Black Cat hits Rivals
A recent update added Black Cat as a playable character in Marvel Rivals, sparking fan excitement on social channels about new kit and animations. Players are sharing clips and reactions to the character’s moveset as the patch rolls out. (x.com)
Black Cat joined Marvel Rivals on April 17 as part of the Season 7.5 update, adding Felicia Hardy to the playable roster after weeks of teasers. (marvelrivals.com) NetEase scheduled the update for April 17 at 09:00 UTC with about two hours of maintenance, then listed Black Cat under “All-New Content” in the official patch notes. The same update also added Black Cat lore entries, a Black Cat “Urban Predator” bundle, a “Gilded Shadow” cosmetic, and a Symbiote Spider-Man plush accessory tied to the character. (marvelrivals.com) Marvel Rivals’ official YouTube channel posted “Black Cat: The Master Thief” four days ago, describing Felicia Hardy as a fast-moving thief who “glides across the battlefield with swift precision.” Steam’s store page now features a “Black Cat: The Master Thief” gameplay slot alongside the game’s Season 7.5 update overview. (youtube.com, store.steampowered.com) Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play 6v6 hero shooter, and NetEase has pushed a steady cadence of seasonal additions since launch on December 6, 2024. Steam shows 275,970 user reviews overall, with 78% positive, and 7,476 reviews in the last 30 days, with 65% positive. (store.steampowered.com, marvelrivals.com) Season 7.5 is a midseason patch, not a full reset, so Black Cat arrived alongside system changes that affect every match. NetEase also introduced a new Chain-CC Protection mechanic that triggers after 5.5 seconds of crowd control or six crowd-control effects within seven seconds, then grants 30% Tenacity for three seconds. (marvelrivals.com) The patch folded Black Cat into the season’s reward and event structure. Players can earn a Black Cat “Beguiling Blue” costume by reaching Gold rank, while the ESU Open Day event runs from April 17 to June 12 and offers a free Mantis costume among its rewards. (marvelrivals.com) NetEase also tied Black Cat to a new Team-Up called “Lucky Loan” with White Fox and Captain America. In the official balance post, Black Cat is the Team-Up Anchor and gets a 5% damage boost, while White Fox unlocks a new Nine-Tailed Aura ability through the pairing. (marvelrivals.com) That mix of a new hero, a new Team-Up, and broad balance changes helps explain why the rollout quickly turned into a clip-sharing moment. By April 18, the official reveal video had reached 1.6 million views on YouTube, as players tested Black Cat in live matches and pushed out first reactions across social platforms. (youtube.com, marvelrivals.com)
