I have to be honest, I’ve seen it a thousand times. You are locked in a heated team fight on the frontlines, trading blows with the enemy’s Vanguard, when suddenly, you hear a frantic call for help from the back. Your Strategist, the hero keeping the entire team alive, is getting absolutely wrecked by a flanking Spider-Man or Black Panther. What do you do? Do you stay and fight, hoping your team can win the 5v1, or do you turn around and help your squishy teammate?
If you want to win, the answer is always to peel. Peeling is one of the most critical, yet often overlooked, skills in Marvel Rivals. It’s the difference between a team that crumbles under pressure and one that holds its ground and takes the point. It’s a fundamental concept for anyone who wants to climb the ranks, and my goal today is to break it down for you. From what it is, to who should be doing it, and most importantly, how to do it effectively, this is your ultimate guide to peeling in Marvel Rivals.
What is Peeling in Marvel Rivals?
In the simplest terms, peeling is the act of protecting a teammate, usually a Strategist or a low-health Duelist, from an enemy who is attacking them. The term itself is a gaming term that comes from the idea of “peeling” an attacker off of a vulnerable ally, much like you would peel an orange. It’s a defensive tactic that requires awareness, good positioning, and a quick reaction time.
A classic example of peeling is when your Doctor Strange is being “dived” on by a flanking Duelist like Psylocke. Doctor Strange is a powerhouse with his utility and healing, but he is also incredibly vulnerable to getting jumped on. A good team will recognize this and have a Vanguard or a Duelist ready to drop what they’re doing and use their abilities to disrupt or eliminate the enemy Psylocke.
Peeling is not just about getting the kill, it’s about creating space and taking the pressure off of your teammate. You can do this by using crowd control abilities to stun, slow, or knock back the enemy, or by simply applying enough damage pressure to force them to retreat. A successful peel can save your teammate’s life, prevent the enemy from getting ultimate charge, and turn a fight that was already lost back into your favor.
The Heroes of the Peel
While every hero on the roster is capable of peeling to some extent, some are naturally better at it than others due to their kits. The primary responsibility often falls on Vanguards and certain Duelists, as their abilities are designed for disruption and control.
Here is a breakdown of which heroes excel at peeling and why:
| Hero Role | Primary Peeling Abilities | Why They Are Good at It |
| Vanguard | The Thing’s Rock Punch, Hulk’s Gamma Charge, Groot’s Ironwood Wall | High health pools allow them to absorb damage, while their crowd control abilities can instantly stop a dive in its tracks. |
| Duelist | Psylocke’s Psychic Blades (slow), Black Panther’s Vibranium Slash (knockback), Iron Man’s Unibeam (burst damage) | While not their primary role, these heroes can use their abilities to quickly eliminate or disorient a flanking enemy. |
| Strategist | Doctor Strange’s Eye of Agamotto (pull), Invisible Woman’s Force Fields (interrupt), Loki’s Illusions (distraction) | These heroes can often self-peel with their own utility, but their abilities can also be used to help a struggling teammate. |
Експортувати в Таблиці
The “How To” of Peeling
Okay, so you understand what peeling is, and you know who’s good at it. Now, let’s get into the practical, in-game application. Peeling effectively in Marvel Rivals is a three-step process that you need to execute in a split second.
- Step 1, Awareness: This is the most important part. You can’t peel for a teammate if you don’t know they are in trouble. Pay attention to the in-game audio cues, the damage numbers on the screen, and the health bars of your teammates. My personal tip is to make it a habit to quickly glance at the kill feed and the top of your screen to see if your Strategists are taking damage.
- Step 2, Identify the Threat: Once you see a teammate is in danger, you need to quickly identify the enemy hero causing the problem. Is it a high-mobility Black Panther, a damage-heavy Spider-Man, or a tank that has slipped past the frontline? Knowing who the enemy is will inform which ability you use to peel. For example, a stun is great for stopping a Spider-Man’s momentum, while a burst of damage might be better for an already low-health Psylocke.
- Step 3, The Execution: This is where you put your kit to work. My advice is to use the most impactful crowd control or damage ability you have that can disrupt the enemy’s attack. A Vanguard like The Thing can use his rock punch to knock the enemy away. An Iron Man can use his Unibeam to burst them down. And a Strategist like Invisible Woman can use her Force Fields to interrupt their ability. The goal is not always a kill, it’s to force the enemy to disengage and give your teammate time to heal or reposition.
Common Peeling Mistakes to Avoid
Peeling is a skill that takes practice, and it’s easy to fall into bad habits. Here are a few common mistakes I see a lot of players make and how to avoid them.
- Ignoring the Backline: This is the most common and most detrimental mistake. You get tunnel vision on the frontline fight and completely forget about your Strategists. This leads to them dying, which in turn leads to your whole team dying. I’ve seen so many games lost because a Vanguard was so focused on the enemy Vanguard that they let their healer get picked off. Remember, a team without a Strategist is a team that is already losing.
- Overextending to Peel: There is a fine line between a good peel and a bad one. Don’t chase a flanking enemy into the enemy backline if it means you will die. The goal is to save a teammate, not trade one death for another. A good peel should be quick and efficient, not a full-on chase.
- Not Communicating: Communication is key in any team-based game, and Marvel Rivals is no exception. If you are a Strategist getting jumped on, use the “Need Healing” callout or even better, “I need help.” This will alert your team to your location and the threat. Likewise, if you are peeling for a teammate, a quick callout like “I got you” can help them feel safe and focus on the fight.
The Peeling Paradox
Peeling is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. There is a paradox at the heart of it, especially for Vanguards. You are the frontline, the wall that protects your team. If you turn to peel, you are momentarily leaving your team exposed. This is why Vanguards need to have excellent game sense. You have to know when it is safe to leave the front and when it is not.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Your Ultimate Charge: If you are close to your ultimate, it might be more valuable to secure the front and use your ultimate to win the team fight.
- Enemy Ultimate Charge: Is the enemy team about to use a game-winning ultimate? You might need to save your abilities to counter it rather than using them to peel.
- Teammate’s Health: If your Strategist is at full health and just taking a little damage, a quick peel might not be necessary. If they are at critical health, however, you need to act fast.
The best players in Marvel Rivals are masters of this paradox. They know when to hold their ground and when to turn and save a teammate.
Final Bottom
Peeling is more than just a defensive tactic, it is a mindset. It’s about teamwork, game sense, and prioritizing the survival of your teammates. It is an art that separates a good player from a great one. While it may not always show up on the scoreboard, a successful peel can single-handedly win you the game.So, the next time you hear that panicked call for help from the backline, don’t ignore it. Turn around, use your abilities, and peel for your team. You’ll not only climb the ranks, but you’ll become the teammate everyone wants to play with. This kind of nuanced, team-focused gameplay is what makes the Marvel Rivals category so special, and I am excited to see you all out there on the battlefield putting these tips into practice.
