Updated December 2, 2025
- Learn how to unlock all characters in MCI quickly (Phoenix, Venom, Silver Surfer & Phyla-Vell)
- Choose the best characters for the Campaign mode
- Find out how to quickly level up and get all superheroes
Marvel Cosmic Invasion, an old-school beat 'em up, brings a roster of 15 playable heroes, but not all of them are available from the start. If you're wondering how to unlock every character in this action-packed title, we've got you covered with this complete guide.
How to Get All Characters in Marvel Cosmic Invasion
There are four hidden characters you need to unlock in Marvel Cosmic Invasion: Phoenix, Venom, Silver Surfer, and Phyla-Vell. To do this, you'll need to complete missions in Campaign mode. This way, they'll be available for the Arcade mode as well. Here's how to unlock all superheroes in Marvel Cosmic Invasion:
| Character | Unlock Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
 Phoenix (Jean Grey) | Complete "Blue Area of the Moon" (Mission 6) | Phoenix is your first unlockable character and one of the most powerful heroes in MCI. To get Phoenix, you must defeat her, as she's the final boss of that level. Her aerial mobility and devastating special attacks will make your life easier against a swarm of enemies. |
 Venom | Complete "Destromundo" (Mission 7) | Venom is the final boss of this stage and can be challenging, so don't be surprised if you fail to beat him at first. His grab-based moveset allows him to throw enemies and bosses. For an easier time against boss Venom, use Wolverine and Iron Man, as they combine close and ranged attacks. |
 Phyla-Vell | Complete "Hala" (Mission 10) | Phyla-Vell brings a unique fighting style to the roster, but is available only after you complete mission 10. She can fly and has a great reach with her attacks, making her ideal as a secondary character next to Wolverine, Captain America, or She-Hulk. |
 Silver Surfer | Complete "Fort Galactus" (Mission 13) | Silver Surfer is a tough cosmic nut to crack, but once you beat him, you'll forget how much you hated him. His speed and wide array of attacks make him one of the best superheroes in the game. So focus on the campaign to get him as soon as possible. |
How to Quickly Unlock All Characters - Tips & Tricks
Follow the instructions below on how to quickly go through the campaign and unlock all characters in Marvel Cosmic Invasion:
- Focus on two characters - you'll level up characters faster and make them stronger faster if you use just a couple of characters. Focus on Captain America and Wolverine (Storm and Iron Man are also great ranged choices) as they're easiest to play with.
- Ignore mission challenges - while completing challenges is fun and rewarding, your main goal is to unlock characters. Don't worry, you can always go back and replay the mission to secure all rewards.
- Use both characters in missions - switch between long-range and short-range characters to quickly complete stages. Don't forget to use tag team combos!
- Use your surroundings - stages have breakable things you can either use against enemies, or they hide health packages. While both characters heal from the same food source, the one who picks it up gets more HP restored.
All Starting Characters List
While you'll need to sweat a bit to unlock all characters in Marvel Cosmic Invasion, you'll still have plenty of great choices at the start. You can choose between 11 heroes ready to jump into action. The following characters are unlocked from the very beginning of the game:
- Beta Ray Bill
- Black Panther
- Captain America
- Cosmic Ghost Rider
- Iron Man
- Nova
- Rocket Raccoon
- She-Hulk
- Spider-Man
- Storm
- Wolverine
The starting roster has characters of different styles, from tanks to flying ranged fighters. Whether you prefer close-range brawlers, ranged attackers, or balanced fighters, the starting roster has something for everyone. These heroes can begin earning experience and leveling up from the very first stage, which gives them a significant advantage over the unlockable characters you'll recruit later.
Character Leveling and Progression Guide - Hero Lab
Once you unlock a new character, they start at Level 1 in Campaign mode. Each character can level up to Level 10, earning health and focus upgrades along the way:
| Level | Bonus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Starting level |
| 2 | Extra HP |
| 3 | Focus upgrade |
| 4 | Extra HP |
| 5 | Passive skill |
| 6 | Extra HP |
| 7 | Focus upgrade |
| 8 | Extra HP |
| 9 | Extra HP |
| 10 | New palette |
The starting Marvel Cosmic Invasion roster has an advantage in leveling, as they can earn experience from the very beginning. But if you like playing with freshly unlocked characters, no one's stopping you from grinding a bit to boost their effectiveness.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion Characters FAQ
A: There are 15 playable characters total, with 11 available from the start, and four must be unlocked by completing specific campaign missions.
A: No, characters can only be unlocked by completing specific missions in Campaign mode. Once unlocked in Campaign, they become available in all game modes, including Arcade.
A: No, you only need to complete the missions themselves. The optional challenges within each mission can be completed later and aren't required for character unlocks.
A: Wolverine is highly recommended as he's fast, his melee attacks have long reach, and he can grab and throw enemies. Captain America is another great choice, as his shield throw has good range and damage, and doesn't require charging. She-Hulk and Nova are also strong choices with good survivability.
A: If you're playing through the campaign normally, you'll unlock all four characters within approximately 3-4 hours. Silver Surfer is the last unlock, appearing near the end of the campaign.
A: Yes, you can replay any mission with any characters you've unlocked. This is useful for completing stage-specific challenges and leveling up your newly unlocked heroes.
A: Silver Surfer should be your first choice from the list of unlockable characters. He's strong, but he'll be behind level-wise compared to other characters from your roster, as he's last to be unlocked.
A: No, you'll always get experience, so even if you fail, you'll still improve the characters you played with.
For more info about Marvel Cosmic Invasion, check out our first impressions of this beat 'em up.
Nebojša Prijić is a Managing Editor at Pro Game Guides with over 25 years of experience in journalism, screenwriting, and copywriting. He previously worked as Editor-in-Chief of Maxim Serbia magazine and the IGN Adria website. Nebojša is an old-school gamer who loves real-time strategies, shooters, and RPGs, but most of all, he plays Roblox and mobile games with his son. He remembers the first Diablo, PC games on a single floppy disk, and playing Mortal Kombat on the keyboard.
