Marvel Rivals ESU Open Day Event Guide: Free Mantis Skin, Premium Rewards, and Progression Tips

Season 7.5 of Marvel Rivals has arrived, and with it comes one of the most generous limited-time events we've seen in a while. The ESU Open Day event throws open the doors of Empire State University—yes, Spider-Man's alma mater—inviting the entire roster of heroes to experience campus life. If you're looking to grab the free Mantis skin, wondering whether the premium pass is worth your Lattice, or just trying to figure out how the event progression works, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is the ESU Open Day Event?

The ESU Open Day is a limited-time event pass running as part of the Season 7.5 content update, which also introduces Black Cat as the newest playable Duelist. The event launched on April 17, 2026 and runs through June 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC—giving players a full 56 days to unlock all rewards.

Thematically, the event reimagines several heroes in collegiate attire, from sporty tennis outfits to programmer aesthetics. The premise is charmingly absurd: Empire State University has opened its doors and invited gods, war criminals, and demolition experts to experience campus life.

Event Structure: Free vs. Premium Tracks

Like previous event passes in Marvel Rivals, the ESU Open Day features two progression tracks:

The Free Track is available to all players by default. Simply play matches, earn XP, and unlock rewards as you level up. The headline prize is the Mantis - Black & Gold costume, which unlocks at Tier 18.

The Premium Track costs 690 Lattice (approximately $7 USD, depending on regional pricing). Purchasing it unlocks a second set of rewards including exclusive skins for Psylocke and Squirrel Girl. Importantly, buying the premium pass does not increase your XP gain rate—it simply unlocks the premium reward tier at each level.

A particularly consumer-friendly feature: if you buy the premium pass midway through your progression, you'll retroactively unlock all premium rewards for levels you've already passed. The premium pass also grants permanent access to unlock rewards even after the event ends.

 

All Three Featured Skins

The ESU Open Day event centers around three new character costumes:

Skin	How to Obtain	Tier
Mantis - Black & Gold	Free Track	Tier 18
Psylocke - Chouko Takahashi: The Prodigy	Premium Track	Final premium tier
Squirrel Girl - Maureen Allene: The Programmer	Premium Track	Premium tier

The Mantis Black & Gold skin gives her an elegant, formal look—perfect for someone attending a very expensive funeral or, well, a university open day.

Psylocke's "The Prodigy" skin is the standout premium offering. It features a sporty tennis-inspired design and comes with a unique ultimate animation, making it effectively Legendary-tier quality. If this skin were sold directly in the store, it would likely cost 1,800+ Lattice—making the 690 Lattice pass a solid value for Psylocke mains.

Squirrel Girl's "Maureen Allene: The Programmer" skin takes the character in a completely different direction, giving her pink hair, a gamer aesthetic, and coding-themed accessories. It's bundled with her own MVP animation and nameplate.

 

Complete ESU Open Day Rewards List

The event features 24 total rewards spread across both tracks. Here's everything up for grabs:

Free Track Rewards:

• Better the Devil You Know Gallery Card
• Squirrel Girl: Maureen Allene The Programmer Emote
• Norn Stone Collectible
• Squirrel Girl: Maureen Allene The Programmer Spray
• Devil's Reign Gallery Card
• Hatching Love Spray
• Mantis: Black & Gold Animated Spray
• Mantis: Black & Gold Nameplate
• Mantis: Black & Gold Emote
• Mantis: Black & Gold Costume (Tier 18)
• Psylocke: Chouko Takahashi The Prodigy Emote
• Psylocke: Chouko Takahashi The Prodigy Spray
• Blade Static Mood Bundle

Premium Track Rewards:

• Sealed With a Kiss Animated Spray
• Squirrel Girl: Maureen Allene The Programmer MVP Animation
• Squirrel Girl: Maureen Allene The Programmer Costume
• Squirrel Girl: Maureen Allene The Programmer Nameplate
• Tablet of Life and Time Animated Nameplate
• Chouko Takahashi The Prodigy – Emoji Bundle I
• Squirrel Girl Dynamic Mood Bundle
• Chouko Takahashi The Prodigy – Emoji Bundle II
• Psylocke: Chouko Takahashi The Prodigy Animated Nameplate
• Psylocke: Chouko Takahashi The Prodigy MVP Animation
• Psylocke: Chouko Takahashi The Prodigy Costume

 

How Event Progression Works

The progression system is straightforward and mirrors previous event passes in Marvel Rivals:

• Earn XP by playing matches across any mode—Competitive, Quick Play, or other available modes all contribute.
• Each level requires 1,800 XP to complete.
• Daily XP cap: 7,200 XP—this equals roughly 4 levels per day. The cap exists to encourage consistent daily play rather than marathon grinding sessions.
• Levels can also be purchased for 200 Lattice each if you want to skip ahead.
• All rewards are permanent cosmetics—nothing expires once unlocked.

With 56 days in the event window, you have plenty of time to reach Tier 18 for the free Mantis skin without spending a dime. However, hitting the daily XP cap consistently will get you there much faster.

 

How to Get the Free Mantis Skin

Let's be direct about this, since it's what most players care about: the Mantis Black & Gold costume is 100% free.

Here's the strategy:

• Play matches daily to earn event XP.
• Aim for the 7,200 daily XP cap when possible.
• Reach Tier 18 in the event pass.
• Claim your free Mantis skin—no purchase necessary.

Along the way to Tier 18, you'll also unlock a full matching cosmetic set for Mantis: nameplate, animated spray, and emote. Do not buy the premium pass solely for the Mantis skin—she is on the free track, and you will never need to spend Lattice to get her.

 

Should You Buy the Premium Pass?

The honest answer depends entirely on your hero pool:

Buy the premium pass if:

• You main Psylocke—the "Prodigy" skin offers Legendary-tier quality with a custom ultimate animation at a fraction of what it would cost in the store.
• You main Squirrel Girl—the premium track bundles her skin with MVP animations and nameplates.
• You are a completionist who wants all 24 rewards.

Skip the premium pass if:

• You're only interested in the free Mantis skin.
• You don't play Psylocke or Squirrel Girl regularly.
• You'd rather save your Lattice for upcoming events.

At 690 Lattice for the full premium track, the value proposition is strong for the right players. Psylocke's skin alone would justify the cost for dedicated Psylocke mains.

 

What Else Is Coming in Season 7.5?

The ESU Open Day event isn't the only content arriving this season. The Season 7.5 roadmap includes:

• April 17:Black Cat (new Duelist), Urban Predator skin, Blade Space Outlaws skin, Spider-Man Peter Parker: The Photographer bundle
• April 24:Hellfire Gala 2026 event begins, featuring a free Emma Frost skin
• May 1:Path to Doomsday: The Avengers PVP mode
• May 8:Winter Soldier Space Outlaws and Venom War of the Realms skins
• May 15:Season 7.5 concludes, Season 8 begins

 

Conclusion

The ESU Open Day event continues Marvel Rivals' trend of offering genuinely worthwhile free rewards alongside reasonably priced premium options. The free Mantis Black & Gold skin at Tier 18 provides a clear goal for free-to-play players, while the premium track delivers excellent value for Psylocke and Squirrel Girl enthusiasts.

With 56 days to complete the pass and a daily XP system that rewards consistent play over burnout-inducing grinding, the event is well-structured for both casual and dedicated players. Start early, hit that daily cap when you can.