MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches with 20 playable characters split across five official teams. That sounds manageable until the character-select screen asks you to choose four of them for one match.
The good news is that you do not need to learn four full move lists on day one. Pick one fighter you genuinely want to control, add a second who covers a different range, and let the final two contribute straightforward assists while you learn. The official teams are useful starting points, not locked squads.
For controls, Link Attacks, defense, Startup Battle, and assist inputs, begin with the MARVEL Tōkon Beginner Guide. The MARVEL Tōkon game page collects the rest of the coverage.
All five MARVEL Tōkon teams at a glance
- Fighting Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, and Black Panther.
- Unbreakable X-Men: Storm, Magik, Wolverine, and Danger.
- Amazing Guardians: Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, and Peni Parker.
- Samurai Outriders: Ghost Rider, Blade, Loki, and Deadpool.
- Knights of Doom: Doctor Doom, Magneto, Green Goblin, and Carnage.
How all 20 launch characters play
The profiles below keep the official five-team structure and explain what each launch character contributes in a match.
Every fighter belongs to one of five story teams, each with four members. You can ignore those groups when building a custom squad and mix heroes or villains however you like. Some combinations even receive team names that nod to Marvel history.
Fighting Avengers
- Captain America: the easiest all-rounder to understand. His shield gives him a projectile, forward pressure, anti-air coverage, and dependable tools at several ranges.
- Iron Man: a strong mid-range choice with repulsor attacks and air movement. He is useful when your first character needs help controlling space.
- Hulk: the heavy hitter. Long reach, armored attacks, and Gamma Rage help him push through situations that stop lighter fighters.
- Black Panther: fast and mobile, with a spear, projectiles, and a Bast’s Blessing gauge that rewards active movement and pressure.
Try this team first if you want recognizable characters and a clear mix of balance, range, power, and speed. Captain America is especially good for learning what the game expects before experimenting with stranger mechanics.
Unbreakable X-Men
- Storm: a technical space-control fighter who changes projectile paths and uses wind to make parts of the screen uncomfortable for an opponent.
- Magik: a close-range attacker who uses the Soulsword and Dark Portals to change position and keep pressure moving.
- Wolverine: direct rushdown. Berserker Rage helps him stay close once he gets inside, and the official ease-of-use rating makes him a friendly first pick.
- Danger: one of the more advanced characters. Calibrate and her aerial dash create movement and setup options that reward time in Training Mode.
Wolverine gives this group an easy entry point, while Storm and Danger leave plenty to learn later. Do not put both technical characters at the front of the team if you are still trying to remember which button calls an assist.
Amazing Guardians
- Spider-Man: uses Web Zip and aerial movement to change direction quickly and close distance from awkward angles.
- Ms. Marvel: stretches attacks across surprising ranges and uses Elasti-Grab to threaten opponents who think they are safely out of reach.
- Star-Lord: a mobile gunslinger whose elemental projectiles let him attack while repositioning.
- Peni Parker: fights through SP//dr and cycles between drones with different effects, asking the player to adapt as the match changes.
Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel both carry friendly ease-of-use ratings, which makes this a good team for somebody who wants movement without starting with the most technical options. Peni adds the homework when you are ready for it.
Samurai Outriders
- Ghost Rider: uses chains to control long distances and adds a Vengeance Gauge for players who enjoy managing an extra resource.
- Blade: works at several ranges, but his Heart Stopper shots are limited. Up the Stakes restores those charges during the fight.
- Loki: wins through feints, counters, projectiles, and the Norn Stone rather than charging straight ahead.
- Deadpool: moves between close and long range, while his Healing Gauge changes some Skills and Meat Shield helps rebuild it.
This is the team for players who like character-specific resources and tricks. It can feel busy at first because several members want you to watch something beyond the opponent’s health bar.
Knights of Doom
- Doctor Doom: controls mid and long range with projectiles, a Nullify Shield, and a teleporting dash that suddenly changes the angle.
- Magneto: creates debris from projectiles and pulls opponents toward him, turning distance into something he can manipulate.
- Green Goblin: uses his glider for aggressive air movement, then fills that space with Razor Bats and Pumpkin Bombs.
- Carnage: stretches his body for long attacks and uses the Necrosis parasite to keep pressure going after contact.
The Knights of Doom lean technical. They can cover a lot of the screen, but their tools make more sense once you understand normal movement, blocking, and when an assist is safe to call.
Which Characters Are Best for Beginners?
The official ease-of-use ratings point newcomers toward Captain America, Ms. Marvel, and Wolverine. Iron Man and Spider-Man are also relatively easy to learn. Storm and Danger sit at the more advanced end.
That does not mean a beginner must avoid a favorite character. A player who loves Storm will probably practice her longer than somebody who chose Captain America only because a guide called him easy. Use the ratings to set expectations, not to talk yourself out of the hero who made you buy the game.
A Simple First Team That Teaches the Game
Start with one close-range fighter and one ranged fighter. The official beginner guidance uses Wolverine and Iron Man as an example: Wolverine wants to get in, while Iron Man helps control the space in front of him.
Put the character you most want to control first. Place the reliable backup second, because the first two fighters are available at the beginning of a match. Your third and fourth options enter as the fight opens up through its team and stage systems, so complicated late slots can wait until the basics feel normal.
- Pick a point character: choose the fighter whose movement and normal attacks feel comfortable without an assist.
- Cover the missing range: if the point character struggles from far away, add a projectile user; if they prefer distance, add a close-range threat.
- Choose readable assists: start with effects you can recognize immediately instead of building around a setup you cannot yet explain.
- Practice one switch: learn when to call an assist first, then add the assist-to-switch input after the screen no longer feels chaotic.
Do the Official Teams Limit Character Selection?
No. Fighting Avengers, Unbreakable X-Men, Amazing Guardians, Samurai Outriders, and Knights of Doom are story groups and suggested compositions. Custom teams can mix any four launch characters.
The named teams are still useful in Episode Mode and when you want a squad whose identities are easy to remember. A custom team becomes more valuable when you know exactly which range, assist, or matchup problem you are trying to solve.
Phoenix Cyclops and the Year 1 DLC
Phoenix Cyclops is the first announced Year 1 DLC fighter and is not part of the 20-character launch roster. The Year 1 Characters and Stage Pass includes four post-launch fighters and one stage in total. Do not count those additions when comparing the base roster or choosing a Standard Edition team.
The MARVEL Tōkon release and editions guide breaks down the Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate editions, the pass, costumes, platforms, and PC requirements. For PS5-to-PC matches and account rules, use the cross-play guide.
MARVEL Tōkon Roster FAQ
How Many Characters Are in MARVEL Tōkon?
There are 20 playable characters at launch. Four additional fighters are planned through the Year 1 pass.
Do You Control All Four Characters?
Yes. One player controls the full team, calls the others as assists, and can switch between available fighters. This is a two-player fighting game, not a four-player team mode.
Can You Mix Heroes and Villains?
Yes. Custom teams are not restricted by the five official story groups.
Is Phoenix Cyclops Included in the Base Game?
No. Phoenix Cyclops is the first announced Year 1 DLC character.
Should a Beginner Learn Four Characters at Once?
No. Learn one main fighter and one reliable backup, then use simple assists in the remaining slots while the core controls become familiar.
