Marvel Rivals: Fantastic Four Abilities and Season 1 Launch Breakdown

The highly anticipated arrival of the Fantastic Four in Marvel Rivals is set to coincide with the game’s Season 1 launch, promising a significant shake-up to gameplay. Players are eager to understand how these iconic heroes will function within the game’s meta, and this article provides a detailed overview of each character’s abilities, including leaked information.

With the launch of the new season, strategies will need to adapt to incorporate this quartet of heroes, each bringing a unique playstyle and role. Prepare to witness a transformation on the battlefield as the Fantastic Four joins the fray.

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Fantastic Four and the Marvel Rivals Season 1 Launch

The Fantastic Four’s introduction in Marvel Rivals, coinciding with Season 1, marks a turning point for the game. Each member of the team offers a unique style that will cater to a variety of player preferences and strategic needs.

• Mister Fantastic will offer flexibility as a duelist with high health and the ability to control the field.
• Invisible Woman is designed to be the backbone of a team, offering critical support through healing, shielding, and crowd control.
• Human Torch is intended as a high-mobility duelist that can punish enemies with heavy fire damage.
• The Thing is set to be an incredibly durable vanguard that can control space and create opportunities for his teammates.

The Fantastic Four will be gradually released throughout Season 1, starting on January 10, 2025, with The Thing and Human Torch expected mid-season around late February. The update will bring not only new heroes but also new skins, maps, modes, and in-game events. Dracula is set to be the main antagonist in this season.

Mister Fantastic: The Master of Reach

Mister Fantastic, also known as Reed Richards, enters the arena as a Duelist with a twist. Possessing a Vanguard’s health pool, he’s surprisingly resilient for a character designed around ranged and mid-range engagements. His stretchy abilities allow him to control the battlefield, disrupting enemy formations and creating opportunities for his team.

• Stretch Punch: A long-range punch utilizing his elastic arms to harass enemies from a distance.
• Brainiac Bounce: A leap and slam ability that slows enemies in the impact area, with the option to bounce again upon hitting a target.
• Reflexive Rubber: Absorbs incoming damage, redirecting it back at enemies.
• Flexible Elongation: Shields himself and a selected target, then dashes towards the target, damaging enemies and shielding allies.
• Distended Grip: Extends his arm to grab and pull an enemy or slam two foes together.
• Elastic Strength (Passive): Abilities generate elasticity, increasing attack power; reaching full elasticity grants a shield and increased damage.
• Ultimate: Transforms into a giant, dealing heavy damage through punches and slams.

When mastering Mister Fantastic, consider how he blends ranged and melee combat. His bounce and slow abilities offer unique tactical options. The key to his kit is balancing his ranged attacks with close-quarters skills to truly maximize his potential.

Invisible Woman: The Strategic Support Core

Invisible Woman, or Sue Storm, fills the role of a Strategist, focusing on supporting her team through healing, shielding, and crowd control. She’s a versatile support character with an array of protective abilities and tactical maneuvers. She stands as a cornerstone for team compositions that benefit from strong support.

• Primary Fire: Toggles between healing allies and damaging enemies.
• Shielding: Projects a forward-facing shield on allies.
• Knockback Tunnel: Creates a tunnel that pushes enemies back.
• Gravity Bomb: Throws a bomb that damages and crowds controls enemies over time.
• Double Jump: Enhances mobility.
• Invisibility: Allows tactical maneuvers while temporarily invisible.
• Ultimate: Creates a healing zone at a selected location.

Invisible Woman’s ability to create shields and disrupt enemies can greatly influence team fights. Her invisibility further allows her to perform tactical plays. She will be most effective when positioned close to teammates, providing consistent healing and support.

Human Torch: The High-Flying Duelist

Human Torch, also known as Johnny Storm, is a highly mobile Duelist, using fire-based abilities to dominate the battlefield. Leaks suggest he will be an aggressive character with high damage output, but who needs to maintain careful positioning.

• Fire Cluster (Basic Attack): Launches fireballs that split on impact.
• Blazing Blast: Creates a burning area, damaging enemies over time.
• Pyro Prison: Connects burning areas, creating a damaging wall of fire.
• Plasma Body: Enters a state of increased vertical mobility.
• Flaming Meteor (Mid-air): Dives to the ground, stunning nearby enemies.
• Omega Fire (Team-Up Ability): Uses his fire tornado to amplify Storm’s ultimate or turn it into a firestorm.
• Supernova (Ultimate): Unleashes a shockwave that damages enemies, turning fire areas into fire tornadoes.

Human Torch’s design favors aggressive players. His fiery attacks will be ideal for area denial and his mobility can disrupt enemy teams. Players should be mindful of positioning due to his potential to be targeted.

The Thing: The Immovable Vanguard

The Thing, or Ben Grimm, is a Vanguard, acting as the team’s tank with incredible durability and crowd control abilities. This imposing figure is designed to withstand heavy damage and control the flow of combat.

• Combination Punch (Primary): Fast and continuous punches.
• Thunderbolt Punch (Secondary): A powerful, slower punch.
• Furious Charge: Charges forward, lifting enemies in his path, leaving a seismic zone behind that hinders movement.
• Battlefield Support: Jumps to an ally, granting damage reduction to both of them.
• Slam Moment (Ultimate): Launches all enemies in front of him into the air.
• Solid as a Rock (Passive): Immune to knockbacks and displacements.

The Thing excels at absorbing damage and controlling areas. His resilience and crowd control abilities make him an anchor for any team. He pairs well with damage dealers to maximize the zoning abilities and creates opportunities for teammates.

Marvel Rivals Season 1: What to Expect

The arrival of the Fantastic Four is not the only significant update coming with Marvel Rivals Season 1. This season, titled “Eternal Night Falls,” will introduce several new elements to the game, enhancing the overall experience. The primary antagonist for this season is Dracula, the infamous Lord of Vampires, who is teaming up with Doctor Doom to plunge New York City into perpetual darkness. This narrative setup will unfold through in-game events and new modes.

• New Characters: The full Fantastic Four roster (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing) will be added, with the latter two arriving a few weeks after the initial launch of Season 1.
• New Villain: Dracula will be the main antagonist for the season, driving the story and events.
• Season 1 Battle Pass: A new battle pass will be available, offering unique skins and rewards.
• New Skins: Expect a plethora of new character skins.
• New Maps: The battlegrounds will expand with new playable maps.
• New Modes: Fresh game modes will be introduced, providing diverse challenges and gameplay opportunities.
• In-Game Events: Expect thematic in-game events tied to the Eternal Night Falls storyline.
• Competitive Rank Reset: Player ranks will be reset, requiring players to climb the ladder again and compete for higher ranks. A new Celestial Rank will also be introduced, sitting between Grandmaster and Eternity.
• Balancing Adjustments: The season will include balancing changes, with buffs to Captain America, Cloak and Dagger, Storm, Venom, and Wolverine, while nerfs will be applied to Hela, Hawkeye, and Jeff the Land Shark.

Conclusion

The arrival of the Fantastic Four in Marvel Rivals Season 1 brings significant changes to the gameplay experience. The unique playstyles of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing will give players new tactical depth and team synergy.

By understanding their respective strengths and abilities, players can prepare to make the most of these heroes as they join the battlefield in the upcoming season. This detailed breakdown should serve as an initial guide, paving the way for further strategic mastery of these iconic characters, along with a strong understanding of the key components of Season 1.