: A perfect way to evade AoE damage and reposition during critical moments.
Pro Tip: Use decoys to bait out Doctor Strange’s spells, then strike when his key abilities are on cooldown.
Scarlet Witch – The Master of Chaos
Scarlet Witch brings chaos to any battlefield, and her powers are a great way to disrupt Doctor Strange’s flow. With her burst damage and ability to manipulate reality, she can break Doctor Strange’s combos and control the battlefield.
Key Abilities:
- Hex Bolt: Interrupts Doctor Strange’s spellcasting, preventing him from completing combos.
- Chaos Field: Forces Doctor Strange to move out of a damaging area, disrupting his positioning.
Pro Tip: Position yourself strategically to land AoE damage on Doctor Strange before he can teleport away from danger.
Black Panther – The Swift Assassin
Black Panther's incredible agility and burst damage make him a strong counter to Doctor Strange. His mobility allows him to dodge many of Strange’s attacks and deal significant damage to his shields and health.
Key Abilities:
- Pounce: Allows Black Panther to close the gap quickly and initiate a fight.
- Vibranium Slash: Deals high damage to shields and health, making it easier to eliminate Doctor Strange.
Pro Tip: Focus on disrupting Doctor Strange during team fights to force him to retreat or waste his spells.
General Tips and Tricks for Countering Doctor Strange
- Dodge His AoE Attacks: Doctor Strange’s AoE spells can be predictable. Staying mobile with high agility heroes can help you avoid most of the damage.
- Interrupt His Casting: Since Doctor Strange relies heavily on his spells, use crowd control or silence abilities to stop his combos and neutralize his effectiveness in battle.
- Target Doctor Strange Early: Though he’s powerful, Doctor Strange is relatively fragile compared to other heroes. Focus on him early in team fights to remove his shields and healing capabilities.
- Use Vision Abilities: Since Doctor Strange can teleport, heroes with abilities that reveal or track enemies will help prevent him from escaping or repositioning too easily.
- Avoid Grouping Up: His AoE damage thrives when enemies are grouped together. Spread out during team fights to minimize the impact of his spells.
Conclusion
While Doctor Strange is undeniably one of the most powerful and iconic heroes in Marvel Rivals, he is not without his vulnerabilities. By selecting heroes like Loki, Scarlet Witch, or Black Panther, and utilizing smart strategies like keeping your team spread out and focusing on interrupting his abilities, you can effectively counter Doctor Strange and turn the tide in your favor. With the right heroes and tactics, you can keep his magic in check and emerge victorious.