Gambit is easily Marvel Rivals’ best post-launch hero so far, but his stellar design creates a tough precedent

I have no idea how NetEase Games is able to release a whole new character in Marvel Rivals every month, but I think the devs outdid themselves in season five.

Since launching last year on Dec. 6, 2025, Marvel Rivals has added a large batch of new heroes in Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, The Thing, Emma Frost, Ultron, Phoenix, Blade, Angela, Daredevil, and now Gambit. And for my money, Gambit is the most fun and well-designed one so far, by a long shot.

Gambit is by far the best and most exciting Strategist in the game right now after launching last week, and I don’t think that’s recency bias (or regular bias either, even though he’s my second favorite X-Men member). It’s no shock to see a new hero be a top performer, but I’ve been playing him as much as possible, and he feels so much better to play than everyone else in the role. It’s almost embarrassing.

The super powerful Cajun mutant uses both his powered-up playing cards and staff to create the most varied, flexible, and enjoyable kit yet. His basic attack both heals and deals damage in a three-card burst, but his Healing Hearts and Breaking Spades abilities give him four different moves where there’s normally two.

Triggering Healing Hearts brings up two options, Bridge Boost which chain heals allies nearby, or Purifying Pickup which cleanses debuffs. Breaking Spades, meanwhile, offers either Explosive Trick to inflict reduced healing on enemies, or Bidding Barrage that throws cards in an arc and explodes to launch enemies up.

Gambit’s movement and close-range combat are also pretty flexible. He can charge forward and spin around with his staff, and then slam his staff on the ground that heals allies AND deals damage to enemies.

His ultimate? It clears the whole Strategist roster. Ragin’ Royal Flush heals, purifies, gives movement speed and a boost to jump height, and gives a targeted ally ultimate charge acceleration. And so I’m thinking, yeah, he’s probably a bit too strong, kit-wise.

Gambit is easy to play, but mastering him takes a lot of resource management since he can only use his abilities if he has the cards that are shown on his UI. His other main downfall is that anyone who plays him usually tries to just play DPS with him even though he’s a healer. But man, he’s just so damn good and so fun. And I have no idea how NetEase is going to top it. But I think I know how they can.

Next season’s two new heroes have already been teased in a lore card to be the monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, and the “Merc With a Mouth,” Deadpool. The latter hero is where I hope the company has some fun, as he’s dumb slapstick comedian who’s also deadly with katanas and guns, but his penchant for breaking the fourth wall creates a lot of possibilities for ridiculousness, and I hope they full lean into it.

Marvel Rivals’ next hero for season five, Rogue, launches in early December, and all signs point to her being a Vanguard. If she’s half as fun as her beau Remy LeBeau (heh), then we’re in for some good times over the holidays and for the game’s first anniversary.