Our Early Season 7 Impressions | Rival Banter - Episode 51

A Special Rival Banter Announcement!

See you in a couple weeks! Start preparing by joining our Discord. https://discord.gg/Vbvd637cpE

Is Blood Hunt Better Than Zombies? Plus Running The Show Solo | Rival Banter - Episode 54

Welcome to a new era of Rival Banter. In Episode 54, Luke is flying solo as he explains why Seth is stepping away from the host's chair to focus on his IRL responsibilities. While the pod is changing, the news cycle isn't slowing down! Luke dives into a week dominated by the Blood Hunt PvE mode, which just shattered the concurrent player peak previously held by the Marvel Zombies event. We're talking raid mechanics, the new looter-style gear system, and why NetEase’s investment in PvE is officially paying off. In the News: Chrono-Rush Returns: The fan-favorite event is back on April 30th, offering double Chrono Tokens for players looking to grind.   Guangguang’s Gooner Gallery: Luke reacts to this week's shop skins, including the "Legendary Maid" Elsa Bloodstone (which has the community split on its design), and the arrival of the Phase 1 MCU skins for Iron Man and Loki. Reddit Rundown: Luke picks three "unhinged" and funny posts from the Marvel Rivals subreddit to react to.  🛡️ JOIN THE DISCORD Join the Rival Banter community! https://discord.gg/Vbvd637cpE Support the Show: ⭐ Listening on Spotify? Please leave us a 5-star review! It’s the best way to help us grow. 📱 Follow us on Socials: linktr.ee/RivalBanter

BLACK CAT IS HERE! Free Emma Frost Skin & PvE Returns in Season 7.5 | Rival Banter Episode 53

In Episode 53, Luke and Seth dive into the massive Season 7.5 "Dev Vision" reveal, including the arrival of Felicia Hardy and a surprising stance from the developers on game balance. We start by breaking down the spicy Twitter drama between Marvel's Danny Koo and orgs like Sentinels and 100 Thieves. Plus, we react to the devs' recent comments about ignoring the "vocal minority" to focus on a "fun-first" patching philosophy. Guangguang’s Gooner Gallery: Spider-Man: Peter Parker "Photographer" Legendary skin. Black Cat: "Urban Predator" Legendary skin. Blade Marvel Legends: Hasbro is officially making Marvel Rivals action figures, including Moon Knight, Punisher, and a Venom/Jeff 2-pack. Topic: Season 7.5 Deep Dive Black Cat (Duelist): Wall-climbing, double jumping, and a "Calling Card" ultimate that allows for lethal phantom strikes. New Team-Ups: The Black Cat, White Fox, and Captain America trio. Blood Hunt PvE: Launching April 23rd with 4 boss battles, a new loot system, and fresh character progression. Hellfire Gala 2026: It’s back! Get the Emma Frost Gala Star skin for FREE, plus new looks for Magik, Moon Knight, Gambit, and Phoenix. Path to Doomsday: Phase 1 starts April 30th with asymmetrical Avengers vs. Loki combat in Times Square. 🛡️ JOIN THE DISCORD Join the Rival Banter community! https://discord.gg/Vbvd637cpE Support the Show: ⭐ Listening on Spotify? Please leave us a 5-star review! It’s the best way to help us grow. 📱 Follow us on Socials: linktr.ee/RivalBanter

NEW MAP REVEAL! Lower Manhattan, "The Hood" Tease & Season 7 Roadmap | Rival Banter - Episode 52

The hunt is moving to the streets of New York! In Episode 52 of Rival Banter, Luke and Seth break down the brand-new Lower Manhattan map trailer and the massive secrets hidden within its labs. Is a fan-favorite villain finally on the way? We kick things off with a classic round of Ranking Unhinged User Names before diving into our Season 7 grind. We also recap Week 1 of Marvel Rivals Ignite, discussing how the pro teams are adapting to the new 3-ban meta and which rosters are already looking dominant. Guangguang’s Gooner Gallery: ESU Invisible Woman: We react to the "Riann Landau" trailer—Sue Storm goes undercover as a master debater. Mister Fantastic: Reed Richards joins the faculty as "Danum Ket" the professor.  In the News: Lower Manhattan Map: Launching April 2nd, this Convergence map takes us from Mayor Fisk's propaganda-filled streets to secret underground labs. The Hood Tease? We discuss that mysterious cloak spotted in the map trailer. Season 7 Roadmap Macro Ban Wave: NetEase has officially begun banning players using mouse macros to execute "abnormal combo sequences". We discuss why "letting a machine do the work" is officially a bannable offense. 🛡️ JOIN THE DISCORD Join the Rival Banter community! https://discord.gg/Vbvd637cpE Support the Show: ⭐ Listening on Spotify? Please leave us a 5-star review! It’s the best way to help us grow. 📱 Follow us on Socials: linktr.ee/RivalBanter

Our Early Season 7 Impressions | Rival Banter - Episode 51

Season 7: The Hunt Is On has officially begun! In Episode 51 of Rival Banter, Luke and Seth break down their first week with the massive changes—from the polarizing new ultimate charge rates to the tactical chaos of the 3-ban system. We open the show with a look at your Viewer Comments and a recap of our first few days in the Season 7 ranked climb. Is White Fox the Strategist we’ve been waiting for, or is she just another "charm-bot" in the Timestream? Guangguang’s Gooner Gallery: Captain America: We take a full-body look at the "Brett Hendrick" skin. Daring Duo: Reacting to the new Cloak and Dagger skin trailer. Flight Mode Vol. 02: New skin reveals for Namor, Magik, and Star-Lord. In the News: Switch 2 Confirmation: NetEase officially confirms Marvel Rivals is in the works for the Nintendo Switch 2. The Roster Philosophy: Why the devs are saying "No" to original characters and crossovers for the foreseeable future. There are just too many Marvel icons left to add! Esports Bundles: A first look at the Marvel Rivals Ignite partner team bundles and the new in-game MRI Hub. Balance Update: Breaking down the latest hotfixes following the Season 7 launch. 🛡️ JOIN THE DISCORD Join the Rival Banter community! https://discord.gg/Vbvd637cpE Support the Show: ⭐ Listening on Spotify? Please leave us a 5-star review! It’s the best way to help us grow. 📱 Follow us on Socials: linktr.ee/RivalBanter