The Convoy game mode, Marvel Rivals' iteration of the classic Escort objective, demands a sophisticated understanding of hero abilities, team coordination, and dynamic strategy. Success hinges not merely on individual skill, but on the synergistic application of defensive layering, offensive momentum, and precise role execution around the payload, Jarnbjorn. This analysis dissects the critical meta-elements of shield management, speed enhancement, and payload assignments, offering a framework for high-level play.
Escort Mode Fundamentals
A comprehensive grasp of Convoy's core mechanics is foundational to deploying advanced tactics. The mode pits two teams against each other with asymmetrical objectives, creating a dynamic tug-of-war for control and territory.
Attack vs. Defense Paradigms
In Convoy, teams are randomly assigned to Attack or Defense for a round. Attackers are tasked with seizing control of and escorting the payload, Jarnbjorn, through a series of three checkpoints to reach the final destination within a specified time limit. Successfully reaching the first checkpoint adds 3 minutes to the timer, and the second checkpoint adds an additional 2 minutes. Defenders, conversely, must prevent this progression by halting the payload, eliminating attackers, and depleting the attackers' clock.
This structure underscores the importance of both offensive efficiency and defensive resilience. The unique nature of each map and its distinct checkpoint areas can also mean that certain heroes may excel on one part of the map but prove less effective on another, necessitating strategic foresight.
Payload Dynamics: Speed, Contesting, and On-Cart Benefits
The movement of Jarnbjorn is governed by specific rules that directly influence strategic decisions. The payload only moves forward when the attacking team has undisputed control and at least one attacker is nearby; otherwise, it remains stationary or can be moved backward by defenders.
The speed at which Jarnbjorn advances is contingent on the number of attackers accompanying it. While the payload will move with just one attacker present, its velocity increases with additional teammates, up to a certain threshold.
| Number of Attackers on Payload | Movement Speed (m/s) | Approx. % Increase from Base (1 m/s) | Approx. Incremental % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (Controlled, uncontested) | 1.00 | 0% | N/A |
| 1 | 1.67 - 1.72 | 67% - 72% | 67% - 72% |
| 2 | 1.91 - 1.93 | 91% - 93% | 11% - 12% |
| 3 | 2.26 | 126% | 17% - 18% |
This scaling reveals a significant initial boost from the first attacker, with diminishing returns for subsequent players. This "1-Pusher Priority" principle is paramount: the leap from 0 to 1 attacker yields a substantial speed increase of approximately 67-72%. The addition of a second attacker only contributes roughly 10-12% more speed, and a third only about 17-18% beyond that.
Contesting the payload is remarkably efficient for defenders: only a single defender in the payload's vicinity is required to completely halt its forward progress. If defenders manage to clear attackers and secure the payload, it will begin to move backward, though the speed of this reverse movement is not affected by the number of defenders present. The HUD displays a semi-circular progress bar indicating which team is gaining control when members of both teams are on the objective.
This ease of contest leads to the concept of "Stall Efficiency" for defenders. A single, highly survivable defender—perhaps a Vanguard with robust defensive cooldowns or an agile hero adept at evasion—can disproportionately delay the attacking team. The objective for such a staller isn't necessarily to win a direct confrontation but to simply maintain contact with the payload, thereby denying attackers both forward movement and the passive healing benefit.
Furthermore, attackers gain a tactical advantage when escorting an uncontested payload: all attackers within the payload's immediate area receive healing at a rate of 10 HP per second. This sustain can be crucial during prolonged pushes or after skirmishes.
The Significance of Checkpoints & Overtime
Reaching designated checkpoints is a critical interim objective for attackers, as each one grants additional time to complete the escort. These checkpoints often mark transitions in map architecture, potentially shifting the strategic landscape and favoring different hero compositions or tactical approaches. Teams must anticipate these shifts and consider if their current lineup remains optimal.
Overtime mechanics introduce a high-stakes endgame scenario. If attackers are actively contesting or pushing the payload when the main match timer expires, Overtime is triggered. Player experiences suggest that Overtime can be unpredictable in duration, with the Overtime bar sometimes appearing to pause or reset as long as the payload remains contested.
Strategic Payload Management
Effective payload management extends beyond simply moving it forward; it involves intelligent role allocation and leveraging the payload itself as a tactical element.
The Pusher's Dilemma: Balancing Payload Speed with Team Presence
The data on payload speed scaling underscores a fundamental strategic tension: maximizing payload velocity versus deploying team members for map control and offensive pressure. While three attackers yield the fastest speed (approximately 2.26 m/s), this is only a roughly 18% increase over two attackers (1.91−1.93 m/s) and a 32% increase over one dedicated attacker (1.67−1.72 m/s).
Attacker Role Distribution
A successful attacking team typically distributes responsibilities to cover multiple tactical needs simultaneously.
- Payload Escorts (Cart Pushers): Generally, one to two players are assigned to directly escort Jarnbjorn. The ideal candidate for this role can be dynamic. When the path is clear and the team is advancing, a Strategist or a sniper Duelist might stay on the objective, benefiting from the on-cart healing and maintaining momentum. However, if defenders are actively contesting the payload, this responsibility should shift to a more durable Vanguard capable of surviving direct engagement, allowing the Strategists to fall back to safer supportive positions.
- Flankers & Off-Angle Specialists: Duelists often find greater effectiveness by attacking from off-angles relative to their team's Vanguard, as this allows them to bypass enemy shields and defensive formations. Melee Duelists, such as Spider-Man or Black Panther, inherently rely on flanking maneuvers to close distances and engage targets. Ranged flankers like Star-Lord or Psylocke utilize their mobility to secure eliminations on vulnerable targets or divert enemy attention, creating openings for the main pushing force.
- Forward Control / Space Makers: Vanguards are instrumental in establishing and holding the front line ahead of the payload. Their ability to absorb damage and control key areas provides a buffer for the payload escorts and creates operational space for flankers.
Defender Role Distribution
Defensive strategies also benefit from specialized role assignments to effectively halt the payload's advance.
- Point Holders (Anchors): The primary responsibility of contesting the objective and preventing enemy progress often falls to Vanguards. "Anchor" Vanguards, characterized by high survivability and abilities suited for ground denial (like Doctor Strange's Shield of the Seraphim or Groot's walls), excel in this role.
- Roamers & Flankers: Duelist sub-roles such as Assassins or Divers can be highly effective at disrupting the attacking team by targeting isolated players, particularly payload pushers or support heroes in the backline. Their objective is to create chaos and opportunities for a full payload retake.
- Retake Specialists: Certain heroes possess abilities ideal for clearing multiple enemies off the payload, such as those with significant area-of-effect (AoE) damage, potent crowd control, or impactful ultimates.
Leveraging the Payload: Cover, Healing, and as a Mobile Pivot
The payload itself is more than just an objective; it's a tactical resource. Jarnbjorn serves as an indestructible piece of moving cover that players can and should utilize by rotating around it during engagements. For attackers, it also provides a consistent source of 10 HP per second healing when uncontested, offering valuable sustain.
However, attackers should be wary of over-reliance on the payload as a "safe zone." While it offers cover and healing, clustering too tightly can make the team vulnerable to AoE damage from defenders looking to punish predictable positioning.
Advanced Shield Layering Strategies
Shielding abilities are a cornerstone of both offensive pushes and defensive stands in Convoy mode. Effective layering and management of these resources can dramatically increase a team's survivability and control over engagements.
Compendium of Key Shielding Abilities
A variety of heroes possess abilities that grant shields, damage reduction, or temporary invulnerability. Understanding their individual properties is key to combining them effectively.
| Hero | Ability Name | Shield Value/Type | Duration | Cooldown | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Strange | Shield of the Seraphim | 800 HP Barrier | Channeled | 3s after destroyed | Recovery 70/s, 1s delay after release |
| Hulk | Indestructible Guard | 200 HP (Self), 100 HP (Allies) | 2.5s | 10s | Damage taken fills Ultimate meter |
| Magneto | Metal Bulwark | 300 HP Shield | 2.5s | E ability | Every 100 damage absorbed empowers Mag-Cannon |
| Groot | Ironwood Wall | 600 HP Deployable Wall | Until Destroyed | 12s | Awakened: Grants Groot 40 Bonus Health/s |
| Cloak | Dark Teleportation | Invincibility | 2s | Right Click ability | Breaks if a character attacks |
Principles of Effective Shield Layering
Simply having access to multiple shields is insufficient; their deployment must be coordinated.
- Sequential Deployment & Cooldown Management: The most fundamental principle is to use shields consecutively rather than simultaneously. This maximizes the total duration of protection. Effective teams will track not only their own shield cooldowns but also key enemy abilities that can quickly break shields, timing their defenses accordingly.
- Combining Area-Denial Shields with Targeted Protection: A common tactic involves using a large, area-denial shield like Doctor Strange's Shield of the Seraphim to absorb initial long-range damage or block a chokepoint. This can be followed by targeted shields, such as Magneto's Metal Bulwark on a high-priority ally taking focused fire.
- Proactive vs. Reactive Shield Usage: Shields can be used proactively to initiate an aggressive push, allowing the team to advance under cover, or to secure a critical position before anticipated enemy aggression. Reactively, shields are deployed to save teammates under duress, mitigate incoming ultimates, or counter an enemy's offensive maneuver.
- Shield Synergy with Healing: Layered shields create windows for Strategists to replenish the underlying health pools of their teammates. This synergy dramatically increases the team's effective health and ability to sustain through prolonged engagements.
Counter-Strategies Against Shield-Heavy Compositions
Teams reliant on heavy shielding are not impregnable. Several counter-strategies exist:
- Focus Fire: Concentrating damage from multiple sources onto a single shield
- Melee Attacks: Often penetrate barrier-type shields, damaging both shield and health
- Abilities that Bypass Shields: Pull enemies out from behind shields or apply crowd control through them
- Cooldown Exploitation: Baiting out critical shield abilities then attacking during cooldown
- Environmental Plays: Using map geometry to gain angles that bypass shield coverage
- Vulnerability during cooldown windows
- Susceptible to melee penetration
- Can be overwhelmed by sustained focus fire
- Limited mobility while maintaining shields
- Exposed to flanking maneuvers
Engineering Effective Speed Buff Chains
Mobility is a decisive factor in Marvel Rivals, and the strategic application of speed-enhancing abilities can dictate the tempo of engagements, facilitate rapid rotations, and enable aggressive offensive maneuvers in Convoy mode.
Compendium of Key Speed-Boosting Abilities
| Hero | Ability Name | Speed Increase | Duration | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain America | Freedom Charge (Ult) | +30% Movement Boost | 10s | Also grants Bonus Health |
| Mantis | Soul Resurgence (Ult) | +3 m/s Movement Bonus | 8s | Also provides significant healing |
| Iron Man | Hyper-Velocity | +100% Movement Boost (Flight) | Energy-Based | Max energy 120, recovers 10/s |
| Star-Lord | Flight Sprint | Up to 12 m/s (Flight) | Limited Time | Highest movement speed available |
| Spider-Man | Wall-Run/Swing | Up to 9 m/s | Active | Wallrunning/Web Swinging |
Mantis's Soul Resurgence ultimate is particularly noteworthy due to its dual utility: it provides substantial AoE healing and a significant 3 m/s movement speed bonus to all allies within its 15m radius for 8 seconds. This "speed-sustain" combination is exceptionally potent, enabling aggressive pushes that are simultaneously difficult to counter due to the high health regeneration.
Constructing Speed Buff Chains
Effective "speed chains" involve more than just activating a single buff; they often require layering or sequencing different types of mobility enhancements.
- Stacking Team-Wide Enhancements with Individual Mobility Skills: A common approach is to initiate with a team-wide speed boost, such as Captain America's Freedom Charge or Mantis's Soul Resurgence. This allows the entire team, including slower heroes, to rapidly close distances or reposition. Subsequently, heroes with high individual mobility, like Iron Man using Hyper-Velocity, can then leverage this initial momentum to execute deep flanks or secure advantageous high-ground positions.
- Synchronizing Buffs for Decisive Engagements: Activating multiple speed-enhancing abilities concurrently can create overwhelming force for a coordinated dive onto a key target or for a rapid payload push through a contested chokepoint. The combined effect can catch defenders off-guard and make it difficult for them to react effectively.
- Rotational Speed: Speed buffs are not solely for offensive engagements. They are equally vital for quickly rotating between defensive positions, reinforcing a contested point, or rapidly returning to the fight after respawning, particularly to contest the payload during critical Overtime phases.
Example Escort Team Compositions
Translating these meta-concepts into practice requires well-structured team compositions. The following examples for offense and defense integrate shield layering, speed buff chains, and strategic cart assignments.
Foundational Principles for Composition Building
Effective team compositions in Marvel Rivals are built on several core principles:
- Role Synergy: While Marvel Rivals currently does not enforce role locks, allowing for flexible team structures, a balance of Vanguards for durability and space control, Duelists for damage output, and Strategists for support and utility generally yields consistent results.
- Ability Combos & Team-Ups: Certain hero pairings unlock unique "Team-Up" abilities or create powerful synergies. For instance, Hulk and Wolverine can perform a "Fastball Special". Compositions should aim to leverage these where they align with the overall strategy.
- Map Adaptability: The specific architecture of a map—long sightlines versus tight corridors, availability of high ground—can significantly influence hero effectiveness. Compositions may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Offensive Payload Assault Composition: "The Juggernaut Rush"
This composition focuses on overwhelming defenders with a combination of speed, sustain, and focused aggression.
- Vanguard 1: Hulk. Chosen for his high survivability, the AoE protection of Indestructible Guard during pushes, his recently increased base movement speed for initiating dives, and the point-clearing potential of his World Breaker ultimate.
- Vanguard 2: Captain America. His Freedom Charge ultimate provides a team-wide speed and bonus health buff crucial for the "rush". Living Legend offers personal shield blocking, and he can effectively push the cart when contested.
- Duelist 1: Iron Man. Selected for high burst damage, the flanking and high-ground control offered by Hyper-Velocity, and Unibeam's utility in pressuring enemy shields.
- Duelist 2: Star-Lord OR Hawkeye. Star-Lord provides aerial mobility and off-angle pressure. Hawkeye offers long-range sustained damage and scouting potential with Hunter's Sight.
- Strategist 1: Mantis. The linchpin for this composition's speed and sustain. Soul Resurgence (team heal + speed) is the primary enabler of the "Juggernaut Rush," complemented by Allied Inspiration for damage amplification.
- Strategist 2: Luna Snow. Offers additional healing, an alternative damage boost, and a stun for securing picks. If more offensive power is deemed necessary, this slot can flex to another Duelist.
Primary Strategy
The core tactic is to utilize Mantis's Soul Resurgence in conjunction with Captain America's Freedom Charge to create a window of overwhelming speed and survivability, allowing the team to bulldoze through defenders during a critical push. Hulk and Captain America spearhead the assault, with Iron Man flanking to eliminate key targets or create crossfires.
Integrated Shield Layering
Hulk's Indestructible Guard is used at the point of engagement. Captain America's Living Legend can absorb poke damage during the approach. The substantial bonus health provided by Mantis's and Captain America's ultimates acts as a temporary, regenerating shield layer for the entire team.
Speed Buff Chains
The primary chain involves Mantis's Soul Resurgence (AoE speed) followed by or combined with Captain America's Freedom Charge (AoE speed). Iron Man then uses Hyper-Velocity for individual flanking or diving maneuvers. Hulk's innate higher base speed contributes to his aggressive positioning.
Defensive Payload Denial Composition: "The Immovable Bastion"
This composition aims to create multiple layers of defense, utilizing strong area control and sustained damage to halt payload progress.
- Vanguard 1: Doctor Strange. His Shield of the Seraphim, an 800 HP barrier, is paramount for anchoring defensive positions and blocking chokepoints. His Eye of Agamotto ultimate can halt entire pushes.
- Vanguard 2: Groot. Ironwood Wall (600 HP) creates secondary defensive lines, blocks flanking routes, or provides cover for Doctor Strange. His Strangling Prison ultimate offers potent area denial and trapping capabilities.
- Duelist 1: Hela OR The Punisher. Hela provides consistent long-range poke damage and area denial with her abilities. The Punisher offers high sustained damage, particularly effective against advancing Vanguards.
- Duelist 2: Wolverine OR Black Panther. Tasked with diving the attackers' backline to eliminate their Strategists or the primary payload pusher, thereby disrupting the offensive momentum.
- Strategist 1: Invisible Woman. Assuming her kit includes strong defensive utility or shields, aligning with the general Strategist role. Her potential for team-wide invisibility could facilitate defensive rotations or ambushes.
- Strategist 2: Rocket Raccoon. Provides area healing with Repair Mode spheres and the game-changing potential of a resurrection via his B.R.B. ability. His C.Y.A. ultimate can provide a crucial damage boost or bonus health during a critical defensive hold.
Primary Strategy
Establish formidable defensive layers using Doctor Strange's primary shield and Groot's strategically placed walls. Hela or The Punisher deliver sustained damage from these protected positions. Wolverine or Black Panther actively seek to disrupt the enemy's push by targeting their flanks and eliminating key personnel.
Integrated Shield Layering
Doctor Strange's Shield of the Seraphim serves as the main frontal barrier. Groot's Ironwood Wall acts as secondary, destructible cover, can be used to segment the battlefield, or protect Doctor Strange's flanks. Bonus health from Rocket Raccoon's ultimate can provide a temporary buffer during intense engagements.
Advanced Tactical Insights
Mastery of Convoy mode extends beyond specific hero abilities and compositions to encompass broader strategic thinking and adaptability.
Adapting to Map Architecture
The varied environments of Marvel Rivals maps play a significant role in determining viable strategies. Maps with long sightlines, such as Yggdrasil Path, naturally favor heroes with poke damage or sniping capabilities, while maps with tight chokepoints and enclosed spaces lend themselves to brawlers and AoE damage. Control of high ground is consistently advantageous, offering superior vision and engagement angles.
Effective teams will actively seek to control the "tempo" of the game by selecting heroes whose kits synergize with the current section of the map. For instance, when escorting the payload through a long, open stretch, an attacking team might lean on ranged superiority to slowly advance. Conversely, defenders might attempt to force engagements in tighter corridors where their close-range specialists can negate that ranged advantage.
The Economy of Ultimates: Coordinated Power Plays
Ultimate abilities are frequently game-changing. Tracking the ultimate charge of both friendly and enemy heroes is a critical aspect of high-level play. Coordinated ultimate usage—such as combining a crowd-control ultimate (e.g., Groot's Strangling Prison) with a high-damage ultimate—yields far greater impact than sporadic, individual activations.
This "information warfare" extends beyond ultimate tracking. Knowing enemy positions, especially those of potential flankers or hidden defenders, is crucial for protecting payload escorts and supports. Abilities like Hawkeye's Hunter's Sight provide direct vision, but good communication and an understanding of common hiding spots and flank routes are equally important.
Dynamic Adaptation: Reading and Responding to Mid-Game Meta Shifts
The flow of a Convoy match is rarely static. Teams must be adept at identifying when their current strategy or composition is being effectively countered by the enemy. This requires constant evaluation of engagement outcomes and enemy adaptations. Making timely and effective hero swaps, often between checkpoints or after a team wipe, can be the key to regaining momentum or shoring up a faltering defense.
Adjusting the team's overall strategy based on observed enemy habits, ultimate usage patterns, or predictable positioning is a hallmark of experienced teams.
Achieving Escort Mastery
Success in Marvel Rivals' Convoy mode is a multifaceted endeavor. It demands a thorough understanding of payload mechanics, strategic and flexible role assignments, the judicious application of shield layering for defense and offense, and the opportunistic use of speed enhancements to control tempo and create advantages.
Beyond these individual components, overarching factors like map awareness, ultimate economy management, and the ability to dynamically adapt to the evolving battlefield are what separate proficient teams from dominant ones. Ultimately, consistent victory is forged through a combination of strategic depth, flawless execution, and unwavering teamwork.
