Marvel Rivals Season 3: New Team-Ups and Abilities Set to Launch
The highly anticipated Season 3 of Marvel Rivals is set to kick off on July 11, 2025, promising significant updates in gameplay mechanics with balance adjustments and the introduction of new character synergies.
New Characters and Mechanics
Season 3 will welcome Jean Grey, aka the Phoenix, as a new character, further enhancing the strategic possibilities within the game. Following her introduction, Blade will come to the roster in Season 3.5. The addition of Phoenix, alongside various adjustments, underscores a critical shift, as nearly 70% of all Team-Up abilities have been altered since the game’s launch. Players can expect ongoing changes with each major update.
Retired Team-Up Abilities
With the new season, two Team-Up abilities will be retired:
- Storming Ignition (The Human Torch + Storm)
- ESU Alumnus (Spider-Man + Squirrel Girl)
The removal of Storming Ignition, which was dependent on both characters using their Ultimates, raises eyebrows, especially given its historical utility in aerial-focused team compositions. This change aims to diversify strategies and reduce dependency on aerial characters after the flying character meta became prominent during Season 2.5.
The retirement of the collaboration between Spider-Man and Squirrel Girl likely reflects its minimal usage in competitive play, freeing both characters to explore new synergies in Season 3.
Introducing New Team-Up Abilities
Marvel Rivals will introduce two new Team-Ups, offering enhanced abilities:
-
Primal Flame:
- Characters: Phoenix and Wolverine
- Description: With Phoenix anchoring this pair, Wolverine’s Feral Leap will now infuse an aura of flame, damaging nearby foes temporarily while enabling him to gain Lifesteal—transforming damage into Bonus Health.
- Ever-Burning Bond:
- Characters: The Human Torch and Spider-Man
- Description: This synergy allows Spider-Man to shoot a burning web that acts as a Spider-Tracer, dealing ongoing damage to affected enemies.
Both combinations are designed to blend seamlessly with each characters’ arsenal, promoting dynamic gameplay and strategic depth.
Existing Team-Ups Enhanced
In a move to invigorate gameplay, two existing Team-Ups will gain new characters:
-
Symbiote Shenanigans (Venom + Jeff the Land Shark):
- Now including Hela, whose Soul Drainer Hel Sphere will launch tentacles that slow down enemies within proximity. This addition fortifies the team’s control capabilities.
- Stark Protocol (Iron Man + Ultron):
- The unexpected addition of Squirrel Girl allows her to deploy a squirrel from a nanotech gauntlet, providing both offense and crowd control by homing in on targets for explosive damage.
Impact on Gameplay and Future Updates
The changes in Season 3 of Marvel Rivals signal a shift toward more collaborative and strategic gameplay. The retirements and introductions of Team-Up abilities not only reflect player feedback but also aim to keep the experience fresh and engaging.
With upcoming updates now occurring on a two-month cycle instead of the previous three, players can anticipate more rapid injection of content and diversity in character synergies. This brisk tempo may facilitate the development of new strategies and metas, further enriching the competitive landscape.
Conclusion
As Marvel Rivals prepares for a fresh season, the integration of new characters and the retirement of others mark a pivotal moment in the game’s evolution. The strategic depth promised by Season 3’s changes highlights NetEase’s commitment to keeping the player community engaged and excited. Fans eagerly await July 11, 2025, when they can explore these new dynamics and the ever-expanding universe of Marvel Rivals.
