Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls launched with a 20-character roster, while post-launch downloadable content is planned. The reveal of Phoenix Cyclops suggests that Arc System Works is willing to explore unusual versions of familiar heroes, rather than relying only on their best-known forms.
That approach opens the door to some inventive tag-team fighters. These ten picks would bring different weapons, powers and identities to the 4v4 combat game, from alternate versions of major heroes to characters who have rarely received the spotlight.
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1. Silver Surfer wielding Mjolnir
Norrin Radd has faced Thanos several times, but one of his most striking comic-book incarnations comes from an alternate future in Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw’s Thanos story. There, the Silver Surfer carries Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, while combining the Power Cosmic with the abilities of the God of Thunder.
That combination would translate naturally into a fighting-game moveset, giving the Surfer cosmic projectiles, aerial mobility and devastating hammer attacks.
2. The Unworthy Thor
Thor is a surprising omission from the starting lineup. Rather than simply adding the familiar Avenger, the game could use the Odinson after he loses his worthiness during Original Sin.
This version later travels into space, loses an arm and replaces it with one made from black Uru metal before starring in The Unworthy Thor. It would offer a distinct, hammer-less take on the character. King Thor would also be a strong alternative if the developers want a version who still carries Mjolnir.
3. Punisher Thanos
The cosmic corners of Marvel have produced some wonderfully strange character combinations. In Thanos Wins, Frank Castle becomes the Cosmic Ghost Rider, while an alternate-future Thanos raised by Castle eventually takes on the Punisher identity.
A Punisher-inspired Thanos could fight without the Infinity Gauntlet, using brute strength and a more unconventional arsenal. It would be a fresh way to reinterpret one of Marvel’s most recognisable villains.
4. Shadowkat
Kitty Pryde has served as an X-Man, Star-Lord and pirate captain, but her ninja training provides the clearest route into Marvel Tokon. Shadowkat could combine phasing with fast sword attacks and stealth-based movement.
Lockheed would be an essential part of the concept, either as a companion who assists during attacks or as part of her special moves. The character would fit neatly beside the game’s other blade-wielding fighters.
5. Orson Randall’s Iron Fist
Danny Rand is not the only Iron Fist. Orson Randall, a First World War veteran, held the title during an earlier era and brought a very different combat style to it.
Orson’s defining gimmick is his use of twin handguns alongside martial arts techniques. That combination would create a version of Iron Fist with a noticeably different range and rhythm from the traditional interpretation.
6. Elektra as Daredevil
Daredevil is another notable absence from the roster, but Elektra could fill the role in an unexpected way. During Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil run, she takes up the red costume and the Daredevil name.
She trained under Stick alongside Matt Murdock, so her fundamentals could resemble Daredevil’s. Her deadly sai, however, would give the character a more aggressive identity than the usual billy-club fighter.
7. Agent Venom
Carnage made the base roster, leaving room for a different symbiote interpretation in downloadable content. Instead of Eddie Brock’s familiar Venom, the game could feature Flash Thompson as Agent Venom.
Thompson’s military background would let the symbiote work with firearms and battlefield equipment, creating a moveset that combines ranged weapons with tendrils, grabs and powerful close attacks.
8. Juggernaut Colossus
Colossus already appears in the background of the X-Men’s mansion stage, alongside characters such as Rogue and Psylocke. Making him playable would be even more interesting if the game used his Juggernaut form from the Fear Itself event.
That transformation gave Piotr Rasputin dangerous new strength and would make him an obvious powerhouse. A special move could even trigger a monstrous Juggernaut transformation, echoing Magik’s Darkchilde form.
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9. Valkyrie Dani Moonstar
Dani Moonstar is a New Mutant, a close ally of Magik and a powerful psychic who has also used the Mirage identity. Her ability to create illusions could make her a tricky fighter built around misdirection and feints.
Dani has also served as a Valkyrie after rescuing one of Asgard’s winged horses. That role gave her magical abilities to complement her mutant powers, producing a distinctive combination of psychic attacks, Asgardian weapons and aerial movement.
10. Sorcerer Supreme Clea
The roster would benefit from a major magic user, particularly with Doctor Strange absent. Clea would be a more surprising choice than simply adding Stephen Strange.
A native of the Dark Dimension, Clea is Strange’s ally and eventual wife. After Strange dies in the comics, she briefly becomes Sorcerer Supreme. Her formidable magical abilities could give Marvel Tokon a long-range spellcaster with portals, dimensional attacks and powerful counters.
These choices would give downloadable content a strong mix of cosmic variants, legacy identities, alternate costumes and underused heroes. They would also help the game avoid building its future entirely around the most obvious versions of Marvel’s biggest names.
The concept is especially well suited to a tag fighter, where each character can bring a distinct role to a team. A zoning-focused Silver Surfer, a heavy Juggernaut Colossus and a deceptive Shadowkat would all create different strategic options.
Arc System Works has plenty of established comic-book material to draw from, so the most exciting additions may be the versions that casual players do not immediately expect.
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