Much like other live-service games, Marvel Rivals is always introducing fresh ideas, and one of their latest temporary modes, Clone Rumble, has just been launched in this superhero shooter. It’s interesting to note that when you compare Marvel Rivals with its competitors, there’s a particular mode that seems like a natural fit to be the game’s next standout feature.
Fans familiar with rival shooters such as Valorant will likely spot the inspiration behind Clone Rumble. Given the unique abilities of Marvel Rivals’ diverse roster, success in Clone Rumble will definitely require thoughtful character selection. On the flip side, dealing with unforeseen challenges can be equally thrilling, which is exactly the kind of exhilarating experience that Mystery Heroes offers.
Clone Rumble draws inspiration from games like Valorant’s discontinued Replication mode, where all players on a team utilize the same hero, and it’s similar to Overwatch’s No Limits mode. Promotional content showcases the creative use of identical character kits, for instance, six Groots collaborating to enclose the enemy team almost entirely with their walls. There are also scenarios featuring Adam Warlock’s potential for repeated revivals, similar to Rocket Raccoon’s ability to create a continuous loop of character return.
Among the Marvel Rivals heroes that might create enjoyable chaos is the Human Torch, whose blazing bursts could blanket the area, hindering enemy movement. Characters with strategic prowess like Luna Snow and Mantis could render their team nearly unstoppable, thanks to their impressive skills, making a team of clones a formidable challenge in this limited-time mode.
That said, a few characters may spoil the fun with their abilities. Take Winter Soldier, whose ultimate move is devastating in standard gameplay and could be even more troublesome in Clone Rumble with multiple Buckys on the field. A possible solution would be having Marvel Rivals assign heroes randomly rather than allowing players to choose, offering a more balanced experience akin to a Mystery Heroes mode.
A Mystery Heroes mode would serve as a fitting follow-up to Clone Rumble by providing a contrasting dynamic that keeps players engaged. In this mode, a random selection system would dictate the Marvel Rivals characters players use, pushing them to adapt to unfamiliar heroes against opponents who might have varying levels of expertise with their own randomly assigned figures. However, if the developers at NetEase are feeling generous, they could permit players to select their roles, easing the randomness a bit.
If a full-fledged Mystery Heroes LTM isn’t in NetEase’s plans, they might consider adapting a similar feature from Marvel Rivals’ competitors to fulfill the same niche. In Valorant, players who hover over the same agent without switching are assigned a random unlocked agent. Currently, Marvel Rivals forces players to pick a different hero if their first choice is claimed. Incorporating Valorant’s form of character roulette during initial selection could spur players to embrace new challenges while maintaining an option to switch later. Alternatively, adopting Overwatch’s Mystery Heroes concept directly could be successful, as this has been a fan favorite for years.
Given the regular introduction of events and modes in Marvel Rivals, it’s quite conceivable that a Mystery Mode might eventually make an appearance, particularly if Clone Rumble proves popular. Only time will tell what path Marvel Rivals chooses for implementing a Mystery Mode in the future.
