Summary
Though it’s lost its luster in the last few years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been undeniably influential, both in terms of the general entertainment industry and in terms of the public perception of superhero media. Over the course of a decade and a half, theMCUhas managed to not only re-popularizeiconic characters like Hulk, Captain America, and Iron Man, but also bring some more obscure heroes to the forefront, some of which have now become so popular that they’ve earned a spot onMarvel Rivals' launch day roster.
Announced on June 11, 2025,Marvel Rivalsis set to be a 6v6 objective-based hero shooter that seems to bear a striking resemblance toOverwatch. But with 18 playable heroes and villains available from the get-go,Marvel Rivalsis offering a great deal of variety right out of the gate, with both fan favorites and lesser-known characters getting a chance to shine. Though she once belonged to the latter category, Scarlet Witch has become a household name, andMarvel Rivalsmust avoid one unfortunate trend for her character.
Marvel Rivals' Scarlet Witch Can’t Be Underpowered
A character that first debuted all the way back in 1964 withX-Men #4, Scarlet Witch has been around for quite some time, though her first real breakout role was inthe Marvel Cinematic Universe’sAvengers: Age of Ultron. Upon her comic book debut, Scarlet Witch’s abilities were rather undefined, with the character having simple “hex” powers that allowed her to bend probability. As the comics went on, Scarlet Witch’s powers continued to evolve, revealing that her abilities were a form of chaos magic and that her mutant genes allowed her to tap into those energy fields more so than others.
Over the course of the last six decades, the Scarlet Witch has become one ofthe most powerful beings in the Marvel universe, with most comics giving her some horrifyingly impressive magical abilities. However, those powerful abilities are very rarely utilized in the realm of video games.
Scarlet Witch Has a History of Being Nerfed in Video Games
While Wanda Maximoff has appeared in a good handful of games over the last decade or so, none really put the true power of the Scarlet Witch in players' hands. 2022’sMarvel’s Midnight Sunsis a great example of this. For the first third ofMidnight Suns' story, Wanda Maximoff is a captured agent of Lilith, and it’s repeatedly made clear how dangerous she is and how important it is for the team to bring her back to their side. When Scarlet Witch does eventually turn sides and become playable, she loses a lot of her most powerful abilities, instead becoming a sort of support-based hero. AndMidnight Sunsis far from the only Marvel game that’s done this.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3’s version of Scarlet Witch is widely considered to be one of the weakest characters in the game, with just one synergy ability that’s also rather weak. Even inMarvel Snap, Scarlet Witch’s ability to swap her location to a random one is impressive, but it isn’t necessarily useful.
Marvel Rivals Needs to Take Scarlet Witch To The Next Level
It’s about time that Scarlet Witch was made as overpowered as she is in the source material, andMarvel Rivalscould finally right that wrong. Being an online hero shooter,Marvel Rivalsobviously can’t make Scarlet Witch too unbalanced, but there are ways to make her feel more powerful than she usually is. For instance,Scarlet Witch’s Ultimate abilityshould be absolutely devastating, allowing her to unleash the full power of her chaos magic. It would also be fun to see Scarlet Witch take on a tank or attacker role as opposed to playing support like she usually does.
Marvel Rivals
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
