NetEase has been on a tear lately. Honestly, if you've been playing Marvel Rivals since the beta, you know the cadence of character drops has been aggressive. But the real juice isn't just in the official roadmaps. It’s in the stuff they haven't told us yet—the names buried in the code that dataminers keep digging up.
We just hit Season 6 on January 16, 2026, and Deadpool finally crashed the party as a "triple-role" hero. He can swap between Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist mid-match. It's chaotic. It's broken. It's exactly what you'd expect from the Merc with a Mouth. But the community is already looking past Wade Wilson. Everyone wants to know who's next in the marvel rivals leaked heroes list, and some of the names are, frankly, bizarre.
The Massive Leak Everyone is Chattering About
The datamines from Miller Ross and Matfacio have been scary accurate so far. They called Angela. They called Elsa Bloodstone (who we now know is coming in Season 6.5 in February). Now, the spotlight is shifting toward a heavy X-Men bias and some deep-cut villains that most casual fans probably haven't thought about since the 90s.
The Heavy Hitters: X-Men Galore
It's no secret that the game files are bloated with mutant DNA. We’ve seen specific ability strings for Professor X, Cyclops, and Jean Grey.
Professor X is a fascinating one because he’s slated as a Strategist. Rumor has it he won’t just be a "healer" in the traditional sense. His leaked kit includes things like "Mind Projection" and "Potential Stimulation." Basically, he’s going to be the ultimate buff-bot, messing with enemy sightlines while boosting teammate cooldowns.
Then you’ve got the power couple: Gambit and Rogue. Season 4 lore cards already teased them, and recent Season 6 files show they might arrive as a dual-release. Rogue is particularly interesting because, like Deadpool, she might break the role mold. If she can steal abilities—which is her whole thing—the meta is going to do a complete 180.
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The "Wait, Who?" Tier
Then we get into the weird stuff. Paste Pot Pete (now likely being rebranded as The Trapster) has been in the files for ages. Why? Probably because his "glue" mechanics are a perfect fit for a crowd-control Vanguard.
We also have:
- Hit-Monkey: Imagine a smaller, angrier Rocket Raccoon with dual pistols and a suit.
- MODOK: Likely a Vanguard or a very beefy Strategist.
- Squirrel Girl: She’s been rumored since day one, and given Jeff the Landshark's success, NetEase clearly loves the "joke" characters that actually slap in high-level play.
What the Marvel Rivals Leaked Heroes Tell Us About the Future
Looking at the list of leaked names—which includes over 20 characters like Captain Marvel, Ghost Rider, Blade (who is finally getting some serious balance tweaks this season), and Nightcrawler—it’s clear NetEase isn't slowing down. They are aiming for a roster that rivals the size of the biggest MOBAs.
There’s a lot of talk about Black Cat and White Fox being the headline acts for Season 7. If that holds true, we’re seeing a pattern: one "A-list" Marvel icon paired with a slightly more "cult classic" character. It keeps the game fresh without just leaning on the Avengers and Spider-Man.
The Red Herrings
We have to be careful, though. Matfacio has warned that some files might be "traps" or red herrings. Developers sometimes leave junk data in the backend to throw off dataminers. For example, there were files for Jia Jing that people now think were actually early code for Rogue.
Why You Should Care About the Season 6 Meta
Right now, the game is in a weird spot with the "Mr. Pool’s Interdimensional Toy Box" team-up. Deadpool and Jeff the Landshark together create this visual interference that's making life miserable for backline snipers. If you're looking to climb the ranks this month, you sort of have to learn how to play around these new synergies.
The leaked roster suggests we are moving away from "pure" roles. Deadpool’s ability to swap classes at the spawn is a test. If people don't hate it, expect Captain Marvel or Phoenix to have similar high-complexity kits that don't fit into a single box.
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How to Prepare for Upcoming Drops
Don't spend all your Units yet. With Elsa Bloodstone confirmed for the mid-season 6.5 update on February 13, you’ll want to save up for her mastery rewards. She’s expected to be a high-mobility Duelist designed specifically to counter the "healing-heavy" meta we’ve been seeing with Adam Warlock and Luna Snow.
Actionable Insights for Players:
- Watch the Lore Cards: NetEase loves hiding the next hero in the flavor text of the Battle Pass. Check the "Museum Ticket" lore entries; there are already references to "monsters" that might hint at Man-Thing or Werewolf by Night.
- Master the Team-Ups: The "Parker Power Up" (Spider-Man and Peni) is currently one of the strongest combos in the game. Don't wait for the leaks to become reality; use what's broken right now.
- Track the "XOXLEAKS" Tags: This group has been the most reliable source for frame-data leaks. If they post a kit, it’s usually 90% finalized.
The roster is growing fast. Whether it's the telepathic control of Professor X or the chaotic power-stealing of Rogue, the next few months are going to completely change how we think about team compositions. Keep an eye on the files, but keep your crosshairs on the healers.