Marvel Rivals is arriving in December 2024, with 33 confirmed characters at launch ranging from Captain America to Peni Parker.
After a long wait, Marvel Rivals is set to officially release on December 6, 2024, for free on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. A hero shooter in the same vein as Overwatch or Rogue Company and, like those games, Marvel Rivals will feature a wide variety of characters on the roster.
However, NetEase Games has revealed that Marvel Rivals will launch with every character on the roster as soon as they are available. No microtransactions or unlocking characters are necessary, with 33 characters ready to be played in multiplayer matches with friends and strangers alike.
Updated on December 6, 2024, by Melody MacReady: Fans of hero shooters are still excited to finally play Marvel Rivals as it launches on December 6, 2024, not only because of the visually unique art style and multiplayer carnage that will be available but also because of the massive roster of Marvel characters, ranging from famous poster children of the franchise to deep cuts that few were expecting. This includes many of the new characters that have been revealed by NetEase Games, all of whom will also be immediately available to all players at launch. There are three classes of character for different playstyles: Duelist, Vanguard, and Strategist, making it more than just running and shooting opponents.1 Adam Warlock
Class: Strategist
Difficulty: 2/5
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #66
Despite having godlike power as one of the most powerful Guardians Of The Galaxy, Adam Warlock is not the damage dealer that one might expect. Instead, he focuses on healing teammates with a simple snap of his fingers that can even heal tanks at incredible rates.
Adam Warlock can also bond with his teammates, allowing him to heal with them gradually while allowing everyone to share their health. This allows Vanguard classes to protect their teammates even more by sharing their already large amount of health.2 Black Panther
Class: Duelist
Difficulty: 4/5
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #52
The King of Wakanda features many attacks and abilities one might expect from the character, from using vibranium claws to throwing a spear to unleashing the spirit of Bast at his enemies. On the surface, Black Panther seems to be the most straightforward melee-based character, but that is not the case.
The lunging and claw attacks of Black Panther force him to charge in and out of battle since several long-range characters can gun him down in seconds. However, his speed and agility can make him difficult to hit, providing a challenge for both himself and his opponents.3 Black Widow
Class: Duelist
Difficulty: 4/5
First Appearance: Tales Of Suspense #52
Armed with a sniper and Escrima sticks, Black Widow is a Duelist character that is likely to make certain players angry. She can wipe out characters with one or two hits of her sniper from seemingly any distance, which combined with her wrist-bound grapple hook makes her a challenge for any opponent.
Black Widow can effectively take out crowds too, using a plasma burst to hit multiple foes at once for damage, which opens them up for follow-up sniper attacks. For close range, Black Widow possesses a kick ability that can be followed up with another action, making her just as deadly up close.4 Bruce Banner / Hulk
Class: Vanguard
Difficult: 4/5
First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk #1
The best way to describe Hulk in Marvel Rivals is that he is essentially a reverse version of D. Va from Overwatch. Instead of a big character who turns into a smaller character for a last-minute escape, the player starts as Bruce Banner with his gamma pistol and must choose the right time to transform into his alter ego.
As Hulk, he has the standard affair of abilities: thunderclap, long jumping, rage, and more. All of this is very much classic and powerful Hulk, but he is very slow with little to no range, which forces him to rely on at least one other teammate to back him up when pushing objectives.5 Captain America
Class: Vanguard
Difficulty: 2/5
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1
With his signature shield, Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, is a powerful Vanguard character in Marvel Rivals. Not only can he throw his shield to ricochet and deal heavy damage, but when he uses it as a shield, it is deadly and protective at the same time, since it can rebound attacks such as Iron Man’s ultimate ability right back.
Steve Rogers can also use his ability to rally his teammates, thus granting them buffs. However, the biggest downside about Captain America is that he will be mainly for melee attacks, so ranged teammates will need to assist him.6 Cloak & Dagger
Class: Strategist
Difficulty: ?/5
First Appearance: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64
Two characters in one make Cloak & Dagger instantly unique, with the ability to swap between the characters thanks to their inseparable bond.
