Marvel Rivals Season 3: Release Date & NEW Leaks (The Abyss Awakens)
Marvel Rivals Season 3: The Abyss Awakens is officially launching on Friday, July 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC, bringing Phoenix and Blade as new playable heroes alongside massive content updates. After weeks of leaks and speculation, NetEase has confirmed that Season 3 will transform the game with a shorter two-month season structure, introducing one new hero every month starting with Phoenix at launch.
Marvel Rivals Season 3 Release Time by Region
| Region | Release Date & Time | Maintenance Start |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (PST) | July 11 at 1:00 AM | July 10 at 10:00 PM |
| Denver (MT) | July 11 at 2:00 AM | July 10 at 11:00 PM |
| Chicago (CST) | July 11 at 3:00 AM | July 11 at 12:00 AM |
| New York (EST) | July 11 at 4:00 AM | July 11 at 1:00 AM |
| London (BST) | July 11 at 9:00 AM | July 11 at 6:00 AM |
| Berlin (CEST) | July 11 at 10:00 AM | July 11 at 7:00 AM |
| Hong Kong (HKT) | July 11 at 4:00 PM | July 11 at 1:00 PM |
| Tokyo (JST) | July 11 at 5:00 PM | July 11 at 2:00 PM |
| Sydney (AEST) | July 11 at 6:00 PM | July 11 at 3:00 PM |
| Auckland (NZST) | July 11 at 8:00 PM | July 11 at 5:00 PM |
The servers will go down for maintenance three hours before the official release time, with downtime expected to last 2-3 hours. I recommend finishing your Battle Pass rewards and any ranked matches before maintenance begins to avoid losing progress.
Marvel Rivals Season 3: The Abyss Awakens Overview
In the wake of the Timestream Entanglement, Knull – the god of symbiotes – stirs deep within Klyntar’s core, stretching his shadowed hands across the cosmos. The Phoenix arrives from across the stars to erase Klyntar before the darkness can rise again, but she’ll require unlikely aid from Blade, a warrior of two worlds who lives to fight against the tide of night.
This season marks a significant shift in Marvel Rivals’ content delivery model. Starting with Season 3, each season will last two months instead of three, with new heroes arriving monthly rather than the previous longer gaps. This means more frequent updates and a constantly evolving meta that should keep the game fresh.
Phoenix: The First Season 3 Hero
Phoenix (Jean Grey) joins Marvel Rivals as a Duelist class hero, launching immediately when Season 3 begins on July 11. According to leaked abilities and official teasers, she’ll feature a unique dual-form mechanic that sets her apart from every other character in the game.
Phoenix Leaked Abilities
Human Form:
- Primary Fire: Psychic projectiles that deal moderate damage
- Telekinetic Shield: Temporary damage reduction barrier
- Mind Crush: Short-range psychic burst that can “mute” enemy abilities
- Levitation: Brief flight ability for repositioning
Phoenix Form (Ultimate):
- Transformation: Upon death or Ultimate activation, resurrect as the Phoenix
- Phoenix Fire: Devastating flame attacks with increased damage
- Cosmic Flight: Enhanced mobility and flight duration
- Purifying Flames: Area denial fire that damages enemies over time
- Unique Mechanic: Removes all enemy summons from the battlefield
The most game-changing aspect of Phoenix’s kit is her ability to counter summon-heavy heroes like Namor and Squirrel Girl. When she activates her Ultimate, all placed enemy summons are immediately destroyed, making her a hard counter to these popular picks in the current Marvel Rivals tier list.
Phoenix Team-Up Abilities
Leaked voice lines suggest Phoenix will have team-up abilities with:
- Wolverine: Enhanced mobility for Wolverine, potentially replacing his Feral Leap
- Storm: Unknown synergy, possibly blocked by Storm’s Omega Hurricane
- Magneto: Potential damage amplification
- Emma Frost: Psychic power combination
Blade: The Mid-Season Addition
Blade arrives approximately one month after Season 3’s launch, expected around August 8-11, 2026 as part of the Season 3.5 update. The half-vampire vampire hunter has been teased since Season 1, appearing trapped in a cage on the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda map.
Blade Leaked Abilities
| Ability | Key Bind | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blade Chopper | Primary Fire 1 | Slash with Dracula’s Sword for melee damage |
| Hunting Gun | Primary Fire 2 | Long-range explosive shotgun with shrapnel burst |
| Damage Block | Right Click | Sword stance reducing frontal damage |
| Step and Chop | Shift | Dash that applies anti-heal (gun) or slow (sword) |
| Blood Liberation | E | Vampiric form with lifesteal but no external healing |
| Ultimate | Q | Forward charge with devastating sword slash |
Blade’s kit suggests he’ll function as a hybrid DPS/Tank Duelist, similar to Mr. Fantastic. His lifesteal mechanic will be the first of its kind in Marvel Rivals, allowing him to sustain himself through damage dealt while in his vampiric form. This self-sufficiency combined with his anti-heal capabilities positions him as a potential counter to the healing-heavy meta.
Blade Team-Up
Dataminers have discovered Blade will have a new team-up ability with Cloak & Dagger, though the exact mechanics remain unknown. This addition expands the support options for aggressive dive compositions.
Marvel Rivals Season 3 New Map: Klyntar – Celestial Husk
Season 3 introduces Klyntar: Celestial Husk, a Domination map set within the decaying remains of a Celestial that Knull slaughtered eons ago. The map features:
- Dynamic environment affected by symbiote corruption
- Celestial architecture mixed with organic symbiote structures
- Three capture points with unique visual themes
- Environmental hazards related to the decaying Celestial body
- Verticality suitable for the current flying meta
The lore reveals this Celestial’s severed head eventually became Knowhere, while its body remained in orbit above Klyntar, slowly corroded by dark forces.
Marvel Rivals Season 3 Skins and Cosmetics
Battle Pass: Powers of the Phoenix
The Season 3 Battle Pass includes 10 new costume sets split between Phoenix Force and Symbiote themes:
Confirmed Phoenix Force Skins:
- Wolverine – Weapon PhoeniX: Phoenix-powered variant featured in gallery cards
- Spider-Man: Phoenix Force suit (Battle Pass exclusive)
- Rocket Raccoon: Fiery Phoenix aesthetic
- Multiple heroes: Additional Phoenix-themed costumes
Confirmed Symbiote/Venomized Skins:
- Captain America – Captain Klyntar: Already available for purchase
- Storm – Symbiote Storm: FREE skin through Milano Repair Logs event
- Jeff the Land Shark: “Knullified” variant
- Squirrel Girl: Darkened symbiote version
- Moon Knight: Venomized costume with voice line changes
Premium Shop Skins
- Phoenix – Chaos Phoenix: Legendary skin bundle (~2,200 Units)
- Hela – Queen in Black: Potential Battle Pass final reward
- Additional Venomized variants throughout the season
Major Season 3 Changes in Marvel Rivals
Quality of Life Improvements
- Daily Missions Removed: Chrono Token rewards redistributed to other missions
- Weekly Mission Rollover: Unfinished weeklies carry to mid-season
- New Season Missions: Repeatable challenges lasting entire season
- Mission Type Overhaul: Fewer hero-specific requirements
New Features
- Accessory System: Earn points in matches to unlock hero-specific accessories
- Student Perks: College students get free trial access to 10 costumes
- Discord Integration: 100 Units bonus for linking accounts
- Events Tab: Dedicated menu for tracking active events
- Practice Mode Update: Team captains can queue members together
Competitive Updates
- Marvel Rivals Championship Season 3: New nameplate designs for top placers
- Rank Reset: 7 division demotion (Diamond I → Gold II)
- Verified Faction System: Official teams get unique names and icons
- Increased Faction Slots: 2,500 per region (up from previous limit)
Balance Changes Preview
While full patch notes arrive with the update, expect significant adjustments to:
- Flying heroes (potential nerfs to Storm, Ultron)
- Wolverine buffs (confirmed by developers)
- Emma Frost nerfs (damage and Diamond Form survivability)
- Anti-air improvements for ground-based heroes
Marvel Rivals S3 Leaks and Future Content
Potential Season 3.5+ Heroes
According to dataminers and leakers, these heroes may arrive later in Season 3 or early Season 4:
- Captain Marvel: Voice lines discovered in game files
- Cyclops: Ability names leaked
- Professor X: Kit details partially revealed
- Knull: Main antagonist, possibly playable later
Summer Event
The Twitch leak mentioned “sizzling summer events,” suggesting beach/summer-themed skins similar to other hero shooters. Expect this content around late July or early August.
How to Prepare for Marvel Rivals Season 3?
- Complete Season 2 Battle Pass: Finish before July 11 maintenance
- Reach Gold Rank: Unlock free Phoenix – Emerald Flames skin
- Save Resources: Stock up Units for new cosmetics
- Practice Counters: Learn anti-summon strategies for Phoenix matchups
- Join Milano Event: Claim free Symbiote Storm immediately at launch
Twitch Drops Schedule
Season 3 Twitch Drops run from July 11 to August 8, 2026:
- Hawkeye – Will of Galacta costume bundle
- Watch required hours on participating streams
- Link Twitch account before Season 3 launches
Impact on the Meta
Season 3’s hero additions will dramatically shift the current meta:
- Phoenix counters: Namor, Squirrel Girl, Ultron’s healing station
- Blade counters: Healing-dependent teams, especially Cloak & Dagger
- New team compositions emerging around Phoenix/X-Men synergies
- Potential return of ground-based heroes with anti-air improvements
For detailed analysis of current top picks, check our comprehensive Marvel Rivals tier list to understand which heroes Phoenix and Blade might dethrone.
Developer Communication
NetEase has been exceptionally transparent about Season 3:
- Dev Vision Vol. 7 detailed all major changes
- Official trailers on Marvel Rivals YouTube channel
- Character reveals scheduled for July 2 (Phoenix) and July 9 (full details)
- Regular updates on official Twitter/X account
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does Marvel Rivals Season 3 start?
Marvel Rivals Season 3: The Abyss Awakens officially launches on July 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC. Servers go down for maintenance at 5:00 AM UTC (3 hours before launch), with downtime lasting approximately 2-3 hours.
Which heroes are coming in Season 3?
Phoenix (Jean Grey) launches immediately on July 11 as a Duelist, while Blade arrives during the mid-season update around August 8-11. Both heroes bring unique mechanics never before seen in Marvel Rivals.
How long will Season 3 last?
Starting with Season 3, all future seasons last exactly two months instead of the previous three-month structure. Season 3 runs from July 11 to approximately September 11, 2026.
Can I get any free skins in Season 3?
Yes! Complete the Milano Repair Logs event starting July 11 to earn a free Symbiote Storm skin. Additionally, reaching Gold rank grants the Phoenix – Emerald Flames costume.
Will Season 2 Battle Pass items still be available?
If you purchased the Season 2 Battle Pass, you can still progress and claim rewards after Season 3 launches. However, you cannot purchase it after Season 3 begins.
What’s changing with the ranking system?
All ranks get demoted by 7 divisions when Season 3 starts. For example, Diamond I players begin at Gold II. New rank rewards include exclusive nameplates for Diamond and Platinum players.
Is Knull going to be playable?
While Knull appears as the main antagonist in Season 3’s story, there’s no confirmation he’ll become playable. Current leaks only confirm Phoenix and Blade as the two new heroes.
How do Phoenix’s abilities counter other heroes?
Phoenix’s Ultimate ability instantly destroys all enemy summons on the battlefield, making her a hard counter to Namor’s octopuses, Squirrel Girl’s squirrels, and similar abilities.
Conclusion
Marvel Rivals Season 3: The Abyss Awakens represents the game’s most ambitious update yet. With Phoenix and Blade joining the roster, a new Klyntar map, shortened seasons for more frequent content, and the epic confrontation between the Phoenix Force and Knull’s symbiote army, there’s never been a better time to dive into Marvel Rivals.
Mark your calendars for July 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC, prepare for maintenance starting three hours earlier, and get ready to experience the next evolution of Marvel’s premier hero shooter. Whether you’re excited to wield the Phoenix Force or eager to hunt with Blade, Season 3 promises to deliver game-changing content that will reshape the meta for months to come.