The undead have overrun Midtown Manhattan in Marvel Rivals’ first-ever PvE mode, and this time, the hero you choose isn’t just a cosmetic decision — it’s the difference between surviving the night or joining the horde.
Unlike traditional PvP battles, Zombies Mode is a relentless wave-based gauntlet. Every decision counts: from your sustain and crowd control to team synergy and boss-handling efficiency.
This complete 2025 tier list breaks down the strongest heroes in Marvel Rivals Zombie Mode, helping you survive from Normal difficulty all the way up to the punishing Nightmare IV.
๐ง Why Hero Choice Is Everything in Zombies Mode
The Zombies event flips Marvel Rivals’ PvP formula on its head. The roguelike progression, boss phases, and endless enemies make your hero’s stats and abilities matter more than ever.Key Survival Factors:
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Sustain & Survivability: Healing, shielding, or damage reduction — without it, you’ll crumble in late waves.
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Crowd Control (AoE): Clearing mobs fast is crucial. Single-target DPS is far less valuable.
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Boss Fight Viability: Heroes must adapt to tough enemies like Zombie Namor and Scarlet Witch: Queen of the Dead.
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Scaling Potential: Some heroes scale exponentially with Khonshu’s Blessings and Traits, turning decent picks into unstoppable gods.
๐ฉธ Marvel Rivals Zombies Mode Tier List (October 2025)
Here’s how the five current heroes rank in the community meta, factoring in survivability, scaling, and boss-fight performance:
| Tier | Hero | Role | Key Strengths | Key Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Blade | Duelist | Near-immortality via lifesteal; elite damage at all ranges | None significant |
| A-Tier | The Punisher | Duelist | Devastating ranged DPS; turret utility; great vs bosses | Weak early game; needs cover |
| A-Tier | Jeff the Land Shark | Strategist | Strong ranged healing hybrid; great mobility | Falls off in late-game hordes |
| B-Tier | Thor | Vanguard | Massive HP; easy crowd control; great for beginners | Lower DPS; slow early scaling |
| B-Tier | Magik | Duelist | Insane AoE potential; permanent Darkchylde mode | Weak early game; risky in boss fights |
๐ Top Hero Analysis & Builds
Let’s dive deeper into why these heroes dominate and how to build them for optimal survival.
๐ง♂️ Blade: The Undisputed King
The vampire hunter has become the zombie slayer supreme. His lifesteal, burst melee damage, and sustain make him the most reliable pick across all difficulties.
Playstyle: Aggressive brawler. Use Ancestral Sword for hordes, and Bloodline Awakening for constant lifesteal. For bosses, switch to Hunter’s Shotgun to safely chip them down.
Recommended Upgrades:
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Focus on lifesteal, melee damage, and cooldown reduction Blessings.
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Maximize sustain-based traits for near-immortality.
๐ฌ Community Tip: A fully stacked Blade can face-tank bosses like Zombie Namor without flinching.
๐ซ The Punisher: The Ranged Powerhouse
Frank Castle lives up to his name in Zombies Mode — a one-man army with turrets and explosive DPS.
Playstyle: Anchor the backline. Set your turret for sustained damage while repositioning with your zipline.
He excels in boss phases where precision and range matter most.
Recommended Upgrades:
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Prioritize Auto-aim and Spread Fire Blessings for massive DPS spikes.
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Use your ultimate during boss shield phases for consistent pressure and crowd immunity.
๐ฌ Community Tip: Combine turret placement with chokepoints for insane zombie kill counts.
๐ฆ Jeff the Land Shark: The Goodest Boy
Cute, deadly, and surprisingly clutch, Jeff blends damage, mobility, and team healing better than anyone else.
Playstyle: Hybrid skirmisher. Attack from range, dive underground when pressured, and heal allies between waves.
Jeff shines in co-op play where positioning and timing save runs.
Recommended Upgrades:
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Boost Bubble Shot damage and healing efficiency.
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His ultimate provides emergency crowd control, though it’s less effective in higher Nightmare tiers.
๐ฌ Community Tip: Jeff pairs perfectly with Blade for sustain-heavy comps.
⚡ Thor & Magik: The Situational Specialists
⚡ Thor – The Unkillable Beginner Pick
Thor’s massive health pool and Storm Surge make him the tankiest choice for new players.
He scales slowly but steadily with Awakening traits and Headshot talents, turning into a reliable damage dealer later on.
๐ฎ Magik – High-Risk, High-Reward
Magik’s Darkchylde form transforms her into a melee powerhouse. However, she requires heavy investment and careful boss management due to her short range.
With full area damage perks, she can outperform most heroes in Nightmare IV.
๐ฌ Community Tip: Magik’s AoE clears faster than anyone else — if you can stay alive long enough.
๐งฉ Best Team Compositions for Nightmare I–IV
High-level success requires more than strong heroes — you need synergy. Here are two proven team setups:
1. The Balanced Sustain Comp (Perfect for Progression)
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Blade (S-Tier): Frontline lifesteal DPS
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The Punisher (A-Tier): Boss DPS & backline anchor
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Jeff (A-Tier): Healer & support damage
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Thor (B-Tier): Tank & crowd controller
✅ Why It Works: Full coverage — Blade tanks and slashes, Jeff heals, Punisher melts bosses, and Thor keeps enemies in check. Great for consistent progress across difficulties.
2. The High-Risk, High-Recovery Comp (For Veterans)
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Blade (S-Tier): Sustain & melee carry
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Magik (B-Tier): AoE horde killer
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The Punisher (A-Tier): Long-range boss killer
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Jeff (A-Tier): Primary healer
⚠️ Why It Works: This comp trades safety for speed. It’s high-damage, high-coordination, and devastating in skilled hands.
๐ก Tip: Don’t attempt Nightmare IV without maxed hero traits — they’re essential for scaling.
๐ Final Verdict: Balance and Versatility Win
While every hero has potential, the meta currently belongs to Blade. His unmatched self-healing and damage output make him the cornerstone of any successful Zombies run.
Still, the Punisher and Jeff the Land Shark form the perfect backline duo — while Thor provides steady protection and Magik rewards risk-takers with explosive endgame power.
Mastering the mode means balancing roles: tanking, healing, sustained DPS, and burst boss damage.
With the right team and Blessing upgrades, you can reclaim Manhattan — and show the undead what Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are made of.
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