The *Marvel Rivals* universe is expanding with the addition of The Thing and Human Torch to The Fantastic Four team, set to become playable characters on February 21, 2025. This exciting news comes as part of the second half of Season 1, promising an update that, while still under wraps, will bring "major balance adjustments" according to a Dev Talk blog post on the Marvel Rivals website.

Although the exact abilities of The Thing and Human Torch remain a mystery, fans are eager to see how these iconic heroes will influence the game's dynamics. Following the introduction of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman last month, who brought unique mechanics to the game—Reed Richards with his stretchy, goofy attacks and Sue Storm with her invisibility—the arrival of Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm is highly anticipated. Hopefully, NetEase will showcase their gameplay soon.

The upcoming Season 1 update will also reset the ranks of competitive players, dropping them four divisions. For instance, a Diamond I player on February 20 will find themselves at Platinum II the following day. NetEase has outlined that future full-season updates will result in a six-division drop, while mid-season updates will stick with a four-division drop. The company plans to adjust this system based on player feedback to enhance the Ranked experience.

For those in the Gold rank, there’s something to look forward to with new costume rewards launching alongside the second half of Season 1. Additionally, new Crests of Honor will be introduced to celebrate top-tier players at Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All levels (the top 500).

Superhero enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting further details on *Marvel Rivals*' post-launch strategy, and The Fantastic Four's expansion is just the start. Last month, creative director Guangyun Chen stirred excitement by promising to release a new playable character every half-season. This means a new Marvel hero will join the fray approximately every six weeks, keeping the community engaged throughout the seasonal updates. There's evidence suggesting that the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade might be the next addition, although rumors and leaks have sparked debates among players about what the future holds.

While awaiting the mid-season update, check out our current Marvel Rivals Season 1 tier list to discover the best characters. You can also review how the original Season 1 patch reshaped the game's meta and understand why the community was stirred by discussions around Marvel Rivals' alleged bot issue.