They’re about to make a name for themselves here.
Marvel Rivals Season 5 has been officially unveiled, courtesy of a new Dev. Vision video update from NetEase Games. The season features two new playable heroes in the mutants Rogue and Gambit, along with a massive 36-player game mode, new team-up abilities, anniversary gifts, and a Times Square-themed player hub.
Marvel Rivals Season 5’s new playable heroes: Rogue and Gambit
NetEase Games originally hid a tease for Marvel Rivals’ next playable heroes in a blog post update, but this week’s reveal confirms it: we’re getting Rogue and Gambit as playable characters in Season 5. The duo sport their iconic comicbook outfits in the Season 5 trailer, which teases their impending wedding.
Gambit will kick off the season as a new Strategist hero launching this week, supporting his teammates with heals and the ability to cleanse debuffs. He can also deal damage with his Chronovium-enhanced playing cards by knocking enemies back and dealing anti-heal. His ultimate involves him throwing cards at all nearby allies, buffing their movement and attacks.
Rogue’s in-game role is currently unknown, but we’ll likely learn more about the upcoming hero closer to her Season 5.5 launch next month. Interestingly, a post from X-Men '97 actor A.J. LoCascio has confirmed that he will reprise his role as Gambit in Marvel Rivals. The post also seemingly confirms that co-star Lenore Zann will reprise her role as Rogue in-game as well.
New Marvel Rivals Season 5 game mode and maps
This season is also introducing a brand-new 18v18 game mode, as the largest playable mode introduced to Marvel Rivals yet. This Conquest-style mode will be set in an all-new map called Grand Garden, specifically designed to house 36-player matches.
Another new map is coming this season, set in Times Square, New York. This combat-free player hub will allow up to 100 players to simply hang out together, do emotes, and seemingly even read comicbooks–judging by the Marvel Unlimited signage spotted on the map. Marvel Unlimited is Marvel Comics’ digital comic subscription service.
Marvel Rivals one-year anniversary content
Marvel Rivals is heading into its one-year anniversary this week, and NetEase is marking the occasion with some free goodies. All players will get 2,500 Units and a free Legendary Jeff the Land Shark skin during the game’s anniversary event. Players will also be able to pick up some birthday party-themed skins for other heroes like Blade, Psylocke, and Venom.
Season 5 team-up ability changes and additions
Marvel Rivals Season 5 is adding new team-up abilities to the mix, with one particularly diabolical addition involving Gambit and Magneto: Explosive Entanglement. This ability sees Gambit supercharge Magneto’s barrier and attacks with kinetic energy–despite them both vying for Rogue’s affection once upon a time.
Cloak & Dagger and Hawkeye are also getting a new team-up called Sword of Duality, while Moon Knight and Blade get the team-up Blade of Khonshu. Black Widow is also joining Phoenix and Wolverine for the existing Primal Flame team-up, but the team-ups Luna Force and Operation Microchip are being removed entirely.
Cross-progression arrives in Season 5
Cross-platform progression is landing in Season 5, allowing all players to keep the skins, emotes, and various items they’ve unlocked across all their gaming platforms. However, their competitive progress in Ranked modes will remain specific to each platform.
Marvel Rivals Season 5 hero balance changes
While official patch notes haven’t been released just yet, the Dev Vision video has detailed a few balance changes coming to the game. Vanguards like Captain America and Peni Parker are getting buffed up, along with certain Duelists like Spider-Man and Wolverine. Loki and Cloak & Dagger are also getting buffed in the Strategist role.
Competitive changes in ranked mode
Players will also be treated to a few competitive changes starting in Season 5. This season, players will have to play 10 placement matches to establish their starting competitive rank. This rank will also carry over to Season 5.5, providing that players actually complete all 10 of those placement matches. The number of players who can queue for matches together will also now be limited, depending on their rank.
Marvel Rivals Season 5 launches on 14 November, 2025.
