8 Symbiotes We Need to See in Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals has managed to innovate and honor the Marvel universe, rendering fan-favorite characters like Thor and Spider-Man in the game’s signature art style while also shining a light on lesser-known characters like Luna Snow and Jeff the Land Shark.

However, even with the game’s impressive roster, it still feels like it’s lacking in one area: symbiotes. Long since expanding from just a staple of Spidey comics to a staple of the Marvel universe as a whole, symbiotes – or Klyntar – have latched their gooey tendrils onto the hearts of thousands of fans. Though the original and most iconic of the aliens, Venom, is already in the game, some fans are eager to see more of its parasitic kin.

8

Scorn

Technomancer Symbiote

• First Appearance: Carnage #4 (April 2011)
• Created by: Zeb Wells, Clayton Crain

Birthed from experimentation on Carnage, Scorn is a fusion of technology and organic matter, granting it abilities beyond an ordinary symbiote. On top of superhuman abilities and shape-shifting powers, Scorn can interface and attach machines to its host’s body.

Powers like those could see Scorn potentially finding its place in the Marvel Rivals roster as the game’s version of Sombra from Overwatch 2. In the comics, Scorn has been shown to use EMP-like abilities to shut down machinery. Such an ability could be adapted to silence other heroes’ kits in a duelist role.

7

Hybrid

Hybrid-Kit

• First Appearance: Venom: Along Came a Spider #1 (December 1995)
• Created by: Mark Bagley, Evan Skolnick, Fabian Nicieza, Patrick Zircher

Marvel Rivals already features a number of hybrid heroes, characters whose kits don’t necessarily conform to one class. Storm, for example, despite being a duelist, is able to buff her team’s damage and speed.

With Hybrid being an amalgamation of four of the Life Foundation symbiotes, symbiotes forcefully spawned from Venom, the core of their character design could be having abilities that seep into each archetype. The Lasher part of Hybrid allows them to control other beings from afar, while the Agony part of them allows them to shoot acid projectiles. The inclusion of Hybrid would create an opportunity for a highly experimental and unique hero.

6

Sleeper

Support Symbiote

• First Appearance: Venom #165 (April 2018)
• Created by: Mike Costa, Mark Bagley

Another offspring of Venom, Sleeper, is unique due to its chemokinesis abilities. Sleeper’s powers allow the symbiote to produce liquid and aerosol chemicals that range from tranquilizing targets to burning through metal.

Though these abilities are often used offensively in the comics, Marvel Rivals could adapt the character’s powers to be better suited for a strategist role. Sleeper, like Moira from Overwatch, could have a kit revolved around flipping between damaging and healing abilities; injecting toxins into foes and medicines into allies.

5

Scream

Stunning Sonic Screams

• First Appearance: Venom: Lethal Protector #4 (March 1993)
• Created by: David Michelinie, Ron Lim

The most iconic of the Life Foundation’s symbiotes and the one that caused its siblings to turn into Hybrid, Scream is a fearsome symbiote that would make a great duelist.

As its name suggests, Scream is capable of producing a powerful sonic scream, an ability that, along with its manipulation of its hair and resistance to symbiote weaknesses like sonic attacks, sets it apart from other symbiotes. Scream could make an excellent duelist with a kit that utilizes her powers for a number of stunning abilities, or one that uses her hair, in Mr. Fantastic’s style, to stretch across the battlefield.

4

Toxin

Little Toxin, Big Toxin

• First Appearance: Venom Vs. Carnage #2 (August 2004)
• Created by: Peter Milligan, Clayton Crain

The second Carnage offspring on this list and the first to appear in the comics, Toxin, has gone through a number of iterations throughout the years. When it was first introduced, the symbiote bonded with ex-cop Patrick Mulligan, where the two endeavored to be heroes, even taking on an appearance similar to Spider-Man.

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Since then, Toxin has bonded with Eddie Brock, a union that left the symbiote looking monstrous, and most recently Bren Waters, where Toxin now somewhat resembles classic Venom designs. While the symbiote doesn’t possess any particularly unique abilities bar a venomous bite and the fact that it’s incredibly strong, Toxin’s changes in the comics leave the door open for the character to be adapted as a Vanguard, a duelist, or both! Either as a Dva-esque character like Hulk, or a class hybrid like Mr. Fantastic.

3

Knull

The God of Symbiotes

• First Appearance: Venom (Vol. 4) #3 (June 2018)
• Created by: Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman

With big villains like Ultron all but confirmed to be coming to the game, Knull would make an excellent addition to round out Marvel Rivals’ baddies. Though somewhat cheating, as Knull is not himself a symbiote, rather he is their creator, a list talking about characters coming from the Marvel symbiotic bubble had to mention him.

With his god-like status in the comics, it would be easy to assume that someone as powerful as Knull would be implemented as a beefy vanguard. However, armed with the All-Black Necrosword, Knull is far better suited as a duelist. Whether he wields it primarily like Magik or saves it for his ultimate like Psylocke, Knull and his sword would be a visually awesome addition to the battlefield.

2

Anti-Venom

Justice For Anti-Venom!

• First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #569 (August 2008)
• Created by: Dan Slott, John Romita Jr.

Although Anti-Venom already exists in Marvel Rivals as a skin for Venom, many fans feel the symbiote deserves its own spot in the roster. When Mister Negative touched an ailing and symbiote-less Eddie Brock, the powers of the former collided with the remnants of Venom in Eddie’s blood, giving birth to Anti-Venom.

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Featuring an origin and excellent visual design unique to the other symbiotes in the comics, Anti-Venom immediately became a fan favorite. Which is why it’s seen as an injustice to many that it’s been reduced to a skin for another character. Should Anti-Venom be made his own hero, fans could see a symbiote filling out the role of strategist with a kit primarily focused on debuffing enemies to reflect his anti-symbiote powers.

1

Carnage

Everyone’s Favorite Serial Killer

• First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #345 (January 1991)
• Created by: David Michelinie, Mark Bagley

The second symbiote to be introduced in the comics, Carnage has become almost as iconic as its predecessor, Venom. Bonding with murderer Cletus Kassady, Carnage is a deranged symbiote whose only pleasure in life is, as his namesake, inciting as much carnage and death as possible.

Carnage has advanced from street-level villain to planetary – maybe even galactic – threat multiple times, further solidifying its legendary status. Out of any character on this list, Carnage’s inclusion into Marvel Rival is almost certain to happen sooner or later, thanks to its status in the IP. With Carnage making use of the symbiote’s abilities to turn their hands into weapons more than most, introducing the character as a duelist is a no-brainer.