Mantis, the optimistic and somewhat quirky alien girl, brings a refreshing spirit to her team in Marvel Rivals. With her unique mental manipulation skills, she plays a vital role in boosting her allies’ morale during battles.
Though she’s a clever Strategist, Mantis doesn’t back down easily. She can deliver a harsh lesson to any adversary who underestimates her. This guide aims to shed light on her skill set and what you can anticipate when facing her. Additionally, it will recommend which heroes can effectively counter her telepathic abilities to keep you from falling under her influence.
How to Counter Mantis
While Mantis excels as a strategist, she isn’t the top healer in her arsenal. Her real power lies in her capability to immobilize a single target with her Spore Slumber and the ability to boost her allies’ damage through Allied Inspiration, making them even more formidable.
Fortunately, Mantis lacks mobility, making her an easier target for Duelists and Vanguards. However, watch out! Her damaging and crowd control (CC) skills can put you in a tough position. Always aim to provoke her abilities before committing to engage, or select heroes with anti-CC capabilities.
How to Counter Mantis as a Strategist
In most scenarios, it’s often better to assist your allied Vanguards and Duelists by offering heals and protecting them from her CC instead of directly engaging a Mantis.
Both Cloak and Dagger are excellent choices against Mantis, especially Cloak. His abilities, Dark Teleportation and Terror Cape, can both safeguard allies and disrupt Mantis’s crowd control. Dark Teleportation shields allies from damage while also countering CC, while Terror Cape blinds enemies, hindering their ability to use their skills effectively.
How to Counter Mantis as a Duelist
If you’re playing as a Duelist, your top priority should be to take down Mantis to stop her from enhancing her teammates. Again, the strategy is to lure her abilities out before confronting her. Choosing heroes with high mobility will help you dodge her skills.
Black Panther is a fantastic option for fast-paced attacks and can easily evade Mantis’ Spore Slumber due to his quick movements. With skills like Spinning Kick and Spirit Rend, Black Panther can swiftly dash forward and, if he connects with enemies marked by Vibranium, grants himself overhealth.
You can steer the direction of Spinning Kick while in motion, allowing you to confuse opponents and potentially hit multiple targets.
Winter Soldier is another solid choice against Mantis. Instead of attacking directly, you can pull her towards you and your allies using Bionic Hook. This way, if she tries to use Spore Slumber, she’ll only stun one of your teammates, rendering her less effective.
How to Counter Mantis as a Vanguard
Vanguards have a much simpler time handling Mantis because of their robust health and defensive skills. It’s essential to choose heroes with barriers, as they can neutralize her stunning ability and allow for a safer escape.
Magneto is particularly effective against Mantis, possessing several barrier options like Metallic Curtain and Metal Bulwark. Metallic Curtain is a straightforward rectangular shield that protects all behind it, including from abilities. Metal Bulwark, on the other hand, offers comprehensive protection from any side and can be shared with allies.
Hulk is also a formidable choice against Mantis, thanks to his barrier abilities as well. Indestructible Guard works similarly to Metal Bulwark, creating a shield for himself and any close allies. Additionally, Hulk can quickly dive in and out of battles using his Incredible Leap, rendering Mantis ineffective.
