It’s 2026, and Marvel Rivals has already settled into a comfortable rhythm of seasonal hero drops and map expansions. Yet, anyone who’s spent a dozen hours in the chaotic, multiversal battles can’t help but notice something: the roster is overwhelmingly good‑guy heavy. Sure, we have Loki causing mischief, Magneto bending metal, and Hela raining death from above, but the villains are still a rare breed. The arrival of Ultron is whispered about constantly, but players are starting to look beyond the obvious. If NetEase truly wants to shake up the meta and gift the game a character that oozes creative potential, they should turn their eyes to a Spider‑Man rogue who’s often overlooked: Flint Marko, better known as Sandman.

Sandman isn’t the most complex antagonist in the comics, and the movies haven’t exactly given him the spotlight he deserves. But that’s precisely what makes him such a fantastic fit for a hero shooter. His simplicity is a blank canvas. Marvel Rivals already excels at writing extracurricular lore that turns straightforward characters into fan favorites—just look at Peni Parker. Sandman’s powers are a playground waiting to happen. The ability to shift his body into any shape, dissolve into grains, or harden into concrete density opens up a toolkit that could rival the most versatile characters in the game.

A Vanguard, a Duelist, or Something in Between?

One of the juiciest debates surrounding Sandman is which role he would fill. His powerscape screams flexibility. Imagine a character who can switch between a brawling frontline Vanguard and a disruptive Duelist simply by changing his sand state. In a softer, granular form he might skulk through cracks and reposition like a flanker, while in a hardened form he could become a wall of solid rock that absorbs damage for the team. The developers could even make his role shift dynamically based on ability usage, much like how Cloak and Dagger already blur the line between healing and damage. But a more grounded approach might lock him into one category—and honestly, either works. Let’s be real: we’d all love a tank that can literally reshape the battlefield.

Thinking about his abilities, it’s impossible not to borrow from what already exists in the game—and that’s not a bad thing. NetEase has proven they can take a cool idea and give it a fresh spin.

• Submerge and Swim: Jeff the Land Shark dives underground and moves freely. Sandman could do the same, but instead of a shark fin you’d see a subtle ripple of sand gliding across the floor. Perfect for sneaking behind enemy lines or escaping a lost team fight.

• Sandy Minions: Namor summons Monstro spawns, Loki creates clones. Sandman forming humanoid sand‑constructs that mimic his movements or attack nearby enemies fits his lore like a glove. Picture a Duelist version where these minions apply slow or blind effects by spraying grit into opponents’ eyes.

• Embiggened Form: Mister Fantastic already inflates into a bigger, bouncier version of himself. Sandman growing into a towering sand‑giant, stomping down on control points, is a sight the game desperately needs. His ultimate could literally be a massive sandstorm that obscures vision and deals damage over time.

These aren’t wild speculations; they’re direct parallels that the dev team could implement without breaking the game. And because Sandman can adjust the density of his body, his basic attack might alternate between a long‑range sandblast and a short‑range, heavy‑hitting mace fist. It’s the kind of dual‑mode gunplay that would keep opponents guessing.

Team‑Ups and Map Potential

Of course, no hero or villain enters Marvel Rivals without at least one neat Team‑Up ability. Sandman and Spider‑Man don’t share a symbiote bond the way Venom does, so the lore team would need to get a little creative. Maybe Sandman’s sand clings to Spider‑Man, giving him a temporary sand‑armor that increases damage resistance and leaves damaging trails as he swings. Or perhaps Spider‑Man’s web‑shots combine with Sandman’s grit to create sticky, blinding globs—a small nod to the times Sandman has been both a nuisance and an reluctant ally. Whatever the solution, a Team‑Up would encourage players to pair the iconic nemeses without it feeling forced.

What about a themed map? Let’s not sugar‑coat it: Marvel Rivals probably won’t build an entire arena around Sandman. We didn’t get a sand‑castle map for Spider‑Man 2, and Flint Marko doesn’t have a recognizable home dimension like Klyntar. But that’s fine. The game has already shown with characters like the Thing that you don’t need a dedicated location to make an impact. The Thing entered the roster with floating rock armor and team‑wide buffs—an ability that wasn’t ripped straight from any specific comic panel. Sandman could follow a similar path, getting completely new tricks that feel authentic without being tied to a physical stage. He could, for instance, create temporary sand‑walls that block sightlines, or leave patches of quicksand that slow enemies. Those kinds of environment‑shaping abilities would be infinitely more valuable than a single map.

The Verdict

Marvel Rivals is in it for the long haul. By 2026, the game has already built a loyal community, and the content pipeline shows no signs of slowing. Plenty of Spider‑Man villains are bound to join the fray eventually—Venom is already a beloved tank, and Green Goblin feels inevitable. But Sandman offers something those others don’t: pure, shapeless, adaptable chaos. He’s not a character bogged down by complex gadgets or predictable patterns. He’s a force of nature you can mold into whatever the meta requires.

NetEase has nailed the art of turning “simple” concepts into deep, rewarding kits. Sandman could be the ultimate expression of that philosophy. So while we wait for Ultron’s promised arrival, maybe it’s time to start dreaming about the villain who literally slips through the cracks. He might just become the most surprisingly flexible addition the game has ever seen.

Give us Sandman, NetEase. We promise the sand puns will be worth it. 🏖️