Scarlet Witch is an interesting choice in Marvel Rivals and can perform pretty well if handled right. Although she doesn’t feel as overpowered as she initially did during the game’s testing period, there are still plenty of reasons to pick Wanda over some of the other duelists. Scarlet Witch can also be particularly appealing to newcomers without experience with hero shooter games or games that require more precise aiming.

Opinions on Scarlet Witch’s overall power level are a bit mixed. While some character tier lists have Scarlet Witch at the top, others have her slightly lower in the A- or B-tier. Even if she isn’t the most powerful overall, she still has some abilities that can be very impactful and help swing momentum in her team’s favor.

All Scarlet Witch Abilities

All Skills Explained

Scarlet Witch’s abilities in Marvel Rivals are pretty easy to get the hang of. She doesn’t have any complicated ive abilities for which players need to keep track of cooldowns, and her abilities are pretty straightforward. This helps make her an easy starter hero as players work up to more complex options.

Chaos Control

Chaos Control is Wanda’s basic attack. Instead of shooting a projectile that needs to be aimed, Scarlet Witch simply drains HP from the nearest enemy to her reticle when holding down the attack button. The attack has no reload or cooldown so that it can be done at any time. The amount of damage it deals is determined by the target’s remaining health. While dealing damage with Chaos Control, players will store up to four uses of Chaos Energy.

Mystic Projection

By pressing Left-Shift/R1/RB, Scarlet Witch gains the ability to fly freely around the map. While this is active, she is also Phased out so enemies can’t see her. This adds both extra mobility and some protection from attacks.

Dark Seal

Dark Seal is Scarlet Witch’s E/L1/LB ability, which fires a small ball of chaos energy. If it collides with an enemy or part of the environment, it will explode into a force field that periodically stuns enemies in its area of effect. Players can also shoot the energy at nothing and have it sit in a specific location, then detonate it using E/L1/LB when enemies are nearby.

Telekinesis

Telekinesis allows players to hold the jump button while in the air to fall more slowly. This can give players extra control of their descent and keep them out of range of melee attackers a bit longer. It can also allow players to traverse between elevated platforms without getting on the ground level, which may be dangerous for a squishy hero like Scarlet Witch.

Chthonian Burst

Chthonian Burst consumes one Chaos Energy to create an explosive missile. This missile has a longer range than Scarlet Witch’s basic attack and deals splash damage to enemies. Four Chaos Energy indicators in the center of the screen when playing Scarlet Witch indicate how much Energy is stored up. Players launch Chthonian Burst by pressing Right Click/L2/LT.

How To Use Scarlet Witch's Ultimate

Scarlet Witch’s Ultimate Is A Devastating Area Attack

Once Scarlet Witch’s meter is full, her ultimate ability - Reality Erasure - can be activated by pressing Q/both thumbsticks. When activated, Scarlet Witch will begin to fly and charge up energy. Once she has finished charging up, she automatically unleashes massive damage to all enemies near her.

There are a few important things to keep in mind when using Scarlet Witch’s ultimate ability. First, this move is heavily telegraphed. When activated, Scarlet Witch will shout “pure chaos,” alerting the enemy team of what’s about to happen. This leads to the second important thing to keep in mind: Scarlet Witch can be killed mid-ult. Players will need to be very careful how and when they activate this ability so they aren’t immediately targeted by the entire enemy team.

One good strategy is to activate the ability from a location near where the enemy team is but still obscured from their view. It might be best to begin the process of Reality Erasure while inside a hidden room or building and then jump out and surprise the enemy team just before the damage goes off. Alternatively, suppose the enemy team isn’t running any heroes with reliable long-range attacks. In that case, Wanda can fly above the enemy team out of range while charging, then descend upon them when it's time to attack.

Like Scarlet Witch’s basic attack, there is no need to aim Reality Erasure. This is another reason why she is a beginner-friendly hero because it is pretty hard to miss her ultimate ability. That said, players will still need to make sure they aren’t getting picked off while charging it up. Otherwise, it could get frustrating if they keep getting eliminated right before making their strongest move.

Best Team Composition For Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch Should Be Paired With Heroes That Can Make Up For Her Vulnerability

Marvel Rivals features team-up abilities that encourage players to play certain heroes on the same team. Scarlet Witch's pairing is her father Magneto, who is available for players at launch. While Scarlet Witch doesn’t actually receive any additional abilities or buffs from the team-up, it is considered one of the better team-up abilities for how much it helps Magneto.

When both heroes are on the same team, Magneto gains a new basic attack. He now uses an Enchanted Greatsword, which shoots Chaos Energy.

The Enchanted Greatsword allows Magneto to make both melee and ranged attacks at the same time, which can be very useful on a Vanguard hero who fights on the front lines. Magneto’s ability to protect other heroes with a protective shield can also be a good way to keep Scarlet Witch safe while doing her ultimate ability.

Another good hero for Scarlet Witch could be Cloak and Dagger. Dagger has a healing ability that doesn’t require precise aiming, which can be helpful when trying to target a hero like Scarlet Witch who will be trying to stay mobile and out of the way. Marvel Rivals' Doctor Strange can also be a good pairing. Like Magneto, his shield can protect Scarlet Witch while she is vulnerable during her ult.

Best Tips, Tricks, & Strategies For Winning

Scarlet Witch Can Deal Massive Damage But Needs To Play It Safe

To effectively play Scarlet Witch, it’s important to stay mobile. Scarlet Witch doesn’t have a lot of health or ways to protect herself, so she can be taken out quickly if players aren’t careful. Although players will need to get close for her basic attack, they should only do so for as long as it takes to store up Chaos Energy. Once they have the ability to fire a few missiles, they should back out of the more dangerous areas of the battlefield and fire Cthonian Bursts from a safe distance.

Mystic Projection can make it easier to sneak in and out of dangerous areas, so players should use it as often as possible. Taking routes that cut down on sightlines is also a good strategy. Approach a fight through buildings or side rooms instead of straight-on, where enemies can more easily pick off Scarlet Witch.

Scarlet Witch’s ultimate ability can very effectively flip momentum in her team’s favor. Avoid using Reality Erasure in one-on-one fights. Instead, make sure it is saved for a moment when it can have a major impact. Many Marvel Rivals games will come down to one team just having a few extra seconds on an objective, something Scarlet Witch can buy them with a well-timed ult.