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Roles, explained

Three roles, one role-queue rule (2 / 2 / 2). What each role actually does, who to learn first, and the mistakes that drop your rank.

12
VANGUARDS
26
DUELISTS
11
STRATEGISTS

Vanguard

The frontline. You take damage so your team doesn't have to.

THE JOB

Vanguards create space, absorb burst, and protect supports. The team wins or loses based on how aggressively you push and how cleanly you peel.

HOW MANY TO PICK

Run two Vanguards in almost every comp. One main shield, one off-tank. Solo-tanking only works on dive Vanguards with mobility (Venom, Captain America).

COMMON MISTAKES

Sniping from the back, never holding W, picking off-tanks when the team needs a main shield. Don't hide behind the choke; the team can't fight without you in front.

Duelist

The damage. You delete priority targets.

THE JOB

Duelists finish kills. Long range or close range, the job is the same: pick a target, drop them, rotate. Damage that doesn't convert to kills is wasted.

HOW MANY TO PICK

Run two Duelists. Mix range and dive. A hitscan + a flanker beats two of either alone.

COMMON MISTAKES

Tunnel-visioning the tank. Forgetting to track support cooldowns. Engaging without your team. Dying to the same flanker twice in a row.

Strategist

The backbone. No supports, no win.

THE JOB

Strategists keep teammates alive, charge ultimates fast, and shut down dive threats with peel. Heal + damage + ult management. The hardest role in the game.

HOW MANY TO PICK

Always run two Strategists. One healing-focused (Luna, Mantis), one utility-focused (Loki, Rocket). Solo support is throwing.

COMMON MISTAKES

Sitting in the back when divers are coming. Healing through unwinnable trades. Never using offensive ults. Refusing to call out cooldowns.