Blade Confirmed as a Duelist in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Blade is confirmed as the newest Duelist. Multiple leaks and gameplay footage show Blade with 300 health and a melee-focused, high-pressure kit designed for eliminating squishy backliners.

Primary Fire:
Blade’s main attack is a sword combo with quick slashes. Leaked gameplay shows each slash dealing around 40–45 damage, with a final knockback hit delivering about 125 damage. While the combo’s feel is consistently compared to Spider-Man’s melee, the exact damage numbers are not universally verified.
Step and Chop (Shift Ability):
Blade has a movement ability, often referred to as “Step and Chop,” that propels him forward in a slicing attack, knocking enemies back and likely applying a slow or anti-heal effect. This move is designed to help Blade stick to targets and secure kills.

Source: Dylbobz

Blood Liberation Ability: Wall-Hacks and Life Steal

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Blade’s Blood Liberation is a signature ability that brings a vampire flair to his kit:

Activation:
Blade glows red and enters an 8-second frenzy. During this time, he can see enemies through walls (highlighted with a red outline and overlay), giving him a significant edge in duels.
Healing Mechanic:
While Blood Liberation is active, Blade’s health bar changes to “Dracula’s blood,” and he can only heal by dealing damage (life steal). This encourages aggressive play and rewards skilled players who can keep up the pressure.
Note:
The exact healing rate is not shown in leaked footage, but the mechanic is central to surviving during the ability.

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Blade’s Hunting Shotgun: Ranged Pressure

Blade’s secondary weapon is the hunting shotgun, providing strong mid-range pressure:

Damage:
The shotgun is described as delivering up to 85 damage per headshot at close range, functioning more like a precision slug than a spread-based shotgun. While the weapon is confirmed, the exact damage number may not be final.
Versatility:
The shotgun remains effective at mid-range, allowing Blade to soften targets before engaging in melee or to finish off fleeing enemies.
Shift Ability with Shotgun:
When using the shift ability with the shotgun equipped, Blade performs a slash and shot combo that applies an anti-heal debuff. This move is especially effective against heroes who rely on healing.

Ultimate and Defensive Abilities

Ultimate (Sword Charge, Damaging Trail):
Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Blade’s ultimate, as described in leaks, is a powerful sword charge that deals heavy damage and leaves a damaging trail. This ability is designed for devastating crowd control in team fights.
Defensive Move (Damage Block Stance):
Blade has a defensive stance using Dracula’s sword, similar to Doomfist’s block in Overwatch. This move reduces incoming damage from the front and, when combined with Blood Liberation, enhances his survivability in risky engagements.
Team-Up Ability with Cloak & Dagger:
There are rumors and datamined hints of a team-up ability with Cloak & Dagger, potentially granting invisibility and passive healing. However, this feature remains unconfirmed and speculative as of now.

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Blade’s Role in the Meta

Blade’s introduction as a second Duelist in a row has generated mixed reactions. Some players hoped for a tankier Vanguard to diversify team compositions, but current leaks and community discussions suggest the developers are focusing on high-skill, aggressive heroes this season.

Blade’s kit rewards good aim, positioning, and timing.
His ability to alternate between melee combos and precise shotgun shots gives him an edge in duels.
Survivability tools make him difficult to punish when played skillfully.