Doctor Strange has quickly emerged as one of my favorite heroes to command in Marvel Rivals. Despite his seemingly deceptive appearance, he proves to be a formidable tank with a well-rounded skill set. As a Vanguard, this Sorcerer Supreme excels at serving as a steadfast protector for his teammates.
Playing Doctor Strange is not just an exercise in brute force but rather a strategic endeavor, requiring players to time their powerful burst damage for maximum effectiveness against adversaries. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Doctor Strange’s abilities, along with tips and tactics that will help you become an indispensable asset on the battlefield.
Doctor Strange’s Abilities
Although Doctor Strange may not start as an overpowering force, his ability set revolves around generating power by dealing magical damage, which can then be unleashed in devastating bursts. Marked with a two-star difficulty rating, his gameplay is straightforward, yet it requires finesse to master:
|
Ability |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Daggers of All |
This basic attack launches five magical projectiles in a spiral pattern. Each projectile inflicts 18 damage and generates 17 Dark Magic, but does not land critical hits. |
|
Eye of Agamotto |
Ultimate Ability: Temporarily separate enemies’ souls from their bodies for three seconds. Any damage dealt to these souls transfers directly to their physical forms. |
|
Cloak of Levitation |
Grants a brief state of flight for eight seconds with a cooldown of 15 seconds. |
|
Maelstrom of Madness |
This ability unleashes accumulated Dark Magic to inflict damage in a radius of 8 meters. Each unit of Dark Magic inflicts 1.3 damage with an 8-second cooldown. |
|
Pentragram of Farallah |
Opens portals allowing units (and projectiles) to pass between two locations. Lasts for 20 seconds with a cooldown of 180 seconds. |
|
Shield of the Seraphim |
Creates a protective barrier with 800 health. Note that placing the shield introduces a one-second delay before casting again. If destroyed, it regenerates health at a rate of 80 per second. |
|
Price of Magic (Passive) |
If Dark Magic remains maxed out for too long, Doctor Strange suffers from an Anti-Heal curse for two seconds. Melee attacks also generate 10 Dark Magic. |
Offensive Strategies with Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange’s primary source of damage comes from his Maelstrom of Madness, which can unleash around 130 points of damage when fully charged, allowing you to eliminate vulnerable enemies effectively.
However, it’s important to remember that Doctor Strange struggles in one-on-one situations and lacks mobility. To maximize his potential, teamwork is essential; he should rely on allies for support while he builds his Dark Magic.
- Concentrate your daggers on enemy Vanguards, given their larger hitboxes, as this accelerates Dark Magic generation.
- Avoid attempting to snipe with your daggers; they have a limited effective range of approximately 10 meters, beyond which damage decreases significantly.
- Use your melee whip immediately after your daggers to deal rapid follow-up damage.
- Your melee attack strikes in a cone, allowing you to hit multiple foes in one swing.
- The Maelstrom is particularly effective against Strategists and Duelists when they are caught in close quarters. Targeting healers like Mantis or Luna can help neutralize their support capabilities and make them easier targets for your team.
- Utilize portals wisely, as they have a three-minute cooldown. If playing solo, look for opportunities when enemies are preoccupied with your teammates. You can then create a portal, use your Ultimate, and surprise them from above.
- Always build enough Dark Magic before activating your Maelstrom; try to have at least 50 Dark Magic for significant damage output.
Defensive Strategies with Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange’s primary vulnerability lies in his limited mobility. Besides his Cloak of Levitation, he needs to heavily rely on teammates for assistance during sticky situations. As a tank, his focus should be on absorbing damage to keep allies alive.
To increase your chances of survival, the following strategies are essential:
- When using the Cloak of Levitation, be cautious about your positioning; hovering around can attract the attention of ranged DPS heroes like Black Widow or Hawkeye, putting you at risk.
- As a Vanguard, your effectiveness increases with constant shield activation and mobility, akin to playing Reinhardt in Overwatch. Maintaining a shield while moving can significantly inhibit enemy progress.
- Keep in mind that your shield only blocks ranged damage (including attacks from Venom’s tentacles) and does not protect against melee strikes.
- Utilize your Ultimate to stun enemies mid-attack. This is particularly effective against heroes charging powerful abilities, thwarting attacks from formidable foes such as Scarlet Witch or Iron Man.
- A cheeky strategy on certain maps is to place a starting portal at the enemy’s main entrance, aiming to pass enemies out of bounds. This tactic is risky but can yield hilarious results if executed correctly.
Team-Up Abilities of Doctor Strange
|
Team Up |
Heroes Needed |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Gamma Maelstrom |
Hulk |
This ability allows Hulk to charge Doctor Strange and Iron Man with gamma radiation. When Doctor Strange activates Maelstrom of Madness, it transforms into Gamma Maelstrom, amplifying its damage output. When Iron Man uses Armor Overdrive, he secures a gamma upgrade. |
|
Doctor Strange and/or Iron Man |
Incorporating Hulk into your team enhances your Maelstrom of Madness, allowing it to deal an impressive 1.4 damage per point of Dark Magic. This adjustment also negates the effects of anti-heal, transforming peak Dark Magic accumulation into a gradual drain instead.
This synergy can be particularly advantageous in protracted team fights. Coordinating with Hulk to incapacitate enemies using his Radioactive Lockdown can quickly lead to devastating damage output.
Counters to Doctor Strange & Strategies to Manage Them
While Doctor Strange boasts robust defenses, he faces challenges when coming against melee champions, who bypass his shields effortlessly. Heroes that predominantly employ melee attacks and possess strong mobility naturally counter Doctor Strange, easily closing gaps and overwhelming him.
Key enemy heroes to be wary of include:
- Vanguards:
- Thor
- Venom
- Duelists:
- Iron Fist
- Black Panther
- Strategists:
- Jeff the Land Shark
- Luna Snow
Given the time it takes to build up his damage potential and his limited escape options, staying close to your team while maintaining your distance from enemies is crucial. Doctor Strange thrives in team clashes where he can absorb damage and unleash devastating bursts at unexpected moments.
Optimal Team Compositions with Doctor Strange
In my experience, Doctor Strange fits seamlessly into various team setups, excluding scenarios like Conquest. He synergizes particularly well with several Vanguards, allowing effective frontline support. Both Groot and Magneto share tank responsibilities with Strange, permitting the rest of the team to inflict damage while enjoying robust protection.
Although Hulk enhances Doctor Strange’s capabilities via the team-up ability, strong Dark Magic management may yield better results, making Venom a preferable Vanguard ally due to his ability to draw attention while you position yourself strategically.
With an impressive 800 health shield, Doctor Strange is particularly effective alongside ranged Duelists, such as Punisher or Hela, who thrive when backed by strong defenses. Also, consider teaming up with Strategists—Jeff’s healing abilities and Rocket’s B.R.B. machine can significantly increase Doctor Strange’s survivability and facilitate timely Ultimate activations.
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