With the launch of Season 7, “The Hunt is On,” the Marvel Rivals meta is shifting toward high-agility hunters and legendary thieves. While White Fox has already claimed her spot as the season’s premier Strategist, all eyes are on the shadows for the arrival of Felicia Hardy.
Here is everything you need to know about Black Cat’s release date and her role in the 2026 roadmap.
Marvel Rivals Black Cat Release Date: When Does She Arrive?
NetEase has officially confirmed that Black Cat will arrive as part of the Season 7.5 mid-season update.
- Official Release Date: April 17, 2026
- Update Timing: Maintenance typically begins at 09:00 UTC, with the character becoming playable shortly after the servers go live.
While White Fox kicked off the season on March 20, the developers are sticking to a staggered release schedule to keep the meta fresh. Black Cat serves as the mid-season shakeup, bringing a new set of mechanics to counter the current dominance of static backlines.
Role and Gameplay
While her full kit is still under wraps until the April 17 patch notes drop, several official teasers and high-level leaks have given us a clear picture of how she’ll play:
Duelist
Black Cat is confirmed as a Duelist, joining the ranks of high-mobility damage dealers like Spider-Man and Black Panther. Unlike the brawlier Duelists, Felicia focuses on Hit And Run tactics and RNG Manipulation
“Bad Luck” Debuffs
Leaks suggest her passive ability, Tempting Fate, weaponizes her comic book “bad luck” powers. Enemies within a certain radius of Black Cat may suffer from weapon jams or reduced critical hit chance, making her a nightmare for precision based heroes like The Punisher or Hela.
Verticality & Mobility
Expect a heavy emphasis on her Grapple Whip. Early gameplay snippets show her moving with a verticality that rivals Spider-Man, allowing her to dive onto supports and escape before the Vanguards can do anything.
Season 7.5: The Tablet of Life and Time
Black Cat’s release coincides with the second half of the Tablet of Life and Time Battle Pass.
- New Map: The Lower Manhattan map will receive a night-time variant specifically for the 7.5 launch, themed around a high-stakes museum heist.
- Team-Up Ability: She is rumored to have a unique Team-Up with Spider-Man, which reportedly grants both characters a movement speed buff when they are targeting the same enemy.
April 17 can’t come soon enough for fans of the world’s greatest cat burglar. Black Cat aims to be a mechanical answer to the bunker metas that have plagued Season 6, offering a high-skill ceiling for players who love to play on the edge of disaster.