"The Thing and Human Torch Set for February Release in Marvel Rivals"

Get ready, Marvel fans! Marvel Rivals is set to complete The Fantastic Four lineup with the addition of The Thing and Human Torch as playable characters on February 21, 2025. This exciting update will coincide with the launch of Season 1.5, which promises to bring "major balance adjustments" to the game, although the exact details remain under wraps. A Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website hinted at what players can expect, keeping the community buzzing with anticipation.

While we await more information on how The Thing and Human Torch will shake up the roster with their new moves and abilities, let's not forget that Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman were the first post-launch heroes introduced last month. Reed Richards, with his elastic powers, brought a goofy yet strategic element to the game, while Sue Storm's invisibility mechanics added a new layer to the battlefield. With Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm joining the fray soon, fans are eager to see how their unique abilities will influence the game's meta. Hopefully, NetEase will share some gameplay footage in the coming weeks.

The upcoming Season 1 update will also reset the ranks of competitive players. On February 21, everyone's rank will drop four divisions. So, if you're a Diamond I player on February 20, you'll find yourself at Platinum II the next day. NetEase has outlined future plans for rank resets, stating that new seasons will result in a six-division drop, while half-season updates will bring a four-division drop. As Marvel Rivals continues to refine its Ranked system, NetEase assures that they will "tune this as necessary" to meet player expectations.

It's not all about the rank resets, though. Players in the Gold rank can look forward to new costume rewards with the launch of the second half of Season 1. Additionally, NetEase will introduce new Crests of Honor to recognize players at the Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All ranks (the top 500).

The superhero community has been eagerly awaiting more details on Marvel Rivals' post-launch strategy, and The Fantastic Four additions are just the beginning. Creative director Guangyun Chen stirred excitement last month by promising to release a new playable character every half-season. This means a new Marvel hero will join the battle every six weeks, keeping the game fresh and engaging. Rumors and leaks have been swirling, with many believing the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade might be next in line, though Marvel Rivals' future remains shrouded in mystery.

While you wait for the mid-season update to shake things up, check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to discover the best characters to master. You can also delve into how the original Season 1 patch transformed the meta and understand why the community has been vocal about Marvel Rivals' alleged bot issue.