Lore & Loadout: The Hulk in Marvel Rivals
Dive into the massive comic book history of The Hulk, the big green giant that's rampaging through Marvel Rivals.
Dr. Bruce Banner has finally figured out how to keep his temper in check—well, almost. In Marvel Rivals the Jade Giant juggles three distinct forms that let you swing between glass-cannon scientist, mobile bruiser, and apocalyptic raid boss. If you want to dunk snipers off rooftops, body-block for squishies with a 360° gamma barrier, and end fights with a planet-cracking World Breaker finisher, this guide has you covered.
Below you’ll learn how Hulk’s transformation loop really works, which maps reward his Incredible Leap, and how to squeeze every drop of gamma energy for unmatched frontline momentum.
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Who Is The Hulk?
The Hulk first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. His story follows Dr. Bruce Banner, a brilliant but reclusive scientist who was exposed to massive amounts of gamma radiation during an experiment gone wrong. Instead of killing him, the radiation transformed him into the Hulk, a towering, unstoppable force of rage.
Whenever Bruce experiences anger, stress, or extreme pain, he loses control and transforms into the Hulk, a being of limitless strength and raw fury. Over the years, Hulk has been both a hero and a danger to the world, constantly battling against those who seek to control or destroy him.
While many fear him as a rampaging monster, those who truly understand Hulk know that his heart is just as strong as his fists.
Hulk Strengths & Weaknesses in Marvel Rivals
Strengths
- Two health bars – Banner’s Puny Banner ultimate instantly swaps to 650 HP Hero Hulk; if Hulk “dies” he reverts to Banner for a second life
- Team-wide shielding & energy battery – Indestructible Guard converts absorbed damage into gamma energy, fast-tracking Monster form
- High mobility & dive denial – Incredible Leap ignores vertical terrain and grounds fliers, setting up stun chains
Weaknesses
- Banner is paper-thin (200 HP) and almost helpless if caught alone
- Large hitbox makes Hulk easy to focus once Guard is on cooldown
- Energy-gated power spikes – mis-timing transformations can leave you stranded in the wrong form at the wrong time
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Hulk’s Powers and Abilities in Marvel Rivals
| Ability | Input (PC) | CD / Energy | Key Effects & Pro Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Blow | LMB | — | 40 dmg melee chain (Hero); 70 dmg (Monster). Wide 180° arc—strafe-circle for max DPS |
| Gamma Burst | RMB | 8 s (1 s Monster) | 70 dmg piercing projectile—use mid-Leap to finish fleeing targets |
| Incredible Leap | Space | 0.7-2 s charge | Long jump; wall-cling; colliding with airborne enemy slams & stuns |
| Indestructible Guard | Shift | 12 s | 200 HP self/100 HP ally bubble converts 100%/10% dmg to Ult energy—pop before diving |
| Radioactive Lockdown | E | 15 s (5 s Monster) | 2 s irradiation exile; objective stall & solo-pick tool—follow with Leap for guaranteed hits |
| Hulk Smash! | Q | 3400 γ | 12 s Monster Hulk: +750 HP total, empowered Burst/Lockdown, gains World Breaker finisher |
Hulk Combos & Tech
| Combo | Sequence | PC | Xbox | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma Dunk | Leap (charge) → Guard mid-air → Heavy Blow ×3 → Gamma Burst | Space(hold) → Shift → LMB×3 → RMB | A(hold) → LB → RT×3 → LT | X(hold) → L1 → R2×3 → L2 |
| Lockdown Smash | Lockdown → Leap cancel → Heavy → Hulk Smash! | E → Space → LMB → Q | RB → A → RT → RS+LS | R1 → X → R2 → R3+L3 |
| Banner Escape | Gamma Grenade self-knock → Leap wall-cling | Shift (Banner) → Space | LB → A | L1 → X |
Hulk Match-Ups & Counters
Strong Against
- Punisher – stuns stop turret mode
- Cloak & Dagger – Leap closes gap; Guard shrugs off burst
Synergizes With
- Wolverine – Gamma Fastball yeets Logan for surprise back-line dives
- Magneto – Hulk can dive into the backline while Magneto anchors down the frontline
Weak Against
- Wolverine – Wolverine's percentage-based damage can melt Hulk's huge life bar.
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Map Strategy for The Hulk In Marvel Rivals
Positioning & Routes
Anchor with Guard before engaging; charge Leap behind cover, crash onto high-value targets, then rotate to health-pack corners during Banner downtime.
Team Strategy
Call Guard timing so allies feed damage into your shield for faster Monster charge. During Hulk Smash use Radioactive Lockdown to peel healers while Monster form pounds tanks.
Objective Play
Stall captures by exiling point-holders with Lockdown or slamming them off platforms mid-Leap. World Breaker is a last-second zone wipe—save it for overtime.
Hulk’s Story in Marvel Rivals
Bruce Banner developed the Gamma Belt to control his transformations, hoping to regulate the Hulk’s power and emotional volatility. When he tested the device in his desert lab, it initially seemed to work, allowing him to trigger and sustain his Hulk form while absorbing and rechanneling gamma energy. However, as Hulk continued to exert himself, the belt created a feedback loop, amplifying his strength and fueling an uncontrollable surge of gamma radiation. With each test—clapping, jumping, and smashing—Hulk grew even stronger, reveling in his power while suppressing Banner’s cautious warnings. As his rage peaked, Hulk unleashed a catastrophic shockwave, destroying the lab and leaving Banner helpless among the wreckage when stray debris damaged the belt, forcing a sudden reversion.
Shaken but fascinated, Banner realized his invention had pushed the boundaries of Hulk’s power in ways he hadn’t anticipated, proving both its potential and its danger. As he examined the ruined lab and the shattered Gamma Belt, he knew he had unleashed something new within himself—and that he wasn’t done experimenting yet.
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Essential Hulk Comics
- The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) – Silver-Age origin.
- Planet Hulk (2006) – Gladiator epic that inspires Monster form aesthetic.
- World War Hulk (2007) – Banner’s savage payback tour.
- Immortal Hulk (2018-2021) – Body-horror reinvention of the gamma mythos.
- Future Imperfect (1992) – Introduces Maestro, a possible Monster Hulk future.
Hulk in Marvel Rivals TL;DR
- Double-life Vanguard: fragile Banner → durable Hero Hulk → raid-boss Monster.
- Abuse Guard → Leap → Burst for quick Gamma gains, then Hulk Smash to snowball fights.
- Banner dies fast—rotate out, farm energy, and get angry again!