Overview

James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, the Winter Soldier, is a Duelist hero in Marvel Rivals, specializing in aggressive mid-range combat. Equipped with a powerful bionic arm, he can disrupt enemies, pull them into devastating combos, and execute foes with precision. His kit offers a mix of ranged and melee attacks, rewarding skilled players who can chain abilities together efficiently.

Abilities

Primary Fire: Roterstern

Fires explosive rounds that deal damage to both the target and enemies behind them.

• Damage: 75 (projectile), 65 (AoE behind target)

• Ammo: 3

• Fire Rate: 2.5 rounds per second

• Critical Hit: Yes

• Projectile Speed: 180m/s

• Special Effect: Hits enemies in a small cone behind the main target.

Secondary Fire: Bionic Hook

Launches a charged bionic arm to hook and pull in enemies.

• Damage: 15 (projectile), 20 (AoE behind target)

• Range: 10m (uncharged) - 20m (fully charged)

• Cooldown: 8s

• Projectile Speed: 80m/s

• Special Effect: Pulls enemies into melee range.

Shift - Trooper’s Fist

A short-range dash that uppercuts enemies into the air.

• Damage: 25 (dash), 65 (uppercut)

• Max Distance: 9m

• Cooldown: 12s

• Special Effect: Launches enemies upwards for easy follow-ups.

E - Tainted Voltage

Fires a charged energy blast that slows enemies.

• Damage: 55

• Slow Effect: 35% for 2 seconds

• Cooldown: 6s

• Projectile Speed: 100m/s

• Special Effect: Knocks down flying enemies.

Q - Kraken Impact (Ultimate)

Leaps high into the air before slamming down with an explosive tentacle attack.

• Damage: 100

• Range: 5m radius

• Culling Effect: Enemies below 20% HP are instantly executed.

• Cooldown: 8s if an enemy is executed

• Energy Cost: 3100

• Special Effect: Marks enemies for 5s, making them vulnerable to instant execution.

Passive: Ceaseless Charge

Using bionic arm abilities automatically reloads Roterstern and grants bonus health.

• Bonus Health: 40 (Bionic Hook & Tainted Voltage), 50 (Trooper’s Fist & Kraken Impact)

• Special Effect: Stacks for increased survivability.

Team-Up Abilities

Infinite Grit (Rocket Raccoon)

Rocket’s Ammo Overload device grants Winter Soldier:

• Infinite Ammo for Roterstern

• 25% Faster Fire Rate

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

✔ High burst damage with seamless ability combos. ✔ Roterstern’s AoE splash damage rewards well-placed shots. ✔ Bionic Hook sets up easy kills by pulling enemies in. ✔ Kraken Impact snowballs fights by chaining instant kills. ✔ Passive bonus health makes him deceptively tanky.

Weaknesses:

✖ Low mobility outside of Kraken Impact. ✖ Short ammo clip forces constant reloading. ✖ Requires precise aim and ability chaining for max effectiveness. ✖ Heavily dependent on cooldown management. ✖ Relies on Rocket Raccoon for max damage potential.

Strategy Guide

• Use Roterstern’s splash damage to pressure multiple enemies in fights.

• Set up Bionic Hook to pull in priority targets like Strategists for easy eliminations.

• Combo Trooper’s Fist after Bionic Hook to uppercut enemies into the air for follow-ups.

• Slow enemies with Tainted Voltage before engaging to ensure they can’t escape.

• Abuse Kraken Impact resets by executing low-health enemies for infinite ult potential.

• Coordinate with Rocket Raccoon to maximize Infinite Grit’s damage output.

Lore

"I was rebuilt to be a weapon, but now I'm the one who pulls the trigger."

Once Captain America's trusted sidekick, Bucky Barnes was presumed dead in World War II—only to be revived and brainwashed into a ruthless HYDRA assassin. Now, as the Winter Soldier, he fights to reclaim his past while proving that his skills serve a greater cause.

During the Timestream Entanglement, Winter Soldier was captured and subjected to gruesome experiments. Rescued by allies from the future, he now wields an upgraded bionic arm, ensuring that his enemies never see another sunrise.

Cosmetics

Costumes:

• Default (Winter Soldier)

• Navy Trooper (Rare)

• Blood Soldier (Epic)

• Revolution (Epic)

Final Thoughts

Winter Soldier is a deadly Duelist with one of the highest snowball potentials in Marvel Rivals. His ability to execute enemies instantly with Kraken Impact, combined with his strong mid-range gunplay and melee combos, makes him a threat in any fight. However, mastering him requires precision, good cooldown management, and smart positioning.

If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward assassins with satisfying combos, Winter Soldier is the perfect pick for you!