Honestly, it feels like just yesterday we were all collectively losing our minds over the first cinematic trailer. Now here we are in January 2026, and the Marvel Rivals characters roster has ballooned into this absolute beast of a lineup that barely resembles the beta days. If you haven't logged in since the Season 6 "Night at the Museum" update dropped on January 16th, you're basically walking into a different game.
Deadpool is finally here, and he’s... well, he’s a mess in the best way possible. NetEase actually went and made him the game's first "triple-role" hero. It’s wild. You can literally swap his kit in the spawn room between Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist. Seeing a Deadpool player toss out a unicorn plushie to shield the team as a Vanguard, then switch to a Duelist to slice up a backline Luna Snow in the next life, is pure chaos. It's the kind of mechanical risk that makes this roster stand out from every other hero shooter on the market.
The State of the Roster in Season 6
Right now, we’re looking at over 45 playable characters. That is a massive jump from the 33 we had back at the end of 2024. The devs haven't just been adding "safe" picks either. We've seen some deep cuts and high-skill floor heroes that have completely shifted how team compositions work.
The current roster is split into three main buckets, but those lines are getting real blurry lately.
Vanguards: The Frontline Anchors
These are your tanks, but don't call them that to their face. Most people are still autopicking Magneto or Doctor Strange because their shields are reliable. But if you’re ignoring Angela (who joined back in Season 4), you’re missing out. She’s a flying Vanguard. Let that sink in. She can dive like a Duelist but has the health pool to actually survive the initiation.
👉 See also: NYT Games Student Discount: How to Get Wordle and Connections for Cheap
Then you’ve got the heavy hitters like Hulk—who still has that unique three-stage transformation mechanic—and Venom, who is basically the king of "stay in your face until you die." Emma Frost has also settled into a weirdly dominant spot in the meta. Her Diamond Form makes her nearly unkillable in a 1v1, and her mind-control ultimate is still the most tilting thing to play against in Competitive.
Duelists: The Glass Cannons
This is where the roster gets crowded. Everyone wants to play Spider-Man or Black Panther, but the real power right now is sitting with Phoenix and Gambit. Phoenix joined in Season 3 and has basically been a nightmare for shield-heavy comps ever since. Her ultimate just melts bonus health.
Gambit, who was the big Season 5 addition, is currently sitting at the top of most tier lists. His card-throwing is high-precision, sure, but his mobility is what makes him a nightmare. He doesn't just flank; he disappears. Meanwhile, poor Black Widow and Hawkeye are struggling. In a meta dominated by high-mobility flyers and shield-tanks, the "stay back and snipe" playstyle is feeling a bit dated.
Strategists: More Than Just Healers
If you’re still thinking of Strategists as "heal bots," you’re going to lose. Luna Snow is still the gold standard for raw throughput, but characters like Adam Warlock and Loki offer utility that’s arguably more important. Warlock’s "Soul Bond" is basically required for surviving big dive comps.
And then there's Jeff the Land Shark. I know, he looks like a joke. He isn't. His "Hide and Seek" mobility makes him incredibly hard to pin down, and his site-clearing ultimate can still win a match on its own by literally eating the enemy team and spitting them off the map.
What Everyone Gets Wrong About Team-Ups
The Marvel Rivals characters roster isn't just a list of individuals; it’s a chemistry set. This is where most players—even in Platinum rank—completely drop the ball. They pick their favorite hero and ignore the Team-Up Abilities.
Take the new "Parker Power Up" that just landed. If you have Spider-Man and Peni Parker on the same team, Peter gets a Web Bomb. It’s a literal game-changer for his engage. Or the "Mr. Pool’s Interdimensional Toy Box"—if you’ve got Deadpool and Jeff together, Jeff gets a throwable toy that creates a visual interference effect. It basically blurs the enemy's screen. It’s obnoxious, it’s funny, and it’s incredibly effective.
We’ve also seen some older favorites get tweaked. Blade joined the "Lunar Force" team-up with Moon Knight and Cloak & Dagger back in Season 3.5. Now, all three of them can benefit from a shadowy dome that grants invisibility. If you aren't drafting based on these synergies, you're playing with one hand tied behind your back.
The Meta Shift: From Flyers to Brawlers
Most people still complain about "Pharmacy" style comps (Flyers + Pocket Healers), but the reality in early 2026 is that the meta has shifted toward Ground-Based Brawl.
💡 You might also like: Why the Power Armor Helmet Fallout Players Obsess Over is Actually a Death Trap
Why? Because of The Thing. Ben Grimm’s ability to "ground" flyers has made life miserable for Iron Man and Human Torch players. You can't just hover in the sky box anymore and rain down rockets. If there’s a competent Thing or a Magneto on the other team, you’re going to spend most of the match staring at the pavement.
This shift has made "anti-dive" heroes like Mantis and Invisible Woman much more valuable. Sue Storm is actually S-tier right now because her shielding and knockbacks are the perfect counter to the aggressive Wolverine and Black Panther players who try to jump your backline.
Who Is Coming Next?
If the leaks from guys like Miller Ross and X0XLEAKS hold water—and they usually do—the roster is about to get even weirder. Elsa Bloodstone is practically confirmed for Season 6.5 in February. There’s also heavy chatter about Professor X and Rogue finally making their entrance.
The datamines have been hinting at a "telepathic" support style for Charles Xavier that would involve debuffing enemies' damage output rather than just healing allies. It sounds complicated to balance, but NetEase has proven they aren't afraid of complex kits.
How to Actually Climb the Ranks
If you want to make the most of the current roster, you need to stop being a "one-trick." The game is moving toward a counter-pick model.
- Master one hero in each role. Don't just be a Duelist main. Learn Magneto (Vanguard) and Luna Snow (Strategist) so you can fill.
- Abuse the Team-Ups. If your teammate locks in Thor, you should seriously consider Storm or Captain America to get that "Charged Aegis" buff.
- Watch the Patch Notes. Season 6 brought some heavy nerfs to Angela and Daredevil. If you’re still playing them like it’s Season 5, you’re going to wonder why your damage feels "off."
- Try Deadpool immediately. Seriously. Even if you don't like the character, understanding how a triple-role hero functions is vital for knowing how to counter him when he shows up on the enemy team.
The Marvel Rivals characters roster is currently the most diverse it’s ever been. We’ve moved past the initial balancing growing pains and into a phase where niche picks and weird synergies actually matter. Whether you're playing for the lore or the leaderboard, the current lineup offers a level of depth that actually rewards you for learning the nitty-gritty details of how these icons interact. Focus on the synergies, respect the new "grounding" mechanics, and for the love of everything, stop trying to snipe a Magneto while he's got his bubble up.