A Gentleman Thief Joins the Fray: My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 18 is Live

The next chapter of Bandai Namco's hit free-to-play anime battle royale has officially begun. My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 18 launched today, July 29, 2026, bringing a highly anticipated new character, a revamped map, and massive celebrations for hitting a major player milestone.

Following the aggressive, strike-focused meta of Season 17 led by Mirko, Season 18 pivots to a more technical, outmaneuvering playstyle with the arrival of the internet's favorite gentleman villain.

Gentle Criminal Season 18 | The Technical Trickster

As teased by the recent in-game web puzzle, Gentle Criminal is the headline addition for Season 18. Designed as a highly mobile "Technical" role character, Gentle utilizes his "Elasticity" Quirk to control the battlefield, deflect attacks, and zip around the environment [1].

His Quirk Skill set is designed around flexibility and area denial:

• Quirk Skill α (Gently Arrow): Fires a feather pen using air elasticity. Holding the input charges the attack, increasing its speed and straightening its trajectory.
• Quirk Skill β (Gently Rebound): Gives elasticity to the air in the aimed direction, creating a barrier that blocks enemy attacks and projectiles. When this barrier is hit, it counterattacks by releasing a shockwave and air bullets. Gentle's own Skill α can shoot through this barrier.
• Quirk Skill γ (Gently Avant): A high-speed dash that zips Gentle around the area upon hitting an opponent. Holding the input allows the dash to ricochet up to four times, increasing duration and damage. Players can also bounce off the air barriers created by his Skill β.
• Special Action (Gently Trampoline): Creates an air trampoline beneath his feet, allowing allies to make huge jumps while launching opponents away.

La Brava's Support: Gentle wouldn't be complete without his partner, La Brava. She supports him in battle via a special drone. If Gentle's "Plus Chaos" gauge is full when his HP hits zero, La Brava's "Love" Quirk automatically activates his second Special Action, "Lover Mode." This state boosts his attack power and reload speed, accompanied by unique voice lines between the duo [2].

Chaos City Ver. 02 | Map Revamp with Tentoin Alley

The battleground is also changing. Season 18 introduces Chaos City Ver. 02. Following villain attacks, the above-ground Shopping District has been heavily damaged.

However, the destruction has opened up "Tentoin Alley," a brand-new underground area. This creates new subterranean passages for players to navigate, heavily favoring characters who excel in close-quarters and ground-based combat.

My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 18 July 2026 | Quick Grid

• Release Date: July 29, 2026
• New Character: Gentle Criminal (Technical Role)
• Quirk: Elasticity (Air barriers, ricochet dashes, trampolines)
• Map Update: Chaos City Ver. 02 (New underground "Tentoin Alley")
• Milestone: 20 Million Worldwide Downloads
• Celebration Bonus: 28-day login event (6,000 Hero Crystals, 100 Roll Tickets)

20 Million Downloads | Login Bonuses and New Modes

To celebrate surpassing 20 million downloads worldwide, Bandai Namco is hosting a massive 28-day login bonus campaign. Players who log in consistently can earn up to 6,000 Hero Crystals and 100 Roll Tickets, alongside the return of previous "100 Million Copies Commemorative" costumes.

The developers also teased a brand new game mode coming late in August: "3-Pick Battle." This mode will allow each player to select three different Battle Styles, with the victory going to the player who inflicts the most total damage.

With new Research Notebook missions, an increased level cap (up to 200), and comprehensive balance adjustments, Season 18 is shaping up to be one of the game's most feature-rich updates yet.

Why This Matters: Season 18 represents a significant evolution for My Hero Ultra Rumble as a live-service title. The addition of Gentle Criminal's complex Technical kit, the Chaos City map rework, and the 20 million download milestone all point to a game that has found its footing beyond the initial launch buzz. The teased 3-Pick Battle mode suggests Bandai Namco is experimenting with the core formula, which could extend the game's competitive lifespan well into 2027. For the My Hero Ultra Rumble hub, see our full coverage of Season 16 with Star and Stripe and the Cluster Bakugo skill set breakdown.