"The Thing and Human Torch Set for Marvel Rivals February Release"

The excitement around Marvel Rivals is set to soar as The Fantastic Four team will be completed with the addition of The Thing and Human Torch as playable characters on February 21, 2025. This thrilling update was announced today, revealing that these iconic heroes will join the fray alongside the much-anticipated Season 1.5 update. While details on the specifics of this mid-season patch remain under wraps, a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website has teased "major balance adjustments," hinting at significant changes to the game's dynamics.

As for the new heroes, The Thing and Human Torch, fans are eager to see how these beloved characters will bring their unique abilities to the game's roster. Following the introduction of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman at the start of Season 1, who brought innovative gameplay mechanics with Reed Richards' stretchy and goofy attacks and Sue Storm's invisibility, expectations are high for what Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm will offer. NetEase is expected to reveal more gameplay footage soon, keeping the community engaged and excited.

The upcoming Season 1 update will also shake up the competitive scene with a rank reset. On February 21, all Ranked players will see their ranks drop by four divisions. For instance, a Diamond I player will find themselves in Platinum II the following day. NetEase has outlined future plans for rank adjustments, stating that new seasons will feature a six-division drop, while half-season updates will result in a four-division drop. As the game evolves, NetEase promises to "tune this as necessary" to meet player expectations.

Despite the rank reset, there's good news for competitive players, especially those in the Gold rank, who can look forward to new costume rewards with the launch of the second half of Season 1. Additionally, NetEase will introduce new Crests of Honor to celebrate top-tier players at Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All levels (the top 500).

The anticipation for Marvel Rivals' future content has been palpable, with fans eagerly awaiting news on post-launch plans. The addition of The Fantastic Four is just the beginning, as creative director Guangyun Chen has promised to release a new playable character every half-season. This means players can expect a new Marvel hero roughly every six weeks, ensuring a constant stream of fresh content and excitement. There's evidence to suggest the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade may be next in line, though rumors and leaks have fueled debates among players about what's to come.

While you wait for the mid-season update to shake things up, you can check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to see which characters are currently dominating the meta. This will give you insights into the best strategies to adopt as you prepare for the changes that the Season 1.5 update will bring. Additionally, revisiting how the original Season 1 patch transformed the meta and understanding the community's response to the alleged bot issue will keep you well-informed and ready for what lies ahead in Marvel Rivals.