Marvel Rivals' inaugural season, “Doom’s Rise,” has undoubtedly been a massive success. Though not all players have tried Competitive, it was recently revealed thatMarvel Rivalssurpassed 20 million playerswithin two weeks of launching. As a massive hit on platforms like Steam and Epic Games, the hype surrounding the superhero shooter shows no signs of slowing down.
According toRivals Tracker, nearly 520,000 PC players have participated in Competitive. With eight tiers to climb in Competitive, most ofMarvel Rivals' player base is found in Bronze 3 and Gold 3. Interestingly, based on the available data, clear factors influence the distribution of the ranked ladder.
In-Game Rewards influence Marvel Rivals' Competitive Scene
Marvel Rivals' Free Competitive Rewards Motivate Players, But Only Up to a Point
When referencing the graph, people may notice that nearly 100,000 players are ranked Bronze 3. WithMarvel Rivalsbeing a relatively new game and its popularity attracting fans from various gaming niches to the hero-shooter genre, it makes sense that most of the playerbase is conglomerating in Bronze. After all, players here are often familiarizing themselves with the heroes, maps, and positioning. Moreover, several of these players may have jumped intoMarvel Rivals' ranked modea few times before deciding they preferred Quickplay, leaving them indefinitely in Bronze 3.
The next highest player count is Gold 3, at almost 47,000 players. While data from similar games likeOverwatch 2suggest that this rank aligns with the average for most players on the ranked ladder, thefree Moon Knight skin inMarvel Rivalshas likely been a defining factor. Because the Golden Moonlight costume can be obtained by reaching any division in Gold, whether Gold 3, Gold 2, or Gold 1, it makes sense that players grinding for the free cosmetic would stop at the lowest tier.
Ranked rewards are distributed at the end of the season, so players must achieve Gold rank or higher to earn the Golden Moonlight costume.
With the potential to drop out of Gold if they continue playing, some players opt to hit Gold 3 and stop participating in Competitive entirely, guaranteeing their eligibility for the reward. As such, it’s very clear that, whether intentional or not,Marvel Rivals' Competitive Moon Knight skincomes with a price and may directly impact the number of players hovering in Gold 3.
Marvel Rivals Offers Multiple Competitive Rewards For Higher Ranks
It’s worth noting that many people are clustered in both Platinum 3 and Diamond 3. For the latter, it makes sense, considering that if all players in the lobby are Diamond 3 or above, hero bans are implemented. Therefore, players used to insta-locking hardmeta characters inMarvel RivalsSeason 0, such as Doctor Strange, Hela, Luna, and Mantis, may climb slower if that hero is banned.
Significantly,Marvel Rivalsalso rewards those who achieve Grandmaster rank and Top 500. For Grand Master, players must climb to Grandmaster 3 to receive the Silver Crest of Honor, whereas the Top 500 will earn a Gold Crest of Honor. The Top 500 will vary based on how many people play the game and their skill rating, but as ofMarvel RivalsSeason 0, all 500 players have placed One Above All. Crests of Honor will be displayed on player’s name cards as a mark of distinction when the season ends, which may also explain why various people are camping in Grandmaster 3.
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!
