Mastering Gambit: Abilities, Ultimate, Tips & Strategies

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Many people were surprised to see Gambit debut in Marvel Rivals Season 5 as a Strategist rather than a Duelist. Instead of focusing on direct combat, he now has abilities that support his team. The classic X-Men character uses his signature playing cards, charged with kinetic energy, to energize the battlefield. With new potentials unlocked, Gambit is more versatile than ever, with more tricks up his sleeve.

Most predictions for Gambit in Season 5 thought he would be a Duelist, similar to Daredevil in Season 4.5. But taking on the role of a Strategist offers broader options. This role emphasizes helping teammates rather than just getting eliminations. Strategists usually have less health but possess skills that boost their team’s performance, and Gambit brings a unique twist to this.

All of Gambit’s Abilities Explained

Build Your Reputation by Choosing the Right Deck

Gambit has a wide array of abilities, mainly using his kinetic playing cards to perform different actions. While playing him, you can switch between two decks — Healing Hearts and Breaking Spades — each with its set of skills. Changing decks consumes a special resource, and by selecting specific cards from these decks, Gambit can heal allies, deal damage, or impair enemies.

The resource used for many abilities is called Sleight of Hand, represented by four visible playing cards. This resource can stack and is consumed when activating certain skills.

The two decks are called Healing Hearts and Breaking Spades, each active for a limited time once chosen. When switching between these decks, Gambit can either “Raise” or “Fold” with the cards, giving him two core actions to perform in different situations.

This mechanic adds complexity, but knowing when to use each deck is key. Below are tables detailing Gambit’s core skills and deck-specific abilities.

Gambit’s Core Skills

Ability	Type	Cooldown	Description
Kinetic Cards	Primary Attack	21 Cards (Reload)	Launch three charged cards forward; each explodes on impact, damaging enemies and healing allies.
Cajun Charge	Basic Movement	2 charges	Dashes forward with a staff, quick side-step.
Big Easy Impact	Ability Follow-Up	N/A	While dashing, consume a Bayou Bash charge to strike with a staff, causing kinetic explosions.
Bayou Bash	Alternate Attack	2 charges	Channel energy into his staff and slam; creates a shockwave that damages foes and heals allies.

Healing Hearts Deck Abilities

Ability	Type	Cooldown	Description
Healing Hearts	Basic Support	N/A	Consume a Sleight of Hand stack to conjure a healing card and switch decks.
Bridge Boost	Follow-Up	3 seconds	While active, trigger an effect that fires cards, healing and boosting allies.
Purifying Pick-Up	Follow-Up	3 seconds	Launch a cluster of cards that heal and purify allies in front of you.

Breaking Spades Deck Abilities

Ability	Type	Cooldown	Description
Breaking Spades	Basic Attack	N/A	Consume a Sleight of Hand stack to gain damage and switch decks.
Bidding Barrage	Follow-Up	3 seconds	Scatter explosive cards that damage enemies and knock them back.
Explosive Trick	Follow-Up	3 seconds	Fire cards that explode on impact, causing damage and reducing healing.

Gambit’s abilities are deeply tied to various effects in the game. For example, he can remove enemy buffs or make allies immune to healing reductions. This versatility allows him to adapt quickly and influence the tide of battles significantly.

How to Use Gambit’s Ultimate

Never hesitate when your team is ready

Gambit’s ultimate move, called Ragin’ Royal Flush, involves locking onto up to three allies and activating a powerful buff. Once triggered, it creates an aura around those allies, healing over time and removing negative effects like stun or reduction in healing.

Boosted allies enter a Kinetic Transfer state that increases their movement speed and jump height. Their attacks also deal extra explosive damage, making them more destructive temporarily. Additionally, their Ultimate ability charges faster, helping them unleash their strongest skills sooner.

This ultimate is highly flexible: it can save teammates or gear up your entire team for a push. It’s less about healing allies directly and more about empowering and accelerating their capabilities.

Best Team Combos for Gambit

Supporting Gambit with certain heroes enhances his strengths. Notable partners include:

Magneto: He gains a slight healing boost when teamed with Gambit, and his attacks become more explosive with Gambit’s kinetic energy. Magneto’s “Ace of Aces” ability becomes even more lethal when charged by Gambit.
Storm: Both can provide speed and damage buffs, making them a powerful duo for team fights.
Mantis: Focuses on healing, complementing Gambit’s damage buffs with team support.
Rocket Raccoon: Helps strategize which decks to prioritize, allowing Gambit to adapt to combat needs.

Having a teammate who can assist with support or damage, combined with Gambit’s flexible skills, makes your team much stronger.

Tips and Strategies for Success

Draw the right cards for each situation: Gambit’s strength lies in using specific decks at the right time. Being observant allows you to support allies, deal damage, or disable enemies effectively.
Stay mobile: Gambit excels at hit-and-run tactics with his dashes and card throws. Use these to stay out of danger.
Chain abilities: Mixing skills like the staff slam, reduced healing, and dashes can quickly turn the tide against low-health enemies.
Position wisely: Gambit’s long-range cards let him stay at a distance, but he needs to be close enough to help allies or cleanse negative effects when needed.

Mastering Gambit’s skills takes practice, but his wide range of options makes him one of the most interesting Strategists. Effective play will see him supporting teammates, controlling the battlefield, and turning the tide of battle with well-timed abilities and ultimate moves.