Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Video games made an notorious Moon Knight meme canon as a part of its Season 1 mid-season replace.
Marc Spector’s historical past within the Marvel universe contains critical and not-so-serious tales. He’s a complicated character who has appeared in comics and video video games for many years and even managed to pop up on small screens within the Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ sequence Moon Knight in 2022. Though he’s developed to tackle many names by the years, it’s not his ties to the moon god Khonshu that he’s finest identified for. As an alternative, the one line of dialog 1000’s of followers affiliate him with includes the hero calling Dracula a “large f***ing nerd.”
Moon knight crashing out on Dracula over 5 {dollars} is one of the best piece of lore I’ve seen for a character in a very long time pic.twitter.com/wAnwM6F89P
— Flare_G (@_Flare_G) February 24, 2025
This unofficial gag has circulated comedian ebook areas for a whereas, displaying Moon Knight as he hunts down the vampire king in hopes of amassing the debt he’s owed. It’s one of many extra well-known (and funnier) Marvel memes, and it’s additionally managed to trick a few unfamiliar followers into pondering Moon Knight really does have a grudge in opposition to Dracula. Now, nonetheless, Marvel Rivals has made Moon Knight’s debt-collecting aspect really feel a little extra actual.
When the mid-season replace dropped for Season 1 final week, Marvel Rivals gamers have been handled to a new map — Empire of Everlasting Evening: Central Park — to assist cap off its vampire-themed season. Like each different map included within the hero shooter, it’s full of Marvel references, however those that play as Moon Knight on the stage have the prospect to run into a particular deal with.
The Duelist hero will typically allude to Dracula’s debt relying on the place your staff is at in a match. He’ll sometimes point out that it’s “time for Dracula to pay up” whereas pushing the Central Park payload, for instance, however he’ll additionally go so far as to say “Dracula’s right here? Good, that bloodsuckin’ nerd owes me large.” The NetEase staff primarily goes so far as it probably can with out full-on quoting the meme, and we will’t imagine it’s actual.
He truly says extra about Dracula and it is actually nice https://t.co/zUDqQYePh1 pic.twitter.com/6P9ovT5xMR
— Prince Caim 🦇 (@boltboutamon) February 23, 2025
Triggering Moon Knight’s meme voice strains isn’t simple, because it means you’ll have to not less than have the character in your staff whereas attacking at Central Park. Fortunately, there’s one other reference to Dracula being flakey tucked away in Moon Knight’s in-game Lore tab. The Nightfall of the New Moon Hero Story entry, which predates the newest Marvel Rivals replace, sees Marc confessing his grudge in opposition to Dracula throughout a dialog with Khonshu. When the moon god asks him what he is aware of of vampires, Moon Knight replies: “That they suck. And that Dracula owes me cash.”
Marvel Rivals got here out swinging with all 4 members of The Incredible 4 included as a part of Season 1. Season 2 is rumored to incorporate Blade as a playable character, with followers already speculating about who can be included subsequent. For extra on NetEase’s well-liked hero shooter, you possibly can examine why some flying heroes have been pestering gamers following that mid-season replace. It’s also possible to find out about how Marvel Rivals was practically canceled earlier than launch.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He is finest identified for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Make sure to give him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).