Games

One Unexpected Marvel Rivals Character is At The Top of The Meta

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4 hours ago

December 12, 2024

Marvel Rivals continues to make waves in the hero-shooter community, surpassing 10 million players in three days. Its familiar playstyle, iconic cast of superhero characters, destructible environments, and stylized graphics have earned it high praise from critics. Notably, the meta has begun solidifying since Marvel Rivals‘ launch on December 6.

Since Competitive was released, players have quickly realized that though there is an abundance of Duelists, several Strategists can also be considered S-Tier. Jeff The Land Shark, in particular, is at the center of Marvel Rivals memes for being incredibly cute but challenging to outplay when he has his ultimate. As one of seven Strategists, the cuddly shark is proving highly viable in the current meta.

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Marvel Rivals Leak Reveals New Vanguard Character

Table of Contents

A prominent Marvel Rivals leaker reveals that NetEase Games could be releasing a new vanguard character for the hero shooter in the near future.

Marvel Rivals Jeff The Land Shark Should Not Be Overlooked

Marvel Rivals Jeff The Land Shark Updated Abilities

Strategists Should Consider Adding Jeff To Their Lineup of Mains

Though Jeff’s adorable demeanor can be distracting, he’s not to be underestimated. He ranks highly in a Marvel Rivals tier list for his utility. With wall-crawling and a Hide and Seek ability that lets him dive into a scene with only his fin visible, he can be tricky to pin down.

Jeff’s one-star difficulty makes his skill floor relatively low, but he has ample room to make game-changing plays despite this. Knowing where to position is essential in any objective-based game, and the shark strategist can utilize Hide and Seek to escape backline harassment while also going for picks himself. He’s primarily known for his healing and supportive abilities, but players shouldn’t underestimate his flanking potential. Dive Duelists like Iron Fist may note that Jeff is a high-priority target, but he can also be a strong ally when on their team if they can coordinate a push.

“Jeff can utilize Hide and Seek to escape backline flankers while also going for picks himself.”

Moreover, Jeff can put up impressive healing numbers, currently at 140 HP per second. His Healing Bubbles, which provide a 6-meter-per-second Movement Boost and health for himself and his allies, can be life-saving for teammates at critical health. These bubbles are especially useful while reloading or for healing teammates at a distance, allowing them to focus on others in need. Though he lacks a CC ability, immortality, resurrection, or damage boost, he’s already solidified himself as a worthwhile addition to the Marvel Rivals roster.

Jeff The Land Shark’s Ultimate Can Be Game-Changing

Jeff The Land Shark stands out from other Strategists for his ability to instantly turn the tide of a match. His “It’s Jeff!” ultimate can be used offensively or defensively as he dives into the map to swallow teammates or enemies within his range. Deemed the cutest menace of Marvel Rivals, players can take enemies off an objective in a forced C9, and sometimes, in the five seconds of their ultimate duration, they can secure several environmental kills by throwing them off the map.

Significantly, Jeff can be killed during his ultimate, but he can be pretty slippery in the right hands. In Arcade modes like Conquest, Marvel Rivals‘ version of Team Deathmatch, this may not amount to much, but when playing around the objective, Jeff can be both a saving grace or a headache for enemies in dire situations. Therefore, though it may be too soon to say, considering that Season 0 of NetEase Games’ superhero shooter is only a month, Jeff has proven to be a strong and reliable pick. The studio has yet to confirm if any hero balance changes will be released soon, but considering that Marvel Rivals‘ first major update has just launched, it seems likely that the studio is paying close attention to the growing metas and considering which characters to adjust accordingly.