Several new characters have been announced for the Marvel Rivals roster ahead of the game's official launch on December 6, 2024. Let's discuss who these characters are!
Captain America & Winter Soldier
During Gamescom 2024, the official release date was announced, along with the introduction of two new characters. Captain America is positioned as the Vanguard we always expected him to be. Serving as a frontline tank, he will be a valuable asset against projectile attacks. I’m curious to see how his team-ups will work out with Thor and Storm. Rivals Fans! Assemble.
Are you a fan of aggressive gameplay? If so, Bucky Barnes, also known as the Winter Soldier, might be the perfect character for you. Based on the initial gameplay, he resembles a faster-paced version of the classic Doomfist, equipped with a grappling hook. Bucky is definitely one to watch out for at the release of the game.
Psylocke
Beware the assassin! IGN revealed exclusive gameplay footage of Psylocke in early November. Psylocke is a ranged duelist who relies on positioning to effectively use her abilities. A strong strategy involves dealing poke damage and then flanking to eliminate backline characters. However, if your plans go awry, you can always dash away to escape! Hopefully.
Moon Knight
Righteous vengeance awaits in Marvel Rivals. IGN has revealed Moon Knight, who prefers a combat-heavy approach but isn't afraid to unleash Khonshu on his foes. Moon Knight excels against teams that are dependent on grouping up. Beware of random projectiles when Moon Knight is around.
Hawkeye
To conclude our list of announced characters, we just learned that Hawkeye will be joining the roster a few days ago. If you were hoping for a version of Hawkeye that strays from the archetype of a ranged duelist, I have some disappointing news. He reminds me of Hanzo from Overwatch, but with additional abilities such as projectile deflection. As demonstrated in the gameplay footage, Hawkeye can position himself on high ground to rain arrows down on opponents while also being effective in close-quarters combat. He has the potential to be a strong choice at launch.
Leaked Characters
Before I discuss the details, I want to clarify that none of this information has been confirmed. One disappointment I have with this list is that I was hoping to see more lesser-known characters alongside the familiar faces. It's possible that these could just be placeholders found in the datamines. With that said, here is the list of upcoming releases based on the datamines.
- Human Torch
- Cloak & Dagger
- Ultron
- Squirrel Girl
- Black Widow
- Mr. Fantastic
- Blade
- Wolverine
- Invisible Woman
- The Thing
- Iron Fist (Lin Lie)
It is interesting that Lin Lie was datamined as Iron Fist. I would have thought that Sword Master and Iron Fist would be separate characters, but we will see how it works out.
New Map - Wakanda
The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is the latest addition to the game's map lineup. Marvel Rivals presents Wakanda as the most technologically advanced nation in the world, staying true to the comics, while also incorporating the aesthetics of a battleground. This will be the fifth domination map released, set on the planet Bast. At first glance, I appreciate how the design blends ancient elements with futuristic technology. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds and what the community thinks about it at launch.
Which newly announced character are you most excited to play at launch? Share your thoughts in the comments!