In the latest issue of Dev Vision Vol. 20, developers at NetEase Games revealed details of the Season 9.5 update. The patch’s main star is Parker Robbins, aka The Hood. This villain will join the roster on August 7th as a Vanguard. And an unusual Vanguard, at that: instead of standard shields and massive health, he relies on firepower and dark magic. Two pistols in hand, a mystical cloak on his back—and here we have a dynamic shooter who switches between the appearance of a regular gangster and a demon.
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Who is The Hood and how does he fit into the lore of Marvel Rivals?
The season’s storyline is also piquing interest. The Hood has already managed to kill Gambit, albeit temporarily. Behind bars, he volunteered to help with the Tablet of Death and Entropy, an artifact for communicating with the dead. Through a tablet, Moon Knight heard the voices of billions of souls, recounting Apocalypse’s atrocities. The investigation led to a shocking conclusion: Apocalypse himself was murdered by the new wielder of the All-Black Sword. And someone Marc Spector knows well is behind it all. A serious intrigue is brewing.
«From the shadows of the New York underworld, a new, power-hungry villain emerges. Shrouded in a cursed cloak, Parker Robbins lost his faith in heroes, along with his father and his world’s Captain America, and replaced it with an insatiable thirst for power,» reads the official character description.
WWE wrestler Damian Priest will voice the Hood. It’s an unexpected choice, but that’s part of the point. The game also releases the comic book Origins of the Hood: Marvel Rivals #1, which reveals Robbins’s journey from a child inspired by Captain America to a crime lord.
Hood’s Gameplay Features: Shooting, Magic, and Demonic Transformation
The Hood’s role in combat promises to be unconventional for a vanguard. His main tool is the Oblivion Cloak. The cloak allows him to create protective barriers for his allies and hurl balls of dark magic that weaken enemy fire. As he accumulates demonic energy, the Hood enters a semi-demonic state—his hands transform into rapid-fire rifles. His ultimate transforms him into a full-fledged Fire Demon: the hero becomes a turret-like killing machine. The bullets are massive, penetrating, and pass through shields. Moreover, the ultimate also grants additional health to nearby allies. It can be activated mid-air, combining it with his mobility. Yes, it’s possible.
In more detail, the basic weapons are dual pistols for concentrated frontal fire. No overheating, no complex mechanics—simply keep enemies at bay. Oblivion Cloak gives you access to two types of barriers:
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A rectangular shield that deploys across the field—enemies passing through it are blinded.
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A personal bubble that can withstand even Namor’s ultimate. And that’s a serious statement.
Demonic energy builds up during combat. When the gauge is full, the Hood enters a semi-demonic state, his arms transforming into demonic rifles, and his rate of fire increases dramatically. This isn’t just a visual upgrade—it changes the gameplay, allowing him to pierce enemy defenses with concentrated fire.
The Ultimate is the full demonic form. The Hood transforms into a turret-like Fire Demon. Bullets become powerful, penetrating projectiles, passing through shields and enemies, and nearby allies gain bonus health. The Ultimate can even be activated in mid-air, creating a flying turret. Final verdict: this isn’t a classic tank. It doesn’t stand still with its shield raised—its job is to push through the front with firepower, disguising support as aggression. A new meta-vanguard? We’ll see on August 7th.
Swimsuit Skins and Optimization: What Else Will Patch 9.5 Bring?
In addition to the Hood, the update will add summer swimsuits for six heroes: Star-Lord, Winter Soldier, Scarlet Witch, Black Cat, Storm, and Magik. Lady Loki’s skin will receive new animations and customizable abilities. The Krakoan Reels Volume 2 event will also return—look for rewards.
The technical side will also be pleasing. The developers will conduct a major texture compression overhaul to reduce the game’s disk size: by approximately 40 GB on PC, and by 15 GB on PS5 and Xbox. While the update itself will be heavier than usual due to these changes, the overall benefit is clear.
Hood’s Abilities in Marvel Rivals: A Complete Overview
The Hood is the first Vanguard to focus on shooting and magic rather than passive damage blocking. Let’s break down his kit.
His primary weapons are dual pistols for constant frontal fire. No overheating, no complex mechanics—just a dense stream of lead to keep enemies at bay.
Oblivion Cloak is the heart of his defensive potential. The cloak gives him access to two types of barriers:
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A rectangular shield that can be deployed on the field—enemies passing through it are blinded.
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A personal bubble that the Hood casts on himself. It can even withstand Namor’s ultimate—and that’s quite a feat.
Furthermore, the cloak allows him to hurl bolts of dark magic. These transform into barriers that mitigate incoming damage.
Demonic energy accumulates during combat. When the gauge fills, the Hood enters a semi-demonic state. His arms transform into demonic rifles, and his rate of fire increases dramatically. This isn’t just a visual effect—it changes gameplay, giving players the ability to pierce enemy defenses with concentrated fire.
Ultimate—Full Demon Form. Hood transforms into a turret-like Fire Demon. In this state:
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Bullets become powerful, penetrating projectiles that pass through shields and enemies.
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Nearby allies gain bonus health.
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The Ultimate can be activated in mid-air, creating a flying turret.
Final Verdict: Hood isn’t a classic tank. He doesn’t stand still with his shield raised. His job is to push the front with firepower, disguising support as aggression. A new meta vanguard? We’ll see on August 7th.
Hood’s Team-Up Abilities with Cloak & Dagger, Jubilee, and Magik
With the release of Season 9.5, team combinations have undergone significant changes—there are now over a hundred of them. Hood has received several interesting synergies.
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Jubilee – arguably the most powerful combination. Jubilee, who debuted at the start of Season 9 as a Strategist, radically changes her style when paired with Hood. Her primary attack becomes a hitscan with the potential to critically strike. This is a massive boost to damage and pick potential. If a team lacks AoE sustain, Jubilee and Hood can be the solution. Considering that regenerative shields were added for dive heroes in Season 9, this combination is especially threatening.
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Magik – a synergy built on a vampire theme. Both heroes receive buffs, turning into a deadly duo. According to early estimates, this combination will be one of the strongest in ranked matches. Magik gains the ability to more effectively create space or dive into the enemy’s rear. And Hood, in turn, covers her from the front.
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With Cloak & Dagger – information is limited for now, but given that Season 9.5 is bringing back the Krakoan Reels Volume 2 event with rewards including Cloak & Dagger skins, synergy with this pairing seems like a logical progression. We expect further details from the developers closer to release.
The Hood is coming to Marvel Rivals on August 7th, ushering in a new era of Vanguards, swimsuits, and major optimizations. Get ready for the meta.
