Who’s getting buffed (or nerfed) in Marvel Rivals Season 8?
NetEase Games has released Marvel Rivals’ Dev. Vision Vol. 17, diving into the upcoming new heroes and gameplay changes coming to Season 8: Sins of Alchemax later this week. While the season’s two new playable characters, Devil Dinosaur and Cyclops, have been revealed, we now have more details on upcoming balance changes and story content.
Marvel Rivals Season 8 storyline explained
Marvel Rivals Season 8 picks up from the end of Season 7, with the Gilded Saint making good on their promise to Kingpin to rid New York City of the Time Plague. However, the “root of the rot,” Alchemax Headquarters, has remained. A red Chronovium, powered by what appears to be an imprisoned Cyclops, shielded the building from the purge.
Cyclops was taken into captivity along with Moon Girl, and the latter’s companion Devil Dinosaur has just received a distress call from the Monster Kingdom about it. Now, it looks like Devil Dinosaur is entering the fray to free his friend–and Cyclops too, while he’s at it.
Is Cyclops coming in Marvel Rivals Season 8.5?
Devil Dinosaur will make his debut first in Marvel Rivals Season 8 this Friday, with Cyclops following one month after in Season 8.5. Devil Dinosaur will be a Vanguard character, relying on his massive physique and forcefield shield to brawl with enemies on the frontline. He can also use primal bites to inflict a continuous bleeding status effect on enemies.
Devil Dinosaur can shred exposed prey, and temporarily clamp his jaws to lock bleeding enemies in place. The character’s ultimate ability will transform him into a behemoth (he appears to be smaller in-game than in the comics), charging forward to trample enemies in his path.
All-new content in Marvel Rivals Season 8, including new Alchemax map
Marvel Rivals Season 8 is getting a new Doom Match map called Alchemax Headquarters, launching after a 28 May, 2026 update. New accessories are also coming for Devil Dinosaur, The Thing, Angela, Black Widow, Hela, Namor, and the Punisher. College student perks will also include more new cosmetics, so long as they verify their university email.
Marvel Rivals’ PC client is also separating its High-Resolution Pack as separate DLC, allowing players to uninstall the pack to free up 35GB of storage.
Marvel Rivals Season 8 team-up changes
One new team-up is coming to Marvel Rivals in Season 8:
- Primal Punishment (Devil Dinosaur & The Punisher): The Punisher can ride Devil Dinosaur on his back. During this team-up, the Punisher can only use his main weapons and the Scourge Grenade. He will also receive damage reduction, and all his damage and healing received will be shared with Devil Dinosaur.
Marvel Rivals Season 8 balance changes
More balance changes will accompany the launch of Marvel Rivals Season 8. Here’s a list of heroes getting buffed in Season 8:
- Emma Frost (Telepathic Pulse will decay more slowly after reaching full energy, Mind’s Aegis cooldown is reduced, and Diamond form damage reduction is increased)
- The Thing (slight maximum health increase)
- Iron Fist (Dragon’s Defense cooldown decreased with use of Jeet Kune Do)
- Mister Fantastic (better damage and defense)
- Star-Lord
- Wolverine
- Squirrel Girl
- Moon Knight
- Spider-Man
- Mantis (added baseline movement speed buff)
- Rocket Raccoon (Ultimate ability buffed)
- White Fox (Ultimate ability buffed)
Additionally, here’s a list of heroes getting nerfed in Season 8:
- Vanguard Deadpool (less gun damage)
- Mister Fantastic (nerfed crowd control abilities)
- Invisible Woman (nerfed crowd control abilities)
- Mantis (lowered damage-boosting)
These are just early patch notes for now, so stay tuned for further details on these changes when the official patch notes for Season 8 drop. Marvel Rivals Season 8 launches on 15 May, 2026.
Check out our coverage of the season’s new heroes, Cyclops and Devil Dinosaur, here.
