Marvel Rivals Players Believe They’ve Cracked the Game’s God-Killing Mystery

After weeks of anticipation, NetEase Games has finally unveiled Apocalypse in the announcement trailer for Marvel Rivals season 9. However, the first mutant’s time in the spotlight may be cut short. The trailer concludes with Apocalypse being impaled by a sword wielded by an unknown assailant, setting the stage for a season-long murder mystery that fans believe they’ve already cracked.

A significant hint comes from Apocalypse’s own narration throughout the trailer, where he reflects on his rise to power through a “survival of the fittest” philosophy, a core aspect of the X-Men villain’s character. He even mentions battling gods to seize their strength, aiming to “acquire the power to transcend” and become a god himself. His abrupt demise during this ascension suggests that his attacker has a personal vendetta against the divine. While the trailer hints at The Hood’s involvement, many fans are convinced that Gorr the God Butcher is the real culprit.

Introduced by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic in 2013, Gorr the God Butcher is a relentless warrior with a mission to eliminate all gods, originally clashing with Thor. Christian Bale brought this character to life in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder.

Gorr wields All-Black the Necrosword, and fans have noted that the sword that pierces Apocalypse appears to be an all-black blade. All-Black was originally owned by Knull, the creator of the symbiote race, who served as the main antagonist in season 3 of Marvel Rivals.

The theory of Gorr being the assassin aligns with recent leaks for season 10, which suggest that both Gorr the God Butcher and Nightcrawler will be the next playable characters after season 9. Using a murder mystery to introduce Gorr makes perfect sense, though it seems players may have figured it out a bit too quickly. Expect to see Gorr teased through gallery cards during season 9, much like Apocalypse was in season 8.

In the meantime, players can gear up to play as the explosive and vampiric Jubilee when Marvel Rivals season 9 drops on July 10.

And as for Apocalypse’s new Horsemen? You might want to brace yourself…