Marvel Cosmic Invasion delivers a stellar roster of 15 playable heroes, though you'll need to earn four of them through campaign progression. While Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and eight other favorites are ready from the start, Venom, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Phyla-Vell, and Silver Surfer require you to venture through specific missions. The good news? You don't need perfect runs or special objectives, just mission completion. Check out our MARVEL Cosmic Invasion Beginners Guide to master the fundamentals before diving into these unlock missions.
The Characters that are Playable from the Start
You'll have immediate access to 11 heroes when you boot up MARVEL Cosmic Invasion. The default roster includes heavy hitters and fan favorites across multiple Marvel teams and cosmic factions.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Here's your starting lineup:
Tip
Experiment with different starting characters to find your playstyle before tackling unlock missions. Each hero handles differently in combat situations.
How to Unlock Phoenix (Jean Grey)
Phoenix joins your roster after you complete the Blue Area of the Moon mission. Navigate to this level through the campaign map, and you'll face the Annihilus-Possessed Phoenix as the final boss encounter.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion Phoenix
The fight tests your ability to dodge energy attacks and recognize attack patterns. Once you defeat this corrupted version of Jean Grey, she regains control and becomes available as a playable character. You'll witness her transformation through a cutscene where she overcomes the Annihilus possession.
Phoenix brings incredible power to your team with rage-fueled abilities that excel at crowd control. Her energy projection makes her particularly effective against grouped enemies.
How to Unlock Venom
The Lethal Protector requires completion of the Destromundo mission. You'll actually fight Venom as the antagonist during this level, facing off against Eddie Brock in the mission's climactic boss battle.
After defeating him, Venom recognizes the greater threat posed by Annihilus and agrees to join forces. The symbiote's moral compass kicks in when innocent lives hang in the balance, making him switch from enemy to ally.
Venom's combat style emphasizes brutal melee attacks and symbiote-based abilities. His unique moveset differentiates him from other close-range fighters in the roster.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion Venom
Important
Destromundo becomes accessible through branching campaign paths. You might need to backtrack if you chose different routes initially.
How to Unlock Phyla-Vell
Phyla-Vell presents an interesting unlock scenario. You'll actually control her during the tutorial mission, getting a preview of her capabilities before officially adding her to your permanent roster.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
To permanently unlock Phyla-Vell, complete the Hala mission in campaign mode. Similar to the Venom encounter, you'll face her as a boss fight at the mission's conclusion. After defeating her in combat, she joins your cause and becomes selectable for any mission.
Her combat abilities focus on cosmic energy manipulation and balanced offense. The early tutorial exposure lets you gauge whether her playstyle matches your preferences.
How to Unlock Silver Surfer
Marvel Cosmic Invasion Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer represents the most challenging unlock, requiring completion of Fort Galactus. This mission features three separate encounters with the herald of Galactus throughout its duration.
You'll clash with Silver Surfer multiple times during the level, with each encounter escalating in difficulty. The third and final confrontation serves as the ultimate test before he acknowledges your strength and joins the resistance against Annihilus.
His mastery of the Power Cosmic translates into devastating abilities that blend ranged energy attacks with incredible mobility. Silver Surfer stands out as one of the most versatile characters once unlocked.
Warning
Fort Galactus requires progressing significantly through the campaign. Save this unlock for when you've built combat experience with other characters.
Campaign Branching Paths
The campaign structure features multiple branching routes, meaning you won't encounter all unlock missions in a single playthrough. Split paths appear regularly, forcing you to choose between different planetary destinations.
This design necessitates backtracking if you want to unlock all four restricted characters. You can revisit completed sections through the mission select screen to explore alternate routes you initially skipped.
The branching system adds replay value but can temporarily lock you out of specific unlock missions. Plan your route based on which characters you want to prioritize, or commit to exploring every path for the complete roster.
Quick Unlock Requirements Summary
Tip
You only need to complete these missions, not achieve specific performance objectives. Focus on survival and mission completion rather than perfect scores.
Why Some Characters Start Locked
The locked characters integrate directly into the campaign narrative. Each unlock mission tells a story about recruiting these heroes to fight against the cosmic threat. Venom needs convincing to join the good guys, Phoenix requires rescue from possession, and Silver Surfer must recognize your worthiness.
This progression system serves dual purposes. It maintains narrative coherence while giving you goals to pursue beyond simply finishing levels. The gradual roster expansion keeps the game feeling fresh as you unlock new playstyles.
From a gameplay perspective, starting with 11 characters prevents overwhelming new players. You can master the fundamentals with the default roster before adding more complex characters like Silver Surfer to your options.
Mission select navigation
Best Order for Unlocking Characters
While you can tackle unlock missions in any order you encounter them, certain characters complement different playstyles better. If you prefer ranged combat, prioritize Phoenix for her energy projection abilities. Melee enthusiasts should target Venom first for his aggressive symbiote attacks.
Phyla-Vell offers balanced capabilities suitable for players still experimenting with different approaches. Save Silver Surfer for last since Fort Galactus appears later in the campaign progression anyway.
The branching paths mean you'll naturally encounter some unlock missions before others based on your route choices. Don't stress about optimal order, just complete missions as they become available and enjoy expanding your roster organically.
Info
Character unlocks persist across save files, so you won't need to re-unlock them if you start a new campaign.
The unlock system in MARVEL Cosmic Invasion balances accessibility with progression rewards perfectly. You'll build your roster naturally through campaign exploration while maintaining enough starting characters to enjoy the game immediately. Whether you're chasing specific heroes or just playing through the story, you'll eventually command the full cosmic lineup. For more cosmic gaming action this month, check out the Biggest Game Releases For Dec 2025.