Ethan Crossfield 
If you’re deciding whether to jump back into Marvel Rivals—or just keep an eye on what’s next—Season 9 is worth watching. A livestream set the stage for a July 10 start with Jubilee arriving as a support-leaning Strategist, while The Hood is expected shortly after. The reveals also lean hard into an X-Men villain storyline, tying both newcomers to Apocalypse and his Horsemen.
What changed in Season 9’s reveal
Marvel Rivals, Netease’s comic-book-themed hero shooter, used a livestream to outline what’s coming in its ninth season, scheduled to begin this Friday, July 10. The stream opened with a cinematic that briefly showcased the two newest heroes—Jubilee and The Hood—but quickly shifted focus to Apocalypse.
The centerpiece of the trailer was Apocalypse delivering a monologue about his pursuit of power, only for him to be suddenly attacked from behind and impaled by a sword wielded by an unseen attacker. After that dramatic turn, the reveal moved into gameplay details for Jubilee and what her kit is designed to do in matches.
Who’s joining the roster and how Jubilee plays
Jubilee is coming in as a Strategist, a class positioned as healer-adjacent. Her kit revolves around pyrotechnic energy blasts that can support allies and also deal damage. The reveal highlighted her ability to move vertically—jumping into the air and briefly hovering—both to avoid incoming damage and to create healing bubbles for teammates.
Her Ultimate is built for crowd disruption: it knocks back many enemies at once. In her character reveal trailer, Jubilee is shown using that power to push multiple opponents toward defeat, emphasizing that her moments of impact aren’t limited to single-target support.
The lore framing adds another layer. Jubilee is presented as one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen, specifically the Horseman of Famine. The reason is personal: her son, Shogo, has been trapped in a dragon form, and Jubilee is hoping Apocalypse can help.
What else is coming: Thebes and the timing for The Hood
Season 9 isn’t just about new characters. The update also adds a new convoy map called Thebes, arriving on July 23. The livestream’s roadmap also suggests The Hood will likely join the roster in early August.
Taken together, the season’s theme appears to connect the new arrivals to Apocalypse’s larger conflict—starting with Jubilee’s Horseman status and setting up the broader mystery implied by the cinematic attack on the X-Men villain.
What players should know
- Season 9 starts Friday, July 10, after a livestream reveal that centered on Apocalypse.
- Jubilee joins as a Strategist: pyrotechnic blasts that can heal foes’ targets and support allies, plus brief hovering and healing bubbles.
- Jubilee’s Ultimate knocks back multiple enemies at once, making her disruptive in team fights.
- Jubilee’s lore connection: she’s the Horseman of Famine because her son Shogo is trapped in dragon form.
- Thebes convoy map arrives July 23.
- The Hood is expected to enter the roster in early August.
Expert View
Season 9’s pitch is clear: Netease isn’t treating Jubilee and The Hood as isolated additions. Jubilee’s kit leans into tactical support—hovering positioning, healing bubbles, and a team-fight Ultimate—while the Apocalypse-focused cinematic suggests the season’s story will drive the mystery around who’s striking back. If you enjoy hero shooters with class-based team dynamics and lore-heavy reveals, following this season’s rollout looks like a smart bet; just be ready to wait a bit for The Hood’s actual arrival.
