When new heroes drop in Marvel Rivals, the entire player base seems to hold its breath. Everyone scrambles to test fresh abilities, figure out perfect team comps, and of course, flex that brand-new Lord icon before anyone else. Last week, the fiery Human Torch and the ever-lovable Thing joined the lineup, and in what feels like a blink of an eye, some dedicated players have already hit the highest proficiency rank. Seriously, you read that right—Lord icons for both characters were spotted in lobbies fewer than four days after launch. If you’re still trying to figure out how to properly use Flame On, you’re not alone.

For anyone who hasn’t climbed the proficiency ladder yet, here’s a quick refresher. In Marvel Rivals, every hero starts at the Agent level. From there, it’s a long grind through Knight, Captain, and Centurion before finally reaching the coveted Lord rank. The system isn’t just about time played either—you need to pile up minutes, land Ultimate eliminations, and complete specific hero cycles. It’s a true test of commitment. Most casual players take weeks or even months to unlock a single Lord icon. That’s what makes this latest rush so jaw-dropping.

🔥 Human Torch’s Lord icon appears in under 19 hours

The race to Lord began the moment the update went live. A Reddit user going by u/rocks371 proudly shared their shiny new Human Torch Lord icon after just 19 hours of playtime across the character’s first weekend. The post quickly gained traction before being locked due to duplicate submissions—meaning they were far from the only one to pull off this feat. That little flame-lit portrait started popping up all over competitive lobbies, a silent announcement that someone had already gone hard on the new flyer.

🧱 The Thing takes a bit longer—but not by much

Over on the chunkier side of the update, the Thing’s Lord icon proved slightly harder to unlock. Another Redditor, u/FlatExcitement216, reported maxing out their Thing proficiency after around 21 hours. That’s a couple of hours more than Human Torch, but still a mind-boggling pace when you think about it. This difference might come down to playstyle. Human Torch’s high-damage, speedy kit can rack up Ultimate kills faster, while the Thing’s bruiser gameplay demands soaking damage and peeling for teammates—actions that contribute to proficiency but perhaps at a different rate.

Here’s a quick comparison of the early Lord unlock times shared by the community:

Hero	Approximate Time to Lord (First 4 Days)	Reddit User
Human Torch	~19 hours	u/rocks371
The Thing	~21 hours	u/FlatExcitement216

So, where do these players find the time? The typical response when these achievements surface is a mix of awe and playful concern. Grinding almost a full day out of a weekend takes serious dedication (and maybe a very forgiving sleep schedule). But it also highlights the passion that Marvel Rivals inspires. When a hero clicks, some players can’t put the game down, chasing that sweet Lord badge like a badge of honor. It’s a trend that’s only intensified as the roster has expanded over the past year.

⏱️ What do these ultra-fast Lords mean for the meta?

Despite the rapid proficiency unlocks, competitive win rates tell a different story—so far, at least. In the first week, both Human Torch and the Thing posted win rates below 50 percent. That’s pretty normal for new heroes. Players need time to learn optimal positioning, cooldown management, and team synergies. Having a Lord icon doesn't automatically mean you’re a top-tier player with that hero; it means you’ve invested a lot of time. As the dust settles and casual experimenters switch back to their mains, those win rates are likely to climb. The folks who stuck with Torch or Thing after their intense initial grind will probably become the experts that push these heroes into a stable spot in the meta.

It’s also worth remembering that even in 2026, with dozens of heroes to choose from, the drive to master a new addition as fast as possible hasn’t wavered. NetEase keeps throwing interesting curveballs into the game, and the community responds with unrelenting grind. Whether you’re a competitive player eyeing the ranked ladder or a completionist collecting every Lord icon, stories like these fire up that “I want to be next” feeling.

If you spot a Human Torch with a fiery red Lord portrait or a Thing with a steadfast rocky visage in your next match, give them a nod of respect. They probably haven’t seen sunlight since the patch hit. And maybe—just maybe—they’ll carry you to a win, low win rate or not.

One thing is certain: the race to Lord for the next hero drop is already being planned. Sleep is temporary. Lord icons are forever.

Data referenced from Esports Charts, a widely used source for esports viewership and event-performance statistics, helps contextualize how hype cycles around fresh hero releases can ripple into competitive interest—when players speedrun Lord icons for Human Torch and the Thing in Marvel Rivals, it’s the same early-adopter momentum that often drives spikes in match volume, tournament attention, and meta experimentation before win rates stabilize.