A new Vanguard, a second wave of summer skins, and a meta overhaul—NetEase has released the roadmap for Season 9.5 for Marvel Rivals. The biggest surprise is The Hood, a tank with a demonic transformation and the “Devil with a Gun” ultimate. The season will last five weeks and is a logical continuation of the major Season 9 update, which reworked Team-Up mechanics and added Jubilee and the Black Widow rework.
But first things first. Season 9.5 starts on August 7—and over the course of the month, players can expect not only a new hero but also a host of events, buffs, and cosmetics. Incidentally, according to recent SteamDB statistics, Marvel Rivals’ peak online player count dropped by 12% after the July Widow rework, but remained steady at 78,000 players. Now NetEase is banking on a fresh vanguard to shake up the meta.
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New Hero – Executioner: A Demon with Pistols
First up, the Executioner will be added to the game. Parker Robbins, armed with dual pistols. His signature move is the Cloak of Oblivion, which allows him to draw on dark energy and transform into a demonic form. His ultimate, as mentioned earlier, literally turns him into a “Devil with a Gun” – a powerful tool for pushing the front lines. Introducing a new tank mid-season is a risky move, especially given the unstable meta after the July patches. But it’s precisely these types of heroes that often become counterpick for established hero combinations.
Besides the Executioner, a wave of buffs and nerfs is coming. The exact heroes being nerfed are still being kept under wraps, but it’s safe to assume the adjustments will target those who have been too dominant in teamfights since the Team-Up update.
Summer Events and Skins: What, When, and How Much
The season kicks off with the “Akkaba’s Creed” event, but the main show begins next week—the second wave of summer swimsuit skins. The roadmap confirms that Krakoan Reels Vol. 2 will feature skins for Black Cat, Winter Soldier, and Star-Lord. However, two of these will likely be available only through the Premium Edition—prepare to choose between wallet and farming.
After that, in the remaining three weeks, content will shift toward cosmetics: new skins, emotes, and possibly weapon skins. Meanwhile, the developers are already preparing Season 10—it will undoubtedly be even more ambitious.
What’s next?
Season 9.5 looks like a transitional phase—it closes out the summer swimsuit story and gives players a new vanguard to focus on the upcoming big update. The full Dev Vision video is now available, so you can check out all the details in the recording. By the way, do you think the Executioner will be a game-changer in ranked matches or will it remain a niche tank? Share your thoughts in the comments.
