Unstable Molecules are a single-purpose currency in Marvel Rivals: they customise costumes you already own, and nothing else. The free source most players miss is the Hero Proficiency track, which pays 500 Unstable Molecules per hero.
What They Actually Buy
Unstable Molecules pay for two things, both tied to costumes already in your collection:
- Chromas, which are recolour palettes for an existing costume.
- Ultimate VFX, which are visual effect variants for an existing costume.
Both are consistently reported at 600 Unstable Molecules each. The important restriction is that you must already own the base costume before you can buy its Chroma. Unstable Molecules cannot buy the costume itself, so they are a finishing currency rather than a purchasing one. If you were hoping to convert them into skins, that is not what they do.
How to Earn Them
Hero Proficiency tracks award 500 Unstable Molecules per hero, alongside 500 Units. This is the most dependable free source, and like Units it rewards breadth across the roster rather than depth on one character. Our Lord rank guide explains how those proficiency levels are earned.
The Battle Pass awards Unstable Molecules on both the free and premium tracks. A figure of 400 from the free track has circulated, though per-season totals vary and it is not officially confirmed for the current pass, so check the pass itself.
Events and Event Passes include them as limited-time rewards.
Lattice conversion works at 1:1, and the prompt appears when you try to acquire a Chroma you cannot yet afford. When costume customisation first launched this was the only way to get Unstable Molecules at all, which drew heavy criticism, and the free sources were added afterwards.
Do Not Confuse These With Accessory Points
There is a separate currency called Accessory Points which does carry a weekly cap, commonly cited at 700 per week. Unstable Molecules are not the same thing, and no weekly or seasonal cap on Unstable Molecules is documented. That said, an absence of documentation is not a guarantee, so do not build a plan that depends on farming an unlimited amount in a short window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Unstable Molecules buy skins?
No. They only buy Chromas and Ultimate VFX for costumes you already own.
How much does a Chroma cost?
Chromas and Ultimate VFX are both reported at 600 Unstable Molecules.
Can I get them without spending money?
Yes. Hero Proficiency tracks pay 500 per hero, and the free Battle Pass track includes them too. Our Units guide covers the wider free-currency picture.
Is there a cap on how many I can hold?
No cap is documented for Unstable Molecules. The 700 per week cap that gets mentioned applies to Accessory Points, a different currency.