Marvel Rivals has introduced The Thing, one of the strongest melee-focused Vanguards in the game. As a member of the Fantastic Four, Ben Grimm brings his incredible durability and brute force to the battlefield. Unlike his teammates—Human Torch, Mr. Fantastic, and Invisible Woman—who have ranged or strategic abilities, The Thing is a pure brawler, designed for close-quarters combat.
With no projectiles and a one-star difficulty rating, The Thing is one of the easiest characters to learn, making him a great choice for beginners. However, mastering his abilities and timing attacks can separate a good player from a dominant one. This guide will cover how to play The Thing effectively, his best abilities, and key strategies to maximize his impact in battles.
Table of Contents
How to Play The Thing in Marvel Rivals
The Thing is a frontline tank who thrives in close-range battles. His abilities allow him to charge into enemies, absorb damage, and disrupt opponents with powerful area-of-effect attacks.
Key Playstyle Features:
✔ Excellent durability with shield-based abilities.
✔ Great for initiating fights and locking down enemies.
✔ Strong team synergy, especially with Wolverine, Hulk, and Invisible Woman.
✔ Struggles against ranged heroes but excels in crowded fights.
💡 Before jumping into PvP matches, try him out in the practice range to understand his abilities.
All Abilities – The Thing’s Complete Kit
| Ability Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Jab | Primary Attack | Delivers two powerful melee punches in quick succession. |
| Yancy Street Charge | Active Ability | Charges forward, knocking enemies into the air. Creates an anti-mobility field and grants The Thing a temporary shield. |
| Embattled Leap | Active Ability | Leaps to an ally, granting both damage reduction. |
| Stone Haymaker | Active Ability | A high-damage punch with a brief charge-up. Grants a small shield upon activation. |
| Unyielding Will | Passive Ability | Grants immunity to knockbacks and launch effects, making him difficult to displace. |
| Cosmic Fastball | Team-Up Ability | If an ally is Wolverine or Hulk, The Thing can carry and throw them into battle. |
| Cooperative Comrades | Team-Up Ability | When paired with Invisible Woman, both heroes gain shields and Bonus Health. |
| Clobberin’ Time (Ultimate) | Ultimate Ability | Slams the ground, creating a shockwave that launches enemies into the air. |
Best Strategies for Playing The Thing
1️⃣ Closing the Gap & Initiating Fights
Since The Thing has no ranged attacks, getting close to enemies is crucial.
✔ Use Yancy Street Charge to rush into fights while gaining shields.
✔ Target enemies grouped together to disrupt their positioning.
✔ Use Embattled Leap to engage alongside a teammate, giving both of you a defensive buff.
💡 Pro Tip: If an ally is already in combat, use Embattled Leap instead of Yancy Street Charge to engage more safely.
2️⃣ Maximizing Damage Output
The Thing’s damage comes from well-timed melee attacks.
✔ Use Rocky Jab for steady damage when enemies are in melee range.
✔ Save Stone Haymaker for guaranteed hits—missing this leaves you vulnerable to counterattacks.
✔ Pair Clobberin’ Time (Ultimate) with Yancy Street Charge for maximum disruption.
💡 Pro Tip: Enemies in the air from Clobberin’ Time are easy targets for follow-up combos.
3️⃣ Defensive Play & Team Synergy
✔ Use Cooperative Comrades when facing multiple enemies to get bonus shields.
✔ Take advantage of The Thing’s Unyielding Will—since he can’t be knocked back, he is ideal for soaking damage and contesting objectives.
✔ If playing with Wolverine or Hulk, use Cosmic Fastball to reposition them for surprise attacks.
💡 Pro Tip: The Thing is excellent at holding objectives—stay in key locations and force enemies to engage on your terms.
Best Counters & Weaknesses
While The Thing is tough and disruptive, he struggles against certain types of opponents:
❌ Weak Against:
- Mobile ranged heroes like Iron Man, Loki, or Storm, who can kite him and avoid melee range.
- Control-heavy Strategists like Doctor Strange, who can slow or zone him out.
✅ Strong Against:
- Other melee-based Vanguards like Hulk or Black Panther—he can trade blows effectively.
- Close-range Duelists like Wolverine—if they misplay, The Thing can overpower them easily.
💡 Pro Tip: Stick with teammates when facing ranged threats—let them force engagements while you dive in to clean up.
Why Play The Thing?
The Thing is a simple yet effective character, making him great for beginners while still having depth for experienced players.
✔ Easy-to-learn melee brawler.
✔ Tanky with excellent disruption abilities.
✔ Synergizes well with other frontline heroes.
✔ A fantastic choice for aggressive players who like to be in the middle of fights.
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