Welcome! Get ready, Rivalers—because you’re about to master one of the most powerful disruptors in Marvel Rivals. If you’re looking for a hero that thrives in chaos, punishes enemy mobility, and can bulldoze through entire teams, you’re in the right place.
The Thing isn’t just a tank—he’s a force of nature.
Whether you’re a fresh recruit entering the arena or a seasoned frontline warrior looking to dominate ranked, this guide will take you from beginner to expert with everything you need to control the match, protect your team, and deliver devastating combos. From ability breakdowns to expert movement tips, synergy strategies, and game-winning ultimates—this is the only Marvel Rivals Boost Guide you’ll need.
Why Pick The Thing in Season 2?
Let’s start by answering the most important question: why The Thing?
Simply put, The Thing (Ben Grimm) is one of the most reliable and versatile vanguard tanks in the game. His playstyle rewards aggressive positioning and precise timing, while also giving you plenty of tools to disrupt enemy compositions and protect your squishy backline.
What makes him so strong right now:
- Total immunity to displacement: He can’t be pushed, pulled, or knocked back.
- His Shift ability grants full crowd control immunity for 6 seconds.
- He locks down mobile heroes with anti-mobility fields.
- His charge and ultimate combo can wipe teams in seconds.
He’s simple enough for beginners to pick up fast, but deep enough for high-level players to create some of the most impactful plays in the game.
Understanding The Thing’s Abilities
To play The Thing like a pro, you need to understand his kit inside and out. Every move in his arsenal is designed to pressure enemies and create opportunities for your team.
Primary and Secondary Attacks: Jab and Haymaker
- Left Click (Jab): Your go-to damage source. Fast, consistent melee strikes perfect for melting anyone in range.
- Right Click (Stone Haymaker): A charged-up punch that penetrates enemies, deals massive burst damage, and travels up to 10 meters in a straight line.
Use your Jab for reliable pressure and Haymaker for burst trades or finishing off weakened enemies. The Haymaker’s shockwave can hit multiple enemies, making it a great tool for team fights or interrupting key abilities.
Smart players will charge Haymaker behind cover, timing its release when enemies exit invulnerabilities like Hulk’s shield or Psylocke’s ultimate.
Shift: Juggernaut Charge + Anti-Mobility Field
This is the signature move that defines The Thing.
- Charges forward for 6 seconds.
- Immune to ALL crowd control while active.
- Knocks up enemies in your path.
- Leaves behind a field that disables all enemy mobility abilities in its area.
The anti-mobility field is game-changing. It punishes heroes like Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and even tanks like Venom that rely on mobility to escape or reposition.
Whether you’re using it to engage, peel, or escape, mastering this charge will drastically improve your effectiveness.
Pro Tip: Enable “Hold to Dash” in your settings. It gives you manual control over when to stop charging, letting you chain your knockups and combos more precisely.
E: Defensive Leap with Damage Reduction
The Thing leaps to a targeted ally and gives both of you 30% damage reduction.
This ability has two major uses:
- Sustain: Extend your frontline presence by reducing damage when you’re under fire.
- Peel: Leap to a vulnerable teammate and save them from dives or flankers.
Always keep track of ally positions. This leap requires a target—if you’re isolated with no allies nearby, you’re out of options. Coordination is key.
Ultimate: Clobberin’ Time
This is where you bring the pain.
- A massive 15-meter shockwave
- Knocks enemies up and then stuns them
- Sets up easy follow-up damage or ult combos
Clobberin’ Time is one of the best AOE engage tools in the game. It excels in tight corridors or grouped-up enemy formations. Pop it at the start of a fight and watch your DPS rain destruction on helpless opponents.
Combos You Need to Master
The Thing has some surprisingly technical combo potential for a tank. Learn these and your impact skyrockets.
Basic Combo
- Jab > Haymaker
- OR Haymaker > Jab
Use whichever is appropriate for your range. This is your bread-and-butter damage string.
Disruption Combo
- Jab > Shift (Charge Cancel) > Haymaker
Start with pressure, cancel the Jab into a knockup via Shift, then Haymaker for a burst finisher. This combo can catch enemies completely off guard.
Ultimate Wipe Combo
- E (Leap to Ally) > Ultimate > Haymaker > Jab > Shift Knockup > Jab
Use E to position, slam ult for the knockup-stun, follow with Haymaker into your jab string, then Shift to lock down any survivors trying to escape. This can 100-0 squishies, including dangerous threats like Wolverine.
Strengths That Make The Thing Shine
The Thing isn’t just strong—he’s flexible. His strengths make him a great fit in a variety of team comps.
Excellent Teamfight Initiation
He can start fights without needing perfect timing or positioning. His ult and charge are both strong enough to begin engagements and set up follow-ups.
Hard Counter to Dive Comps
Against heroes like Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Wolverine, The Thing shines. His anti-mobility field and crowd control immunity make him one of the best answers to dive-heavy teams.
Solid Peel and Protection
When your backline is in trouble, The Thing can leap to an ally, knock up a flanker, and reduce incoming damage. It’s rare to find a hero who can both initiate and peel this effectively.
Immunity to Displacement
No hero can move The Thing. Abilities like Spider-Man’s web pull, Psylocke’s ult, or Hulk’s slam? They do nothing. He’s an unmovable object, which gives him unmatched control over positioning in fights.
Weaknesses You Must Respect
No hero is perfect. To master The Thing, you need to be aware of his weaknesses and play around them.
Huge Hitbox
Ben is massive—and that makes him an easy target. You’ll absorb a lot of poke damage if you overextend or dive without support.
Weak Against Flyers
Flyers like Human Torch, Iron Man, or Storm are tough matchups. The Thing has no vertical reach or ranged tools to deal with airborne enemies. You’ll need to rely on teammates to deal with them.
Struggles on Vertical Maps
Maps with high ground positioning—like vertical control zones or capture points—can be hard for Ben. His leap only works to allies, so if no one’s holding the high ground, you’re stuck on the ground floor.
Risk of Overextending
If you charge into the enemy team without an escape plan, you’ll likely get focused and melted. Manage cooldowns, track enemy ults, and never dive alone unless you have backup.
Best Team Comps and Synergies
To unlock The Thing’s full potential, place him in comps where he synergizes with others—especially heroes that follow up on his knockups or benefit from his peel.
Top Synergy Picks:
- Moon Knight: Follows up knockups with devastating DPS.
- Invisible Woman: Protects The Thing while he charges into the fray.
- Rocket Raccoon: Provides healing and utility while Ben zones the enemy.
- Psylocke: Her ult chains beautifully with Ben’s AOE control.
- Emma: As another anti-dive tank, Emma and Ben make an unstoppable duo.
Avoid pairing him with solo-tank comps unless you’re confident in timing and positioning. He works best in double-tank lineups where he can leap between frontline partners.
Essential Tips for Consistency
To round off the guide, here are vital tips every serious Thing player should internalize:
- Turn on “Hold to Dash” in settings – lets you fine-tune your charge duration for quicker combos and better control.
- Practice Haymaker timing – use it to punish vulnerable enemies coming out of cooldowns or defensive ults.
- Track ally positions – your E ability is a lifesaver, but only if there’s someone to leap to.
- Lead fights, don’t solo them – you’re a starter, not a closer. Engage smart and wait for your team to follow.
- Play around terrain – walls, choke points, and tight spaces make your knockups and anti-mobility field more deadly.
- Watch enemy mobility – if you catch Spider-Man or Venom mid-movement, punish them with Shift + Haymaker.
- Don’t always ult first – save Clobberin’ Time for follow-up when the enemy has already committed cooldowns.
Final Verdict: Is The Thing Worth Maining?
The Thing is one of the most well-rounded, versatile tanks in Marvel Rivals Season 2 with this best Marvel Rivals Boost Guide. He fits a wide range of playstyles, thrives in chaotic fights, and brings value to nearly any composition.
Whether you’re leading charges, peeling for squishies, or smashing enemies with satisfying combos, The Thing delivers. He’s simple enough for beginners, but offers plenty of tech and timing for veterans to sink their teeth into.
He isn’t just strong—he’s unshakable. So if you’re ready to make your mark in Marvel Rivals, grab The Thing and show the world what happens when it’s Clobberin’ Time.
