Angela is the newest Vanguard addition to Marvel Rivals Season 4, bringing a unique melee-focused playstyle with aerial mobility. This guide covers optimal crosshair configurations, recommended settings, and essential gameplay strategies to help you master this versatile tank character.
Understanding Angela's Crosshair Requirements
Angela operates differently from ranged heroes in Marvel Rivals. As a melee-focused Vanguard, she doesn't need to track projectiles or lead moving targets. Her attacks connect at close range (within 7 meters), which fundamentally changes what you need from your crosshair setup.
The key difference is that Angela's success depends more on positioning and range awareness than precise aiming. Her melee attacks feature a larger hitbox than you might initially expect, particularly when using her flying form's spear attacks. This generous hitbox means you don't need pinpoint accuracy—targets within the attack radius will take damage even if your crosshair isn't directly centered on them.
Recommended Crosshair Designs
Option 1: Simple Center Dot (Minimalist Approach)
This design provides a clean reference point without visual clutter:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Reticle Type | Dot |
| Reticle Animation | Off |
| Dot Width | 30 |
| Crosshair Width | 0 |
| Circle Width | 0 |
| Dot Opacity | 100 |
| Crosshair Opacity | 0 |
| Circle Opacity | 0 |
| Dot Color | Ice green (recommended) |
Option 2: Dot with Circle (Enhanced Awareness)
This alternative adds a circle element to help visualize Angela's attack radius. The circle provides extra confidence when engaging targets, especially airborne enemies. Knowing that any target within the circle boundary will be hit by your attacks helps you commit to engagements without hesitation. This is particularly valuable in flying form where judging distance can be challenging.
The circle represents the generous attack radius Angela possesses, particularly noticeable in her flying form. This visual indicator helps you understand that you don't need perfect center-screen aim—as long as enemies fall within the circle, your attacks will connect.
Essential Hero Settings for Angela
These settings optimize Angela's controls for her dual-form playstyle:
- Attack Range Hint: On (MOST IMPORTANT) - Shows when enemies are within your 7-meter melee range
- Allied Health Bars: On - Helps you make positioning decisions based on teammate health
Why Attack Range Hint Matters Most
The Attack Range Hint setting is the single most valuable configuration for Angela players. When enabled, this feature displays clear visual indicators showing when enemies are within your 7-meter melee range. This information is far more useful than any crosshair design could ever be.
With Attack Range Hint active, you'll see confirmation when targets enter striking distance, allowing you to time your attacks perfectly. This eliminates guesswork and helps you avoid wasting attacks on enemies who are just outside your reach. The setting essentially replaces the need for complex crosshair designs by providing direct feedback about whether your attacks will connect.
Angela's Dual Combat Forms Explained
Angela operates in two distinct modes, each with different attack patterns and tactical applications. Understanding when and how to use each form is fundamental to playing her effectively.
Ground Form: Dual Axes Combat
When grounded, Angela wields dual axes with a specific attack pattern. The attack sequence consists of three standard axe swings followed by a fourth empowered attack. The fourth strike automatically propels Angela forward and deals increased damage compared to the first three hits.
The fourth attack's forward dash serves as both a gap-closer and a repositioning tool. You can use this to advance on enemies without simply running at them—execute three attacks while approaching, then let the fourth attack close the final distance. This attack pattern works well for front-line pressure. Walk toward enemies while attacking, and the natural dash from every fourth hit keeps you advancing without leaving yourself vulnerable during a straight run.
Flying Form: Spear Combat
Angela's aerial form switches to a spear with different mechanics. The attack style features slower individual strikes compared to ground axes, but builds toward a powerful charged attack.
While flying, a charge indicator (displayed as an arrow/bar) fills gradually. When the indicator turns gold and reaches full charge, your next spear attack delivers a knockback effect along with significantly increased damage. Once fully charged, the empowered attack remains available indefinitely. You don't lose the charge by waiting—it stays ready until you use it. This lets you charge up while positioning, then strike when the opportunity presents itself.
The spear's slower swing speed makes it less effective for sustained damage compared to ground axes. However, the charged knockback attack and aerial mobility compensate for this limitation.
Form Switching and Transitional Abilities
Angela transitions between ground and air forms using two linked abilities:
- Launches Angela into the air, entering flying form
- The launch itself doesn't deal damage
- Use to engage flying enemies or create vertical angles
- Effective for repositioning away from danger
- Descending creates a damaging area effect
- Landing damage applies to enemies caught in impact radius
- Makes the descent a valuable fight initiator
- Can enter aerial form purely to set up damaging landing
Shield Ability Mechanics
Angela's shield provides defensive utility in both forms. The shield blocks incoming damage completely until it breaks, meaning you take no health damage while the shield remains active. The shield functions while grounded and while flying, giving you defensive options in any situation.
When flying with the shield active, you maintain full flight speed and maneuverability. This combination creates a highly mobile defensive state that's particularly effective when engaging ranged enemies or advancing through hostile fire. Use the shield to walk forward into enemy fire when approaching as a front-line tank. This lets you close distance without taking damage, then drop the shield to begin attacking when you reach melee range.
Advanced Kidnap Technique
Angela's flying form includes a grab ability that can pull enemies into the air. While in flying form with a charged spear, you can grab an enemy and carry them through the air.
The white stamina bar on your right side shows how long you can maintain flight while carrying an enemy. When this bar depletes completely, you automatically drop the grabbed target. Aim upward while flying to keep the grabbed enemy airborne longer. Aiming downward or into terrain causes you to land prematurely, releasing the target early.
After carrying an enemy away from their team, release them with your charged spear attack for knockback and heavy damage, then immediately dive to the ground (using Wingblade Ascent for additional damage) and follow up with ground axe attacks. This kidnap mechanic removes priority targets—supports or damage dealers—from their team's protection. You're essentially creating a 1v1 situation in your favor by isolating them from allied support.
Ultimate Ability: Banner Placement
Angela's ultimate creates a banner that manipulates enemy positioning. The banner pulls nearby enemies toward its location—enemies caught in the pull radius will move toward the banner. While enemies are being pulled, Angela deals increased damage to affected targets.
Combine the ultimate with kidnap mechanics: grab an enemy, fly them to an isolated position, place your banner, then chain them to terrain or a wall. This setup makes it extremely difficult for the grabbed target to escape or receive support. Position the banner near walls or terrain features to maximize the displacement effect on enemies.
Combat Combinations and Sequences
Aerial Assault Combo
- Enter flying form and charge your spear attack (wait for gold indicator)
- Position above or near your target
- Execute the charged spear strike (delivers knockback and high damage)
- Immediately dive to the ground using Wingblade Ascent (applies area damage)
- Follow up with ground axe attacks
This sequence delivers burst damage through multiple sources—charged spear, landing effect, and ground attacks—creating significant threat in a short window.
Ground Advance Sequence
Approach enemies while your shield is active to block incoming damage. Drop the shield when you reach close range and execute attacks: first hit, second hit, third hit. The fourth attack automatically dashes you into optimal melee range with bonus damage, allowing you to continue the attack cycle.
Alternative approach: walk toward enemies while attacking normally. The automatic dash from every fourth attack keeps you advancing steadily without needing to sprint.
Angela's Anti-Air Specialization
Angela fills a crucial role as a counter to flying damage dealers and supports. Marvel Rivals features numerous flying damage dealers and at least one flying support character. Traditional tanks often lack effective tools to threaten airborne enemies, allowing flyers to operate with minimal pressure.
When enemy flyers are harassing your team, switch to flying form and engage them directly in the air. Your presence alone disrupts their positioning and forces them to deal with you instead of focusing your team. You maintain good flight speed, have shield protection, and possess high maneuverability even while blocking damage. This combination makes you difficult for flying damage dealers to shake off, and your presence in their space significantly reduces their effectiveness.
By occupying enemy flyers, you prevent them from dealing damage to your team. Even if you don't secure eliminations, forcing them into defensive positions or poor angles creates value for your team.
Role Flexibility and Tactical Decision-Making
Angela functions as a multi-role tank rather than specializing in one defensive style. She fulfills three core roles: front-line tank holding positions and creating space, dive tank targeting backline enemies, and anti-air specialist pressuring flying enemies.
Effective Angela play requires constantly assessing which role your team needs at any given moment. You might hold front line during an objective push, dive to eliminate a support when the opportunity appears, then switch to pressuring an enemy flyer who's causing problems.
The challenge isn't learning her individual abilities (which are relatively straightforward), but rather developing the game sense to know which role to fill at each moment. Understanding when to hold ground, when to dive, and when to engage flyers requires experience and battlefield awareness. Angela can compensate for team compositions that lack a second tank or when teammates are unfamiliar with tank roles. Her flexibility lets her adapt to whatever defensive need arises.
Understanding Angela's Damage Output
Angela's damage is moderate compared to dedicated damage dealers. As a Vanguard, Angela won't eliminate enemies as quickly as damage-focused heroes. Her role emphasizes disruption, space control, and supporting her team rather than securing eliminations independently.
Her strength lies in mobility-based damage—kidnapping isolated targets, landing combos, and applying pressure to enemies who expect to operate safely (particularly flyers). Angela creates opportunities for teammates by disrupting enemy positioning, isolating priority targets, and forcing enemies out of advantageous positions. Her value comes from these utility aspects as much as raw damage.
Choosing Your Dot Color
Color selection matters for crosshair visibility. Ice green (or similar bright, cool-toned colors) provides strong contrast against most Marvel Rivals environments. Experiment with different colors to find what stands out best against the backgrounds you encounter most frequently. The goal is instant visibility without visual strain. Avoid colors that blend with common environmental tones or team/enemy color indicators that might cause confusion during combat.
Settings That Don't Require Complexity
Mouse Acceleration and Smoothing Off ensures direct, predictable mouse response without artificial modification. Angela's gameplay requires quick directional changes between ground and air combat, making consistent input response essential.
The sensitivity range of 3-5 provides enough speed for aerial maneuvering while maintaining control for ground combat. Adjust within this range based on your personal preference and mouse DPI. Having Allied Health Bars On helps you see teammate health for making positioning decisions—knowing when to dive versus when to protect injured allies.
Why Angela's Setup Differs from Ranged Heroes
Traditional ranged heroes need crosshairs that help track moving targets, account for projectile travel time, and maintain precision at various distances. Angela needs none of this.
Her success depends on knowing when enemies are within 7-meter melee range (provided by Attack Range Hint), understanding her generous attack hitbox (especially in flying form), making tactical decisions about which form to use, and positioning effectively for her role at any given moment.
This is why the recommended crosshair designs are minimal—a simple dot or dot-with-circle provides enough reference for centering without distracting from the tactical awareness and positioning decisions that actually determine Angela's effectiveness. The most important "setting" for Angela isn't anything in the crosshair configuration—it's enabling Attack Range Hint and learning to read the battlefield to know when to dive, when to hold ground, and when to challenge flyers.