Marvel Rivals has taken the internet by storm, creating a phenomenon not seen since Blizzard’s Overwatch. It marks Marvel and NetEase’s most successful video game launch… possibly ever. With over 10 million players during its launch weekend alone, Marvel Rivals is poised to compete in the saturated hero-shooter market, thanks to its impressive roster of Marvel characters.
The game debuted with 33 heroes drawn from Marvel’s vast array of good and bad capers. From the Sorcerer Supreme and Doctor Strange to the lesser-known Cloak & Dagger, Marvel Rivals aims to leave a lasting mark on the gaming industry as a competitive title—one that some speculate could become the fabled ‘Overwatch killer.’
Keen-eyed fans have already delved into the game’s files, unmasking potential new heroes and villains set to debut in the third-person shooter over the coming months. Here’s a look at the characters data miners have unearthed as future additions to Marvel Rivals:
The Thing
Anyone who doesn’t live under a rock knows Fantastic 4’s ‘The Thing.’ This hulking brute with a soft heart could become a formidable presence when he joins the roster in Marvel Rivals. While his role hasn’t been officially confirmed, the game’s current class distribution suggests that The Thing will likely fill the Vanguard role. According to Marvel Rivals X (formerly Twitter) user @RivalsLeaks, this is indeed the case.
The Thing’s super ability, ‘Slam Moment,’ unleashes tremendous force to knock all enemies in front of him into the air. This skill is expected to be a game-changer, perfect for contesting payloads and creating much-needed space during hectic team fights.
His defensive skill, ‘Rock Solid,’ reinforces his rocky form, making him immune to knockback and displacement effects, which is a critical advantage for holding the frontline. Another ability, ‘Furious Charge,’ allows him to charge forward continuously, launching enemies and leaving behind a seismic zone that immobilizes opponents.
The Human Torch/Johnny Storm
The second Fantastic Four hero leaked for Marvel Rivals is none other than the hot-headed (literally) Johnny Storm, better known as The Human Torch. While his exact role remains unclear, it’s widely speculated that he will take on the Duelist role.
Though Johnny’s full kit hasn’t been uncovered in the data files, his Team-Up Ability has. Called ‘Omega Fire,’ this ability allows Johnny and Storm to combine their powers, with The Human Torch consuming one of his tornadoes to ignite Storm’s hurricane during her ultimate. This synergy spells trouble for Strategists caught with their abilities on cooldown.
Ultron
Behold the god of machines and the Avengers’ ultimate AI adversary: Ultron. Surprisingly, instead of taking on a Vanguard or Duelist role, Ultron is classified as a Strategist. His primary function is to harass the enemy team with his ‘Encephalo Ray,’ his main attack that fires searing energy beams.
As a Strategist (or Support, for those familiar with Overwatch terminology), his defensive ability, "IMPERATIVE: FIREWALL," summons drones to grant bonus health to nearby allies. This ability functions similarly to Illari’s Healing Pylon in Overwatch 2.
His second skill, "IMPERATIVE: Patch," deploys a massive drone to follow an ally, providing sustained healing. Additionally, Ultron boasts a passive ability that enables him to enter free-flight mode, allowing him to float slowly through the battlefield—a feature sure to appeal to Iron Man mains.
Ultron’s ultimate, "RAGE OF ULTRON," truly embodies his terrifying robotic potential. This ability summons an army of Ultron Drones to unleash Encephalo Rays on enemies, simultaneously dealing damage and healing allies.
Mister Fantastic
And now, we have the leader of the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, also known as "Mr. Fantastic." He’s set to join Marvel Rivals soon, bringing his unique abilities within arm’s reach—quite literally. While his role hasn’t been officially confirmed, his abilities suggest he’ll fit well into the Duelist category.
Mister Fantastic’s full kit has been leaked, though no Team-Up Ability has been revealed yet. His primary ability, ‘Elastic Punch,’ delivers a powerful forward punch, stretching his arm to strike enemies. His secondary ability, ‘Rubber Grip,’ extends his arms to entangle foes, immobilizing them and pulling in up to two additional enemies.
His passive, ‘Elastic Strength,’ generates Elasticity with each skill, enhancing his attack power and healing allies.
Mister Fantastic’s defensive ability, ‘Reflexive Rubber,’ allows him to stretch his body to absorb incoming damage and unleash it in a targeted direction. His diving ability, ‘Flexible Elongation,’ lets him dash toward a target, granting bonus health to allies upon successful execution. This suggests he could be an effective dive character, comparable to Wolverine or Iron Fist.
As for his ultimate ability, ‘Brainiac Bounce,’ Mister Fantastic leaps into the air and smashes down, knocking back enemies within range. He can repeat this move six times, making him a formidable force in any skirmish. Good luck dealing with him!
UPDATE: As of January 1, 2025 there are more heroes expected to arrive in the Marvel Rivals roster according to leaks. These include:
Hit-Monkey
Much like Jeff the Land Shark, Hit-Monkey is another peculiar addition to the Marvel roster. He’s a monkey armed with an arsenal of guns. Fans of the Hit-Monkey TV series on Hulu will recognize him as an intriguing addition, especially with his signature shades.
He’s a reluctant assassin and a formidable foe for the uninitiated. Despite his small stature, he could pose a significant challenge for Strategists. According to leaks, his abilities involve going on a rampage with his firearms.
One of his abilities, Dual Gun Shooting, appears to be his primary attack, where he wields dual pistols, akin to Star-Lord. Another ability, Endless Rage, seems particularly interesting. It could mean that he can activate a timed ‘Rage’ mode, enhancing his damage and health.
Additional abilities include Fear Hunt and Kitten Howling. Their exact functions remain unclear, as they were found only in the game files. Moreover, these names were translated from Chinese, so there’s a possibility of translation errors.
Phoenix
It appears that Phoenix will also make her debut in Marvel Rivals in the future. Jean Grey’s dark persona is set to decimate foes with her Omega-level powers. Leaks suggest her abilities include flight and telekinesis. Most of her moves are augmented by the Phoenix Force, showcasing Jean Grey at her most powerful.
Her kit reportedly includes Phoenix Shadow and Phoenix Ray. While their functions are unknown, it could suggest she will be a mid-range combat specialist, controlling the battlefield with her psychic powers, similar to Scarlet Witch. Better yet, she could be a Strategist, helping teammates with her Phoenix Force.
She also has abilities titled Telekinetic Transfer and Psychokinetic Transfer. A Twitter user speculated that these may introduce a ‘Switch’ mechanic, akin to Cloak & Dagger, allowing players to alternate between Jean Grey and her Phoenix form.
Emma Frost
Speaking of the ‘Switch’ mechanic, Emma Frost is also rumored to be joining Marvel Rivals. According to leaks, she may be a potential Vanguard, supporting allies with her diamond-powered abilities and telepathic skills.
Emma’s abilities allow her to alternate between Human Form and Diamond Form, possibly under a cooldown system similar to Hulk. In both of her forms, she can deal significant damage using Psychic Blasts and Psychic Spikes. Think of her as Marvel Rivals’ version of Overwatch’s Ramattra.
As a Vanguard, she can coat her body in diamond, becoming an unstoppable force capable of blocking enemy damage. Her offensive kit includes the skills Diamond Shock and Diamond Back Slam.
Her ultimate ability could involve controlling an enemy through her telepathic skills. Named Soul Control or Mind Control, this power might allow her to take over a player character’s movements, disrupting their actions.
While it is not mentioned in her kit, another possible skill in her arsenal is the ability to ‘Silence’ opponents, rendering their abilities unusable for a set duration. Perfect for a telepath like her.
The Hood
A trend among upcoming heroes seems to be the ability to switch forms dynamically. The Hood is the next character set to join Marvel Rivals.
Parker Robbins, also known as The Hood, is a notorious criminal leader associated with groups such as the Illuminati, Dark Illuminati, and the 50-State Initiative. He gained his powers after becoming entangled with Zarathos, one of Dormammu’s demonic forces.
According to leaks, The Hood wields dual guns and can transform into a demon. This mechanic might resemble Cloak & Dagger’s controls or Magik’s Darkchild ultimate. He is expected to be a potential Duelist, given his versatile moveset.
His abilities include shooting with his dual guns and deploying a shield for defense. He can also conjure clones to disrupt the battlefield, similar to Loki. However, The Hood’s clones can explode on command, making him a particularly dangerous adversary during teamfights.
The data-mined files also hint at other potential characters, including:
- Captain Marvel
- MODOK
- Blade
- Shuri
- Angela
- Deadpool
- Valkyrie
While these characters remain unconfirmed, they could represent upcoming content or features that may never be included in the game. Fans can only hope they eventually join the roster.
Marvel Rivals is bursting with potential, and this is just the beginning. With more heroes and maps in development, the game promises to expand its dynamic, competitive hero-shooter experience under the Marvel brand. Fans are eager to see these leaked characters come to life. As for me, I’m hoping Ghost Rider or Silver Surfer will make their debut soon.
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