Emma Frost has made her debut in the X-Men universe through Marvel Rivals with the launch of Season 2. In the game, she serves as a Vanguard unit, which means she’ll take a stand at the frontlines to protect her teammates and secure objectives.
While playing a Vanguard can be challenging, Emma Frost is a popular choice among many players, regardless of their preferred role. If you are eager to dominate in battle with her, this guide will equip you with everything you need to know.
Emma Frost Overview
Emma Frost is a medium-difficulty Vanguard unit who uses her telepathic powers to control her foes and takes on a powerful Diamond form to provide her allies with significant advantages during fights.
With Emma Frost, you have varied options compared to traditional Vanguard units. She can inflict considerable damage while also holding the frontline for her team.
Her Diamond Form ability acts as a robust defensive utility, enabling her to absorb damage, become unstoppable, and enhance specific abilities. For example, in the Diamond Form, Emma can unleash attacks like Carbon Crush or Crystal Kick, which are not available in her human form. These moves are extremely potent and can take down agile heroes, making them more vulnerable.
Additionally, Emma is one of the few tanks in the game capable of deploying a shield, similar to other characters like Magneto and Doctor Strange. This shield allows her to block incoming projectiles, making her a crucial asset on the battlefield.
While she possesses psychic abilities that do damage to enemies, her primary role is tanking, so it’s wise to focus on defensive strategies.
As a formidable anti-mobility hero, Emma can effectively neutralize quick-moving characters, effectively serving as the ultimate protector of your allies. Below is a comprehensive overview of her kit to give you better insight before diving into gameplay:
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Normal Attack | Emma fires off a psionic beam that inflicts more damage based on how long it is charged. |
| Faceted Fury | In Diamond Form, she can punch enemies, delivering crushing damage. |
| Psionic Seduction | This ability can stun multiple enemies, inflict damage, and suppress their ultimate moves. If held longer, enemies will be drawn toward Emma without resistance. |
| Diamond Form | Activating this ability envelops Emma in a powerful exoskeleton, reducing damage and making her unstoppable. It unlocks additional skills. |
| Carbon Crush | In Diamond Form, Emma lunges at enemies and slams them to the ground, causing damage. |
| Psychic Spear | She can extract the soul from an enemy, dealing damage. Hitting the soul damages the enemy’s actual body, causing a powerful blast upon destruction. |
| Mind’s Aegis | A deployable shield that provides protection on the battlefield. |
| Crystal Kick | An empowered kick from Diamond Form that sends enemies flying backward. |
Tips and Tricks to Play Emma Frost
Mastering Emma Frost requires understanding how to effectively use her Diamond Form. This skill enhances her capabilities as a tank. However, keep in mind that both Carbon Crush and Psychic Spear are assigned to the same button, meaning you can’t use them simultaneously.
In human form, Psychic Spear is your attack, while in Diamond Form, it shifts to Carbon Crush. You can choose when to activate these abilities based on your situation. Psychic Spear works best in isolated scenarios, while Diamond Form is more advantageous during team fights.
When playing as Emma Frost, avoid diving straight into enemy lines. Although Diamond Form offers considerable strength, a lack of mobility can lead to quick defeats if you’re too aggressive. Instead, activate Diamond Form when enemy DPS or tanks threaten your healers or backline allies. This gives your teammates a chance to escape and helps you neutralize the threat.
Utilize Carbon Crush and Crystal Kick against nimble heroes like Psylocke or Spider-Man. Both moves are effective for pushing them away from your backline, thereby protecting your team from flankers.
Your Diamond Form has a cooldown of 15 seconds, so use it judiciously. Importantly, ability cooldowns don’t overlap between Diamond Form and human form, allowing for strategic flexibility.
Emma’s shield, while not as resilient as those of other characters, offers 500 hit points and can absorb projectiles easily. Positioning your shield in combat can block enemy attacks, particularly at chokepoints, making objectives easier to capture.
After deploying the shield, you have the option to reposition it without putting it on cooldown. However, if it gets destroyed, there is a 4-second cooldown until you can use it again.
Even aside from tanking, Emma can also deal significant damage with her Psychic Spear. Utilize it to target escaping DPS and healers.
For example, if an enemy hero tries to retreat, such as if Psylocke jumps into your backline, use your abilities to halt her. If she attempts to flee, Psychic Spear can deal her fatal damage, tipping the scales in your favor.
Let your Telepathic Pulse charge during neutral gameplay when not actively engaged in combat. At full charge, this ability inflicts severe damage, so it’s crucial to prioritize using it when enemies attempt to dive into your team.
When your charge reaches 100, consider using Telepathic Pulse, but if it is uncharged while enemies approach, switch to Diamond Form and utilize Faceted Fury as it offers higher base damage.
Keep in mind that your primary objective is to protect your teammates as a Vanguard. Stay close to your healers and DPS allies.
Tips for Using Emma Frost’s Ultimate
Emma Frost’s ultimate ability releases psychic energy, damaging enemies while compelling them to approach her if allowed to linger. You can deactivate it at any point, but it’s advisable to let it run its course unless necessary for survival.
Since you can move during this ultimate, target multiple enemies to maximize its effectiveness. When the ability is active, enemies will be stunned, and their ultimate moves suppressed, allowing your team to gain a crucial advantage and push for objectives unchecked.
Utilizing Emma Frost’s kit strategically can greatly influence the battle in your favor, making her a valuable asset in Marvel Rivals.
