Just as Season 1 started, Marvel Rivals’ first objective was to put the whole Fantastic Four squad in the mix of an already diverse hero pool. It already started with the couple ‘Mister Fantastic’ Reed Richards, and the ‘Invisible Woman’ Sue Storm.
So where’s The Thing and Johnny?
On February 21, the mid-season update will see the clobbering giant ‘The Thing’ Benjamin Grimm and the cocky high-flying ‘Human Torch’ Johnny Storm in action as a vanguard and a duelist, respectively.
It’s clobberin’ time as The Thing enters Marvel Rivals
As the ninth vanguard to be added and the first since Marvel Rivals’ launch, The Thing is already looking to shake things up and be a favorite in a meta that sees the Incredible Hulk as an automatic ban in competitive mode.
Known for his rock-hard exterior and immense strength, he first appeared in the comics in 1961 during The Fantastic Four issue #1.
The Thing will be a front-lining brawler-type vanguard that seeks to wreak havoc with its abilities.
Ben’s abilities include a variety of mobile attacks and area-of-effect skills.
Abilities
- Unyielding Will (Passive) – Resistant to forms of displacement like being launched, knockbacks, etc.
- Rocky Jab- Quickly thrust a punch forward.
- Stone Haymaker – Execute a powerful Heavy Blow.
- Embattled Leap – Leap towards your teammate, providing damage reduction for both of you.
- Yancy Street Charge – Charge forward continuously, sending enemies airborne and creating a zone at your final position that disables mobility abilities.
- Clobberin’ Time (Ultimate) – Unleash tremendous power to propel all enemies in front of you into the air.
Two team-up abilities can be possible for The Thing; one includes the whole Fantastic Four Team called ‘Cooperative Comrades.’ Once activated, this ability allows them to continuously regenerate Bonus Health, gradually recovering any lost Health over time. It utilizes the Invisible Woman’s Psionic Might that significantly boosts and grants damage resistance to Mister Fantastic, The Thing, and Human Torch.
Somewhat of a mirror passive, The Thing can also lift Wolverine with the Hulk called ‘Cosmic Fastball’ and throw him into enemy backlines.
The question is: can he be a meta pick as an alternate for the Hulk or just a fan favorite that will be a niche pick?
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Flame on!
Classified as a duelist, the high-octane flying and fiery style of combat Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch, is the 20th addition to a saturated duelist hero pool.
The brother of the Invisible Woman, Johnny is the second duelist in the Fantastic Four team, alongside Reed.
The Human Torch’s kit is tricky, but like Iron Man, his priority will be mobility.
As it focuses on fire and agility, Human Torch is an elusive hero with a combination of damage and destruction.
Abilities:
- Fire Cluster (Primary Attack): Launches a fireball that can divide into several smaller projectiles.
- Plasma Body: Press LSHIFT to activate a rapid ascent mode.
- Blazing Blast: Fires a fireball that creates a flame field at the specified location.
- Pyro Prison: Links flame fields to create a firewall that inflicts burning damage on foes.
- Flaming Meteor: Dives down to the ground, stunning nearby enemies.
- Supernova (Ultimate): Releases shockwaves that damage enemies within range. During this ability, the flame field transforms into a fire tornado.
A unique team-up ability is seen when paired with fellow duelist Storm, as she can absorb one of Human Torch’s fire tornadoes into her ultimate ability to enhance her hurricane.
This amplification of a fiery version of both ultimates is called “Omega Fire,” as Storm is also an omega-level mutant.
The patch notes said the mid-season update will also introduce a new convoy map where a payload into Dracula’s headquarters inside New York’s Central Park called ‘Empire of Eternal Night: Central Park.’
Now that the family is complete, what’s next for Marvel Rivals in the coming seasons?