With the arrival of Season Four in Marvel Rivals, Angela, the Hand of Heven, brings an exciting new dynamic to the game. She is the first naturally flying Vanguard in the roster, introducing various fun mechanics that players can explore and master.
Angela is a unique character, and her complexity will surely pose interesting challenges and opportunities for the community. As players begin to understand her abilities and potential within the game’s ecosystem, she promises to influence gameplay significantly.
This guide will explore Angela’s optimal settings, her diverse abilities, and effective strategies to maximize her effectiveness on the battlefield. Due to her complexity, focus on learning rather than stressing over your kill-death/assist ratio. Let’s dive in!
Angela’s Reticle and Game Settings
Angela functions differently from many characters, so customizing your settings can enhance your gameplay experience. While direct adjustments may not be necessary, controller players will benefit from specific modifications.
For her reticle settings, I recommend a small yellow dot since Angela relies heavily on melee attacks. A more precise reticle can significantly enhance your targeting. You can find specific measurements for this setup here.
If you are playing with a controller, adapting to her flight mechanics may require some configuration. I prefer assigning my ping button to the left stick and recommend using a face button on the right side for her descent—it simplifies navigation considerably.
Character Overview: Angela
Angela shares similarities with her brother Thor in that she can switch between two forms—flying and grounded. Each form offers unique advantages and disadvantages, making strategic play essential.
One of her standout features is her excellent displacement ability, which can disrupt enemy strategies and prevent ultimates from causing significant damage. However, it’s important to note that Angela is not particularly effective as a frontline tank due to her low health pool and limited defensive capabilities.
Angela shines when she isolates enemies from their team or protects the backline by thwarting flankers attempting to take down healers. Although her impact may not always be apparent on the scoreboard, when played adeptly, she can turn the tide of battle.
Angela’s Abilities
Angela’s abilities are varied and offer different tactical possibilities. Fortunately, only one requires management of a cooldown. Below is a summary of her abilities; for additional details, check this resource.
|
Ability Name |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Spear of Ichors |
When flying, this primary attack lunges Angela forward, inflicting 45 damage that increases with Attack Charge. At full charge, it inflicts an additional 15 damage and causes knockback. |
|
Axes of Ichors |
On the ground, Angela uses her twin axes to strike four times. The first three attacks deal 30 damage each, while the fourth strike deals 50 damage and propels her forward. |
|
Shield Stance |
This alternate attack allows Angela to deploy a shield with 350 health that blocks frontal damage and converts 25% of blocked damage into Attack Charge. |
|
Seraphic Soar |
A passive ability enabling Angela to fly through the air. |
|
Divine Judgement/Wingblade Ascent |
This ability allows Angela to switch between flying and grounded forms. While airborne, it creates an AoE damage effect upon landing and provides health bonuses to herself and allies. |
|
Assassin’s Charge |
Exclusive to her airborne state, this ability dashes in a chosen direction, granting immunity to knockback and dealing 30 damage to enemies hit. |
|
Heven’s Retribution |
This powerful attack creates a spear that inflicts 100 damage, slows enemies by 80%, and hinders their mobility. The spear remains until defeated. |
Keep in mind that damage values and abilities may be updated in future patches, but the information provided reflects the state of the game as of Version 20250912.
Offensive Strategies for Angela
Angela’s primary strength lies in displacement rather than aggressive frontline engagements. Engaging directly with enemy forces may not yield favorable results, as she excels in isolating opponents and causing chaos among their ranks.
Given her relatively low health, avoid situations where multiple enemies focus on her; otherwise, you’ll be at risk of quick elimination. While Angela’s playstyle can be challenging, she can be a formidable ally in the right hands. The following tactics may help you succeed:
- Hit-and-Run Tactics — Excelling in isolating enemies during one-on-one battles, Angela can make it difficult for opponents to regroup.
- Utilize Powered Up Spear — Accumulate Attack Charge by flying around and using Assassin’s Charge efficiently, allowing for a high-impact attack on enemies.
- Avoid Overextending — Be cautious not to venture too deeply into enemy territory alone, as it can be easy to get overwhelmed.
- Leverage Your Full Arsenal — Use all abilities effectively to maximize damage during engagements. A recommended combo includes: Powered Spear Attack → Assassin’s Charge → Divine Judgement → Axe Swings → Shield Stance → Wingblade Ascent → Repeat.
Defensive Strategies for Angela
In defensive situations, Angela proves to be effective against backline attackers, as she can help strategists who are under duress. Her mobility allows her to create opportunities for her team when backline opponents are engaged.
As a defender, your primary goal should be to protect teammates and assist in turning the tide against incoming threats. The following strategies can enhance your defensive play as Angela:
- Protect Your Team — Ensure that teammates under attack receive support, leveraging Angela’s mobility.
- Avoid Hero Complex — Remember that Angela cannot single-handedly maintain the frontline; retreat when necessary to avoid feeding the enemy.
- Coordinate with Team — Displacing enemies in tandem with other characters can create advantageous matchups.
- Stay Grounded — Remaining close to allies can facilitate quicker healing, enhancing team survivability.
- Utilize Divine Judgement Strategically — Activating this ability during pivotal fights creates an impactful AoE damage zone, adding value to engagements.
Using Wingblade Ascent activates a 12-second cooldown, but Divine Judgement can be employed without a cooldown, ensuring continuous offensive potential.
Angela’s Team-Up Abilities
Angela currently enjoys a team-up ability with her brother, Thor. Although this does not grant her an additional ability, she does receive 100 extra health, contributing to her overall durability.
Thor gains the unique ability called Thunderstrike Pike, which allows him to throw a Thunder Spear. This spear creates AoE damage, restoring Thorforce with each enemy hit. In combination with Thor’s Awakened form, the potential for a devastating attack increases exponentially, allowing him to leap into battle effectively.
Countering Angela
Angela faces tough competition, particularly against characters with built-in crowd control (CC) capabilities. Even minor knockbacks can severely impact her airborne state and position.
Vanguard Counters
Many Vanguard characters are well-equipped to counter Angela’s aerial tactics. Engage cautiously with characters like Emma Frost or The Thing; winning a direct confrontation will be challenging.
Focus on outsmarting these opponents rather than facing them head-on. Targeting strategists for disruption can prevent the enemy from regrouping effectively. Once CCed, your best option is to escape and refocus on creating distractions.
Duelist Counters
Similar to Vanguards, Duelists with built-in CC attacks, like Mister Fantastic and Squirrel Girl, can effectively neutralize Angela. Avoid direct confrontations with these characters and seek to assist your teammates.
If a confrontation is unavoidable, consider isolating these Duelists from their team. But be prepared to retreat if the fight drags on too long; maintaining your mobility is key in these scenarios.
Strategist Counters
Strategists may prove challenging as many can escape using movement abilities. They’re capable of trapping Angela, leading to unfavorable outcomes.
By baiting out their mobility and CC abilities, your chances of successfully using Divine Judgement increase significantly. Always be aware of your surroundings—if their team decides to engage, you might find yourself in a precarious position.
Optimal Team Compositions for Angela
The most effective team compositions featuring Angela revolve around synergy with flankers and another Vanguard. Pairing her with shield-wielding characters like Doctor Strange or Magneto allows her to focus on disrupting the opposition.
Angela is best suited for a 2-2-2 composition, allowing her to serve as an off-tank while concentrating on enemy disruptions. She can also provide support to the backline against flankers, enhancing team survivability.
A solo Vanguard strategy is not recommended, as her health pool is lower, and she thrives on hit-and-run tactics rather than sustained frontline engagements.
Generally, pairing Angela with high damage Duelists can create favorable conditions for her ultimate to shine control over enemy mobility, amplifying damage output opportunities during fights.
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