Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange guide: Abilities, how to play, and more

How to play as Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals?
Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals (Image via NetEase Games, Marvel, X/TheGameAwards)

Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange is a playable character in the Vanguard class. In the upcoming game, which pits various heroes and villains against one another, the hero has a three-star difficulty rating, which means he's relatively easier to play than some of the other characters.

This article breaks down the abilities that you can use as Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals and explains how you can effectively play the character.

Editor's Note: This guide is updated until the December 19 patch of Marvel Rivals. We will update it whenever a new balance update for the character is released.


Looking for Crossword hints & solutions? Check out latest NYT Mini Crossword Answers, LA Times Crossword Answers, and USA Today Crossword Answers

Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange: All abilities

Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange is a Vanguard character (Image via NetEase Games)
Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange is a Vanguard character (Image via NetEase Games)

Here is a list of Doctor Strange's abilities in the game:

AbilityEffect
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.

How to play as Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals?

Playing as Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals takes clever distribution of resources. This is because the hero is a Vanguard who can shield allies from enemy attacks. His primary attack also has great damage, so it's all about knowing when to go full offense and when to play defensively.

Doctor Strange's primary fire, Daggers of Denak, makes for a lethal offensive projectile. However, with each use, you build up Dark Magic, thanks to the character's passive. If it builds up to 100 points, you will take negative healing meaning that healing up would actually damage you.

This means it's essential to release the Dark Magic with the (E) ability, Maelstrom of Madness, which damages enemies in a limited area.

However, during a match, you'll also need to protect allies who need to heal up before going back into battle. This is when your team is on a backfoot, and you need to regroup and rethink the approach.

Use the Shield of the Seraphim to create a barrier between your opponents and your teammates blocking out any attacks. The shield has an impressive 800 health, but it takes a long time to recharge once broken, so use it wisely.


Mobility

Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation ability in Marvel Rivals (Image via NetEase Games)
Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation ability in Marvel Rivals (Image via NetEase Games)

Doctor Strange is one of the few heroes that can freely fly across the map in the game by using his Cloak of Levitation ability. This can be quite useful to reach other teammates during times of need.


Playstyle

Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange Daggers of Denak ability (Image via NetEase Games)
Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange Daggers of Denak ability (Image via NetEase Games)

In terms of Playstyle, it is vital for you to practice the Daggers of Denak for Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals. The weapon has great potential because of its high damage, but each use fills you up with Dark Magic, so you have no time to miss your shots.

Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange Pentagram of Farallah ability (Image via NetEase Games)
Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange Pentagram of Farallah ability (Image via NetEase Games)

Furthermore, it is also important for you to exercise caution when using Doctor Strange. For instance, his Pentagram of Farallah has a cooldown of over two minutes, which means you need to use it scarcely.

Make sure you always think ahead to play effectively with this hero in Marvel Rivals.


Ultimate

Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange Eye of Agamotto ultimate ability (Image via NetEase Games)
Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange Eye of Agamotto ultimate ability (Image via NetEase Games)

Doctor Strange's Ultimate in Marvel Rivals is the famous Eye of Agamotto. This ability stuns opponents in a limited field and knocks out their souls, which then take damage.

A good way to exercise the Eye of Agamotto is to use the Cloak of Levitation to fly over your opponents and get as close to them as possible. Once you're close to most of them, you can go ahead and fire off the ultimate.

Use other area-damage abilities with the help of your allies to finish off your opponents for good, and don't shy away from hitting them with the primary fire while you're at it.


Best team-ups for Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals

1) Hulk and Iron Man

Hulk is a great duo for Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)
Hulk is a great duo for Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)

Hulk, Iron Man, and Doctor Strange are part of the Marvel Rivals team-up called Gamma Charge. Hulk, being the team-up anchor, grants the other heroes special abilities. Doctor Strange receives his ability called Gamma Maelstrom.

When this team-up is active, Hulk charges Doctor Strange with Gamma radiation, and whenever Strange uses Maelstrom of Madness, he unleashes Gamma Maelstrom. Furthermore, this takes away Strange’s passive, and he is no longer cursed with anti-heal upon reaching peak Dark Magic.

2) Spider-Man

Spider-Man is a great duo for Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)
Spider-Man is a great duo for Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)

Spider-Man is excellent when paired up with Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals. Primarily, Strange can absorb a lot of incoming damage with his Shield of Seraphim, enabling Spider-Man to get close to his enemies to deal damage.

Furthermore, Doctor Strange has a unique ability in the game called Pentagram of Farallah. This allows him to create two portals anywhere on the map, which is excellent for a character like Spider-Man who can use it to get in the heat of battle, deal damage, and get out.

An interesting combo to try with Spider-Man and Doctor Strange also involves Strange’s portals and Spidey’s Get Over Here! ability. Strange can place one of his portals outside the map, and Spidey can pull enemies inside it to essentially throw them out of the map to their deaths.

Also read: 5 best heroes to duo with Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals


Counters for Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange

1) Wolverine

Wolverine is a counter to Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)
Wolverine is a counter to Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)

Wolverine is one of the best counters to Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals. His Feral Leap ability easily brings the flying Strange to the ground, who can then be dealt lethal damage by Logan’s Berserk Claw Strike. This is even better if he is paired with Hulk, activating the Fastball Special team-up.

Furthermore, Wolverine can tank a lot of incoming damage from Doctor Strange with his Regenerative Healing Factor passive, and Undying Animal ability.

2) Star-Lord

Star-Lord is a counter to Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)
Star-Lord is a counter to Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange (Image via NetEase Games)

Star-Lord can be picked to counter Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals for multiple reasons. Firstly, his agility allows him to go toe-to-toe with Strange’s movement in the game while also enabling him to dodge and weave the daggers and spells cast by the magician.

Furthermore, he can dish out a lot of damage within seconds, taking down Strange’s Shield of Seraphim, and making him and his team vulnerable. Additionally, with his ultimate, Galactic Legend, Star-Lord can lock onto Strange, completely negating his movement and dealing massive damage. His ultimate, with free flight, also allows him to dodge Strange’s Eye of Agamotto, and deal lethal damage from afar.

Also read: 5 best heroes to counter Doctor Strange in Marvel Rivals


Marvel Rivals Doctor Strange Lore

The Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange is extremely popular amongst fans of the franchise. Here are details of his in-game lore:

"Respected surgeon Stephen Strange was forced to seek a different path when his hands were injured in a terrible accident. Devoting himself to the mystic arts, Strange became this dimension's first line of defense against supernatural threats — the Sorcerer Supreme. Sensing a massive temporal disturbance, Doctor Strange performed an arcane ritual to protect his reality. The spell failed, and Strange and his Sanctum Sanctorum became trapped within the Mirror Dimension. Lost in the timestream, Strange uses his mystic mastery to free himself for short spans of time in order to join the fight."

This was everything you needed to know about Marvel Rivals Spider-Man. For more Marvel Rivals hero guides, check these links below:

Are you stuck on today's Wordle? Our Wordle Solver will help you find the answer.

Quick Links

Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications