Okay, Marvel Rivals fam, let's talk about something that's been driving me absolutely nuts lately. You know that feeling? You've been charging up your Ult for what feels like an eternity, you finally see the perfect moment, you line up the shot... and boom. Absolutely nothing happens. The enemy just stands there, probably laughing at you. 🥲 I used to think I was just having a bad aim day, but after digging into it, turns out the game's aiming system for Ults has a mind of its own. It's not you, it's the game being a little... quirky.
Seriously, you'd think having an enemy dead center in your crosshairs would be enough, right? Wrong. The game has this hidden rulebook it never gave us. If you're like me and love playing Scarlet Witch or Hawkeye, you've probably felt this pain. Hiding behind a nice, safe, waist-high wall for cover? Your regular attacks work just fine. But the moment you unleash that glorious area-of-effect Ult... sometimes it just fizzles out. The wall eats it. Why? Because, get this, your Ult doesn't come from your hands or your eyes—it comes from your waist. No, really.
One dedicated player on Reddit, blue23454, got so fed up they decided to play scientist. Their conclusion? For characters like Scarlet Witch, the point where her Ult emanates from is somewhere between her feet and her waist. If that spot doesn't have a clear, unobstructed line of sight to the enemy, even if your crosshair is right on them, the Ult gets blocked. It's like her power source is... her belt buckle? 😂
And it's not just the Scarlet Witch! The plot thickens. Another player chimed in about Hawkeye. His Ult has the same funky issue. Those cool afterimages in his ultimate won't appear if his waist is blocked. The commenter joked, "implying that Hawkeye has been aiming with his balls this entire time." I mean... when you put it that way, it does make you wonder about the other heroes, doesn't it? Is Hulk's power in his pants? The thread, of course, descended into glorious chaos about superhero anatomy.
But behind the jokes, there's actually a logical game development reason. Someone with knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 explained it pretty well. In game models, the waist is often a central joint. Developers can attach effects, hitboxes, and all sorts of things to these joints. The waist joint is stable—it doesn't move around wildly during ultimate animations like the hands or head might. So, for precision, the game uses that spot as the "origin point" for certain area effects. It's more reliable from a coding perspective, even if it's confusing for us players.
So, what's the big takeaway for us in 2026, still grinding in Marvel Rivals?
The Ultimate Ult Rule: Before you hit that game-changing button, do a quick crotch-check. 🕵️♀️
No, really. Make sure there's nothing—no wall, no crate, no tiny pebble—blocking the line of sight from your character's midsection to the enemy. Your crosshair is a liar! Trust the waist.
Characters to Watch Out For (The Suspects):
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🧙♀️ Scarlet Witch: Her chaos magic apparently flows from the hips.
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🏹 Hawkeye: He's not aiming with his eyes, he's aiming with... well, you know.
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⚠️ Likely Others: Any hero with a big, flashy area-of-effect ultimate that spawns around them. Time to test them all!
My Pro-Tip: Next time you're on the battlefield, don't just peek from cover to shoot. If you're planning an Ult, you gotta expose yourself a bit more. Step out fully, or at least make sure that waist-high cover isn't actually waist-blocking. It feels counterintuitive, but it's the secret to making sure your big play actually lands.
It's one of those weird, hidden mechanics that separates the good players from the great ones. Now you're in the know. Go out there and make sure your Ults actually hit! No more embarrassing whiffs. You're welcome. 😉