Deadpool breaks every rule in Marvel Rivals — and that’s exactly why he’s the most complex hero in the game. He’s the only character who can play all three roles, switching between Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist at will. After two weeks of grinding ranked with the merc with a mouth, here’s everything you need to know to actually make him work.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: Which Role Should You Play?

  • Vanguard (Tank) — Best overall. Highest winrate, easiest to make work. Play him as a hitscan tank, not a melee brawler.
  • Strategist (Support) — Solid second choice. More durable than most supports at 350 HP with good hybrid damage/healing.
  • Duelist (DPS) — Hardest to play effectively. At 250 HP, you’re squishy, and other Duelists do what he does but easier.

TL;DR: Start with Vanguard Deadpool. Master his guns, not his swords.

What Makes Deadpool Unique

Deadpool does things no other Marvel Rivals hero can:

  • Three-role switching: Swap between Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist in spawn. Each role completely changes his secondary abilities, health pool, and team function.
  • Style Meter Ultimate: His ultimate doesn’t charge passively. You build it through damage and ability usage, reaching rank “S” to unlock your ult. There’s a 45-second cooldown after each ultimate before you can generate style again.
  • Progression System: Earn XP during matches to upgrade individual abilities through the Progression Book (F key). Upgraded skills gain enhanced effects and faster style generation.
  • Fourth Wall Breaks: True to character, Deadpool’s abilities reference his awareness as a video game character — from throwing his icon as a weapon to taking selfies with defeated enemies.

Core Abilities (All Roles)

These abilities work the same across all three roles:

Dual Desert Eagles (Primary — Guns)
30-round dual pistols with solid damage. Your bread and butter in every role.

Kick@$$ Katana (Primary — Swords)
Melee combo attacks. Less consistent than guns, but useful for specific situations.

Slice and Dice! / Lock and Load! (Shift)
Weapon swap. Toggle between pistols and katanas instantly.

Healing Factor (Passive)
Regenerate health automatically when out of combat. Works in all roles.

Photo Shoot (On Kill)
Take a selfie with fallen enemies for brief invulnerability. This is a legitimate defensive tool — use it to waste enemy ultimates or survive burst damage.

Vanguard Deadpool (Tank) — The Best Role

According to winrate data and high-rank player consensus, Vanguard Deadpool outperforms his other roles. Here’s why and how to play him.

Vanguard-Specific Abilities

Magical Unicorn Shield (RMB — Guns)
Throws a unicorn plushie that creates a projectile-blocking bubble. Place it aggressively to claim space, not defensively behind your team.

Hazardous Hijinks (RMB — Swords)
Forward dash with three charges that refresh on enemy hits. Useful for repositioning and point contests.

Deadpool In Your Area (E)
AoE taunt that drains your HP but increases your attack speed and disrupts enemy vision. Swap to guns immediately after activation for maximum value.

Bunny Bounce (Space)
Double jump that resets when bouncing off enemies, allies, or terrain. Core mobility for sticking to targets.

Vanguard Playstyle: Hitscan Tank

The key insight: Vanguard Deadpool’s sword play is a trap. His true power comes from treating him as a hitscan tank.

You should be shooting constantly. With your E ability’s attack speed boost and upgraded guns, you output massive damage while soaking hits that would kill your actual DPS players. Your role is to:

  • Tank damage hitscan heroes can’t survive
  • Kill flying targets other tanks can’t hit
  • Control space with your unicorn shield
  • Shut down ulting enemies (like Star-Lord) by out-sustaining them

Vanguard Upgrade Priority

  1. Dual Desert Eagles — Your damage foundation
  2. The Ban Hammer (Gun Ult) — Healing factor bonuses and tick damage
  3. Deadpool In Your Area — Extra damage reduction
  4. Magical Unicorn Shield — Larger shield AoE
  5. Hazardous Hijinks — More dashes
  6. Kick@$$ Katana — Low priority, rarely used
  7. The Big Test (Sword Ult) — Lowest priority

Duelist Deadpool (DPS)

Duelist drops to 250 HP and trades durability for damage potential. This role requires strong positioning — mistakes are punished fast.

Duelist-Specific Abilities

Headshot! (RMB — Guns)
Throws spinning katanas that return like a boomerang. Upgraded version explodes after multiple catches for strong area damage.

Hazardous Hijinks (RMB — Swords)
Two-charge dash that can chain on hit. When upgraded, enables near-constant chaining if you’re landing abilities.

Deadpool In Your Area (E)
Same taunt, but without Vanguard’s attack speed bonus. Upgrades add damage reduction and HP burn effects.

Bunny Hop (Space)
Double jump that damages enemies on contact and grants bonus health when bouncing off targets. Resets on enemy/wall contact.

Duelist Reality Check

Be honest: other Duelists do Deadpool’s DPS job more easily. If you want pure damage output, heroes like Black Panther or Star-Lord are more consistent. Choose Duelist Deadpool when:

  • Your team needs you to swap roles mid-match
  • You’ve mastered his hitscan mechanics already
  • You want the flex option for competitive play

Strategist Deadpool (Healer)

Strategist Deadpool offers sustained healing while being more durable than most supports at 350 HP. He functions as a hybrid support who stays close to the frontline.

Strategist-Specific Abilities

Dual Desert Eagles (Healing Mode)
Shooting allies now heals them directly. Shooting enemies still damages them normally.

Bouncing Bobblehead (RMB — Guns)
Throws his icon like a boomerang. Heals allies on contact, damages enemies. Upgraded version explodes after multiple catches for massive healing.

Healing Hijinks (RMB — Swords)
Dash that sends healing waves on hit. Upgraded versions allow chaining between teammates.

Deadpool In Your Area (E)
Creates a healing zone for allies while disrupting enemies. Upgrades add damage boosts for teammates inside.

Healing Hop (Space)
Double jump that damages enemies but bursts healing when bouncing off allies.

Strategist Tips

Strategist works best when your team needs healing but doesn’t want to sacrifice frontline presence. Your katana strikes send healing waves to nearby allies, so you can output damage while supporting. Prioritize:

  • Upgrading gun healing output first
  • Staying near your tank for consistent healing
  • Using your taunt zone for team fights
  • Bouncing off allies with Healing Hop in chaotic engagements

The Upgrade System Explained

Deadpool earns XP during matches through damage, kills, and assists. Press F to open the Progression Book and spend XP on ability upgrades.

Key Upgrade Mechanics

  • XP carries between deaths — You don’t lose progress when killed
  • Upgrades apply to current role only — Switching roles doesn’t transfer upgrades
  • Photo Shoot (selfie) grants bonus XP — Always take the selfie on kills when safe
  • Upgraded abilities have gold visual effects — Enemies can see you’re powered up

Important: Deadpool feels weaker in early game by design. His power spikes after key upgrades, particularly the first gun upgrade. Don’t judge his strength before you’ve unlocked at least 2-3 upgrades.

Best Team Synergies

Deadpool fits almost any composition thanks to his role flexibility. Strong synergies include:

  • Emma Frost — Her control sets up Deadpool’s burst windows
  • Magneto — Crowd control combos perfectly with taunt abilities
  • Daredevil — Both excel at chaotic close-quarters brawling
  • Invisible Woman — Her shields complement Deadpool’s aggressive style
  • Gambit — High-mobility dive composition
  • Jeff the Land Shark — Team-up ability provides healing and visual disruption

Pro Tips

  • Swords are bait. In every role, your guns outperform swords for consistent damage. Only use swords for dashes or when you’re literally in melee range.
  • Gun Ultimate > Sword Ultimate in most situations. The gun ult provides more consistent value, especially in Vanguard.
  • E ability drains your HP. Don’t activate it at low health unless you’re certain you’ll get value.
  • Photo Shoot is a real defensive tool. The invulnerability frames can waste enemy ultimates — don’t skip the selfie just because it looks like a joke.
  • Reassess role every death. Deadpool’s power comes from adapting. If frontline collapses, switch to Vanguard. If your healers are getting dove, go Strategist.
  • Style Meter has a 45-second cooldown after ultimate. Don’t panic about building meter immediately after using ult.
  • Bunny Bounce resets are your escape. Always look for walls or enemies to reset your double jump when retreating.

FAQ

Which Deadpool role is best for ranked?

Vanguard has the highest winrate and is the most reliable. Strategist is a solid secondary choice. Duelist requires the most skill investment for comparable results.

Can only one Deadpool role be banned in competitive?

Yes. If the enemy bans Duelist Deadpool, you can still play Vanguard or Strategist Deadpool. Each role counts as separate for ban purposes.

Do upgrades transfer between roles?

No. Upgrades only apply to your current role. Switching roles in spawn starts fresh, so commit to one role per match when possible.

How do I counter Deadpool?

Focus him early before upgrades kick in. Hawkeye and Storm deny his engagement range. Magneto’s crowd control interrupts his ability chains. Black Panther can burst him before sustain matters.

Is Deadpool good for beginners?

No. He’s the most complex hero in the game with three completely different kits and an upgrade system to manage. Learn other heroes first, then add Deadpool when you understand role fundamentals.

Summary

Deadpool rewards players who understand role dynamics and can adapt mid-match. Start with Vanguard, master his guns over his swords, and build upgrades strategically. He’s not about mastering one playstyle — he’s about reading the match and switching to meet it. That flexibility is what makes Deadpool both the hardest hero to learn and one of the most rewarding when you finally crack him.