5 creative ways to use Doctor Strange's portal in Marvel Rivals

Doctor Strange is a powerful Vanguard hero in Marvel Rivals. He has various abilities, and one of the standout ones is using portals similar to how he does in the comics and movies. This opens up numerous tactical opportunities to dominate the battlefield and gain an upper hand.

One particularly ruthless tactic, which might even negatively affect the game's image, involves using his portal to trap enemies inside their spawn, preventing them from escaping.

This article will highlight five excellent strategies for effectively using Doctor Strange's portal ability, known in-game as the Pentagram of Farallah.

Also read: Marvel Rivals release date, platform, characters, and more

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5 best ways to use Doctor Strange's portal in Marvel Rivals

Doctor Strange's portal ability, the Pentagram of Farallah, is an interesting and powerful skill that allows the opening of portals between two locations, enabling all units, whether enemies or allies, to traverse through them.

That said, it has a cooldown of two minutes, so use it carefully. Here are five ways to leverage this ability to win matches:

1) Trap enemies inside their spawn area

Positioning portals in front of the enemies' spawn doors (Image via NetEase Games || Reddit/Warlonator)

This is the most broken tactic: you can set up the portals in such a way that both spawn doors of the enemies are covered. By placing the first portal circle at one door and the second portal circle at the other, any enemy attempting to leave through either door will be teleported back to the spawn region. This creates a loop where enemies are trapped in their spawn area, unable to escape.

This tactic can be frustrating for players as it feels unfair and negatively impacts the game. However, since the game is currently in its beta phase, there is still time for developers to balance the abilities and remove any exploits that heroes might have.

2) Block entry points

Use portals to block entry points (Image via NetEase Games || YouTube/SNOW)

Another effective way to use the Pentagram of Farallah's ability is to place it at popular entry points. Since the first portal shows the location of the second portal through its "front part" (or opening), and vice versa, you can strategically set up the portals so that the openings face the opponents at these entry points.

This setup prevents the opponents from seeing your team through the portal while allowing your team to see them clearly from the backside. This gives you the advantage of blocking the enemies' view while providing opportunities to eliminate or damage them.

3) Throw enemies off the map

Using Doctor Strange's portal to throw enemies off the map (Image via NetEase Games || YouTube/ Fresh Runes)

This strategy can be best used in conjunction with the previous strategy mentioned above. You can set up one portal to block crowded entry points and place the second one at the edge of the map; when someone takes the first portal, they will fall off the map and get eliminated.

That said, this strategy has its risks, as your teammates can also fall off, so communicate well. Keep in mind that this might not be effective for long; if one opponent falls off, the rest will be cautious and aware of the trap. Nonetheless, this is another effective way to deny entry, as opponents will need to maintain a distance from the portal. Even if they accidentally touch it, they will be teleported and killed.

4) Backstab and shoot through portals

Shooting through portals (Image via NetEase Games || YouTube/ Dantics)

You can line up your portals to get behind enemy lines and attack from the back. This strategy has its risks, as it won’t work every time due to the game allowing respawns. Therefore, it should be used carefully during intense fights.

Additionally, you can place your portals behind enemies at a safe distance, allowing you to shoot through them without needing to travel through the portals yourself.

5) Retreat strategy

Use your portal to retreat to a safe location (Image via NetEase Games || YouTube/ CJR Gaming)

You can position your portals strategically so that your team can rush and play aggressively. If they become low on health and need to retreat, they can use the portal to return to a safe location and recover.

While there’s a risk that enemies might follow through the portal, the chances are low. Even if they do, they won’t know your exact location, giving you a chance to land the first shot.

This tactic is particularly effective in intense battles, allowing your team to play aggressively while having a fallback option to dominate the battlefield.

Also read: Marvel Rivals Closed Beta end date and time

These are some of the strategies you can use with Doctor Strange's portal ability. For a complete list of all his abilities, see the details below:

Ability	Effect
Cloak of Levitation (Lshift)	Ascent and then enter a brief state of sustained flight
Maelstrom of Madness (E)	Release Dark Magic to deal damage to nearby enemies
Pentagram of Farallah (F)	Open portals between two locations, enabling all units to travel through them
Shield of the Seraphim (RMB)	Create a protective barrier against damage
Eye of Agamotto (Q)	Separate nearby enemies’ souls from their bodies. Damage dealt to their Souls is transferred to their physical bodies
Daggers of Denak (LMB)	Cast Daggers of Denak forward
Price of Magic (Passive)	Dark Magic accumulates with every hit on an enemy. If Dark Magic is not released, Doctor Strange will enter Anti-Heal.