Marvel Rivals hit the scene with a pretty impressive lineup right out of the starting blocks. When it launched, players could choose from 33 heroes and villains neatly divided among the game’s three hero shooter roles: Duelist, Vanguard, and Strategist. It didn’t take long to expand that number to 37, credit to the addition of The Fantastic Four in the very first season.
NetEase, the brains behind Marvel Rivals, revealed that the first season packed about twice the content of what they’d usually roll out in a regular season. This means fans should anticipate the introduction of just two new characters in the upcoming Season 2, slated to launch on April 11, 2025, if the recent leaks are to be trusted. There’s no shortage of both iconic and obscure heroes in the game already. Still, the universe of Marvel characters is vast, and whispers from the fan community suggest more big reveals might be coming our way soon.
### Predicting Marvel Rivals Season 2’s New Arrivals
#### The X-Men
Buzz on the grapevine suggests that Season 2 of Marvel Rivals will center around the ‘Hellfire Gala.’ This in-universe event sees the nation of Krakoa throw open its doors, inviting non-Mutants for a grand celebration of Mutantkind and showcasing a fresh team of X-Men. The Hellfire Gala has popped up in several comic one-shots over the years, bringing a flair for extravagant costume designs that are more for style than battle.
There’s a hint of this theme in the game already, as indicated by Doctor Doom 2099’s latest storyline, which drops a mention of him having “a gala to attend.” Emma Frost, often the star of the Hellfire Gala, orchestrates telepathic concerts and unveils the new X-Men lineup. She’s been a hot topic among leaks since December 2024, making her a strong contender to join the roster in Season 2.
Moreover, there are murmurs that the maps of Krakoa and Arakko (Mutant-terraformed Mars) will debut in the second season. These additions could serve as a gateway for more X-Men characters such as Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Colossus, Gambit, and others to make their entrance in future seasons.
#### Blade
Blade has technically already dipped his toes into the Marvel Rivals pool. Teased initially via an unlockable Gallery Card during the Eternal Night event, Blade made a more concrete entrance with the Empire of the Eternal Night: Central Park map in a mid-season 1 update, where he’s shown shackled by Dracula.
If all signs are correct, Marvel Rivals Season 1 might wrap up with Blade breaking his bonds, setting the stage for his official entry into the roster in Season 2, likely taking on the role of a Duelist.
#### Ultron
Ultron was one of the earliest leaks as a playable character for the game’s future seasons. His ability kit was fully datamined way back in December, revealing that he would be a Strategist who commands Ultron Drones to trail allies, provide bonus health, and deploy shields to absorb incoming damage. Despite knowing quite a bit about him, there’s no official word on when exactly Ultron will join the game. While his appearance in Season 2 isn’t off the table, it’s speculated that NetEase might be holding him for a later reveal.
