Let's be real for a second. If you’re playing Marvel Rivals and picking Mantis, you aren't just there to keep the team alive with Life Blossoms. You’re there to look cool while putting a massive Hulk to sleep with a well-timed Natural Anger. But here is the thing about Marvel Rivals Mantis skins—they represent a weird tug-of-war between the classic comic book aesthetic and the weird, bug-inspired energy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. NetEase has been dropping cosmetics at a pretty high clip since the closed beta phases, and Mantis has some of the most distinct visual shifts in the roster.
She's a Strategist. People sleep on her. Then they see her in a specific fit and realize she’s actually one of the most detailed character models in the game.
What is Currently in the Closet for Mantis?
Right now, if you boot up the game, you’ll notice that Mantis doesn't have the sheer volume of skins that someone like Iron Man or Spider-Man boasts. That's just the reality of being a support character in a hero shooter. However, the quality varies wildly. You have your standard recolors, which basically just swap the greens for different hues, but the "Epic" and "Legendary" tiers are where things actually get interesting.
Take the Gardenia skin, for example. It’s elegant. It leans heavily into that floral, celestial vibe that defines her kit. It’s not just a costume swap; it changes the silhouette enough to make you feel like you’re playing a different version of the character. Then you have the more "Tactical" looks. Some players hate them. They think it makes her look too much like a generic soldier. I kind of dig the contrast, honestly. Seeing a bug-eyed empath wearing high-tech armor is a vibe you don't get in many other games.
The "Celestial" theme is a big deal in Marvel Rivals. Because the game's lore involves the Timestream Entanglement, NetEase has a massive amount of freedom. They aren't tethered to just one universe. This means we get skins that pull from the 1970s "Celestial Madonna" era of Mantis, where she was basically a cosmic deity, and skins that look like she just stepped off a Guardian’s ship in 2014.
The Problem With Rarity and Drop Rates
We need to talk about the "War of the Realms" inspired stuff. It’s rare. Like, frustratingly rare. If you weren't grinding during specific event windows or if you didn't have the luck of the draw in the seasonal crates, you’re stuck looking at a locked icon in the hero gallery. This is the double-edged sword of the Marvel Rivals cosmetic system. The Marvel Rivals Mantis skins that actually look unique are often tucked behind a paywall or a massive time sink.
It’s annoying. You want the cool antennae. You want the glowing robes. Instead, you're stuck with "Forest Green" or "Deep Teal."
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Why the Design Choices Matter for Gameplay
You might think a skin is just a skin. You’d be wrong. In a fast-paced 6v6 shooter, visual clarity is everything. Mantis has a relatively small hit-box compared to tanks like Peni Parker or Magneto. Some of her skins actually make her blend into specific maps better than others. If you’re playing on the Yggsgard maps, wearing a bright neon skin is basically asking a Hela main to click on your head.
Expert players often pick skins based on the environment.
- On brighter, more urban maps like Tokyo 2099, the darker Marvel Rivals Mantis skins provide a slight edge in terms of not standing out like a sore thumb.
- Conversely, in the darker corridors of some maps, the glowing elements of her legendary skins can actually give your position away.
Is it "pay to win"? No. It's more like "pay to be slightly more or less visible." But in a game where a single stun can win a team fight, those pixels matter. The developers at NetEase have mentioned in Dev Blogs that they try to maintain a "hero silhouette" regardless of the skin. They don't want a Mantis skin to look so much like a Luna Snow skin that you get confused. So far, they’ve succeeded, but some of the more elaborate costumes are pushing that boundary.
Breaking Down the "Green" Aesthetic
Mantis is green. We get it. But the community has been vocal about wanting more variety. Why not a red "Life Force" skin? Why not something that pulls from her time with the Avengers in the comics where she wore more traditional superhero yellow and green?
The current crop of skins feels a bit safe. They are sticking to the "nature" theme very closely. While it fits her ability names like "Leafy Bind," it can feel repetitive. I’ve seen some incredible fan concepts on Reddit and Discord that suggest a "Shadow Mantis" or even a "Cyber-Insect" look. If NetEase wants to keep the player base engaged, they need to step outside the garden.
Comparing Mantis to Other Strategists
If you look at Rocket Raccoon or Adam Warlock, their skin game is arguably stronger right now. Rocket gets to be a literal animal, so the costume variations are hilarious and varied. Adam Warlock has that regal, golden-god aesthetic that translates well to high-fantasy skins. Mantis sits in this weird middle ground. She isn't quite a "monster" character, but she isn't a "standard human" either.
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The best Marvel Rivals Mantis skins are the ones that lean into her alien nature. The ones that give her more prominent antennae or iridescent textures on her skin. That’s the stuff that makes her stand out in the hero select screen.
Honestly, the "default" look is actually one of her best. It’s clean. The textures on her suit look like actual organic material. But gamers always want more. We want that one "prestige" skin that says, "I have 100 hours on this character and I will put you to sleep before you can even blink."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lore-Based Skins
There’s a misconception that all these skins are just "made up" by the game devs. A lot of them are deep-cut references. If you see a skin that looks slightly "off" or "too retro," it’s probably pulling from a 1980s crossover event that three people remember. This is where the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of the design team shines. They aren't just making "Cool Green Girl #4." They are looking at the history of the character—from her origins as a Vietnamese-German martial artist (yeah, she wasn't always an alien in the comics) to her current cosmic status.
We haven't seen a "Human Form" skin yet. That would be a massive departure. In the original comics, Mantis looked human. If NetEase dropped a "classic" skin that removed the antennae and gave her a more traditional 70s look, the lore nerds would lose their minds. It would also be a weird hitbox adjustment, which is likely why they haven't done it yet.
The Future: What’s Leaked and What’s Likely
Data miners have been digging through the game files since the most recent patch. While I won't post unverified "leaks" as 100% fact, there are strong indications that a "Winter" themed skin or a "Floral Bloom" variant is in the pipeline for the next seasonal pass. It makes sense. Mantis is the perfect candidate for seasonal aesthetics.
Think about it:
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- A "Cherry Blossom" skin for a spring event.
- A "Withered Leaf" or "Autumn" skin for Halloween.
- A "Frost-Covered Pine" look for the holidays.
The potential is there. NetEase just needs to pull the trigger on designs that aren't just different shades of lime and emerald.
How to Get the Best Skins Without Breaking the Bank
Look, nobody wants to spend $20 on a single skin. If you’re hunting for the best Marvel Rivals Mantis skins, you have to be smart about your Unit management.
First, don't buy the first recolor you see. It's a trap. Wait for the events. The "Chronovault" often rotates older skins back in, and that’s your best bet for picking up things like the "Gardenia" variant without paying the "new release" premium. Also, keep an eye on the Battle Pass. Usually, the mid-tier rewards include a decent Epic skin for one of the supports, and Mantis has been featured there before.
Check your challenges. Some of the most "authentic" looks are tied to character mastery. If you actually play the character, you’ll unlock textures and shaders that—while not full skin swaps—make your Mantis look distinct from the "Day 1" players.
The Verdict on Mantis Cosmetics
Mantis has a solid foundation. Her base design is great, and her high-end skins are genuinely beautiful. But the variety is lacking compared to the DPS heavyweights. If you're a Mantis main, you're currently in a "wait and see" period. The skins we have are good, but the skins we could have—the Celestial Madonna, the Avengers-era classic, the true Alien-horror vibe—are still missing.
The game is evolving. The Timestream Entanglement means literally anything is possible. We could see a Mantis from a timeline where she’s a villain. We could see a Mantis who is a high-tech hacker. That’s the beauty of the Marvel Rivals multiverse.
Actionable Steps for Mantis Players:
- Audit your Unit balance: Save at least 2,000 Units for the upcoming seasonal rotation; don't waste them on the basic blue-tier recolors that only change her glove color.
- Check the "Gallery" daily: NetEase occasionally shadow-drops "Flash Sales" on specific hero skins that don't stay in the shop for more than 24 hours.
- Focus on Mastery: Prioritize her character-specific challenges to unlock the unique shaders that can be applied to her default skin, giving you a "pro" look without spending real money.
- Watch the patch notes: Whenever a new hero is added (like the recent rumors of more Guardians), Mantis often gets a "buddy" skin that matches the newcomer's aesthetic.
The skins are coming. Just make sure you're ready when the one you actually want finally hits the store.