Deadpool’s arrival in Marvel Rivals was practically a foregone conclusion. Even before his extravagant debut at The Game Awards, it was obvious that the iconic Merc with a Mouth would eventually crash the party. The real curiosity lay in how NetEase would implement Wade Wilson’s signature blend of high-caliber gunplay, dual-blade finesse, and fourth-wall-shattering humor. As it turns out, the developers found a way to let him do it all.
In a bold mechanical twist, Deadpool is not confined to a single class. Players can deploy him as a Duelist, Strategist, or Vanguard depending on the team’s needs. While his aesthetic remains consistent, his health pool and toolkit shift to match his chosen archetype. The Duelist variant focuses on offense, hurling katanas like lethal boomerangs. The Vanguard version provides defense with a deployable spherical barrier, while the Strategist iteration takes an unconventional approach to support—mending teammates’ wounds by shooting them or slashing them with “healing” steel. It is a chaotic design philosophy that fits only one character in the Marvel universe.
Beyond his role-swapping gimmick, Deadpool’s kit is brimming with personality. During combat, he can actually level up his talents mid-match, pulling up an illustrated book-style UI to select new perks. His combat repertoire includes a reactive move that punishes enemies for missing their shots and a “Photo Mode” that grants brief invincibility—even allowing him to absorb Magneto’s ultimate ability with a cheeky pose.
Season 6 also introduces several quality-of-life enhancements and social features. The combat-free Times Square hub is expanding with a dedicated Photo Mode and “The Clobberin’ Club”—a social space where players can engage in duels while their fights are broadcast live on the surrounding Jumbotrons. Additionally, the Hero Proficiency system has been overhauled, replacing the basic tiering with a deeper reward track that offers hero-specific currency and animated avatars.
The update also shakes up the meta with revised Team-Up synergies. While Peni Parker’s alliance with Rocket Raccoon and Spider-Man’s bond with Human Torch are being retired, new partnerships are emerging. Spider-Man and Peni now share a web-bomb synergy, and Deadpool can team up with Jeff the Land Shark to deploy a spinning toy that simultaneously heals allies and obscures the enemy’s vision with Deadpool-themed animations. For a complete breakdown of the technical changes, check out the developer update below.
For more on the ever-evolving world of Marvel Rivals, dive into the details of the limited-time Lady Loki skin or read our comprehensive review.
