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Alright agents, buckle up! Marvel Rivals is about to plunge into the depths with the brand new “The Abyss Awakens” Season 3! Launching on July 11, 2025, if you were hoping for sunny, swimsuit vibes, think again – we’re swapping the sunscreen for symbiotes and diving headfirst into something a little more… dark and slimy. Hot Girl Summer? More like Hostgirl Summer in this hero team based pvp shooter, where you can play free! Jump into the ever-changing battlefields in this continually evolving Marvel universe!
Get ready for a faster pace because this is the game’s first two-month season (previous ones were three!), which means double the hero drops! That’s right, a brand new hero hitting the roster each and every month. Pretty wild for a free-to-play game, right?
The Roster Expands: Meet the New Super Heroes!
The recent trailer teased two exciting additions joining the all star Marvel squad from across the marvel multiverse: Phoenix (Jean Grey) and Blade. While the daywalking vamp looks absolutely badass, if you’ve been itching to unleash Blade, you’ll have to wait just a tad longer. Phoenix (Jean Grey) is set to arrive first at the season start, kicking off the season as a brand new Ranged Duelist – our first new super hero for the Abyss! She’s described as being able to prey on grouped-up enemies, perhaps somewhat akin to Moon Knight in that regard, and introduces a spicy new “Spark” chain-reaction mechanic: her attacks build Spark stacks, and at 3 they explode for extra damage and heal her over time (like a lifesteal effect!). She has a solid 275 HP (typical duelist health) and a semi-auto hitscan attack (preview showed a 12-round ammo capacity). Her kit, including her Telekinesis Burst which stuns/slows groups and breaks deployables, is all about area damage and sustain. Her ultimate ability is a game-changer: Phoenix soars up and crashes down in an inferno, dealing massive damage and sending out a shockwave that destroys all enemy summons, shields, and deployable constructs in range. This means Phoenix can literally wipe out things like Groot’s walls, Rocket’s beacons, or even disrupt Hela’s ultimate setup – providing creative environment destruction tearing! This expands the vast array of choices for players to varied Marvel roster choose from.
Now, for the Blade enjoyers – he’ll be stepping out of the shadows in August, the second new super hero of the season. While not officially confirmed, it sounds highly likely he’ll join the fray as a Melee Duelist, fitting his combat style perfectly. You’ll be able to acquire these heroes unlocked as you play free and earn progression, adding more options for adventurous team battles.
Teamup Shenanigans: Unique Team Up Skills Bring Unexpected Fun!
Beyond new hero additions, Marvel Rivals keeps things fresh with evolving teamups, a key part of the ever-changing game dynamics in this team-based pvp shooter. Some favorites cycle out, and new, potentially terrifying ones arrive! This season sees two teamups departing, including Squirrel Girl and Spider-Man (“ESU Alumnus”), and Human Torch and Storm (“Storming Ignition”).
But fear not, the new ones are here to shake things up and bring unexpected fun! And honestly, it’s almost like the Netease Games took a list of heroes people least enjoy dying to and gave them even more ways to make it happen by combining powers into unique team up skills!
- Phoenix + Wolverine (“Primal Flame”): This dangerous duo gives Wolverine a fiery upgrade. With Phoenix as anchor, Wolverine’s Feral Leap transforms into “Phoenix Warrior,” making him wreathed in flames that burn nearby enemies (damage over time) and gaining lifesteal on all his abilities! As the official notes jokingly put it, Wolverine “obviously wasn’t survivable enough already, right?” These unique team up skills offer surprising team up skills for offense.
- Human Torch + Spider-Man (“Ever-Burning Bond”): Human Torch and Spider-Man team up for great firepower! Spidey gains “Inferno Blast,” a flaming web that deals AoE damage and applies a “Burning Tracer” debuff. Yes, both tracers can stack on the same target for brutal combos!
- Iron Man + Ultron + Squirrel Girl (“Stark Protocol”): Squirrel Girl joins the tech crew! Iron Man gifts her a nano-tech gauntlet for “Squirrel Missile,” a homing squirrel that explodes on impact. (Don’t worry – “no squirrels are harmed,” the devs confirm; it jumps off right before detonation. Phew!) This unique team up skills provides a homing explosive.
- Venom + Jeff the Land Shark + Hela (“Symbiote Shenanigans“): Hela crashes the symbiote party! Her soul orb gets infused, lashing out “Hel Tendrils” that link enemies, slowing and pulling them. As the overview described, it will “link enemies together with symbiote tentacles, similar to Jeff’s healing link but offensively, and also slow their movement.” Talk about combined superpowers causing chaos!
These open up a road to devise countless strategies in this team-based PvP shooter Marvel multiverse!
Balancing the Scales: Hero Adjustments & the Robust Post Launch Updates!
Patch notes always bring shifts, and the game developer, Netease Games, gave a sneak peek at some key hero adjustments coming our way, highlighting the robust post launch updates that shape the ever changing game dynamics and demand players learn new tactics. These changes affect super villains and heroes alike, forcing constant evolution in various gameplay strategies.
| Hero | Role | Adjustment Type | Specific Change Details | Developer Note/Reason |
| Emma Frost | Vanguard | Nerf | Telepathic Pulse damage reduced (150->140), Diamond Form damage reduction toned down. | “A touch too good.” |
| The Thing | Vanguard | Buff | New ability “Battle Blitz” (leap with DR), Stone Haymaker knocks flying enemies down. | Addresses aerial Duelists, gives Vanguards new tool. |
| Venom | Vanguard | Buff | Cellular Corrosion slow increased (15%->25%). | Fitting buff for the season. |
| Iron Man | Duelist | Nerf | Repulsor Blast poke damage reduced, Ult cost increased. | Impacts common gameplay strategies. |
| Punisher | Duelist | Nerf | Turret and Spell Field damage reduced, Ult cost increased. | Impacts common gameplay strategies. |
| Mr. Fantastic | Duelist | Nerf | Inflated bonus health reduced. | Impacts common gameplay strategies. |
| Namor | Duelist | Buff | Trident damage and projectile speed increased. | Net stronger. |
| Scarlet Witch | Duelist | Buff | Ultimate damage increased, slow slightly reduced. | Net stronger. |
| Adam Warlock | Strategist | Nerf | Guardian Revival Team-Up cooldown increased (120s->135s). | Checks “Triple Revive” strategy. |
| Mantis | Strategist | Buff | Healing Flower gets passive HoT, Ult grants more bonus HP on revive (150 from 100). | Improved healing. |
| Invisible W. | Strategist | Adjustment | Orb Projection healing gets a touch-up (more front-loaded). | Specifics to be revealed. |
| Ultron | Strategist | Nerf | Dynamic Flight duration and Firewall shield health slightly reduced. | Specifics to be revealed. |
| Loki | Strategist | Nerf | Ultimate cost increased (4000->4300). | Nerves ult charge time. |
Vanguards:
- Emma Frost (an X-Men fan favorite): Nerfed slightly. Her damage and Diamond Form damage reduction are being toned down (e.g., Telepathic Pulse damage 150->140). She was maybe “a touch too good,” as noted!
- The Thing: Buffed significantly! Gets a new ability “Battle Blitz” (leap with DR!) and his Stone Haymaker can now knock flying enemies out of the sky. This gives Vanguards a much-needed tool against aerial Duelists like Iron Man’s armor flying high. He can now unleash gamma energy with a new move, offering a crucial strategic advantage. The raw gamma energy is harnessed to clobber flyers!
- Venom (a classic super villain): Buffed fittingly for the season! His Cellular Corrosion slow is increased (15%->25%), making him stickier!
Duelists:
- Nerfs to kick things off: Iron Man (Repulsor Blast poke damage reduced, Ult cost increased), Punisher (Turret and Spell Field damage reduced, Ult cost increased), Mr. Fantastic (Inflated bonus health reduced). These changes impact common gameplay strategies.
- Buffs: Namor (Trident damage and projectile speed increased), Scarlet Witch (Ultimate damage increased, slow slightly reduced – net stronger!).
Strategists:
- Adam Warlock: His Guardian Revival Team-Up (with Mantis/Starlord) cooldown is increased (120s->135s). The “Triple Revive” strategy gets a slight check!
- Mantis: Buffed significantly! Her Healing Flower gets a passive heal-over-time, and her Ult grants more bonus HP on revive (150 from 100), though it costs more energy. Rejoice for improved healing!
- Invisible Woman: Her Orb Projection healing is getting a touch-up (more front-loaded).
- Ultron (a dangerous super villain): Slight nerf to Dynamic Flight duration and Firewall shield health.
- Loki (another tricky super villain): His Ultimate cost is increased (4000->4300), nerfing his ult charge time.
- Note: These are teases from patch notes – specifics and potentially more adjustments will be revealed!
New Content Alert! The Abyss Awakens Battle Pass & Cosmetics!
Get ready for the Power of the Phoenix Battle Pass! This seasonal drop features 10 costumes. Since it’s a shorter season, the amount of Chrono Tokens you receive has been boosted, ensuring players can still earn all the rewards in this free to play experience. And just from the sneak preview… are they cooking?! This influx of new content is definitely shaking things up visually in the Marvel multiverse! As a free to play game, cosmetics are key, and there’s a vast array on offer.
Stepping into the season means diving into the cosmetic goodness, and there are definitely some looks turning heads – for better or worse!
The Symbiote styles appear to be quite the hit! Expect some seriously cool Symbiote skins for Rocket Raccoon, Jeff the Baby Land Shark (that trailer Jeff!), and Squirrel Girl! The Jeff the Baby Land Shark skin looks particularly good, described as another really strong entry. The Symbiote Squirrel Girl skin also seems to be landing well. There’s a feeling that the Symbiote-themed Battle Pass skins might generally edge out some of the Phoenix-themed ones, perhaps due to a less ‘busy’ design aesthetic. Rocket Raccoon, notably a fan favorite, seems to have a knack for getting some of the best skins, and his Symbiote interpretation is even being called out as arguably the best skin in the Battle Pass!
Speaking of the Phoenix skins, they seem to be a bit more divisive. While some look great (like the incredible Phoenix Emma Frost!), others are proving to be a bit tougher to appreciate visually. Both Emma Frost and Wolverine are prominent X-Men characters represented here. The Adam Warlock Phoenix variant, for instance, might not be everyone’s favorite look. The Phoenix Wolverine skin is another that seems to be sparking debate; some players find it perhaps too ‘busy’. The Phoenix Namor skin, on the other hand, is seen as not bad, perhaps getting away with the design due to a sleeker look. There’s a general observation that some Phoenix skins might feel “overdesigned.” The gold variants for characters like Adam Warlock and Black Panther also draw discussion, though it’s hard to make Black Panther look anything less than sharp! These skins add to the charm of the continually evolving Marvel Universe.
One particular skin described by some as “pure ugly” seems to have landed less favorably, possibly referencing the Golden Panther or Magik’s Phoenix skin based on community chatter.
Now, let’s talk about the Symbiote Spider-Man skin, a classic look that’s always going to be a topic of conversation! This particular adaptation seems to have its passionate defenders, with some arguing strongly that it’s absolutely not a bad skin and would be defended to the end! While the core design is praised for being drippy and good, there might be minor points of contention regarding details like the design of the eyes. However, the overall sentiment for this fan favorite’s look seems to lean positive.
Beyond the skins themselves, the Battle Pass and the season overall bring other cosmetic touches. There’s a confirmed exclusive Symbiote Spider-Man MVP animation teased (likely in a deluxe bundle), adding to the vast array of personalization options you can earn in this free-to-play game.
The cosmetic lineup for “The Abyss Awakens” Battle Pass offers a clear contrast between the darker, fluid Symbiote designs and the fiery, perhaps more intricate Phoenix looks, promising a season with plenty to discuss visually across the Marvel multiverse!
Beyond the Battle Pass: More New Content & Quality of Life!
Finally, a round-up of various other updates hitting the game, showcasing the fresh content that ensures there’s rarely a dull moment:
- First-Ever Marvel Rivals LAN Tournament: Exciting news on the esports front! Winners from the regional Ignite playoffs are gathering for the game’s first in-person (LAN) tournament in Hangzhou, China. This is a huge step for the competitive scene in the marvel multiverse!
- Accessories System: New cosmetic accessories are coming! Earn Accessory Points after matches to get hero-specific items (like a tiny Potted Groot!). They might even have cool callbacks to potential future heroes, adding to the endless possibilities for customization!
- New Ultimate Ability VFX: Flashy new visual effects for ultimates are on the way for certain skins (like Scarlet Witch!). Importantly, these are visible only to you and spectators to avoid visual clutter in matches – a positive approach! It offers new ways to personalize flair as you fight and are experiencing thrilling action!
- Flexible MVP Screens: A great Quality of Life update! You can now equip any MVP victory screen you’ve unlocked onto any costume for that hero. More options for showing off after you claim victory!
- New UI Elements: Look out for a revamped post-match results screen that provides a summary of your XP, mission progress, and rewards all in one place!
- More Missions (Weekly/Seasonal): The Mission System is getting an overhaul! Daily missions are removed (rewards moved), Weekly missions persist longer, and new Season-long missions are added (and repeatable!). This gives players more flexibility and more ways to earn rewards and acquire heroes unlocked in this free to play system.
- Discord Integration: Season 3 adds official Discord integration! Connect your account to see friends, chat in/out of game, and coordinate your team before jumping into adventurous team battles.
So there you have it – the confirmed roadmap for Marvel Rivals: The Abyss Awakens Season 3! A ton of new content, balance changes, and features are on the horizon, constantly shaping this continually evolving Marvel universe and offering infinite possibilities to fight! Keep an eye out for more details as the season launch approaches, and get ready to play free!
Until the next one, happy Rifling!
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does the new Marvel Rivals season, “The Abyss Awakens,” begin?
Get ready, agents, because the guide clearly states that the brand new Season 3 for Marvel Rivals, officially titled “The Abyss Awakens,” is scheduled to launch on July 11, 2025. This date marks the official start of the season, bringing all the new heroes, content, balance changes, and events mentioned in the guide into the game for players to experience.
What is the main theme and overall feeling or concept for Season 3?
The theme for Season 3 is “The Abyss Awakens,” and the guide emphasizes that it’s a departure from previous seasonal vibes. If you were hoping for something sunny or involving swimsuits, you should “think again.” The season is described as swapping “sunscreen for symbiotes,” indicating a strong focus on that part of the Marvel universe. It’s characterized as diving “headfirst into something a little more… dark and slimy,” leading the guide to playfully suggest “Hot Girl Summer? More like Hostgirl Summer” as a way to capture the symbiotic, slightly darker tone of this new season.
How long will this specific Season 3 last, and how does its duration compare to prior seasons?
Season 3, “The Abyss Awakens,” is notable because it’s changing the pacing of the game’s seasonal structure. The guide explicitly states that this will be the game’s first ever two-month season. Previous seasons, as mentioned in the guide, lasted for three months. This means Season 3 will be a full month shorter, leading to a faster overall pace for content releases, particularly for new heroes as highlighted in the text.
Which brand new super heroes are confirmed by the guide to be joining the game’s roster in Season 3?
The guide confirms that the roster will expand significantly with the arrival of two new characters. Based on the recent trailer, two exciting additions are joining the existing “all star Marvel squad” from across the multiverse. These two confirmed new super heroes for Season 3 are Phoenix (Jean Grey) and Blade.
Will both Phoenix and Blade be available to play immediately when Season 3 launches?
No, the guide specifies that the two new heroes will be released sequentially during the season. Phoenix (Jean Grey) is the one who is set to arrive first, making her debut right at the season start on July 11th. She will be the initial new super hero available for players to try out in “The Abyss Awakens.”
Since Phoenix is coming first, when is Blade expected to be released during the season?
Players eager to play as Blade will need to wait a bit longer into the season. The guide states that Blade will be “stepping out of the shadows” later in Season 3, specifically in August. He is noted as being the second new super hero introduced during the two-month duration of the season, following Phoenix’s launch in July.
What is Phoenix (Jean Grey)’s designated role in the game, and what are some details about her abilities and unique mechanics as described?
Phoenix (Jean Grey) is joining the roster as a brand new Ranged Duelist. She’s described as the first new super hero for the Abyss season in this role. Her kit is said to be focused on area damage and sustain, with an ability to “prey on grouped-up enemies.” She introduces a “spicy new ‘Spark’ chain-reaction mechanic”: her attacks build Spark stacks on enemies, and once they reach 3 stacks, they trigger an explosion for extra damage while simultaneously providing her with a heal-over-time effect, functioning like lifesteal. The guide also mentions she has a typical duelist health pool of 275 HP and a semi-auto hitscan attack, previewed with a 12-round ammo capacity. Her Telekinesis Burst is noted for stunning/slowing groups and breaking deployables. Her ultimate ability is called a “game-changer,” allowing her to fly up and crash down in an inferno, dealing massive damage and sending out a shockwave that can destroy all enemy summons, shields, and deployable constructs in range, providing “creative environment destruction tear” against things like Groot’s walls or Rocket’s beacons.
How exactly do players unlock or gain access to the new heroes like Phoenix and Blade once they become available?
The guide reinforces that Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game. You don’t need to make a separate purchase for these new characters. Players will be able to acquire these heroes unlocked simply by playing the game for free and earning progression through the game’s standard systems, adding more options to the available roster as they play adventurous team battles.
Will any of the currently existing Unique Team Up skills be removed or changed with the start of Season 3?
Yes, the guide confirms that to keep the game dynamics fresh, the unique teamup skills will continue to evolve, with some favorites “cycl[ing] out.” In Season 3, specifically, two existing teamups will be departing: the one involving Squirrel Girl and Spider-Man, known as the “ESU Alumnus” teamup, and the combination of Human Torch and Storm, which is titled “Storming Ignition.”
Can you list and briefly describe some of the new Unique Team Up skills that are being added in Season 3?
The guide details four exciting new unique teamup skills designed to shake things up and bring “unexpected fun”:
Phoenix + Wolverine (“Primal Flame”): With Phoenix as the anchor, Wolverine’s Feral Leap transforms into “Phoenix Warrior,” making him wreathed in flames that burn nearby enemies over time and giving him lifesteal on all his abilities.
Human Torch + Spider-Man (“Ever-Burning Bond”): Spider-Man gains “Inferno Blast,” a flaming web attack that deals AoE damage and applies a “Burning Tracer” debuff, which can stack with other tracers for brutal combos.
Iron Man + Ultron + Squirrel Girl (“Stark Protocol”): Squirrel Girl joins the tech team, gifted a nano-tech gauntlet by Iron Man for “Squirrel Missile,” a homing squirrel that explodes on impact (the devs confirm the squirrel jumps off first!).
Venom + Jeff the Land Shark + Hela (“Symbiote Shenanigans”): Hela’s soul orb is infused to lash out “Hel Tendrils” that link enemies together with symbiote tentacles, offensively slowing and pulling them, described as similar to Jeff’s healing link but with an offensive purpose.
Based on the guide, which specific heroes are receiving balance nerfs (adjustments that make them weaker) in Season 3?
The guide provides a sneak peek at key hero adjustments, noting several nerfs. Heroes mentioned as being nerfed include: Emma Frost (slightly toned down damage and Diamond Form damage reduction, e.g., Telepathic Pulse from 150 to 140), Iron Man (reduced Repulsor Blast poke damage, increased Ultimate cost), Punisher (reduced Turret and Spell Field damage, increased Ultimate cost), Mr. Fantastic (reduced Inflated bonus health), Adam Warlock (increased cooldown on his Guardian Revival Team-Up), Ultron (slight reduction to Dynamic Flight duration and Firewall shield health), and Loki (increased Ultimate cost from 4000 to 4300).
And according to the guide, which heroes are receiving balance buffs (adjustments that make them stronger) in Season 3?
The guide also lists several heroes who are receiving buffs to make them more effective or survivable. Heroes mentioned as being buffed are: The Thing (gets a new ability and a buff to Stone Haymaker), Venom (increased Cellular Corrosion slow from 15% to 25%), Namor (increased Trident damage and projectile speed), Scarlet Witch (increased Ultimate damage, though her slow is slightly reduced, resulting in a net stronger Ult), and Mantis (Healing Flower gets a passive heal-over-time, and her Ultimate grants more bonus HP on revive, increasing from 100 to 150, although it costs more energy).
What are some of the particularly significant or notable buffs that The Thing is receiving in the Season 3 update?
The guide highlights The Thing as receiving significant buffs. He gains a new ability called “Battle Blitz,” which is a leap that comes with Damage Reduction. Furthermore, his Stone Haymaker ability is being improved so that it can now knock flying enemies out of the sky. The guide points out that this is a much-needed tool for Vanguards like The Thing to counter aerial Duelists like Iron Man, explicitly stating that he can now “unleash gamma energy” with this new move to “clobber flyers,” offering a crucial strategic advantage.
What is the official name of the Season 3 Battle Pass, and how is it adjusted given the shorter season length?
The seasonal Battle Pass for Season 3 is officially named the Power of the Phoenix Battle Pass. It features 10 costumes. Since Season 3 is a shorter, two-month season compared to the previous three-month ones, the guide mentions a specific adjustment: the amount of Chrono Tokens you receive through the Battle Pass has been boosted. This adjustment is made specifically to ensure that players can still earn all the available rewards within this free-to-play experience during the reduced duration of the season.
What are the main visual themes for the character skins that are featured in the Season 3 Battle Pass?
The cosmetic lineup in “The Abyss Awakens” Battle Pass offers a clear visual contrast, focusing on two main themes for the skins. These are the darker, fluid Symbiote designs and the fiery, perhaps more intricate Phoenix looks. The guide notes that the Symbiote styles appear to be quite popular, with a feeling that they might generally edge out some of the Phoenix-themed ones, possibly due to a less ‘busy’ design aesthetic.
Which specific characters are mentioned in the guide as definitely receiving Symbiote-themed skins in Season 3?
The guide confirms Symbiote styles or skins for several characters that seem to be hitting well with players. These include Rocket Raccoon, Jeff the Baby Land Shark (whose specific trailer look is called “particularly good” and a “really strong entry”), and Squirrel Girl (whose skin seems to be landing well). The classic Symbiote Spider-Man skin adaptation is also discussed extensively, noted as a “classic look” that is always a topic of conversation, with passionate defenders arguing strongly that it’s “absolutely not a bad skin” and would be defended to the end, praised for being “drippy” and good despite minor debate over details like the eyes.
Can you explain what the new “Accessories System” is and how players will acquire items through it?
The Accessories System is introduced as a new cosmetic feature coming in Season 3. It will allow players to acquire hero-specific cosmetic items. The method for getting these items is by earning Accessory Points after matches. The guide gives an example of what these items might be, mentioning the possibility of getting something like a tiny Potted Groot for the Groot character. It’s also hinted that these items might contain cool callbacks to potential future heroes.
How is the overall Mission System being updated or changed with the launch of Season 3?
The guide announces that the Mission System is getting an overhaul in Season 3. The most significant changes are the removal of Daily missions entirely (though their rewards are being moved elsewhere in the game), making Weekly missions persist longer than before to give players more time to complete them, and the addition of brand new Season-long missions which will be repeatable. This restructuring is intended to provide players with more flexibility in how they approach earning rewards and acquiring unlocked heroes within the free-to-play system.
What kind of updates are coming to the game’s user interface (UI) or visual effects in Season 3?
Season 3 is bringing several UI and visual improvements. A revamped post-match results screen is coming, designed to consolidate a summary of your XP, mission progress, and earned rewards all in one place. There’s also a “Flexible MVP Screens” update, which is a Quality of Life improvement allowing you to equip any MVP victory screen you’ve unlocked onto any costume for that specific hero. Furthermore, certain skins will receive New Ultimate Ability VFX (visual effects), and importantly, these are implemented to be visible only to the player using the skin and spectators, specifically to avoid causing visual clutter during active matches.
Is there any news provided in the guide regarding competitive play, esports events, or tournaments for Season 3?
Yes, the guide includes exciting news on the esports front for Marvel Rivals. Season 3 will feature the First-Ever Marvel Rivals LAN Tournament. This marks a significant milestone for the competitive scene as it will be the game’s first in-person tournament. The guide states that winners from the regional Ignite playoffs will gather for this event, which is set to take place in Hangzhou, China, calling it a “huge step for the competitive scene” in the Marvel multiverse.
