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A new leak has surfaced for Marvel Rivals, revealing that Blade, the iconic vampire hunter, is set to join the game in the upcoming Season 3.5 update. This major update will feature a potent team synergy mechanic called ‘Lunar Force,’ gaining healing enhancements if teamed with characters like Cloak & Dagger or Moon Knight.
This leak, which is reportedly a combination of data mining and insider information, has already sparked intense excitement within the gaming community.
Speculation is rife that Blade will be a Duelist-class character, characterized by high mobility and lethality in melee combat. He is said to use a Hunting Gun, a relatively close-range weapon that allows him to headshot targets.
He is said to possess an ability called ‘Step and Chop,’ to close distances fast and lay down an anti-heal debuff on foes. This one move might just be enough to counter most regeneration-based comps used in the competitive space.
Among the most iconic of Blade’s kit is Blood Liberation, a self-sustain ability that gives him lifesteal, allowing him to escape aggressive one-on-one or team fight situations. His ultimate, though not fully known, is said to give massive AoE damage and is imagined to be a very disruptive force to group combats.
From this, we can extrapolate that removals from the Lunar Force synergy stealth concealing the detonations from the immediate burst. Blade adds an exciting fusion of burst, sustain, and team value on the Marvel Rivals map.
Marvel Rivals Season 3 officially began on 11th July, with several balance updates, new content, and new heroes. The arrival of Blade at the end of mid-season 3.5 is targeted for August 8. This also follows the recent trend by NetEase to introduce highly impactful characters at the midseason mark, maintaining momentum and keeping player engagement levels high.
Adding another fascinating element to this premiere is the introduction of the Lunar Force synergy. This synergy mechanic compensates for forming teams with compatible characters by granting buffs not found in the match.
For Blade, this translates to periods of invisibility and improved healing. This gives some weight to team compositions and incentivizes players to consider characters they would usually shy away from.
Also Read: Blade Gameplay in Marvel Rivals Sparks Fan Frenzy Ahead of NetEase Trailer
However, some enthusiasts have begun raising early concerns about the game's balance. At the same time, many indicated in forums such as Reddit and Discord that with the massive number of Duelist-class characters now available, the anti-heal for the initiator of Blade might just push the meta in favor of the aggressive player.
The leaked announcement of Blade poses huge ramifications for Marvel Rivals. His aggressive playstyle, anti-sustain capabilities, and synergy-focused kit will significantly influence how people see casual and ranked modes.
Whether the developers will tweak his stats before launch remains to be seen, but the buzz around his inclusion suggests Blade could be one of the most memorable additions to the game so far.
As fans await confirmation from NetEase, the anticipation continues to build - setting the stage for an electrifying update that may bring a sharp new edge to Marvel Rivals.
