In Marvel Rivals, playing a melee-focused hero is both exhilarating and demanding. While closing the gap on opponents and landing devastating combos feels rewarding, energy management often becomes the Achilles’ heel of these close-range champions. Without consistent energy recovery, your effectiveness drops sharply mid-fight.
Having spent dozens of hours mastering heroes like Hulk, Namor, and The Punisher (in his melee spec), I’ve compiled a list of 12 practical tricks to help you maintain energy and stay in the fight longer. Whether you're climbing the ranks or just getting started after grabbing one of those buy Marvel Rivals bundles, these tips will give you a noticeable edge.
1. Time Your Dashes Between Combos
Many melee heroes have short-range dashes or leaps that consume energy. The key is to use them during low-cooldown windows and avoid overcommitting. Cancel out of animations with a well-timed dash only when repositioning is necessary — not out of habit.
2. Engage From High Ground When Possible
Starting an encounter from an elevated position allows melee characters to drop in with momentum. This often saves energy you'd otherwise spend closing distance. Try to flank or ambush from above whenever map design allows it.
3. Use Environmental Hazards to Your Advantage
Some maps include environmental elements that can damage or displace enemies. Knock a foe into a trap or off a ledge to secure value without spending energy on abilities. This tactic is especially effective in teamfights when you're conserving energy for escape.
4. Master Basic Attacks
Not every situation requires your full kit. Many players over-rely on abilities, draining their energy bar prematurely. Learning to weave in light and heavy melee attacks keeps you threatening without constantly taxing your energy pool.
5. Pair With Support Heroes Who Boost Energy
Some support characters have passives or abilities that regenerate energy — think Scarlet Witch’s aura or Ironheart’s burst kits. Coordinate with teammates who can keep your energy up so you can stay aggressive longer.
6. Avoid Chasing Too Deep
Overcommitting often leads to energy drain with little payoff. If an enemy escapes with slivers of health, it’s usually smarter to hold back and recharge rather than burning your entire bar in a futile chase.
7. Abuse Cooldown-Efficient Mobility
Certain heroes, like Black Panther, have energy-free or low-cost mobility tools. Prioritize these when repositioning. Save energy-based movement for critical moments like closing a gap under fire or dodging a high-damage skill.
8. Capitalize on Energy Pickups in the Field
Some maps offer energy pickups that can be game-changing if collected at the right time. Learn their spawn patterns and control these zones. It’s worth coordinating with your team to secure them for your melee bruisers.
9. Stay Near the Objective
Fighting near objectives often leads to tighter skirmishes, reducing the need for energy-expensive pursuits. You’ll also benefit from ally positioning and support, minimizing unnecessary expenditures while maximizing uptime.
10. Mix and Match Cheap Marvel Rivals Skins for Visual Clarity
This one’s more of a meta tip: using lighter, less flashy skins often helps avoid visual clutter, especially in close-quarters combat. Some cheap Marvel Rivals skins offer cleaner silhouettes, which can subtly improve your awareness and reaction speed in melee range.
11. Use Terrain for Quick Escapes
Walls, ledges, and doorways aren’t just for line-of-sight. They can be used to quickly break combat and regen energy. Practice navigating common maps and identifying terrain that lets you disengage cleanly when low.
12. Track Your Energy Bar Like a Cooldown
Many new players treat energy like a passive resource — don’t. Think of it as an active cooldown bar. Budget your actions around it. If you’re at half energy, start planning an exit or a safer engagement window.
Melee heroes in Marvel Rivals have a unique learning curve, but mastering energy recovery separates average players from top-tier duelists. Next time you jump into a match — whether you’ve been grinding solo or just picked up the game through one of those buy Marvel Rivals bundles — try out a few of these tips and see how much longer you can stay in the fray.
Got your own energy-saving hacks? Share them in the comments or the next community thread — because if there’s one thing every melee main knows, it’s that survival is an art.
