Marvel Rivals has stormed through the hero shooter landscape with a pace that leaves even the most seasoned players breathless. The development team doesn’t just drip-feed content — they unleash a full-blown celebration of Marvel’s multiverse almost every month. From the moment the Fantastic Four blazed into the roster, completing the first family’s presence on the battlefield, the community has been buzzing with one persistent question: when will the Vanguard class get another female powerhouse? Right now, the front line feels oddly unbalanced. Among a growing list of nine heavy-hitting protectors, only a single woman stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Hulk, Thor, and the freshly recruited Thing. That solitary spot belongs to Peni Parker and her arachnid mech, a fan favorite for sure, but a lonely exception in a sea of muscle-bound dudes.
It’s not just about representation, though that matters plenty. The Vanguard role is screaming for more variety in playstyle. Tank mains have been vocal about the struggle against airborne threats — Iron Man and Storm can zip around while Vanguards struggle to land a solid punch. The meta practically begs for a brawler who brings both disruptive frontline presence and a bit of ranged finesse. Who fits that bill better than some of Marvel’s most iconic heroines? The funny thing is, the comics have already served up a buffet of candidates. The developers just need to pick their plates.
Take Captain Carter. Yes, the same Peggy Carter who stole hearts in What If…? and proved she could swing that Union Jack shield harder than anyone expected. Her story is a twist on a classic — she receives the Super Soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers and becomes a symbol of hope across dimensions. Since Captain America already anchors the Vanguard class with his deflecting shield and inspiring charges, a female counterpart would slide in naturally, but she wouldn’t be a carbon copy. Imagine a Captain Carter who channels her Guardian of the Multiverse powers from the animated series. She could teleport short distances through shimmering portals, catching flankers off guard, or summon energy-infused shield strikes that hit multiple airborne targets. Her ultimate might call in a temporal duplicate for a devastating combo. That’s not just a skin-swap; it’s a whole new world of tactical possibilities that would make Vanguard duels feel fresh again.
Then there’s She-Hulk, a hero who practically screams “Vanguard” with every gamma-powered step. Jennifer Walters combines the raw strength of her cousin Bruce Banner with a razor-sharp legal mind that translates into something rare on the frontline — intelligent aggression. Instead of just bashing heads, she analyzes weak points and strikes with surgical precision. In the game, she could have a unique “Objection!” gap-closer, where she slams a glowing gavel into the ground and creates a shockwave that grounds flying enemies temporarily. Her fourth-wall-breaking antics from the comics would make for hilarious banter in matches, but also a clever mechanic: what if she briefly ignores crowd control because she “saw it coming in the script”? A self-cleanse ability with a wink at the player would be pure She-Hulk. With decades of material to pull from, from her Savage She-Hulk era to her time in A-Force, the developers have no shortage of visual designs and move-set concepts.
Angela is the wild card, the character with the least mainstream fame but perhaps the most potential for a jaw-dropping debut. She started life in Image’s Spawn comics before crossing into Marvel as Thor and Loki’s long-lost sister. As an Asgardian, she boasts god-like endurance and speed, and her extensive history with the Guardians of the Galaxy proves she can handle anything from space pirates to interdimensional monsters. In the game files, dataminers have already found intriguing hints of her inclusion, and the Vanguard slot makes perfect sense. Picture her wielding her iconic ribbon-like blades as a mobile tank, dancing through enemies with swirling slashes that redirect damage back toward her. She could spin her ribbons into a defensive cocoon to protect nearby allies, or launch them as grappling hooks to pull herself toward airborne foes, solving the Vanguard anti-air problem with serious style. Angela wouldn’t just be a new face; she would rewrite how the class approaches mobility.
Even with the game clocking well into 2026 and the roster having expanded further with mutants and cosmic entities, the Vanguard class remains the most underrepresented category for women heroes. The Fantastic Four event proved that NetEase isn’t afraid to shake up the meta with bold additions, and the demand from the player base has never been louder. Forums and social channels overflow with concept art and suggested kits, each one a love letter to Marvel’s deep bench of strong women. Whether it’s Captain Carter opening portals, She-Hulk smashing the fourth wall along with objectives, or Angela swinging through the air in a deadly ballet, the next female Vanguard is more than a checkbox — she’s a chance to inject new life into every match. Here’s hoping the developers hear the rallying cry and let these powerhouses lead the charge soon. The lineup deserves it, and honestly, so do the players who have been waiting for a shield-sister to stand beside them.
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