- Primary Subject: Marvel Rivals (Season 9: The Mystery of Thebes)
- Key Update: Longtime fans are noting heavy design similarities between the hero abilities in Marvel Rivals and Valve's Dota 2, highlighted by Season 9's upcoming Team-Up loadout overhaul mirroring the MOBA's format.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 9, 2026
- Quick Answer: Yes, mechanics like Groot's root ultimate and the new Season 9 Team-Up selection system heavily resemble classic character designs and systems from Dota 2.
As a live service hero shooter, Marvel Rivals is undoubtedly one of, if not the most popular, of the genre. To this day, many people continue to play the game, and one of the biggest reasons is that it feels unique compared to its competition.
Every hero feels distinct from one another, and some features really stand out, such as team-up abilities, so I suppose it's only natural that Marvel Rivals is beloved. Also, the fact that it continues to update at a frequent pace allows it to remain relevant, and it also helps that the changes are always something that makes things more interesting for the players.
The game has certainly left its mark, but as someone who has been playing it since its release, I have noticed something. True, the game is certainly very popular, but I believe the reason it's doing well is due to the potential source of its inspirations.
Now, you might think that it's taking ideas from other hero shooters, a fine example being Overwatch. However, I believe that another game is closer to home with Marvel Rivals, and it comes in the form of a popular MOBA owned by Valve: Dota 2.
You may wonder how that's possible, especially considering how the genres of both titles are entirely different in terms of gameplay. To start, we have to take a look at some of the heroes. Much like Dota 2, Marvel Rivals has a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique abilities and traits that allow them to stand out.
However, after skimming through all the heroes and their capabilities, it's clear to me that some of them are clearly inspired by those found in the popular MOBA. For example, the Vanguard Groot is a large tree that is as durable as the character looks, and hits hard with every swing. He is, in nearly every way, just like Dota 2's Treant, with the only difference being the name of the species that they both belong to.
Now you can argue that there are a lot of similar tree-shaped characters, but there is one thing that Treant has that feels like Groot basically ripped off: the Ultimate. The Dota 2 character has an ultimate ability wherein, if used, it roots all targets to the ground in an area of effect, preventing them from moving for a set duration.
Groot's ultimate is basically the same, wherein he throws a projectile that explodes in an area, and all those hit by it are left immobilized. The properties of both are also similar, wherein the characters caught in the trap can still use spells or attacks, even when they're rooted to the floor.
There are many other examples, such as Peni's mines acting similarly to Techies', Loki's copy abilities being somewhat reminiscent of Rubick's, Doctor Strange's portals behaving like Underlord's Fiends Gate, and so on. You may be thinking that it's certainly just a coincidence, and it's not enough evidence to prove that Marvel Rivals is taking inspiration from Dota 2.
While I would have been inclined to believe that, recent news has led me to believe otherwise. Recently, there was a major announcement regarding Marvel Rivals and its upcoming ninth season. As fans expect, it comes with changes that will shake up the game, but what came as a surprise was a major overhaul to the team-up mechanic.
Normally, how it works is that a hero will gain a new active or passive ability if another hero is actively present on the team that is responsible for providing the benefit, or an anchor, if you will. However, the upcoming season update will rework that.
When it takes effect, heroes will now have a team-up loadout that they can select prior to a match. They can select one of two new abilities that will boost their fighting capabilities, and they gain the benefit even if the anchor hero isn't present in the team.
This is a huge change, but if you've played Dota 2, then the reworked team-up mechanic might remind you of Dota 2's now removed facets. While it was present in the MOBA, it allowed players to choose what new abilities or benefits a hero could have before a match, adding a layer of depth to matches before they even began.
While Marvel Rivals did deviate from it somewhat by allowing players to change team-up loadouts whenever they please, the fact remains that the mechanic acts similarly to Dota 2's facets. Also, it doesn't help that the update also showed that some of the new abilities that can be gained seemed straight out of the MOBA, like Star-Lord's Flora Munitions being similar to Dark Willow's Bramble Maze or Namor's Chilling Charisma acting the same as Kunkka's Tidal Wave.
With all the evidence, it seems likely that Marvel Rivals has been taking a lot of inspiration from Dota 2, and I see that as a good thing. Given that it has helped the game retain its relevance and popularity, I think it should continue doing so, as it can only mean more good things to come.