Every hero in Marvel Rivals has two Team-Up abilities, you equip one of them before a match, and you can swap between them in the spawn room at any point during that match. If you learned this game before July 2026, that is already different from what you remember: the anchor system is gone.
What Changed in the Season 9 Overhaul
The original Team-Up system required an anchor. One specific hero had to be picked before anyone else on the team could use the related Team-Up, and that anchor received flat stat buffs for the trouble. If nobody picked the anchor, the ability simply did not exist for your team.
That requirement was removed in the Season 9 update on July 10, 2026, along with the anchor stat buffs. In practical terms, almost every hero got stronger, and the roster now carries more than 100 Team-Up abilities between them.
To offset how much more explosive team fights became, the same update reduced how quickly Ultimate energy builds. That trade is worth remembering when you are counting on an Ultimate arriving at a specific moment.
Base Effects and Enhanced Effects
This is the part that matters most, and it is what replaced the anchor rule. Each Team-Up ability has two states:
- Base Effect. Works no matter who else is on your team. You get it just for equipping the Team-Up.
- Enhanced Effect. A stronger version that activates only when the ability’s designated partner hero is also on your team.
So a Team-Up is never wasted. Picking one whose partner nobody selected still gives you the Base Effect, which is a real change from the old system where an unpicked anchor meant nothing at all. Composition still matters, because Enhanced is genuinely better, but it is now an upgrade rather than an on/off switch.
Choosing and Swapping
Pick your Team-Up before the match starts. If the enemy composition turns out badly for your choice, or your own team drafts the partner hero you wanted after all, return to the spawn room and swap. There is no cost and no cooldown on swapping itself.
How a Team-Up activates depends on which one it is. Some are passive or apply stat effects automatically, while others are active abilities with their own cooldown and input, so read the ability description in the hero menu rather than assuming a universal button.
What Is Strong Right Now
Community win-rate trackers currently show Peni Parker anchoring several of the highest-performing pairings, including combinations with Rocket Raccoon, Ultron, Spider-Man, and Black Panther, with Loki and Mantis also rating highly. Treat those as community statistics rather than official balance guidance: raw win rates are skewed by how often a hero is picked and by the ranks the data is drawn from.
Season 10, which began September 11, 2026, brought its own adjustments. Gorr the God Butcher arrived with a Team-Up that pulls enemies toward him, Magneto’s Scarlet Witch pairing was significantly nerfed, and The Hood’s Void Pentagram had its cooldown extended from 15 to 20 seconds with a reduced Limbo Demon health bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need an anchor hero for Team-Ups?
No. The anchor requirement was removed in the Season 9 update on July 10, 2026. Every Team-Up now works at its Base Effect regardless of team composition.
Can I change my Team-Up mid-match?
Yes. Return to the spawn room and swap freely. Your choice is not locked in at the draft.
How many Team-Ups does each hero have?
Two, and you equip one at a time.
Does the partner hero need to be on my team?
Only for the Enhanced Effect. The Base Effect works either way. Our guide on reaching Lord rank covers sticking with heroes long enough to learn their pairings properly.