The New Marvel Rivals Season: What's in Store?

Fans of Marvel Rivals are in for a treat as the game heads to the mutant nation of Krakoa for season 2. This season kicks off on April 11, and it's bringing a mix of new heroes, map changes, and balance tweaks. One of the standout additions is Emma Frost, who joins the roster with a unique set of abilities. She can project shields, reduce damage by turning into her diamond form, and even perform a choke-slam while dishing out insults. Her ultimate ability, Psyonic Seduction, can damage, stun, and even control enemies, making her a formidable opponent. The season also introduces Ultron, who crashes the party with his extermination plans. This addition is part of the season 2. 5 update, expected in late May. The developers have also hinted at shorter seasons starting from season 3, with each season lasting only two months. This means players can expect a new hero every month, a pace that's faster than many other hero shooters. Team-ups are getting a makeover too. Emma Frost's team-up allows Magneto and Psylocke to create illusions, while Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch can use portals to boost damage. Captain America finally teams up with Bucky, enabling the Winter Soldier to leap to allies. Some existing team-ups are being adjusted or removed, and new skins are being added for the Hellfire Gala. The new season also brings two new maps: Yggsgard: Royal Palace and Tokyo 2099: Shin-Shibuya. These maps will rotate out of the ranked modes but will still be available in quick play and custom games. The competitive scene is also seeing changes, with the threshold for picks and bans lowered to gold 3. High-ranked players will have restrictions on queuing with large groups, and individual performance will weigh more in competitive progress. The developers have also announced changes to missions, with the addition of weekly missions and a redistribution of battle-pass-progressing chrono tokens. This aims to create a smoother expectation for earning progress, but it might make it harder to earn battle pass progress over the season. Overall, season 2 of Marvel Rivals promises a lot of excitement with new heroes, maps, and balance changes. It's a great time for players to dive in and experience the mutant nation of Krakoa. However, the rapid pace of new heroes and the changes to competitive progress might be a double-edged sword. While it keeps the game fresh, it could also lead to players focusing more on stats than teamwork.