Marvel Rivals Season 3 Unleashes Symbiote Storm, New Heroes, and a Gooey New Map

The winds of change are blowing in Marvel Rivals, and they're carrying the distinct scent of alien goo. As the hero shooter prepares to launch its third season, NetEase Games is pulling out all the stops, promising a symbiote-infested extravaganza that will have players clinging to their monitors like a certain black suit clings to Eddie Brock. The season is set to debut, and the anticipation is thicker than the symbiote biomass covering the new Klyntar map. Forget about a simple content drop; this is a full-scale invasion from the darkest corners of the Marvel universe, led by the god of the symbiotes himself, Knull.

Leading the charge of this inky-black fashion revolution is none other than the weather-wielding Duelist, Storm. In a generous move that has players doing backflips (metaphorically, unless you're playing as Spider-Man), NetEase revealed that a stunning Symbiote Storm skin will be available for free. This isn't just any recolor; it's a direct pull from the pages of the X-Men Prime #1 Venomized Variant from 2017. The look is iconic: her signature, flowing white hair remains as a stark contrast to the rest of her form, which has been utterly consumed by the sleek, predatory black symbiote. To earn this fabulous, free-flowing outfit, players will need to roll up their sleeves and help the Guardians of the Galaxy with some spaceship maintenance by completing the Milano Repair Logs challenges. It seems saving the universe sometimes involves a bit of cosmic wrench-turning.

Storm, however, is merely the poster hero for a much larger, gooier trend. Season 3 is officially the Symbiote Season, with a whole host of heroes getting their own black-suited makeovers via the upcoming battle pass. The roster of characters prepping for a sticky situation includes:

• 🕷️ Spider-Man (Practically a rite of passage at this point)

• 🦈 Jeff the Land Shark (Because why not?)

• 🌳 Groot ("I am Goo!")

• 🐿️ Squirrel Girl (Unbeatable, now with extra cling)

• 🦝 Rocket Raccoon (A small mammal with a very big, very angry suit)

Not all the new threads are symbiote-based, though. Some heroes will be channeling a different cosmic force, with skins inspired by the fiery Phoenix Force also making an appearance. It's a season of extreme makeovers, where heroes must choose: embrace the darkness or be consumed by flames.

For those who can't wait for the season to start to get their symbiote fix, there's already an option in the shop. Captain America has traded in his star-spangled attire for the ominous Captain Klyntar costume. Modeled after his appearance in the 2017 Edge of Venomverse comics, this skin proves that even the most patriotic super-soldier isn't immune to the allure of an alien parasite that enhances his abilities. It's currently available for purchase, offering a taste of the symbiote life before the season kicks off.

But what's a symbiote saga without the proper setting? NetEase is sending players back to the source—the living planet known as Klyntar, the homeworld of the symbiotes. The new map, Klyntar: Celestial Husk, is described as a haunting, organic landscape where the villain Knull is said to reside. This isn't just a new backdrop for battles; it's a central piece of the Season 3 narrative. Knull's presence suggests that the story will delve deep into the symbiote mythos, potentially setting up conflicts that could ripple through future seasons. The map promises verticality, unpredictable organic terrain, and the constant, eerie feeling that the walls themselves are watching you.

Speaking of new heroes, Season 3 is expanding the roster with two major additions, though with a curious twist. Both Jean Grey and the day-walking vampire Blade are joining the fray, and both are classified as Duelists. This marks the first season in Marvel Rivals' history that won't introduce a Vanguard (tank) or a Strategist (support). This decision has sparked some debate among the community. Is NetEase focusing on upping the high-octane, damage-dealing action? Or are they carefully balancing the existing roles before adding more? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: the battlefields are about to get a lot more psychic and a lot more pointy.

The combination of new heroes, a narratively significant new map, and a ton of highly requested symbiote cosmetics has the Marvel Rivals community buzzing with optimism. After a strong start, some live-service games begin to wobble, but NetEase seems to be hitting its stride, delivering content that directly appeals to comic book fans' deepest desires. The decision to offer a high-quality skin like Symbiote Storm for free is a particularly smart community-building move. As players prepare to dive into the gooey depths of Klyntar and unlock their new black suits, the future for Marvel Rivals looks less like a distant promise and more like an imminent, symbiote-fueled blast.