Marvel Rivals Characters

Marvel Rivals Characters: A Complete Guide to Heroes, Roles, and Upcoming Additions

A text bug in Marvel Rivals is thought to have leaked a new character, Red Hulk, due to the phrase "THE POWER OF ANGER" appearing in place of shop text. This potential leak may also hint at the addition of other characters and skins related to the upcoming film, Captain America: Brave New World.

To find out more about:

• The bug that might have caused the leak,
• Red Hulk and his potential in-game abilities,
• Other possible characters and skins tied to Captain America: Brave New World, and
• The full roster of currently available characters in the game

Marvel Rivals has quickly become a popular title in the free-to-play hero shooter genre, launching on December 6, 2024. This 6v6 third-person game, developed by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel Games, has captivated players with its diverse roster of iconic comic book characters and engaging gameplay. The game is available across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, with cross-play capabilities. This article will explore the game's characters, their roles, abilities, and the exciting additions coming in future updates, while also addressing the impact of recent leaks.

I. The Current Roster

As of Season 1, Marvel Rivals boasts a roster of 35 playable characters. These characters, drawn from across the Marvel Universe, are immediately accessible to all players without any need to grind or pay. This approach has contributed to the game's positive reception, allowing players to jump straight into the action with their favourite heroes. New heroes are regularly added to the game, expanding the roster with each update.

The current list of playable characters in Marvel Rivals includes:

• Adam Warlock
• Black Panther
• Black Widow
• Captain America
• Cloak and Dagger
• Doctor Strange
• Groot
• Hawkeye
• Hela
• Hulk
• Invisible Woman
• Iron Fist
• Iron Man
• Jeff the Land Shark
• Loki
• Luna Snow
• Magik
• Magneto
• Mantis
• Mister Fantastic
• Moon Knight
• Namor
• Peni Parker
• Psylocke
• The Punisher
• Rocket Raccoon
• Scarlet Witch
• Squirrel Girl
• Spider-Man
• Star Lord
• Storm
• Thor
• Venom
• Winter Soldier
• Wolverine

Each character falls into one of three primary roles, which are crucial to team composition and strategy:

• Vanguards: These characters have large health pools and defensive abilities, making them ideal for leading the charge and absorbing damage. Examples include Hulk, Captain America, Magneto, and Venom.
• Duelists: Duelists are focused on dealing maximum damage and securing kills. They are the primary damage dealers of the team. Examples include Black Widow, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine.
• Strategists: These characters offer support to their teammates through healing, buffs, and other utility abilities, such as crowd control. Examples include Cloak and Dagger, Loki, and Rocket Raccoon.

Marvel Rivals also incorporates a unique "Team-Up" system, which allows specific characters to combine their abilities for enhanced combat efficiency. For example, pairing the Hulk and Wolverine allows the Hulk to throw Wolverine into battle as a "Fastball Special". This mechanic encourages players to experiment with different team compositions to maximize synergy.

II. Character Details and Abilities

The developers of Marvel Rivals have strived to create characters that accurately represent their comic book counterparts. Each character has a set of active and passive skills, a primary attack, and a unique ultimate ability, which reflects their lore and playstyle. The design process involves diving deep into each character's background and personality to ensure that their gameplay mechanics and skills align with their comic book personas.

Some examples of character gameplay include:

• Black Widow: A ranged character who uses a sniper rifle and various gadgets.
• Captain America: Uses his shield to block and interrupt attacks, making him a versatile Vanguard.
• Cloak and Dagger: They act as one, with Cloak sometimes falling foul of darkness and Dagger lending a helping hand.
• Doctor Strange: Uses spells and his cape for traversal.
• Groot: Can lock enemies in place with roots and protect allies with walls.
• Hawkeye: Uses a bow and arrow, as well as a sword to deflect projectiles.
• Hela: Wields control over the souls of the dead.
• Hulk: Can switch between Bruce Banner and Hulk forms, providing strategic flexibility.
• Invisible Woman: Creates force fields for her team and can turn invisible, adding a strategic element to her playstyle.
• Iron Fist: A master duelist who uses his martial arts skills to defeat opponents in one-on-one fights.
• Iron Man: Uses repulsor blasts to reach advantageous positions, allowing for unique attack angles.
• Jeff the Land Shark: An adorable, yet surprisingly effective, character with a unique moveset.
• Loki: Utilizes trickery and deception, including invisibility and mimicking opponents, making him a versatile strategist.
• Luna Snow: Uses ice abilities to freeze enemies, while alternating between healing and damage auras.
• Magik: Uses a sword, can metamorphize to increase damage, and casts spells.
• Magneto: Uses magnetism to his advantage, absorbing damage and hurting enemies.
• Mantis: Uses emotions to deal damage and protect allies, combined with martial arts.
• Mister Fantastic: Uses his stretchy body to attack from afar, block projectiles, and crowd control enemies.
• Moon Knight: Uses ancient weaponry to attack enemies, and opens a portal for his ultimate.
• Namor: Wields water with his trident to force enemies into vulnerable positions.
• The Punisher: A deadly damage dealer, similar to Soldier 76 from Overwatch.
• Rocket Raccoon: Uses fire weapons, while alternating between healing and damage.
• Scarlet Witch: Uses chaos magic to siphon energy from enemies.
• Squirrel Girl: Uses a slingshot and commands squirrels.
• Spider-Man: Uses his agility and webs to limit opponents, making him a highly mobile duelist.
• Star-Lord: Uses his element guns and acrobatic moves to dazzle opponents.
• Storm: Controls storms to support her team and deal damage, making her a hybrid support-DPS duelist.
• Thor: Uses Mjolnir and the power of lightning to control the battlefield.
• Venom: Can grab multiple enemies and swing high to initiate a diving strike, making him a strong Vanguard.
• Wolverine: Uses his razor-sharp claws and regeneration to stay alive in battle and can be thrown into battle by the Hulk.

III. Upcoming Characters

While the current roster offers a wide array of heroes, Marvel Rivals is constantly expanding with new characters, some of which have been officially announced, while others have surfaced through leaks.

The Fantastic Four are confirmed to arrive in Season 1. Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman have already been added to the game. The Human Torch and The Thing are scheduled to arrive later in the season.

In addition to the confirmed characters, a significant number of characters have been leaked through datamining. These leaks, though not official, provide a glimpse into the game's potential future roster. The leaked characters include:

• X-Men: Gambit, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Jubilee, Beast, Professor X, Colossus, Cyclops, Emma Frost, and Phoenix (Jean Grey).
• Other Leaked Characters: Deadpool, Ultron, MODOK, Captain Marvel, Blade, Valkyrie, Angela, Hit-Monkey, The Hood, Locus, Jia Jing, and Trapster/Paste-Pot Pete.

It is important to note that these leaked characters are not guaranteed to be added to the game, and some may be placeholders or characters that the developers considered but may not add. There is speculation that some of the characters may be red herrings to throw off leakers. Additionally, some character releases may be tied to upcoming movie or TV releases, potentially boosting hype.

According to the leaks, Gambit and Nightcrawler are classified as Duelists, Rogue is a Strategist, and The Hood is a Vanguard, while the classes of Jubilee and Beast are currently unknown.

IV. The Impact of Leaks on the Community

The prevalence of leaks in the gaming industry has had a notable impact on the Marvel Rivals community. The fact that a significant number of upcoming characters have been leaked months in advance has lessened the element of surprise, which can diminish the excitement that often accompanies seasonal drops. While leaks can provide early information, they can also lead to frustration for players eagerly anticipating official announcements and releases. Leaks may also spoil surprises for more obscure characters that NetEase plans to introduce.

Marvel Rivals is not the only game to suffer from this problem. Many games have had their future content leaked, which can often result in player frustration. For this reason, it is important for developers to clamp down on leaks to preserve the excitement surrounding new content and keep the community engaged.

V. Character Balance and Community Reception

The developers have worked hard to balance the characters in Marvel Rivals to ensure that no single hero or villain dominates the gameplay. This allows players to experiment with various strategies and team compositions. However, there have been community discussions about character roles and classifications, such as the debate about whether Rogue should be in a tank class rather than a strategist. There is also community speculation about double releases or themed releases of characters, as seen in season 1, with the release of the Fantastic Four.

Some players have noted a lack of villains in the game, expressing a desire to see more Spider-Man rogues added to the roster. Additionally, the X-Men characters have garnered significant interest in the community, with some players jokingly referring to Marvel Rivals as "X-Men Rivals" due to the sheer number of X-Men in the game. The community is also hoping for more diverse characters to be added.

The community has also had discussions about the "vote to surrender" feature, which allows players to end a match early if a majority agrees. Supporters argue that it avoids frustrating, unwinnable situations, while critics fear it might foster a defeatist attitude and disrupt team dynamics.

VI. Character Win Rates in Season 1

Character win rates are a key factor in the community, however they will continue to shift with updates. In Season 1, it has been noted that:

• Storm and Rocket Raccoon have been performing consistently well, with high win rates.
• Recent buffs have made Storm one of the strongest Duelists in the game.
• Support characters like Rocket Raccoon and Mantis have also been performing well.
• Hawkeye, Jeff the Land Shark, and Black Widow have been seen to have the lowest win rates in Season 1.

VII. Cosmetic Skins

Marvel Rivals offers a variety of unlockable and purchasable cosmetic skins for the characters, allowing players to customize their favourite heroes. These skins are often based on alternative takes of the characters from the comics or the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), adding another layer of appeal for players.

VIII. Monetization Model

Marvel Rivals uses a free-to-play monetization model that does not include any pay-to-win elements. All characters are available to all players for free, with no need to pay to unlock or grind. This approach has been praised by many, as the game is accessible to anyone who wants to play.

Conclusion

Marvel Rivals has made a strong entrance into the hero shooter genre, with a diverse cast of characters, engaging gameplay, and a commitment to ongoing development. The game's focus on character synergy, team-based combat, and the authentic recreation of Marvel heroes makes it a compelling option for fans of both hero shooters and Marvel comics. The constant additions to the roster and the development of new content will undoubtedly lead to the game's continuing growth and evolution. However, the abundance of leaks poses a potential threat to the community's excitement, so NetEase will need to keep a tight reign on them.

If you're a fan of Marvel or hero shooters, Marvel Rivals is definitely worth a try. With its ever-evolving roster and engaging gameplay, it offers a unique experience in the genre. Feel free to share your favorite characters or discuss your expectations for future updates in the comments below.

Frequently asked questions and answers:

Q: What is Marvel Rivals and what kind of game is it? Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play, third-person hero shooter developed by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel Games. It features a large roster of iconic Marvel characters with unique abilities, battling in team-based multiplayer modes across various maps. It is designed for cross-play across all supported platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X/S. The gameplay focuses on team strategy, combining hero powers, and using destructible and evolving environments.

Q: How many characters are currently playable, and what types of heroes are available? As of Season 1, Marvel Rivals features 35 playable characters drawn from across the Marvel Universe, including heroes from the X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. Playable characters are divided into three main roles: Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist.

• Vanguard heroes have large health pools and abilities to increase their survivability. Examples include Hulk, Captain America, and Thor.
• Duelist heroes are designed to deal maximum damage and secure kills. Examples include Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Iron Man.
• Strategist heroes assist and support teammates by healing, increasing damage, and other utility abilities. Examples include Rocket Raccoon, Mantis, and Loki.

Q: What are the different game modes in Marvel Rivals? Marvel Rivals offers several game modes:

• Convoy: One team escorts a moving object while the other defends.
• Domination: Teams fight to capture and hold control points.
• Convergence: One team attacks checkpoints while the other defends.
• Conquest: Teams earn points by eliminating heroes and collecting the points they drop.
• Doom Match: A free-for-all deathmatch mode.

Q: What is the current story in Marvel Rivals? The current story is titled "Eternal Night Falls," which involves Doctor Strange being trapped in the Entangled Astral Plane, scattering the Darkhold pages. Dracula and Doctor Doom disrupt the moon's orbit, plunging New York City into eternal night and unleashing an army of vampiric creatures. This story event brought in the Fantastic Four to help, and is linked to the new characters and content being released throughout the season.

Q: What is known about upcoming characters and how are they released? A number of characters have been datamined or leaked, indicating a strong pipeline of future content. Characters like Blade, Ultron, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Jubilee, and Beast have been discovered in the game files. New characters are expected to be released roughly every month and a half, with typically two characters added per season which lasts around 3 months. While datamined information isn't a guarantee of release order, many of the leaked heroes are thought to be playable with movesets being revealed. There is also speculation that some characters may be saved for special events.

Q: What are some of the most recent character leaks? Recent leaks suggest the upcoming inclusion of five new X-Men characters: Gambit, Beast, Nightcrawler, Rogue, and Jubilee. It is rumored that Gambit and Nightcrawler will be classified as Duelists, and Rogue will be a Strategist, while Beast and Jubilee's roles are unknown.

Q: What is the reception to Marvel Rivals been so far? Marvel Rivals has had a generally positive reception, with "mixed or average" reviews for the PC version, and "generally favorable" reviews for the Playstation 5 version. It has been popular in terms of player numbers with millions of players at launch, peaking at hundreds of thousands of concurrent players on Steam. It has been praised for its accessible monetization model and team-based gameplay, and has been compared to, and in some cases rivaling, games like Overwatch in player numbers.

Q: Are there any controversies or issues with Marvel Rivals? While it has had a positive reception there are a few issues.

• There was controversy when the developers attempted to prevent negative reviews by implementing strict agreements with streamers, which they later apologized for.
• There was also some controversy surrounding censorship where players could not use certain terms like "free Taiwan" or "Winnie-the-Pooh" in chat.
• Players have also expressed concerns about the long wait times for some characters based on datamined content, and the overwhelming amount of X-Men characters that have been leaked.
• Some players are also concerned about the potential for leaks to spoil the surprise of new content.

Q: What is the text bug that players believe may have leaked a new character? A text bug in the game replaced shop text with the phrase "THE POWER OF ANGER". Some players believe that this phrase teases the addition of Red Hulk, given his association with anger, particularly as he is depicted in the upcoming film Captain America: Brave New World. This potential leak may also hint at the addition of other characters and skins related to the film.

Q: What are the win rates for the current characters in Marvel Rivals? As of Season 1, the characters with the highest win rates are Storm (56.40%) and Rocket Raccoon (53.90%). The characters with the lowest win rates are Hawkeye (42.91%), Jeff the Land Shark (42.03%) and Black Widow (40.67%).