Complete Marvel Rivals Seasons Timeline (March 2026)

Updated by Garvit Sharma
October 10, 2025
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Are you wondering when each Marvel Rivals season starts and ends? As a dedicated Marvel Rivals player myself, I know how crucial it is to stay on top of the seasonal schedule to plan your Battle Pass progress, competitive ranking, and new hero releases. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every Marvel Rivals season from launch to the current date, including the evolution of their seasonal structure and what you can expect moving forward.

Quick Reference: All Marvel Rivals Seasons Timeline (2026)

Season	Season Name	Start Date	End Date	Duration
Season 0	Doom’s Rise	Dec 6, 2024	Jan 10, 2025	35 days
Season 1	Eternal Night Falls	Jan 11, 2025	Apr 11, 2025	~90 days
Season 2	Hellfire Gala	Apr 11, 2025	Jul 11, 2025	91 days
Season 3	The Abyss Awakens	Jul 11, 2025	Aug 8, 2025	28 days
Season 3.5	The Abyss Awakens	Aug 8, 2025	Sep 12, 2025	35 days
Season 4	Heart of the Dragon	Sep 12, 2025	Oct 10, 2025	28 days
Season 4.5	Heart of the Dragon	Oct 10, 2025	Nov 14, 2025	36 days

What Are Marvel Rivals Seasons?

If you’re new to Marvel Rivals, think of seasons like new chapters in your favorite comic book series. Each season brings fresh content that keeps the game exciting and engaging. When a new season drops, you get:

New Heroes joining the roster
Fresh maps and game modes
Updated Battle Pass with exclusive rewards
Seasonal events and limited-time content
Balance updates and gameplay improvements

What makes Marvel Rivals unique is their mid-season updates. Starting from Season 1, each season gets split in half (like Season 1.5, 2.5, etc.), which brings:

Fixes based on player feedback
Additional heroes added mid-season
Map updates and changes
Extra cosmetics and rewards

This split-season approach keeps the content flowing and maintains player engagement throughout the entire season.

The Evolution of Marvel Rivals Seasons

Marvel Rivals has significantly evolved its seasonal structure since launch, and understanding this evolution helps explain why the duration varies between seasons.

Season 0 (Pre-Season Era)

When Marvel Rivals launched on December 6th, 2024, it began with Season 0—essentially a pre-season or introduction period. This lasted 5 weeks and was designed to let players learn the game mechanics before the full seasonal content began. It was a smart approach that allowed NetEase to gather initial player feedback and make necessary adjustments.

Season 1-2 (Extended Format)

Season 1 and Season 2 both lasted 3 months (around 13 weeks) each, split into halves. These longer seasons allowed NetEase to build the game’s foundation and understand what players really wanted. During this period, we saw some major hero additions that got the community excited:

Fantastic Four members joined the roster
Emma Frost (the Queen of Diamonds) made her debut
Ultron introduced flying mechanics that changed gameplay dynamics

These extended seasons gave players more time to complete Battle Passes and rank up, but the development team realized they could deliver content more frequently.

Season 3+ (Streamlined Approach)

Starting with Season 3, NetEase made a significant change—seasons now last 2 months each, still split into halves. This shift was made to deliver content more frequently and keep the game feeling fresh. Season 3 brought:

Phoenix (a double Duelist) that fans had been requesting
Blade joining the roster
Symbiote and Phoenix Force skins that were incredibly popular

The shorter season format has been well-received by the community, as there’s always something new on the horizon.

Detailed Season Breakdown

Let me dive deeper into each season, what they introduced, and why they matter to your Marvel Rivals experience.

Season 0: Doom’s Rise (December 6, 2024 – January 10, 2025)

Duration: 35 days
Key Features:

Game launch with initial hero roster
Introduction to core mechanics and competitive structure
Focus on Doctor Doom’s time experiments and the Timestream Entanglement storyline
Limited pre-season content to ease players into the game

Season 0 was essentially Marvel Rivals’ “soft launch” period. As someone who played during this time, I appreciated the chance to learn the game without the pressure of a full competitive season. The shorter duration made sense as an introduction, but it left players hungry for more content—which Season 1 delivered in spades.

Season 1: Eternal Night Falls (January 11, 2025 – April 11, 2025)

Duration: ~90 days
Key Features:

Introduction of the Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman at launch, Human Torch and The Thing mid-season)
Three new maps: Sanctum Sanctorum, Midtown, and Central Park
First full Battle Pass with extensive rewards
Establishment of the 3-month season format

Season 1 was Marvel Rivals’ first “real” season, and it didn’t disappoint. The addition of the Fantastic Four was a massive draw, and the new maps added significant variety to gameplay. I particularly enjoyed how the season was structured—giving players three months to explore content while still having the mid-season refresh to keep things interesting.

Season 2: Hellfire Gala (April 11, 2025 – July 11, 2025)

Duration: 91 days
Key Features:

Emma Frost joined as a new hero at launch
Ultron added mid-season, introducing flight mechanics
Hellfire Gala themed skins for multiple characters
New features like costume gifting for friends
Team-Up ability rework that significantly changed gameplay

Season 2 built upon the foundation of Season 1 and introduced some game-changing mechanics. Ultron’s flight capabilities completely changed how players approached certain maps and team compositions. The Hellfire Gala theme was visually stunning, and the costume gifting feature was a great quality-of-life addition that helped build community engagement.

Season 3: The Abyss Awakens (July 11, 2025 – August 8, 2025)

Duration: 28 days
Key Features:

Phoenix joined as a powerful double Duelist
Blade added to the roster
Symbiote-themed content and skins
First season with the new 2-month format
Focus on dark, abyssal themes and Knull storyline

Season 3 marked a significant shift in Marvel Rivals’ seasonal structure. The shorter duration meant more frequent content updates, which the community largely appreciated. Phoenix was particularly game-changing with her dual duelist capabilities, and Blade brought a much-requested vampire hunter to the roster. The symbiote theme was executed beautifully, with some of the best skins the game has seen.

Season 3.5: The Abyss Awakens (August 8, 2025 – September 12, 2025)

Duration: 35 days
Key Features:

Mid-season balance updates and hero adjustments
Additional symbiote-themed content
New limited-time game modes
Preparation for Season 4’s dragon theme

Season 3.5 continued the abyssal theme while setting up the transition to Season 4. The mid-season updates brought much-needed balance changes, particularly to Phoenix who had been dominating the meta. As a regular player, I appreciated how NetEase used this mid-season point to address community feedback and keep the gameplay fresh.

Season 4: Heart of the Dragon (September 12, 2025 – October 10, 2025)

Duration: 28 days
Key Features:

Angela joined the roster
Dragon-themed content and visuals
New maps inspired by Asian mythology
PlayStation 4 launch coincided with this season
Focus on mystical and dragon-related storylines

Season 4 brought a completely different aesthetic to Marvel Rivals with its dragon theme. Angela’s addition was well-received, and the new maps offered a refreshing change of pace. The PlayStation 4 launch during this season significantly expanded the player base, bringing in new players and revitalizing the community.

Season 4.5: Heart of the Dragon (October 10, 2025 – November 14, 2025)

Duration: 36 days
Key Features:

Daredevil joined as the newest playable character
Continued dragon-themed content
Halloween-themed events and cosmetics
Balance updates and quality-of-life improvements
Preparation for Season 5

Season 4.5 is the current season as of this writing, and it’s been exciting to see Daredevil finally join the roster. His unique gameplay mechanics, focusing on heightened senses and agility, have added a new dimension to character matchups. The Halloween events have been particularly well-timed, adding seasonal flair to the dragon theme.

How Long Do Marvel Rivals Seasons Last?

The duration of Marvel Rivals seasons has evolved significantly since launch:

Season 0: 5 weeks (introduction period)
Seasons 1-2: 3 months each (~13 weeks)
Seasons 3+: 2 months each (split into halves)

This evolution shows NetEase’s responsiveness to player feedback. The initial 3-month seasons gave players plenty of time to complete content but sometimes felt drawn out. The shift to 2-month seasons starting with Season 3 has been largely positive, offering:

More frequent content updates
Fresh meta changes more often
Less time between new hero releases
More opportunities for seasonal events

The split-season format (with .0 and .5 versions) ensures that even within the shorter 2-month cycles, there’s a mid-season refresh to maintain engagement.

What is the Current Marvel Rivals Season?

As of March 2026, we’re currently in Season 4.5: Heart of the Dragon, which introduced Daredevil as the newest playable character. This season started on October 10th, 2025, and will run until November 14th, 2025.

Daredevil, known as Matt Murdock by day and the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen by night, brings unique gameplay mechanics focused on his heightened senses, agility, and billy clubs. His addition has been particularly timely, coinciding with the character’s renewed popularity following Charlie Cox’s return to the MCU in various projects.

The current season features:

Daredevil’s unique duelist gameplay
Continued dragon-themed content and cosmetics
Halloween events and limited-time modes
Balance updates affecting the competitive meta

When is the Next Marvel Rivals Season?

Season 5 of Marvel Rivals will begin on November 14th, 2025, immediately following the conclusion of Season 4.5. While official details about Season 5 are still under wraps, there are some exciting rumors and leaks based on recent datamines and developer hints:

Potential Season 5 Features:

Gambit and Rogue as new playable heroes (based on recent gallery card leaks)
Possible New Orleans or Louisiana-themed setting
Continued evolution of the Timestream Entanglement storyline
New Team-Up abilities and balance changes

The leaks suggesting Gambit and Rogue are particularly exciting, as both characters have been highly requested by the community. Gambit’s card-throwing abilities and Rogue’s power-absorption mechanics could bring unique gameplay elements to Marvel Rivals.

Season Structure and Content Delivery

Understanding Marvel Rivals’ seasonal structure helps you plan your gameplay and maximize your enjoyment. Here’s what you can typically expect from each season:

Season Launch (.0)

New Heroes: Usually 1-2 new characters join the roster
New Maps: Fresh battlegrounds to explore
Battle Pass Reset: New rewards and progression system
Major Balance Changes: Hero adjustments and meta shifts
Seasonal Events: Limited-time game modes and activities

Mid-Season Update (.5)

Additional Heroes: Sometimes 1 more hero joins mid-season
Balance Patches: Adjustments based on player feedback
New Cosmetics: Additional skins and cosmetic items
Quality-of-Life Improvements: Bug fixes and gameplay enhancements
Mini-Events: Smaller limited-time activities

This structure ensures that there’s always something new happening in Marvel Rivals, whether you’re a casual player who logs in occasionally or a dedicated competitor who plays daily.

Competitive Season Implications

For competitive players, understanding the seasonal schedule is crucial. Here’s how seasons affect competitive play:

Rank Reset: At the beginning of each season, players drop 7 divisions (e.g., Diamond I to Gold II)
Ranked Rewards: Each season half offers unique ranked reward costumes for reaching Gold III
Meta Shifts: New seasons bring balance changes that affect the competitive meta
Map Pool Changes: The available competitive maps may rotate with seasons

As someone who enjoys competitive play, I appreciate how the seasonal resets keep the competitive scene fresh. The rank reset prevents stagnation, and the frequent balance changes ensure that the meta is always evolving.

2026 Tips for Managing Seasonal Content

Based on my experience playing through multiple Marvel Rivals seasons, here are some tips for making the most of each season:

Battle Pass Management

Start Early: Begin working on the Battle Pass as soon as a season launches
Plan Ahead: Look at the reward tiers and prioritize what you want most
Daily Challenges: Complete daily challenges for consistent XP gains
Events: Participate in seasonal events for bonus Battle Pass XP

Competitive Planning

Early Season: Experiment with new heroes and balance changes
Mid-Season: Focus on climbing once the meta stabilizes
End of Season: Push for final rank before the reset

Resource Management

Credits: Save credits for heroes you know you’ll want
Currency: Plan premium currency spending for upcoming cosmetics
Time: Allocate playtime based on your goals (casual vs. competitive)

Future of Marvel Rivals Seasons

Looking ahead, I expect Marvel Rivals to continue refining their seasonal approach based on player feedback and engagement metrics. Some potential future developments could include:

Possible Evolutions

Thematic Crossovers: Larger Marvel universe crossover events
Extended Story Arcs: Multi-season storylines with greater narrative depth
Community Events: More player-driven seasonal content
Competitive Integration: Enhanced seasonal competitive features

Content Expansion

More Heroes: Accelerated hero release schedule
New Game Modes: Additional permanent game modes
Map Variety: More diverse map settings and mechanics
Cosmetic Innovation: New types of cosmetic items and customization

The future looks bright for Marvel Rivals, and the seasonal structure will continue to be the backbone of content delivery and player engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do new Marvel Rivals seasons start?

New Marvel Rivals seasons start every 2 months, with each season split into two halves (.0 and .5). This means there’s significant content update approximately every month.

What happens to my Battle Pass when a new season starts?

Your Battle Pass resets with each new season. Any unclaimed rewards from the previous season’s Battle Pass are lost, so make sure to claim everything before the season ends.

Do I lose my competitive rank when a new season starts?

Yes, at the beginning of each season, players drop 7 divisions in their competitive ranking. For example, if you ended Season 4 in Diamond I, you’d start Season 5 in Gold II.

Can I still play content from previous seasons?

Most seasonal events and limited-time game modes are exclusive to their respective seasons. However, heroes, maps, and permanent features added during seasons remain available year-round.

How do I know when a season is ending?

The game displays a countdown timer on the main menu showing how much time is left in the current season. Additionally, NetEase typically announces season end dates through official channels a few weeks in advance.

Are there breaks between Marvel Rivals seasons?

Usually, there’s minimal downtime between seasons. Servers typically go down for 1-3 hours for maintenance, and then the new season begins immediately after.

What’s the best way to prepare for a new season?

To prepare for a new Marvel Rivals season, I recommend:

Completing your current Battle Pass
Spending any seasonal currency
Claiming all seasonal rewards
Planning which heroes or cosmetics you want to pursue next season

Do season prices or costs change?

The base game and Battle Pass pricing has remained consistent, but NetEase may introduce new pricing tiers or special offers during major seasonal updates.

Final Thoughts

Marvel Rivals has developed one of the most engaging seasonal structures in modern gaming. The evolution from a simple pre-season to the current sophisticated two-month split-season format shows NetEase’s commitment to keeping the game fresh and exciting.

As someone who has been playing since Season 0, I’ve appreciated how each season brings something new to look forward to—whether it’s new heroes, fresh maps, or exciting events. The current seasonal structure strikes an excellent balance between giving players enough time to enjoy content while keeping updates frequent enough to maintain interest.

Remember to bookmark this guide, as I’ll be updating it with each new season to ensure you always have the most current Marvel Rivals seasons information. The world of Marvel Rivals is constantly evolving, and staying informed about seasonal changes will help you make the most of your gaming experience.

Whether you’re a casual player who enjoys the story and cosmetics or a competitive player focused on climbing the ranks, understanding the seasonal structure is key to maximizing your enjoyment of Marvel Rivals. Here’s to many more exciting seasons ahead!