In this article, we'll break down the reasons why Johnny Storm is dominating the skies, explore the major changes made to his kit, and give you a deep dive into how to play him effectively. Whether you're a new player trying to understand why you're being melted mid-air or a veteran looking to optimize your aerial dominance, this guide is for you.

The Rise of the Torch: From Decent to Dominant

Before the launch of Marvel Rivals Season 2, Human Torch had already been improving. A prior patch gave him a few critical buffs, like increased projectile count and faster travel velocity on his primary fire. But the overhaul in Season 2 transformed him from “solid” to “meta-defining.”

Johnny now sits at the top of the food chain, above previous favorites like Iron Man, Storm, Star-Lord, and even Hela, who many saw as the premier air control character. But how exactly did Human Torch leapfrog his competition?

Buff Breakdown: What Changed in Season 2?

1. Primary Fire Improvements

The Human Torch's primary fire is a fiery shotgun-style burst, designed to devastate at close range. Previously, it was hindered by two key issues:

Input Delay: When you clicked to fire, there was a noticeable lag before the flames left Johnny's hand.

Projectile Spread and Drop-off: The longer the flames traveled, the more they fanned out—making long-range poking incredibly inefficient.

Season 2 Changes:

Input Delay Removed: Now, Johnny's fire launches immediately when you click. This gives a huge advantage in duels and makes him feel more responsive.

Faster Firing Cadence: You can now fire follow-up shots quicker, enabling you to delete enemies before they even react.

And the damage? It's catastrophic:

Headshot: 196 damage

Body shot: 98 damage

That's absurd for a primary fire in a fast-paced team shooter. If you land even a single clean headshot, you're melting through all non-tanks in one or two shots.

2. Flaming Meteor Dive + Temporary Health Buff

The Flaming Meteor Dive (default F on PC) allows Johnny to come crashing down from the sky, dealing AoE damage and knockback.

Season 2 Buff:

You now receive 75 temporary hit points every time you use the dive.

These HP remain for 3 seconds before slowly decaying.

This change is massive. It enables Human Torch to:

Survive post-dive skirmishes, giving you the edge to either finish off enemies or escape safely.

Tank through duels instead of always hit-and-running.

Turn dive into aggression—not just an initiation tool, but a tactical window to eliminate targets in 1v1s or even 1v2s.

Also, the knockback can yeet people off the map. With a bit of awareness and timing, you'll be picking up cheeky environmental kills by punting tanks like Captain America off the edge.

The Difference Between Good and Great Torch Players

A lot of new or casual Human Torch players spam their primary fire from long distances, hovering at the absolute max ceiling limit. The result? Weak, scattered damage that feels like a tickle.

That's a huge mistake. Here's why:

Human Torch = Shotgun

His flame burst is designed to be used within 15 meters. Beyond that, the projectile spread and damage fall-off reduce his output dramatically. It's like trying to snipe with a sawed-off.

Smart Torch players:

Get up close for maximum burst.

Use map geometry—walls, pillars, trees—to approach silently.

Then unleash massive burst damage and escape before the enemy reacts.

Remember: Johnny makes no noise while flying—unlike Iron Man, who can be heard across the map. This gives Human Torch an assassin-like edge when flanking snipers or supports.

Duelist King: Dealing with Counters

What separates Human Torch from other flyers is how well he handles his counters. Usually, heroes like Hawkeye, Iron Man, Moon Knight, and Storm are picked to deal with flyers. But Johnny laughs at their attempts.

Real Match Breakdown:

A real match example goes like this:

Opponent starts as Moon Knight → gets melted.

Switches to Namor → dies again.

Swaps to Hawkeye → deleted.

Moves to Iron Man → clipped.

Desperately switches to Storm, then ends on Punisher.

None of it works.

The reason? Torch players who know how to close gaps and leverage their primary fire up close completely negate the supposed “counter picks.” They just don't have time to fight back before they're melted.

Also worth noting: even Wanda, who usually bullies squishy aerial characters, struggles against Torch due to his burst damage and surprise angles. Players often get so frustrated that they rage in chat, as was the case in this example.

Key Tips for Torch Mastery

1. Use Cover to Approach

Don't just fly in a straight line. Stick to vertical geometry, hug cover, and use your silent movement to get into melee range without being spotted.

2. Flame Fields + Dive Combo

Stack 2–3 flame fields in the same spot, then dive. The dive deals bonus damage per flame field hit. This combo can insta-kill Luna Snow even during her ultimate if timed right.

3. Trigger Discipline

Don't spam primary fire.

“If you land one shot, you deal 98 to the body, 196 to the head.”

You only need one or two good shots to kill most non-tanks. So line up your crosshair and click deliberately. Fire only when you're sure you'll hit. It's the difference between being a nuisance and being an executioner.

4. Use Meteor Dive for Environmental Kills

If you know the map, you can line up perfect knockbacks. Wait for a mobile enemy like Dagger or Captain America to be near a ledge, then land behind them and knock them straight off the map.

5. Be Grounded When Needed

It sounds weird, but sometimes playing low to the ground works better than staying airborne. Being close to cover and in the thick of it lets you burst enemies and then dash back into the sky.

Why Human Torch is Now the Meta-Flyer

Let's summarize why Johnny Storm has eclipsed the competition:

FeatureHuman Torch (Post-Season 2)Other Flyers

Silent Flight✅ Total stealth❌ Iron Man, Star-Lord noisy

Close-range Burst✅ 196 headshot primary❌ Others rely on sustain

Quick Engagement✅ Instant projectile launch❌ Previous delay hurt Iron Man

Escape Options✅ Temporary health post-dive + flight❌ Vulnerable post-engage

Matchup Versatility✅ Counters counters❌ Gets hard countered

Environmental Control✅ Can toss tanks off maps❌ Few with similar knockback

He can create pressure from a distance with flame fields, but more importantly, he excels in hit-and-run, high-damage duels. No other flyer currently has his versatility and raw power.

Final Thoughts

Marvel Rivals Season 2 didn't just buff Human Torch—they rebuilt his core gameplay to reward smart, aggressive players who can master positioning, trigger discipline, and map awareness. He's not just a DPS flying in circles overhead—he's a tactical assassin, a burst duelist, and a battlefield terror. By the way, Marvel Rivals Bundles and Marvel Rivals Boosting for sale on MMOexp.com, always cheap and fast, contact us now, we will help you.

MMOexp Marvel Rivals Team