You've seen the trailers. You've probably felt that itch to main a character that isn't even in the game yet. Since NetEase launched Marvel Rivals, the conversation hasn't been about the current meta—it's been about the future. Everyone wants to know about the heroes coming to Marvel Rivals because, let’s be honest, a hero shooter lives or dies by its roster. If the leaks are even half-right, we’re looking at a lineup that makes the MCU look like a small indie project.
The hype is real. NetEase isn't just pulling from the movies; they’re digging deep into the 60161 comic archives to find characters that actually fit a competitive 6v6 environment. It’s not just about popularity. It’s about kit synergy.
The Confirmed and Very Likely: Who We Know is Joining
NetEase has been surprisingly open about some of their plans, while others have been "leaked" through data mining that’s harder to ignore than a Hulk smash. We know Wolverine is a lock. He’s the face of X-Men gaming right now. His kit is almost certainly going to revolve around aggressive dive mechanics and a health regeneration passive that’ll frustrate every Punisher main in the lobby.
Then you have Psylocke. We've seen her. We know her telekinetic blades are going to be a nightmare for backline supports. She represents a shift in the game's design toward more high-mobility "assassin" archetypes. But she isn't alone in the pipeline. Iron Fist and Moon Knight have been whispered about in the game's code for months. Moon Knight, specifically, is rumored to have some sort of stance-switching mechanic based on the phases of the moon—or perhaps just his different personalities. Imagine swapping from Marc Spector to Mr. Knight mid-match to change from a brawler to a tactical support. That’s the kind of depth this game needs to survive the "Overwatch clone" allegations.
Honestly, the sheer volume of characters found in the files is staggering. We’re talking about Human Torch, Cloak & Dagger, and even Squirrel Girl. NetEase is clearly playing the long game here. They aren't dropping these all at once. They’re pacing it out to keep the seasonal content fresh. If you’re waiting for your favorite, they’re probably on a sticky note in a developer's office in Guangzhou right now.
Why the Heroes Coming to Marvel Rivals Feel Different
Most hero shooters fall into the trap of making everyone feel like a generic soldier with one "magic" ability. Marvel Rivals avoids this by leaning into the "Team-Up" mechanic. This is where the new heroes get interesting. When we talk about heroes coming to Marvel Rivals, we have to talk about how they interact with the existing cast.
Take Venom and Spider-Man. We already see how they play off each other. Now, imagine when Anti-Venom or Carnage enters the fray. The developers have hinted that Team-Up abilities aren't just stat buffs; they can fundamentally change how a power works. If Invisible Woman joins (and she’s heavily rumored as the final piece of the Fantastic Four puzzle), her synergy with Mr. Fantastic could involve a literal mobile shield that moves with his stretching limbs. It’s tactile. It feels like a comic book panel come to life.
The Leaked List: A Grain of Salt or a Map?
Data miners like Miller Ross, who has a solid track record with these kinds of things, have pointed toward a massive internal list. This isn't just wishful thinking. We're looking at:
- Captain America (Steve Rogers): The quintessential vanguard.
- Black Widow: Likely a high-skill floor sniper or infiltrator.
- Thor: Because you can't have a Marvel game without the God of Thunder.
- Hawkeye: To give Hanzo mains somewhere to go.
But there are wildcards. Jeff the Land Shark. Yes, Jeff. Adding a meme-tier character like Jeff shows that NetEase understands the community. It’s not all grim-dark serious combat. Sometimes you just want to be a shark with legs.
The "Fantastic Four" Problem
The absence of the full Fantastic Four at launch felt weird to a lot of players. We have some, but not all. It's a glaring hole. Sources suggest the remaining members are being saved for a massive "First Family" seasonal event. This makes sense from a marketing perspective. You don't dump your biggest IPs in a random Tuesday patch. You build a season around them. You give them a dedicated map—maybe the Baxter Building or the Negative Zone.
The meta is currently dominated by high-burst damage. The heroes coming to Marvel Rivals need to address the "tank" (Vanguard) shortage. We need more than just Hulk and Strange. We need Colossus. We need The Thing. We need characters that can actually hold a point without melting in three seconds under a Hela ultimate.
Expect a Shift in Role Distribution
Right now, the Duelist category is bloated. Everyone wants to be the DPS. It's the classic genre curse. NetEase’s challenge with future releases is making the Strategist (Support) and Vanguard (Tank) roles actually fun. If Invisible Woman is a Strategist who focuses on hard-light constructs and invisibility fields rather than just "healing beams," she’ll be a hit.
The game’s verticality is its biggest strength. Characters like Silver Surfer—who has been teased in various lore entries—could break the game if not tuned correctly. A hero that literally flies on a board while others are stuck jumping? That’s a balancing nightmare, but it’s exactly the kind of "broken" fun that Marvel Rivals is leaning into.
How to Prepare for the New Roster
You can't just jump in and expect to master Wolverine on day one. The game's destructible environments mean that every new hero changes the way maps are played. If Human Torch can melt specific walls that Hulk has to punch through, the tactical layers get deep. Fast.
Here is how you actually stay ahead of the curve:
- Bank your units. Don't spend everything on cosmetics if there’s a chance for hero unlocks, though NetEase has leaned toward a free-to-play hero model similar to modern shooters.
- Learn the lore connections. Team-Up abilities are based on comic history. If you know who has teamed up in the comics, you can predict who will have synergy in the game.
- Watch the "Chronoventures" lore. The in-game story involving Doom and his 2099 counterpart isn't just fluff. It’s a roadmap. The heroes involved in that storyline are the ones getting priority in the dev cycle.
Real Talk: The Timeline
Don't expect thirty heroes by next month. The cadence is looking like one or two major additions per season. Each season lasts about two months. We are looking at a three-year roadmap just to get through the "A-list" characters.
The biggest hurdle for the heroes coming to Marvel Rivals is balance. Adding a character like Phoenix (Jean Grey) is cool until her ultimate wipes the entire map because the devs wanted to be "lore accurate." NetEase has to walk a thin line between "God-like power" and "Fair competitive play."
They’ve been reactive so far. They listen. When the community complained about certain characters being too oppressive in the closed beta, they tweaked them. This bodes well for the future. It means when Ghost Rider eventually rolls in on his bike, he might actually be balanced. Maybe.
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What You Should Do Right Now
If you’re serious about ranking up when the new heroes drop, stop one-tricking Spider-Man. The incoming roster is heavy on "Projectiles" and "Area Denial."
- Master at least one Vanguard. When the new Duelists like Black Widow arrive, everyone will be fighting to play them. You’ll get faster queues and more wins if you can play a solid tank.
- Study the destructibility. Most of the upcoming heroes have abilities designed to interact with the environment. If you don't know which floors can be dropped, you're going to get caught out.
- Follow the official Marvel Rivals Discord. That’s where the "accidental" leaks usually happen first.
The roster is going to explode. The game you’re playing today will look completely different in twelve months. That’s the beauty of a live-service Marvel game—the story, and the power creep, never really ends.
Next Steps for Players: Focus on leveling up your current Battle Pass to ensure you have all the currency needed for potential "Hero Mastery" tracks. Keep an eye on the "Galacta's Quest" tab in-game, as the narrative beats there frequently hint at the next arrival from the multiverse. Experiment with Team-Up combos now so you understand the logic of how NetEase pairs characters together before the next wave of heroes hits the live servers.