Honestly, it feels like NetEase is finally hitting that "sweet spot" with the roster. We’ve just seen Deadpool crash the party in Season 6: Night at the Museum, and he isn’t just another Duelist. He’s the first triple-role hero, which is basically code for "absolute chaos" since he can flex into Vanguard or Strategist roles depending on what your team is missing. But let’s be real. Once you’ve spent a few hours slashing through the new Museum of Contemplation map, you’re going to be asking the same thing we all are: who is next?
The dev cycle for this game is surprisingly fast. We aren't just looking at vague hints anymore; datamines and official roadmaps have given us a pretty clear picture of who's waiting in the wings for 2026. If you've been following the leaks, you know the names Elsa Bloodstone, Professor X, and even Doctor Doom aren't just wishful thinking—they’re practically imminent.
Elsa Bloodstone and the Mid-Season Shift
If you haven't heard of Elsa Bloodstone, think of her as Marvel's answer to a monster hunter with a very big chip on her shoulder. She is officially confirmed to be the centerpiece of Season 6.5, which is slated to kick off around February 13, 2026.
NetEase hasn't spilled every detail on her kit yet, but she’s listed as a Strategist. That’s a bit of a curveball. Most fans expected her to be a straight-up Duelist given her history with shotguns and bloodstone-enhanced strength. However, in the current meta, a "combat-medic" or a utility-heavy Strategist is exactly what the game needs to balance out the high-mobility dive comps we're seeing.
Expect Elsa to bring some serious anti-heal or crowd-control utility. The lore hints in the "Museum of Contemplation" map already suggest she’s there to clean up whatever supernatural mess the Collector left behind.
The X-Men Takeover: Professor X and Jubilee
Mutants are everywhere in the 2026 roadmap. It makes sense, right? With the MCU leaning hard into the X-Men, Marvel Rivals is following suit. The biggest name on the horizon—and one of the most leaked characters in the game's history—is Charles Xavier.
How do you make a man in a wheelchair work in a hero shooter?
That's the million-dollar question. According to the latest datamines from XOX Leak, Professor X is being built as a Strategist. His leaked abilities include:
- Mind Projection: Likely a way to scout or debuff enemies from a distance.
- Potential Stimulation: This sounds like a massive buff for allies, maybe boosting their ability cooldowns or damage.
- X-Men Collection: Could be a passive that rewards playing with other mutants.
Then there's Jubilee. She’s been teased for a Season 7 release (likely around April 2026). While she’s often seen as a sidekick, her "fireworks" are perfect for a high-intensity Duelist role. Imagine area-of-effect (AoE) blind effects or explosive pyrotechnics that disrupt the enemy's vision. It’s the kind of flashy gameplay that Marvel Rivals thrives on.
The Villains: Doctor Doom and the Sinister Six
We can’t just have heroes. The game has been a bit light on the "Big Bad" energy lately, but that's changing. Doctor Doom is the name on everyone’s lips. With Avengers: Doomsday looming in the real world, the synergy here is too good for NetEase to pass up.
Doom is rumored to be a Vanguard. Think about it: a heavy-armored sorcerer-scientist holding the frontline with a mix of tech-shields and magic blasts. He’s expected to drop toward the end of 2026, possibly in Season 10 or 11, to coincide with the movie hype.
Who else is lurking?
- Ultron: We’ve known about him for a while, and he’s pegged as a Strategist who uses "cold, calculated force."
- The Hood: A supernatural crime lord who could bridge the gap between the magic and street-level tiers.
- M.O.D.O.K.: Because every game needs a giant floating head. He’s been in the files for months, likely as a high-damage, low-mobility Duelist.
What about the "Leaked" Fantastic Four?
We already have Mr. Fantastic and The Thing, but the family isn't complete. Invisible Woman and Human Torch have been sitting in the game files as "disabled" assets since launch.
The word on the street is that NetEase is saving them for a massive Secret Invasion themed season later this year. Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) is almost certainly a Strategist—imagine the power of making your entire team invisible for a flank—while Johnny Storm (Human Torch) will be the ultimate "glass cannon" Duelist.
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Actionable Next Steps for Players
The meta is shifting faster than a Quicksilver dash (who, by the way, is also leaked for later this year). If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you should be doing right now:
- Save your Units: With Elsa Bloodstone coming in February and the new "Clobberin' Club" arena charging Units for broadcasted duels, you're going to want a healthy stash of currency.
- Master the "Triple-Role" Flex: Deadpool is a test. If you can learn how to play one character across Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist, you'll be ready for future hybrid heroes like Doctor Doom.
- Check the Museum Map: The "Museum of Contemplation" is packed with Easter eggs. Look for the display cases—they often hint at the next three characters in the pipeline.
- Watch the 2026 Pro League: The $3 million prize pool means the pros will be finding the best Team-Up synergies for these new characters immediately. Watch their drafts to see which upcoming heroes are actually "broken" and which are just for show.
The roster is growing, and 2026 is looking like the year Marvel Rivals stops being "that new shooter" and starts being the definitive Marvel experience. Keep an eye on the mid-February update; Elsa is going to change the way we think about the Strategist role.