The second wave of Summer Swimsuit Specials is coming to Marvel Rivals, and this batch might be the strongest one yet. Summer Festival Vol. 2 launches on August 13 as part of Season 9.5, bringing six brand-new beach-themed costumes and a returning fishing minigame event pass called Krakoan Reels Vol. 2.
When does Summer Festival Vol. 2 start?
The event goes live on Thursday, August 13. Based on how previous Marvel Rivals events have rolled out, expect the servers to flip at 3:00 AM PT. Here's how that translates across every major region:
What is Krakoan Reels Vol. 2?
Krakoan Reels Vol. 2 is the event pass system driving Summer Festival Vol. 2. The format mirrors the first Krakoan Reels run: you play matches to earn bait, cast for fish, collect event currency, and spend that currency on cosmetics tied to the new Swimsuit Specials. Three skins were earnable through the first Krakoan Reels pass, so a similar split is likely here, with the remaining skins potentially appearing in the store or through a separate gacha-style minigame similar to Pop the Balloon.
Summer Festival Vol. 2 countdown
The exact breakdown of which skins are earnable versus purchasable has not been confirmed ahead of the August 13 launch, so keep an eye on the in-game event tab once it goes live.
All six new Swimsuit Special skins in Summer Festival Vol. 2
This is a Duelist-heavy lineup. All six characters getting Swimsuit Specials this round are:
- Star-Lord
- Winter Soldier
- Scarlet Witch
- Black Cat
- Storm
- Magik
Five of the six are Duelists, which makes sense given how many of the most-played heroes in that role have been waiting for a summer skin. Storm and Magik in particular are picks that a large portion of the player base has been anticipating.
How do you get the Summer Festival Vol. 2 skins?
The acquisition method splits into two likely paths based on how the first Summer Festival worked:
Path 1: Krakoan Reels event pass — Play matches, earn bait, fish for event currency, and redeem for skins. This route is free-to-play-friendly and rewards consistent play over the event window. Roughly three skins are expected to be available this way.
Path 2: Store or gacha minigame — The remaining skins will likely appear in the in-game store as direct purchases, or through a Pop the Balloon-style gacha system. Pricing and availability have not been confirmed ahead of launch.
If you want to stretch your resources further during the event, check out the guide on how to earn 2500 free Units during the Summer Festival to make sure you're not leaving free currency on the table.
What else is new in Season 9.5?
Summer Festival Vol. 2 is arriving as part of the broader Season 9.5 update. The season also introduces The Hood as a new playable hero, confirmed during the same Dev Vision broadcast that revealed the swimsuit lineup. For a full breakdown of everything landing this season, the Season 8.5 content overview gives useful context on how NetEase has been structuring mid-season updates.
If you want to stay current on hero balance heading into the event, the patch notes covering Elsa Bloodstone and hero balance changes breaks down the most recent adjustments that affect the current meta.
Is the Summer Festival Vol. 2 worth your time?
For cosmetics hunters, absolutely. Swimsuit Specials have consistently been among the best-selling skins in Marvel Rivals since the format launched, and this roster of six is the largest single drop the event has produced. Even players who don't main any of the six characters tend to pick up at least one.
For pure gameplay-focused players, the Krakoan Reels event pass still rewards you for playing normally. You're earning event currency through match completion, which means you're not doing anything you wouldn't already be doing. The fishing minigame layer on top is quick and low-effort.
For the full picture on everything coming to Marvel Rivals right now, browse the complete Marvel Rivals strategy guides collection to stay ahead of the meta as Season 9.5 unfolds.