In Short:
- In Marvel Rivals, each character is backed by unique lore and history, enhancing the dynamic gameplay with compelling stories
- Characters like Dracula, Morbius, and Blade, who aren’t playable, are also featured in the lore sections of Marvel Rivals
- Through its lore and character interactions, Marvel Rivals teases the presence of characters such as Knull, Odin, Drax, Okoye, and more
Marvel Rivals: 10 Characters Featured In Marvel Rivals
With the growing roster of Marvel characters in Marvel Rivals, it’s clear that the game is on track to feature beloved heroes from across the franchise.
Each character comes with unique lore and history, all set against a backdrop of dynamic maps, seasonal updates, and in-game events.
The lore that particularly enriches the gameplay of Marvel Rivals, providing context for why heroes engage in battles. These stories fuel the action, offering a deeper understanding of the conflicts between the characters.
The kind of dialogue throughout the hero shooter mentions several other Marvel characters by name. However, these characters aren’t playable… at least for the time being.
(10). Dracula
In the lore of many characters, there happen to be a few references to vampires and the heroes’ efforts to combat them as they invaded the city.
This vampire conflict is particularly significant for several heroes, such as Spider-Man and Cloak and Dagger, who were battling the creatures after the Doom vs. Doom 2099 event.
If you take a look into Spider-Man’s “Unfriendly Neighborhood” lore, Dracula confronts Spider-Man, Blade, and The Human Torch. The story ends with Dracula pulling Blade into the night, leaving Spider-Man unaware of what happened to his companion.
(9). Morbius
Morbius makes a brief appearance in the lore of Marvel Rivals, particularly when Squirrel Girl and Spider-Man team up. During their conversation, Spider-Man mentions the vampire invasion that recently struck New York.
In the final moments of the conversation, Spider-Man reveals that Morbius joined the fight to help fight off Dracula’s vampires. As a result, Morbius is now considered a part of the Marvel Rivals universe.
(8). Blade
Blade, who seems to be the ideal hero to defend New York from vampires, also appears in Spider-Man’s “Unfriendly Neighborhood.”. Spider-Man decides not to assist Spider-Zero and chooses to remain in New York to battle the vampires.
The trio takes on Dracula’s minions, but soon Dracula himself emerges. With little effort, he defeats the heroes. Just as Blade rescues Spider-Man, Dracula captures him and drags him to his castle.
(7). Knull
With Klyntar being one of the maps in Marvel Rivals, it’s only logical that Knull is mentioned within the game. He is referenced several times throughout the game.
In Venom’s lore, “Betray The Umbra,” Venom teams up with Magik to defeat Knull, eventually working alongside Adam Warlock in their mission.
Venom finds the Necrosword, which is lodged in the side of a Celestial. Knull is also referenced in Hela’s lore, “Messenger of the Abyss,” where the two vie for dominance over the Celestials.
(6). Odin
Odin, Thor’s father, is featured in Marvel Rivals through the character lore pages. The most notable reference to Odin appears in Adam Warlock’s tale. In “Golden Sail,” Adam Warlock is resting in his cocoon when he hears a voice calling his very own name.
The voice that you can imagine calling out to Adam Warlock is revealed to be Odin, who speaks to him as they both remain in a deep slumber while the multiverse is at risk.
In this moment, fans learn that Loki has taken over Yggdrasil, one of Marvel Rivals’ maps, and that Knull is a looming threat. Adam Warlock then pledges to put an end to Knull’s rule.
(5). Drax
Although only select members of the Guardians of the Galaxy appear in the Marvel Rivals roster, Gamora and Drax are excluded. However, Drax is mentioned a few times in connection with the other Guardians.
During a dialogue between Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord remarks that Drax will be annoyed for not being part of the action.
In yet another exchange between Mantis and Rocket Raccoon, Rocket mentions that he’ll contact Drax for a jailbreak. These references have fans hoping that one day The Destroyer will join the hero shooter.
(4). Okoye
Marvel Rivals hints at the presence of Wakandan heroes like Shuri and Okoye. On the Imperial Dueling Ground map in Wakanda, Okoye’s armor is displayed on a wall. When players interact with it, a message from Okoye plays
When players interact with Okoye’s armor, they unlock the “Shero of Wakanda” achievement. Although this is Okoye’s primary appearance in the game, it serves as an essential action for players aiming to complete their tasks.
(3). Danny Rand
When news broke that Iron Fist would be joining Marvel Rivals, many fans expected Danny Rand to be the character, as it seemed like the obvious choice. However, to their surprise, the game introduced Lin Lie as Iron Fist, a character who is also known as Swordmaster in the famous Marvel Comics.
During an exchange of words between Iron Fist and Moon Knight, Moon Knight notes that Lin Lie isn’t the Iron Fist he’s familiar with, prompting Lin Lie to ask, “Were you expecting Danny Rand?” Furthermore, upon entering the game, Lin Lie acknowledges the other Iron Fists, confidently claiming that he will be the greatest of them all.
(2). Kate Bishop
Kate Bishop happens to be quite a significant figure in both Hawkeye and Jeff the Land Shark’s lives, and she’s mentioned throughout their lore and dialogues.
In one interaction between Jeff and Hawkeye in the spawn room, Hawkeye notes that Kate is looking worried regarding Jeff.
In Jeff’s tale, “Sharknado,” Kate is mentioned briefly as Jeff remembers a trip to the zoo with her. Later in the story, as Jeff contemplates how his friends might react to his situation, he imagines Kate would likely use an explosive arrow to help him get out.
(1). Charles Xavier
As X-Men characters already present in the Marvel Rivals roster, it’s only natural that Charles Xavier would be referenced in the Mutants’ lore. In Magneto’s lore, “Trial of Magneto,” Charles Xavier is briefly mentioned when Magneto can be seen assembling Cerebro.
Charles Xavier is basically referenced in a more significant way. Storm experiences a powerful presence and feels the urge to share it with Xavier, believing their visions align. However, she reflects on where the professor might be, given the current state of the multiversal upheaval.
Marvel Rivals
| Franchise | Marvel Rivals |
| Release Date | December 6, 2024 |
| ESRB | Violence // T For Teen |
| Developer(s) | NetEase Games |
| Platform(s) | PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox Series X|S Release Date | December 6, 2024 |
| PS5 Release Date | December 6, 2024 |
| PC Release Date | December 6, 2024 |
| OpenCritic Rating | Strong |
| Multiplayer | Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer |
