Marvel Rivals: Magik lore, explained

Illyana Rasputina, known by her hero moniker Magik, is a mutant and sorceress from Marvel Comics who is part of the X-Men universe. She appears in a wide range of other media, including the live-action film The New Mutants, where she is played by Anya Taylor-Joy. 

Magik is one of the playable Marvel characters in the 6v6 PvP team game Marvel Rivals, and she is a particularly popular and effective choice (when played well). As of the current Marvel Rivals season (season 6), Magik has a 54.63% win rate and a very high 16.48% pick rate. She is considered an S-tier Duelist, so it’s no surprise that her stats are so impressive.

In this article, we’ll be diving into Magik’s lore in Marvel Rivals and how it differs from her usual comic book lore. We’ll also take a closer look at her in-game abilities to see how they connect to her narrative in the game, as well as her general backstory from the comics. 

In Marvel Rivals, Magik is a Duelist, a DPS character, whose role is to deal as much damage as possible while protecting the supports on the team. As in the comics, Magik in Marvel Rivals is best known for her huge sword called the Soulsword, which is literally made from a part of her soul. Her abilities are built around the Soulsword. Because of this, she is a melee Duelist who needs to get up close and personal with the enemy to deal significant damage. 

Along with her Soulsword, Magik’s abilities in Marvel Rivals also focus on her connection to the demonic dimension Limbo, as she can teleport in and out of Limbo with ease due to being a leader within the dimension. Magik’s powers reflect this, as she can use her teleporting skills to manoeuvre through the battlefield in the game. 

In Marvel Rivals, Magik’s lore revolves around the version of her that is caught up in the Timestream Entanglement, as is the case with all the heroes in the game. The Timestream Entanglement is the main narrative thread of the game that brings together various versions of Marvel characters from different universes and places in time. 

The Magik that appears in Marvel Rivals has fully embraced her role to become the Queen of Limbo. She is also a key player in the timeline war caused by the Timestream Entanglement, as she is a general who fights demons as well as malevolent gods across a range of dimensions. Despite spending most of her time serving as Queen and a battle strategist in Limbo, she often visits Krakoa to meet with her fellow Mutants and ensure the survival of mutant kind.

Magik’s Marvel Rivals story shows a more battle-hardened version of her character, rather than the teenager who is still trying to find her place. Her relationship with her Darkchylde persona – the physical manifestation of the dark side of Magik’s soul – is often a cause of tension and a struggle in the comics, but in the game, she fully embraces it. In fact, in Marvel Rivals, Magik’s Darkchylde persona overtakes her physical form entirely when she uses her ultimate ability.  At a surface level, though, she is still pretty similar to her comic book counterpart in terms of her tough and rebellious personality.

As mentioned, Magik’s Marvel Rivals abilities are strongly linked to her lore in both Marvel Rivals and the comics. Take a look at the table below for a more detailed look at Magik’s skill kit in Marvel Rivals. 

Base stats
Health: 250
Movement speed: 6m/s

Magik’s Marvel Rivals story is directly linked to the Timestream Entanglement narrative that is unique to the game. She still has her strong-willed nature, but she has become more at one with the demonic parts of her personality. Magik is more willing than ever to let the Darkchylde come out to play in Marvel Rivals, as it is a key part of her skill kit. Her position as Queen of Limbo makes the Marvel Rivals version of Magik a particularly interesting version of her character.