Switching between Cloak & Dagger in Marvel Rivals feels like playing two completely different heroes who somehow share the same health bar. One minute you’re tossing auto-tracking healing daggers, the next you’re making enemies vulnerable to damage while your team melts them. This isn’t just another support hero—they’re a masterclass in controlled chaos.
The learning curve is steep but rewarding. Most players either stay in Dagger form too long (watching teammates die while they heal the wrong target) or remain as Cloak (trying to be a discount Duelist while their team crumbles). Finding that sweet spot—knowing exactly when to switch—separates the good from the great.
How to Play Cloak & Dagger in Marvel Rivals
Dagger serves as your primary healer, focusing on keeping allies in fighting shape:
| Ability | Cooldown | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lightforce Dagger | N/A | Unleash bouncing daggers that heal allies and damage enemies with auto-tracking properties. |
| Veil of Lightforce | 12s | Deploy a barrier that heals allies on contact and grants a 15% healing boost lasting 4 seconds. |
| Dagger Storm | 12s | Create a healing field that restores 330 HP (55/s) over its 6 second duration. |
| Shadow’s Embrace | N/A | Switch to Cloak. |
Don’t underestimate Dagger’s healing output—her primary attack’s auto-tracking means you don’t need perfect aim to be effective. The healing bubble from Dagger Storm is your most potent healing tool but has a small radius, so use it mindfully when teammates are grouped up, or save it for yourself in a pinch.
Cloak brings offensive utility and disruption to the table:
| Ability | Cooldown | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Darkforce Cloak | N/A | Tether to enemies and inflict continuous damage. |
| Terror Cape | 12s | Deploy a barrier that blinds enemies for 1.5 seconds, makes them vulnerable (28% increased damage) for 3 seconds, and deals 55 damage. |
| Dark Teleportation | 12s | Make nearby allies untargetable, invisible, and grant a movement boost lasting 2 seconds. |
| Light’s Embrace | N/A | Switch to Dagger. |
Cloak’s Terror Cape is criminally underrated—the vulnerability effect can turn a tough opponent into an easy elimination when your team focuses fire. Remember that Dark Teleportation grants vertical mobility if you hold the jump button, perfect for escaping those aggressive divers.
Cloak & Dagger’s ultimate, Eternal Bond, performs four rapid dashes (each lasting 8 seconds) that create paths healing allies (250/s) and damaging enemies (30/s) along the way. It has an energy cost of 4000.
Best Strategies to Use While Playing Cloak & Dagger
The key to mastering this duo in Marvel Rivals lies in finding the perfect balance between healing and disruption. Think of Dagger as your default form, with Cloak being your situational specialist. About 90% of your time should be spent as Dagger, quick-switching to Cloak only when specific opportunities arise.
A game-changing trick is using Dagger Storm before switching to Cloak. This creates a healing zone that keeps your team sustained for 6 seconds while you temporarily abandon your healing duties to become a budget Duelist, blind key targets, or save teammates with Dark Teleportation.
When playing against dive-heavy compositions, save Dark Teleportation for when you’re being targeted. The 2-second invisibility combined with vertical mobility can completely negate enemy ultimates or save you from certain death. Just remember—its 12-second cooldown means you can’t waste it.
Keep an eye on the cooldown indicators that appear above your ability bar when you switch forms. These show you when your other form’s abilities will be ready, allowing you to plan your switches more effectively. With practice, you’ll develop the muscle memory to know exactly when to swap for maximum impact.
What Should You Avoid While Playing as Cloak & Dagger in Marvel Rivals
The most common mistake is spending too much time as Cloak. While his damage might feel satisfying, every second as Cloak is a second your team isn’t receiving Dagger’s healing. Even if your team has another dedicated healer, you’re essentially abandoning your primary role when you stay in Cloak form too long.
Don’t waste Dark Teleportation reactively when you could use it proactively. This ability can completely nullify enemy ultimates like Doctor Strange’s or Iron Man’s or even Jeff the Land Shark’s, but only if you anticipate them. Watch and listen for enemy ultimate indicators and save this ability for when it matters most.
After the Season 1.5 balance changes, the healing effects from Cloak & Dagger’s ultimate no longer stack. This means creating overlapping dashes wastes potential healing output. Instead, spread your ultimate’s path to cover more ground and provide healing to teammates in different positions.
Finally, coordinate your ultimate with other support players. Nothing wastes potential more than two Strategists popping healing ultimates simultaneously. A quick “I’ll ult first” in team chat can prevent this redundancy and ensure your team always has a healing ultimate available when needed.
What strategies have you found most effective with Cloak & Dagger? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below!
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