Marvel Rivals Port Forwarding: How to Fix Lag and Lobby Disconnects

You’re playing Luna Snow, about to drop a massive heal, and then it happens. The red icon flashes. Your character slides across the floor into a wall. By the time the game catches up, Magneto has already turned your team into a scrap heap. If you’ve been spending any time in NetEase’s hero shooter, you know the frustration. Marvel Rivals port forwarding is often the missing link between a stuttery mess and a smooth climb up the competitive ranks. It’s not just about speed; it’s about making sure your router actually knows how to handle the specific packets of data Marvel Rivals is throwing at it.

Lag happens. Honestly, most people just blame the servers. While NetEase has had their fair share of launch day hiccups, a lot of the "Network Error" messages or weird hit registration issues actually start at your front door—specifically, your router’s firewall. Think of your router like a bouncer at a club. If it doesn't recognize the data coming from the Marvel Rivals servers, it’s going to deny entry. Port forwarding basically puts your PC or console on the VIP list. It opens a direct line of communication.

Why Marvel Rivals Port Forwarding Changes Everything

Most modern routers use something called UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). It’s supposed to be "set it and forget it." But UPnP is notorious for being flaky. Sometimes it opens the port, sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes it just stops working mid-match. When you manually set up Marvel Rivals port forwarding, you’re taking the guesswork out of the equation. You’re telling the hardware exactly where to send the game data. This reduces jitter. It stabilizes your ping. Most importantly, it can solve the dreaded "Strict NAT" issue that prevents you from joining voice chat or teaming up with friends.

The game relies on a high-tick rate to track fast-moving characters like Spider-Man or Black Panther. When your ports are closed, your router has to spend extra milliseconds inspecting every packet. In a game where a millisecond is the difference between dodging a Hela blast and being eliminated, that delay is lethal. You've probably noticed it when your abilities go on cooldown but nothing actually happens on screen. That’s packet loss, and it’s often a port issue.

The Specific Ports You Need to Open

Before you dive into your router settings, you need the right numbers. Marvel Rivals, being a modern Unreal Engine 5 title, uses a specific range of ports. These can vary slightly depending on whether you’re on Steam, the Epic Games Store, or playing on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S. Generally, the game uses the following:

TCP Ports: 27015-27030, 27036-27037
UDP Ports: 4380, 27000-27031, 27036

If you are on a console, the requirements shift a bit because you also have to account for the PSN or Xbox Network layers. For PlayStation 5 users, you'll want to ensure UDP 3478 and 3479 are open. Xbox players should look at UDP 88, 500, 3544, and 4500. It sounds like a lot of numbers. It is. But entering them correctly is the only way to ensure your NAT type stays "Open."

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How to Find Your IP Address

You can't forward ports if you don't know where to send them. You need your Static IP. On Windows, hit the Start key, type "cmd," and hit Enter. Type ipconfig and look for the "IPv4 Address." It’ll usually look like 192.168.1.XX. Write that down. While you’re there, look for the "Default Gateway." That’s your router’s address. You’ll need to type that into your web browser (Chrome, Edge, whatever) to get into the settings.

Step-by-Step Port Forwarding Guide

Every router is different. An ASUS ROG router looks like a spaceship's cockpit inside, while a basic ISP-provided Comcast or AT&T box looks like a website from 2005. The logic is the same though.

1. Open your browser and type in that Default Gateway IP (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Log in. If you never changed the password, it’s probably "admin" and "password" or something printed on the sticker on the bottom of the actual router.
3. Look for a tab labeled Port Forwarding, Virtual Server, or Advanced Gaming.
4. Create a "New Rule."
5. Name it Marvel Rivals so you don't forget what it's for later.
6. Enter the port ranges mentioned above.
7. Input your PC or console's Static IP address.
8. Save and Reboot.

Don't skip the reboot. Honestly, most people hit save and think they're done, but the router needs a fresh start to apply those firewall changes.

Dealing with CGNAT and Double NAT

Here is where things get annoying. Some people do everything right and their NAT type still says "Strict." This usually happens because of CGNAT (Carrier Grade NAT). Basically, your ISP is sharing one public IP address across a bunch of different houses. If you’re on a cellular home internet plan (like T-Mobile Home Internet) or certain fiber providers, you might be stuck behind this. In this case, Marvel Rivals port forwarding won't work the traditional way because you don't have a unique public "door" to open.

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You can check this by comparing the WAN IP in your router settings to what you see when you Google "What is my IP." If they don't match, you’re behind CGNAT. The fix? You usually have to call your ISP and ask for a Static IP, which sometimes costs an extra five bucks a month. It’s a pain, but for a competitive game like Marvel Rivals, it might be the only way to play without constant disconnects.

Another common issue is Double NAT. This happens when you have a router plugged into another router (like if you bought a fancy Eero or Google Wifi mesh system but kept your ISP's original modem/router combo). You have two firewalls. To fix this, you either need to put your ISP modem into "Bridge Mode" or forward the ports on both devices.

NAT Types and What They Actually Mean

You'll see three main categories in your game settings or console network test.

Open (Type 1): Everything is perfect. You can host matches, your voice chat always works, and you'll find games faster. This is the goal of port forwarding.
Moderate (Type 2): This is okay. You can usually play fine, but you might have trouble connecting to a specific friend who also has a Moderate NAT.
Strict (Type 3): This is the danger zone. You’ll experience high ping, "Server Connection Lost" errors, and you probably won't be able to hear anyone in the lobby.

Marvel Rivals is a team-based game. Communication is everything. If you're on a Strict NAT, you're basically playing at a handicap. You won't hear the callouts for a flanking Venom or a Doctor Strange portal opening behind you.

Security Concerns: Is Port Forwarding Safe?

I get asked this a lot. "Doesn't opening ports make me vulnerable to hackers?" Technically, you're opening a small hole in your firewall. However, you're only opening specific ports to be used by specific applications. Unless someone knows your IP and there's a specific vulnerability in the Marvel Rivals netcode, the risk is incredibly low for the average gamer. It's not like you're DMZ-ing your whole computer (never do that, by the way). Forwarding the specific Steam or PSN ports is standard practice.

Actionable Next Steps

If you're still seeing that lag icon, here is your checklist to get it sorted once and for all.

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• Set a Static IP: Don't let your PC's IP address change every time you reboot. Set it manually in your Windows Network Settings or reserve it in your router’s DHCP list.
• Disable UPnP: Once you’ve manually forwarded your ports, turn off UPnP. It prevents conflicts and is actually more secure.
• Check Windows Firewall: Sometimes the router is open, but Windows is still blocking the game. Go to "Allow an app through Windows Firewall" and make sure Marvel Rivals is checked for both Private and Public networks.
• Use Ethernet: I know, I know. It's 2026 and wires are annoying. But no amount of port forwarding will fix the inherent instability of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. If you can't run a cable, at least look into Powerline Adapters or a dedicated 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E/7 band.
• Update Router Firmware: Manufacturers release patches for gaming performance all the time. Make sure you aren't running software from three years ago.

Once these steps are done, launch the game and head into the Practice Range. Watch your network telemetry. You should see a flatter ping graph and significantly fewer "packet bursts." Now you can actually focus on landing those combo hits instead of fighting your own internet connection.