NetEase has been keeping Marvel Rivals in the hero-shooter spotlight well into 2026, and the Season 1.5 update that landed on February 21, 2025 remains a standout example of why. That patch added two more members of the Fantastic Four to the lineup: The Thing and the Human Torch. One is a walking geology exhibit with a pilot’s license, and the other is a hot-headed flying flamethrower who treats every battlefield like his personal barbecue. Fans who expected a quiet patch clearly forgot that Johnny Storm’s ego needs its own zip code.

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The Thing Joins the Frontline as a Vanguard

For a hero whose personality can be summarized as grumpy boulder with a heart of gold, The Thing fits the Vanguard role like a glove made of granite. According to NetEase, Ben Grimm originally signed up to be a pilot for his pal Reed, but a little cosmic ray exposure turned him into the kind of monster that makes sidewalks nervous. Despite the rocky exterior, the game makes it clear his heart is still beating underneath all that stone. In Season 1.5, The Thing is not just a damage sponge; he is a selfless protector who uses his piloting skills to lead missions and collect Chronovium. Players can expect him to anchor the frontline, absorb punishment, and probably grumble about it the entire match.

His responsibilities in the patch can be broken down like this:

Hero Role Vibe Main Job
The Thing Vanguard Grumpy rock uncle Protect New York, punch problems, collect Chronovium
Human Torch Duelist Flaming diva Burn Dracula’s legions, scout the city, look fantastic while doing it

The Thing’s arrival fills a need for players who love being the immovable object in a game full of very movable squishies. His kit screams frontline disruption and durability, even if his social skills scream leave me alone.

Human Torch Turns Up the Temperature as a Duelist

Johnny Storm has never met a situation he could not make about himself, and Marvel Rivals leans into that perfectly. The Human Torch arrives as a Duelist, which means he is all about dealing damage and leaving a trail of scorch marks that would make a fire marshal weep. NetEase describes him as the Fantastic Four’s resident hothead heartthrob, which is corporate speak for he will absolutely steal your kill and then ask if you saw it.

The official patch framing paints him as someone who joined his sister on a wild experimental space mission hoping to visit the stars, only to become the brightest star of them all. In battle, he ignites his entire body and unleashes scorching flames that make the sun look like a nightlight. When he is not busy burning Dracula’s legions, he is soaring across New York to gather Chronovium and scavenge parts for the Timestream Reintegration Device. That is a lot of multitasking for a guy who probably stops mid-flight to check his reflection in a skyscraper window.

Season 1.5 Also Shakes Up Ranked and Balance

New heroes are the headline, but NetEase did not forget the behind-the-scenes tweaks. Season 1.5 changes how rank resets are handled, which should make competitive players either very happy or very suspicious depending on how their last ranked grind ended. There are also the usual gameplay adjustments that arrive with any major patch, meaning some heroes will rise, some will fall, and someone on the internet will declare the game unplayable within 45 minutes.

One of the most anticipated changes is a likely nerf to Cloak & Dagger. The character’s usage rate on both consoles and PC has been absurdly high, so the nerf bat was practically hovering over their head like a cartoon anvil. Players who mained Cloak & Dagger may need a moment to process their grief, but everyone else will probably enjoy seeing a little more variety in matches.

Here is a quick breakdown of what Season 1.5 delivered:

  • 🧱 The Thing as a Vanguard tank with protective instincts and a piloting background.

  • 🔥 Human Torch as a flying Duelist with sky-high damage and sky-high self-esteem.

  • 🏆 Rank reset changes to smooth out competitive progression.

  • ⚖️ Balance adjustments, including a heavily hinted Cloak & Dagger nerf.

The Fantastic Four Roster Is Finally Complete

With these two additions, Marvel Rivals finally has the full Fantastic Four lineup in the game. Fans can now field Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm together, which is fantastic news for anyone who enjoys family bickering mixed with cosmic-level violence. The Season 1.5 patch also proves NetEase is serious about post-release support. The developer keeps adding heroes, adjusting systems, and keeping the game fresh well into 2026, which is more than many live-service titles can claim.

From a gameplay perspective, The Thing and Human Torch bring very different flavors. One is a slow-moving wall of muscle and minerals. The other is a fast-moving burst of flame and narcissism. Together, they round out the Fantastic Four beautifully and give players new ways to annoy their teammates in ranked matches. If the rest of Season 1.5 is anything like this opening, Marvel Rivals is about to get a whole lot hotter and a whole lot rockier.

Whether players are crashing into enemies as a boulder-based tank or dive-bombing objectives as a human firework, one thing is certain: the party never stops in Marvel Rivals, and NetEase clearly has no intention of letting it cool down.