Marvel Rivals has been out for over a year now. Honestly, the game is in a weirdly fascinating spot. If you haven't jumped in since the 2024 launch, you're basically looking at a completely different beast. NetEase hasn't just added a few faces; they’ve fundamentally rewired how team compositions function.
The marvel rivals char list has ballooned to over 40 heroes, and as of January 2026, we’re seeing the biggest shake-up yet with the arrival of Season 6: Night at the Museum.
The Deadpool Problem (and Why It’s Awesome)
Let's talk about Wade Wilson. As of January 16, 2026, Deadpool is officially live, and he’s doing something no other character has ever done. He’s the game's first "Triple-Role" hero.
In a typical match, you pick a role and you're stuck. Not with Deadpool. Depending on what your team needs at the spawn point, you can slot him in as a Vanguard, a Duelist, or a Strategist. It sounds like a balance nightmare, right? NetEase limited it so you can only have one Deadpool per team, which prevents a full squad of Mercs from ruining the server.
His Vanguard kit uses a ridiculous unicorn plushie to generate shields. His Strategist kit? He literally heals you by shooting you or hitting you with katanas. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s exactly what the game needed to break the stale "two-two-two" meta that was starting to settle in late 2025.
Every Playable Character Right Now
The roster is split into three main categories: Vanguards (Tanks), Duelists (DPS), and Strategists (Support). Here is the current landscape of who you can actually play as of mid-January 2026.
The Frontline (Vanguards)
These are your anchors. If you aren't playing behind a Magneto bubble or a Groot wall, you're probably seeing the respawn screen a lot.
- Magneto: Still arguably the king of the frontline. His dual bubble cooldowns make him almost impossible to displodge.
- Groot: Best for environmental control. Those thorn walls are still the bane of every speedster's existence.
- Hulk: Recently buffed in Season 6. His "Monster Hulk" form is now immune to knockbacks, making him a terrifying dive option.
- Doctor Strange: More agile now. His Cloak of Levitation was reworked to allow mid-air trajectory changes.
- Emma Frost: The White Queen is a bruiser. She thrives in Diamond Form, especially with her recent energy gain buffs.
- Captain America: The quintessential "all-rounder." Faster cooldowns on his Vibranium shield saw him climb back into A-tier recently.
- Thor: Pure aggression. If you want to dive and smash, he’s your guy.
- Venom: High risk, high reward. He’s the ultimate "dive" tank.
- Peni Parker: A mechanical anti-dive specialist.
- The Thing: Added back in Season 1.5, he’s a heavy-hitter with massive CC.
- Angela: A Season 4 addition. She’s a mobile Vanguard, though she just took a small nerf to her shield values.
The Damage Dealers (Duelists)
This is the biggest slice of the marvel rivals char list. If you like seeing big numbers, you’re likely maining one of these.
- Hela: The queen of headshots. She remains S-tier because two taps to the head will delete almost any non-tank.
- Magik: Deadly when paired with Doctor Strange. Her portal-hopping is still top-tier for flanking.
- Daredevil: Just got nerfed, but his combo potential is still the highest in the game.
- Spider-Man: High skill ceiling. If you aren’t a movement god, stay away.
- Black Panther: Recently buffed. His "Bast’s Descent" ultimate now gives him 50% damage reduction during the startup.
- Iron Man: Great for vertical maps like Tokyo 2099.
- Scarlet Witch: Easy to play, massive AoE.
- Black Widow: Requires perfect aim. If you miss, you’re useless.
- Namor: Recently reworked. He’s now a tank-busting monster in his base form.
- Blade: The Daywalker just got a slow effect added to his dash.
- Wolverine: Still the best at cutting through Vanguards.
- Psylocke: The premier backline assassin.
- Winter Soldier: Versatile at both long and short ranges.
- Moon Knight, Hawkeye, Human Torch, Punisher, Star-Lord, Storm, Iron Fist, Squirrel Girl, Mister Fantastic, Phoenix.
The Backbone (Strategists)
Don't call them healers. These characters are often the ones actually winning the team fights with their utility.
- Invisible Woman: Currently the top-tier support. Her Season 5 buffs made her shielding and stealth mechanics essential for high-rank play.
- Gambit: A unique Strategist who deals Duelist-level damage while cleansing debuffs.
- Luna Snow: The most consistent healer in the game. Her ultimate can still swing a losing fight in seconds.
- Rocket Raccoon: Self-sufficient and great at punishing flankers with his traps.
- Jeff the Land Shark: The community favorite. He just got a new 8-bit skin and a team-up with Deadpool that creates a healing sprinkler.
- Loki: The god of trickery. His illusions make him incredibly hard to kill.
- Mantis: Best when paired with Groot. She shares healing through his walls.
- Adam Warlock: His "Soul Bond" is a literal life-saver, but he’s very dependent on hitting headshots to stay effective.
- Cloak & Dagger: Just got a "one-time healing" burst added to their spell field creation.
- Ultron: A "harmacist" who flies around poking enemies while keeping his team upright.
What Most People Get Wrong About Team-Ups
You've probably seen the "Team-Up" prompts on your screen. Most casual players think they're just minor stat boosts. They aren't. In the current 2026 meta, picking a character specifically to unlock a Team-Up ability is often better than picking a "stronger" individual hero.
Take the new Mr. Pool’s Interdimensional Toy Box. If you have Deadpool and Jeff on the same team, Jeff gets a "Cuddle Buddy" ability. It’s not just cute; it creates a massive AoE of healing and visual clutter that makes it impossible for the enemy to aim.
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Meanwhile, some old favorites are gone. NetEase retired the Human Torch + Spider-Man and Rocket + Star-Lord team-ups this season to keep the roster from becoming a "solved" puzzle. You have to stay flexible.
The Meta Is Shifting Toward "Flex"
Why does the marvel rivals char list matter so much right now? Because the game is moving away from static roles. With characters like Deadpool being able to switch roles and Rogue being able to steal abilities (she was added in Season 5.5 and has been a polarizing pick ever since), you can't just pick one "Main" anymore.
If the enemy team is running a heavy-dive comp with Psylocke and Venom, and you're stuck on a low-mobility support like Mantis, you're going to have a bad time. The "Lord" rank players—the top 500—are all multi-classers now.
Actionable Next Steps for Season 6
If you want to climb the ranks in the "Night at the Museum" update, here is what you need to do:
- Unlock the Jeff 8-Bit Skin: There’s a "Whac-A-Jeff" event live right now. It’s free and relatively easy to complete.
- Master One "Flex" Hero: Start with Deadpool or Rogue. Understanding how to adapt your kit mid-match is the biggest advantage you can have in 2026.
- Check the Map Rotation: The new "Museum of Contemplation" convoy map drops January 29. It has very tight corridors, which means Groot and Rocket Raccoon are going to be top-tier picks there.
- Practice 1v1s: NetEase is adding a "Clobberin' Club" 1v1 duel mode in Times Square. Use this to practice your mechanics without the chaos of a 6v6 team fight.
- Watch the Patch Notes: Vanguards like Hulk and Dr. Strange just got massive buffs. If you haven't played them in a while, now is the time to dust them off.