Marvel Rivals' Villains Might Just Be the Cherry on Top

Marvel Rivals has made it no secret that Doctor Doom will serve as its main villain for the foreseeable future. After all, the so-called "Timestream Entanglement" at the center of the game's story was directly caused by a conflict between Doctor Doom and another version of himself from the year 2099. Between various references throughout the game's surprisingly dense lore, and even some notable leaks and rumors, there are a few other major villains that could be coming to Marvel Rivals sooner rather than later.

Marvel Rivals may have picked its current roster of antagonists simply to keep in line with Marvel's broader effort to place Doctor Doom front and center, which itself is likely motivated by the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday. Of course, Doom's inclusion is much more than brand synergy, considering he doubles as one of Marvel's most iconic villains. With that in mind, it's interesting that so many of Marvel's other best villains didn't make the cut for Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals’ Doctor Dooms and Galacta Leave a Glaring Omission in the Roster

Marvel Rivals' revealed base roster only scratches the surface of available characters and one family could be a fantastic addition in the future.

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By Jared Stewart

Marvel Rivals' Roster Could Be Hiding Playable Villains in Plain Sight

Marvel Rivals' Roster Doesn't Feel Complete Without its Main Villains

Despite his importance to the game's story, Doctor Doom isn't yet playable in Marvel Rivals. Naturally, this means that Doom 2099 isn't playable either. It's admittedly a little strange that the Marvel Rivals launch roster lacks both of the game's main villains. It's so strange, in fact, that it's hard to imagine this won't change in the future.

Doctor Doom is most famous for his role as the arch-nemesis of Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic. The Fantastic Four have been leaked to join Marvel Rivals in the future, which makes it seem like only a matter of time before Doctor Doom joins them. Doctor Doom has a vast arsenal of abilities, so it shouldn't be too hard for developers to come up with something solid. Doctor Doom's intimidating physicality may make him well-suited for the role of a Vanguard, something which Marvel Rivals sorely needs more of.

Marvel Rivals' Announcer Could Pave the Way for Another Iconic Villain

Speaking of Fantastic Four villains, it's also worth mentioning Galacta's role as the mascot of Marvel Rivals. Galacta is the daughter of Galactus, a world-eating cosmic entity that often does battle with the heroes of the Marvel Universe. Galacta may not have enough material to inspire a playable kit due to her short-lived history. However, Luna Snow and Lin Lie's Iron Fist have had a similarly small amount of time in the sun, so perhaps Galacta can't be ruled out just yet.

Unfortunately, it seems extremely unlikely that Marvel Rivals could make room for Galactus. His enormous stature obviously isn't well-suited to a playable role of any kind, and even his power set would be relatively difficult to adapt. Galactus could still make a cameo in the background of a future map, perhaps to coincide with his appearance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Marvel Rivals Leak Reveals New Characters, Maps, and More

A new Marvel Rivals leak reveals several new characters, maps, team-ups, and more that could be a part of the highly anticipated Season 1 update.

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By Md Armughanuddin

Marvel Rivals Leaks Could Be Just the Beginning for Future Villains

One Iconic Avengers Villain Has Been Leaked to Join Marvel Rivals Soon

Marvel Rivals has a rather small number of villains on its roster as it is, especially with characters like Magneto and Venom frequently trending towards the side of good these days. Hela and Loki help add to the roster of playable villains, but even Loki is known to bounce between allegiances. By comparison, Ultron is a true villain, and he may break the mold in Marvel Rivals much sooner than later.

Marvel Rivals leaks have revealed Ultron as a playable character, and the credibility of these leaks has held up through a lot of pressure already. Ultron will supposedly be released as a part of Season 1, which would mean players can try him as soon as January. Ultron is currently believed to be a Strategist, and his leaked abilities certainly would make him a valuable addition to any team.

Two Big Bads Have Been Teased in Marvel Rival's Story

It's no small secret that Knull has been teased as an antagonist in Marvel Rivals. Despite not being playable yet, various characters have strong ties to Knull in the lore. Knull even has his own dedicated stage in Klyntar, which further suggests that Knull has a larger role to play in the future. Knull's title as the God of the Symbiotes makes him a force to be reckoned with, and could foreshadow his potential dominance over the meta if developers should ever decide to make him playable.

Dracula's role in Marvel Rivals may be less discussed, but he's hardly less prominent. Dracula serves as a major antagonist for characters like Spider-Man, Squirrel Girl, and Moon Knight, which makes him as fit to join the game's roster as Knull is. More importantly, Marvel Rivals leaks have included Blade as a future addition to the roster. Considering Dracula is one of Blade's most formidable foes, it only feels right to see them clash in Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals Has Limitless Potential for Future Villains

Between credible leaks and story speculation, it's safe to say that Marvel Rivals has no shortage of villains in its future. Thanos is a household name at this point, especially thanks to his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although less well-known to general audiences, Apocalypse is another powerful villain that would be a certain crowd-pleaser for comic fans. Considering Apocalypse's position as a leader of Krakoa, he could soon become just as important to Marvel Rivals as Knull and Dracula are now.

Spider-Man alone has a roster of rogues that could each offer a unique set of abilities for players to wield. From Mysterio to Mephisto, it's safe to say that the most iconic villains in Marvel Comics have plenty to offer. Whatever route developers may choose to take, Marvel Rivals will likely keep up its current trend of reaching far and wide across the Marvel Universe.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 84%

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Released: December 6, 2024
ESRB: T For Teen // Violence
Developer(s): NetEase Games
Publisher(s): NetEase Games

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Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!
Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!

A Deep and Varied Marvel Roster
Choose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.

Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game Dynamics
With intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there's never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.

Dynamic Hero Synergy
Coordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot's back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man's armor for massive damage, and so much more!

Creative Environment Destruction
Tear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!

Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch Updates
The Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!