Ethan Crossfield 
If you’re tracking Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, Evo 2026 just delivered a major roster expansion: Blade, Loki, and Deadpool are joining the tag-team brawler, and they slot into the game’s Samurai Outriders narrative lineup. Here’s what’s new, how each character fights, and what the roster additions mean for the matchups you’ll be playing around.
What changed at Evo 2026: three new arrivals to the tag-team roster
Arc System Works revealed a new team and multiple fighters for its upcoming tag team fighting game Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls during Evo 2026. The headline additions are Blade, Loki, and Deadpool, bringing a mix of close-range blade work, spell-and-sword style trickery, and Deadpool’s signature fourth-wall-breaking chaos.
Blade is built around his Muramasa blade, using it to cut through opponents while also leaning on ranged tools—guns and throwing knives—to keep distance. Loki’s kit centers on a flaming sword and a staff, described as similar to the one associated with the Mind Stone in The Avengers, with the expectation that he’ll have additional tricks beyond those highlighted. Deadpool, meanwhile, is positioned as a wacky, reference-heavy fighter, with a moveset that leans into comedic chatter and fighting game nods, including his own take on the classic “Toasty!” moment from Mortal Kombat.
Alongside Loki, an Asgard stage was also revealed, giving the trickster god a distinct backdrop for fights.
Who’s affected: the Samurai Outriders and the factions you’ll face
Blade, Loki, and Deadpool don’t arrive as lone additions—they join an existing narrative team structure. Together with the previously announced Ghost Rider, the trio forms a team called the Samurai Outriders.
The game’s story and match flow also frame who they’ll battle. Rival factions named in the reveal include the Fighting Avengers—Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, and Black Panther; the Knights of Doom—Doctor Doom, Magneto, Carnage, and Green Goblin; Unbreakable X-Men—Wolverine, Magik, Storm, and Danger; and the Amazing Guardians—Spider-Man, Star-Lord, Ms. Marvel, and Peni Parker. If you like preparing for specific character matchups, these faction lineups give you a clear picture of the teams the Samurai Outriders will be going up against.
What comes next: release timing and how to decide whether to follow
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is scheduled to launch on August 6 for PlayStation 5 and PC. With Blade, Loki, and Deadpool now confirmed, the roster picture is much clearer—especially for players who want a mix of archetypes: Blade’s blade-and-ranged pressure, Loki’s flaming sword and staff-based offense, and Deadpool’s joke-filled, reference-driven brawling.
Whether you should follow closely from here depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re interested in Marvel crossovers with distinct fighting identities, the roster additions and the Asgard stage are strong signals. If you’re waiting to see how tag-team mechanics actually play out in matches, you’ll likely want to track hands-on footage and gameplay demonstrations after the roster reveal.
What players should know
- Blade uses his Muramasa blade for slicing pressure, plus guns and throwing knives for ranged control.
- Loki’s fighting style features a flaming sword and a staff similar to the Mind Stone staff from The Avengers, with more tricks implied.
- Deadpool’s kit is built around comedic chatter and fighting game references, including a “Toasty!”-style moment.
- Blade, Loki, and Deadpool join Ghost Rider as the Samurai Outriders in the game’s narrative.
- Named rival factions include the Fighting Avengers, Knights of Doom, Unbreakable X-Men, and Amazing Guardians.
- Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches August 6 on PS5 and PC.
| Character | Core combat focus | Notable reveal |
|---|---|---|
| Blade | Melee slicing plus ranged tools | Muramasa blade; guns and throwing knives |
| Loki | Weapon-based trickery | Flaming sword; staff similar to the Mind Stone staff; Asgard stage revealed |
| Deadpool | Comedic, reference-heavy fighting | Moveset with fighting game nods including a “Toasty!”-style bit |
Expert View
The Blade/Loki/Deadpool trio makes sense strategically for a tag-team Marvel brawler: you get a clear spread of ranges and personalities that should translate into distinct match rhythms—Blade for pressure and spacing, Loki for flashy weapon control, and Deadpool for unpredictable, crowd-pleasing offense. The biggest unknown is how these kits will interact with the game’s tag mechanics in real matches, but with the roster and faction structure now outlined—and an Asgard stage added—the game has enough concrete pieces to earn real attention ahead of its August 6 PS5 and PC launch.
