Marvel Rivals Black Panther: How to Play, Counter & Abilities

If you’re interested in playing Black Panther, you need to understand a few key things upfront: he’s fast, he’s aggressive, and he takes time to master. Playing Black Panther isn’t just about rushing in and hoping for the best – there’s a real method to making him work.

Black Panther falls into the Duelist category, which means he’s built for getting in, dealing damage, and getting out. The catch is that you need to manage his Vibranium Mark system properly. This isn’t as complicated as it might sound, but it does require practice. You’ll need to learn when to engage, how to chain your abilities together, and most importantly, when to back off.

This guide covers everything you need to know about playing Black Panther effectively – from basic mechanics to advanced strategies. You’ll learn about his abilities, how to handle different situations, and what to do when things don’t go as planned.

Marvel Rivals Black Panther Character Stats

Black Panther is a high-mobility duelist who excels at diving in, dealing massive damage, and getting out safely. What makes him unique is his Vibranium Mark system, which allows him to chain abilities and sustain himself in fights. However, his high-risk, high-reward playstyle isn’t for everyone.

	Black Panther
Role	Duelist
Base Health	300
Movement Speed	7 m/s
Difficulty	★★★★☆ (4/5)

How to Play Black Panther in Marvel Rivals?

In my experience, the key to mastering Black Panther is understanding his hit-and-run playstyle. Your primary goal is to apply Vibranium Marks to enemies and then capitalize on them with Spirit Rend to deal damage while maintaining sustainability.

The basic combo I’ve found most effective is starting with Spear Toss to apply the Vibranium Mark, following up with Spirit Rend for damage and healing, then using Vibranium Claws for additional damage before using the refreshed Spirit Rend to either continue the assault or escape. This combo has consistently helped me secure kills on enemy backline targets.

One aspect that took me time to master was wall-running with Subtle Step. This ability isn’t just for show – I regularly use it to scout enemy positions and set up surprise attacks from unexpected angles. When I’m running on walls, I’m constantly looking for isolated targets I can punish.

The biggest mistake I see new Black Panther players make is being too aggressive. While he’s incredibly mobile, you need to pick your moments carefully. I always make sure to have either Spear Toss or Spinning Kick available before engaging, as these abilities are crucial for applying Vibranium Marks and setting up your damage combos. Lastly, one last tip I will give you is to – make sure you choose your prey wisely, look out for Strategists and Duelists, and prefer not to fight Vanguards.

How to Counter Black Panther in Marvel Rivals

Based on my matches both playing as and against Black Panther, I’ve found that he struggles most against heroes with strong crowd control abilities and those who can maintain constant pressure. The key to shutting down a Black Panther is preventing him from chaining his abilities together.

Strong Counters:

• Winter Soldier – His Bionic Hook can completely disrupt Black Panther’s mobility and leave him vulnerable to follow-up damage. I’ve lost many engagements to skilled Winter Soldiers who time their hooks well.
• Groot – Creates walls that limit Black Panther’s movement options and can lock him down with crowd control abilities. In my matches against good Groot players, I often find myself unable to reach my preferred targets.
• Thor – The squid turrets provide consistent damage against Black Panther while he’s moving around, making it difficult to maintain positioning and execute combos effectively.
• Doctor Strange – His crowd control abilities and shields make it challenging for Black Panther to secure kills, while his portals can help teammates escape from Black Panther’s engage attempts.

All Black Panther Abilities

Ability Name	Description	Stats
Vibranium Claws	Slice Vibranium Claws forward in a melee attack	– Damage: 35 – Maximum Distance: 3m – Attack Interval: 0.44s per hit
Spear Toss	Toss a Vibranium energy spear that creates a force field and applies Vibranium Mark	– Projectile Speed: 60m/s – Range: 5m spherical radius – Damage: 45 – Cooldown: 6s – Charges: 2
Bast’s Descent	Summon Bast to pounce forward, dealing damage and applying Vibranium Mark while refreshing Spirit Rend	– Range: 22m (L) x 20m (W) x 7m (H) – Casting Angle: 150° – Damage: 150 – Energy Cost: 3300
Spirit Rend	Lunge forward dealing damage. Marked targets grant bonus health and refresh ability	– Speed: 50m/s – Maximum Distance: 15m – Damage: 80 – Bonus Health: 40 – Max Bonus Health: 120 – Cooldown: 8s
Spinning Kick	Spiral forward applying Vibranium Mark to hit enemies	– Speed: 15m/s – Maximum Distance: 16m – Damage: 70 – Cooldown: 8s
Subtle Step	Hold to run on walls and perform a jump after detaching	– Wall-Crawling Speed: 10m/s – Double Jump Cooldown: 3s
Panther’s Cunning	Increases damage when health is low	– Trigger: Below 100 HP – Damage Boost: 20%
Wakandan Master	Team-up with Magik/Psylocke to rewind time and gain bonus health	– Rewind Time: 5s – Health Conversion: 50% of damage taken – Cooldown: 30s – Required Teammate: Magik

Playing Black Panther effectively comes down to practice and patience. You’ll make mistakes at first – everyone does. Focus on mastering one aspect at a time: start with basic combos, then work on wall-running, and gradually add more complex strategies to your gameplay.

Don’t get discouraged if you’re not dominating matches right away. Keep practicing your target selection, timing, and escape routes. Eventually, you’ll develop the instincts needed to know exactly when to strike and when to retreat.