As Marvel Rivals gamers plot how they’ll use the Human Torch to smoke enemy groups when he arrives alongside a mid-season replace later this week, others are already anxious the fiery Fantastic Four member might be overpowered at launch.
NetEase Games pulled again the curtain on its subsequent Duelist hero addition yesterday, revealing a primary have a look at how Johnny Storm’s gameplay will mild up the Marvel Rivals battlefield. While it’s straightforward to have a look at issues like flight as standout options for the character, there are a couple of particular talents which have gamers frightened of Human Torch takeovers as soon as the Season 1.5 replace launches February 21.
Concerns in regards to the fire-based Marvel hero’s affect actually kicked off when content material creator Necros shared an early peek at some of the character’s abilities. It was right here gamers obtained a more in-depth have a look at how the Pyro Prison capability, which permits Human Torch to burn enemies inside a sure space, can be utilized to regulate a match. In brief, Pyro Prison’s attain can prolong throughout large parts of a stage, inflicting fixed harm to any enemy who steps within the affected location. It’s not an insignificant quantity of injury both, because the viral clip reveals coaching vary bots shedding well being at a staggering tempo.
Holy… Human Torch’s Flame Walls does harm to EVERYTHING contained in the partitions.. #MarvelRivals pic.twitter.com/yDcnZsVebf
— Cozy (@ACozyGamer) February 18, 2025
There’s additionally Human Torch’s team-up ability with Storm, which permits the X-Men hero to create a large hearth twister. The transfer appears to be one in every of Marvel Rivals’ stronger team-up strikes, and though we don’t know precisely how efficient will probably be in your common match, there are many gamers already anxious about operating into this precise technique for the following few weeks. X/Twitter person @xBattledR0id is satisfied this implies we’ll see Human Torch “perma banned” in upper-tier aggressive video games out of the gate.
“I’m simply being sincere,” they added in a follow-up post. “Between this and the Storm team-up there might be only a few video games the place he is not banned.”
that is completely getting nerfed inside every week😭
— Nery (@sadwestgoatfan) February 19, 2025
This capability seems to be prefer it was designed to smash friendships
— leila🏳️⚧️ (@Transsleila) February 19, 2025
yea bro by no means seeing the sunshine in ban section
— Cuhso (@vummrs) February 19, 2025
Making issues worse is Human Torch’s capability to fly, a function that has already had gamers frightened of Iron Man assaults from the sky since launch. As with any live-service title, new character additions will draw consideration from gamers no matter their most popular playstyle. In different phrases, anticipate to see numerous Johnny Storms lighting up matches for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, some followers are in search of their very own options to a possible Johnny Storm downside. Many have jokingly provide you with the concept water-based heroes like Jeff the Land Shark and Namor ought to have the ability to extinguish Johnny’s flames and even do a bit of additional harm. There’s no signal that any such mechanic might be made accessible in Marvel Rivals for now, after all. We will not actually understand how the brand new hero will shift the meta till he launches in a couple of days.
The Human Torch isn’t the one Fantastic Four member touching down this Friday. When the Season 1 mid-season replace launches, it’ll additionally introduce The Thing as the latest Vanguard member. Although the rocky hero isn’t fairly as scary as his silver-tongued teammate, he’ll virtually actually be displaying up in most gamers’ matches within the weeks forward.
For extra on Marvel Rivals, you’ll be able to examine NetEase’s latest choice to chop members of Marvel Rivals’ U.S.-based design group in Seattle. You may also study extra about why NetEase these rumored hero leak vegetation are nothing to fret about.
Michael Cripe is a contract contributor with IGN. He’s greatest identified for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be positive to present him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
