Season two of the hit PvP shooter Marvel Rivals has arrived, and with it comes the White Queen of the Hellfire Trading Company, Emma Frost (Laura Post, Granblue Fantasy: Relink). The game’s latest Vanguard (tank) class character brings a unique kit that feels fun and Emma’s trademark personality to the game’s frantic action. Let’s dive in and talk about everything she brings with her.
Since Grant Morrison‘s tenure writing the X-Men in 2001’s New X-Men series, Emma has had two sides to her mutant powers. Along with the telepathy she’s always possessed, she gained the ability to transform her body into living diamond. This secondary mutation grants Emma vastly increased durability and strength, but at the temporary forfeiture of her mental abilities. Marvel Rivals developers have managed to utilize both sides of Emma’s powers to create a flexible and challenging kit for her.
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Diving into the regular form first, her standard attack is a short-range psychic beam. It does not auto-lock like Cloack’s, requiring players to keep their target in their sights. It does a fair amount of damage and lasts for a solid amount of time before needing a reload, making it a satisfying attack that is easy to utilize.
Her right-click special ability is Mind’s Aegis. It projects a diamond-shaped barrier with 500 health. Emma always projects her barrier at the same distance directly in front of her, and it can be a little tricky to place it where you want it at first. It can be dismantled immediately, so you aren’t stuck with a poorly placed barrier.
A shield tank, Emma Frost mixes up Vanguard tactics in Marvel Rivals.
There is an important element to note about Emma’s barriers. If you replace a previous barrier with a new one, or if an old one breaks and you quickly make a new one when the ability cooldown is gone, the resulting barrier will have very little health. Only if the cooldown has expired and you have no current barrier up will the barrier health regen. This takes a few seconds, so be wary. If you don’t need a barrier up, don’t have it up. That way, your next barrier will be closer to full health when you need to activate it.
The E special ability is Psychic Spear. When the spear hits an enemy, several diamond-like constructs will be pulled from them and left suspended in mid-air. When the diamonds are hit by Emma’s basic attack, the damage is fed back to the character. If the diamonds’ health is depleted, a large portion of damage is taken from the enemy.
This ability is the trickiest element of this kit. The damage it can do is significant, and the way the ability plays out feels unique. This can tempt a player to hyperfocus on destroying the diamonds, blocking out the rest of the battle. As one may guess, this can easily result in an untimely death. It feels like the Marvel Rivals devs laid an entertaining trap for players in this ability. Knowing when to commit and when to let those sparkly gems go will be a big separator between good and bad Emma players.
Emma Frost brings a balanced kit between damage shield for Marvel Rivals team comp.
Emma’s final special in her base form transforms her into her diamond. While in diamond form, she takes reduced damage, her primary attack becomes a melee strike, and her other two abilities are replaced with new specials that empower the White Queen to manhandle even the biggest opponents. And, of course, the character’s model takes on a sleek, diamond appearance.
The first special ability in the diamond form is Carbon Crush. Emma dashes forward, grabbing an opponent. If the grab lands, she picks them up and slams them into the ground. When the animation ends, Emma is facing the way she came, with her opponent at her feet. This last point is important as it feeds into her other special.
Crystal Kick delivers a roundhouse kick that sends the target flying directly away from Emma. If this move is used in conjunction with Carbon Crush, Emma will launch the opponent back into her team, separating them for an easy kill. Environmental damage can also be caused by this maneuver. Knocking an enemy into a wall causes increased damage, and if you can set up a shot that sends an enemy off the map, that is an instant kill.
Perhaps the best part about these abilities isn’t how effective they are but how good they feel and how cool they look. Watching Emma strong-arm Thor or the Hulk is hilarious. And the Marvel Rivals developers put the perfect amount of feedback into the controller rumble when a slam or kick lands, making the character’s power feel incredible.
Psychic Seduction ultimate puts Emma Frost at the front of the Vanguard pack.
Rounding out the kit, we have the ultimate: Psychic Seduction. A large cone-shaped AOE in front of Emma is bombarded by her telepathic power. Enemies in the area take damage over time, and a small symbol appears over their heads. While they are being hit by the attack, the symbol fills up. If it is filled, they will mindlessly walk toward Emma for a couple of seconds, leaving them completely vulnerable. Shields or walls block this effect, so try to time it after opposing tanks have lost their defensive abilities and make sure your line of sight is reasonably clear.
The hearty combination of psychic powers and diamond-hard strength makes Emma’s kit feel great. It’s versatile and fun. It also shows how much Marvel Rivals values keeping the characters authentic to their comic book personas. However, that authenticity doesn’t stop at her kit.
Emma’s voice lines are some of the most characterful the game has yet to deliver. Hearing Emma exclaim, “KNEEL, YOU PEASANTS!!” as she unleahes her ultimate is perfect. Even more casual lines radiate Emma’s inherent sense of superiority. Post delivers every condescending line and back-handed comment with all the low-key venom the elitist character has always wielded.
Emma’s debut in Marvel Rivals is sure to make a splash. Her kit is fun; it stands out from others in her role, and every element of her character is brimming with the sharp-edged personality fans have come to both love and hate over her 46-year publication history.
Marvel Rivals is available to play now for PC, PlayStattion 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
