Marvel Rivals is one of the hottest video games right now—and for good reason. The gameplay is addictive, the art direction is stunning, and there's just something undeniably cool about seeing so many Marvel Universe characters collide on screen. The game's immense popularity has even sparked curiosity among players to dive deeper into the comics behind the characters.
In this series, we spotlight some of Marvel Rivals' standout characters, beginning with the ruler of Limbo, Magik. This time, we’re focusing on another highly popular Duelist: Psylocke. This article delves into Psylocke's fascinating comic book history, her powers, and how these abilities shine in Marvel Rivals. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering her for the first time, Psylocke offers a compelling blend of lore and gameplay.
Who is Psylocke?
With her iconic purple psychic knife and deadly samurai sword, Psylocke is one of the most popular X-Men of all time. Combining beauty and lethality, she’s a formidable force both on the battlefield and in Marvel’s comic book lore. But as alluring as she is on the comic book pages, she comes with a complicated history that spans almost half a century.
Over the years, Psylocke has undergone codename changes, body swaps, a connection to the mysterious Kwannon, and a deep exploration of her dual identities. But all these different elements come together to make her one of the X-Men’s most formidable members. Her unique character arc combines themes of identity, transformation, and the balance between psychic power and physical combat.
Image: Marvel Comics
Character Lore
Betsy Braddock’s Early Days
I’m not going to sugarcoat it: Psylocke’s history can be a bit confusing. First introduced in Captain Britain #8, Betsy Braddock is the twin sister of Brian Braddock, the original Captain Britain. While she was initially treated as more of a side character, she did get involved in some superhero work alongside her brother. She eventually developed powerful telepathic abilities that allowed her to take up the mantle of Captain Britain for a brief period. So, believe it or not, Betsy’s history stretches way back before she even steps foot in Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
The Fated Body Swap
It’s when she joins the X-Men that her story becomes strange, to say the least. After being severely injured during a mission to save the other X-Men, her mind gets placed into the body of a Japanese assassin known as Kwannon. This transformation in Uncanny X-Men combines Psylocke’s psychic powers with Kwannon's martial arts training, creating the version of Psylocke that is most iconic today—a lethal telepathic warrior with a complicated identity.
Dawn of X and Beyond
More recently, Betsy reclaimed her original body, while Kwannon returned to her own, allowing both characters to forge distinct paths. Betsy now serves as Captain Britain, leading her own adventures in the Excalibur series and showcasing her growth as a leader.
Image: Marvel Comics
Psylocke's Powers and Abilities in Marvel Rivals
Telepathy
Even before the body swap shenanigans, Betsy was a powerful telepath capable of reading minds and creating psychic illusions. It was only when she was put into the body of Kwannon that she became more of an offensive threat by combining her psychic abilities with martial arts and weapon training.
Psychic Constructs
The psychic knife is Psylocke’s signature weapon, described as "the focused totality of her psychic powers." Almost like a lightsaber, it can cut through nearly anything while also disrupting an enemy’s neural functions. But beyond her iconic blade, she can use her powers to create psychic shuriken as well whenever she needs to go long-range.
Combat Prowess
Thanks to the muscle memory from Kwannon’s body, Psylocke became a martial arts expert in an instant. As a master of blades and hand-to-hand combat, Psylocke is a walking weapon that’s made even more dangerous when she mixes in her psychic powers alongside her physical skills.
Image: Marvel Comics
Her Story in Marvel Rivals
To simplify her convoluted comic history, Marvel Rivals reimagines Psylocke as Sai, an alternate version from Peach Momoko’s Demon Days universe. As a stoic warrior armed with psionic swords, Sai was summoned to the village of Mount Shi’aru to battle a horde of insect-like demons terrorizing the villagers. Alongside her loyal wolf companion, Logan, Sai fights valiantly, ultimately defeating the brood queen in a fiery confrontation that leaves the mountain forest in ruins. However, as she departs, a mysterious portal opens, and Sai is struck down, awakening later as a captive in the Collector’s menagerie. There, Sai befriends fellow prisoners Mantis and Jeff the Land Shark. Together, they escape and commandeer a spaceship, only to be pursued by the Collector's forces.
While fleeing, the trio finds refuge inside a massive Acanti, a majestic space whale in distress due to an infestation of Brood parasites. Sai, Mantis, and Jeff venture into the Acanti’s depths to confront the Brood Queen. Drawing on her connection to the hivemind, Sai channels the Acanti’s pain directly into the queen, driving the Brood to flee. Grateful, the Acanti agrees to transport them toward safety. Along the journey, Mantis receives a distress call from the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Sai hears a psychic summon from Magneto saying, "To me, my X-Men." Realizing it may hold the key to returning home, Sai embarks on a new journey with Jeff by her side, determined to find freedom and her place among the X-Men.
Image: Marvel Comics
Essential Psylocke Comics
For those captivated by Psylocke in Marvel Rivals, here are some essential comics to explore her history:
Uncanny X-Men #256-258 by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee:
This mini story arc is where Betsy’s mind is swapped into the body of Kwannon, ushering in the long-running era in which Psylocke is most known. It’s the genesis of Psylocke combining her psychic abilities with killer martial arts skills.
X-Men: Psylocke by Christopher Yost and Harvey Tolibao (2009):
This miniseries has Psylocke returning to Japan to reconnect with Kwannon’s roots and understand more about the body she resides in. What unfolds is an action-packed story that delves into unexplored parts about Kwannon’s past as a deadly assassin.
Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender and Jerome Opena (2008):
As one of the X-Men’s deadliest members, Psylocke is part of Cyclops’ secret black ops team under the leadership of Wolverine. But this arc explores more than Psylocke’s prowess as an assassin. Through her relationship with the team, especially Angel, Psylocke develops into a complex character who struggles with the morality of their violent job.
Excalibur by Tini Howard and Marcus To (2019):
After swapping back to her original body, Betsy returns to Otherworld to once again takes up the mantle of Captain Britain. Alongside Rogue, Gambit, Rictor, Jubilee, and Apocalyse, Betsy fights to save her home and redefine her reclaimed identity.
Demon Days: X-Men by Peach Momoko
This alternate version of the Marvel Universe created by Peach Momoko reimagines the X-Men within an ancient Japanese setting. This comic is what Psylocke’s design in Rivals is based on. It blends Japanese folklore with Marvel to deliver a distinctly beautiful comic, unlike anything you’ll see from the publisher.
Psylocke’s journey history journey through the Marvel Universe is one of transformation, resilience, and self-discovery, making her one of the most beloved characters of all time. Her inclusion in Marvel Rivals almost feels like a no-brainer because her powerset makes for such a great kit within the videogame. Not only is she a character with a great look and personality, but her story is also a gateway to exploring many different corners of comic book history.