How to Get Unstable Molecules in Marvel Rivals and Customize Hero Costumes
Unstable Molecules are the Marvel Rivals currency for costume colors (chromas). You get them by exchanging Lattice 1:1, and NetEase also hands them out in some events and tournaments, such as the 500 that Shou-Lao’s Blessing handed out in 2025. At launch a color cost 600. You also had to own the base costume first.
Facts here come from NetEase’s official patch notes and, for the launch prices, from coverage of the April 2025 update published by Automaton. Prices can change. Check the in-game store before you buy (this page won’t update itself).
What are Unstable Molecules in Marvel Rivals?
A separate currency used only for costume customization. The feature arrived with the Version 20250415 patch, and NetEase’s notes announced it as “Costume Colors Arrive at the Gala,” unlocking on April 17, 2025 at 09:00 UTC. Once you buy a color, you can switch between it and the original freely in the Costumes interface. Why a new currency instead of plain Lattice? To be fair, NetEase never really explained it. In practice, Lattice converts 1:1, so for paying players it’s Lattice with an extra step and a different icon (plus one more number to keep track of).
How do you get Unstable Molecules in Marvel Rivals?
Two routes. Buy them with Lattice, or earn them from events, and only the paid route is always open while the free one depends entirely on what NetEase decides to run that season.
| Source | Amount | Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange Lattice | 1 Lattice = 1 Unstable Molecule | Any time |
| Shou-Lao’s Blessing event | 500 | Sep 25 to Oct 9, 2025 |
| Galacta’s Gift quests | 300 | Version 20251030 update |
| Monster Kingdom Championship | Varies by number of wins | Feb 21 to 22, 2026 |
The free sources are one-offs. Miss the event, miss the molecules. Shou-Lao’s Blessing also gave a free Costume Coin and 500 Units, and Galacta’s Gift came with 300 Units, a Halloween nameplate and a Costume Coin. The Monster Kingdom Championship listed Unstable Molecules among rewards for its tournament factions, without a fixed amount in the notes.
Back in April 2025, NetEase said more ways to earn them would come from Season 3. Did it deliver? Partly. The events above are what that looked like, which is to say occasional rather than steady.
How much does a costume color cost?
At launch, 600 Unstable Molecules per color. You also needed the base costume already, so a color was always an add-on, never a way around buying the skin. Fair enough, though many players were not thrilled (the reaction to the extra currency was loud).
The first colors in April 2025 went to four costumes: Psylocke’s Vengeance, Magik’s Punkchild, Luna Snow’s Mirae 2099 and Winter Soldier’s Blood Soldier. Since then chromas have become a regular store item; Luna Snow’s Lunar Luna, for example, got Pink Planets and Dark Nebula chromas in the Version 20261001 update.
How to change a costume’s color
- Open the Heroes tab and pick the hero.
- Go to Costumes and choose a costume that shows a color option.
- Buy the color in the store with Unstable Molecules.
- Switch between colors in the Costumes interface whenever you like.
One more thing.
Some newer costumes also have Customizable Parts, separate from chromas. In June 2026, for example, NetEase added a glasses option to Invisible Woman’s Azure Shade costume and gave it free to everyone who owned the costume. Not everything in Customize costs Unstable Molecules, then.
Are Unstable Molecules in Marvel Rivals worth it?
Honestly, only if you love a specific costume. For what it’s worth, the color also carries over to the hero’s intro, MVP screen and emotes, so you’ll see it in more places than the match itself. A color doesn’t change gameplay at all, and at 600 per color the Lattice adds up fast. Free event molecules are the best way to try one without spending.
If you’d rather spend on things that change how you play, our Marvel Rivals tier list and the guide to every Vanguard are better places to start. Collectors might also like the story of Danqing, the 2025 event currency that came and went. As for Unstable Molecules in Marvel Rivals, watch the patch notes: free batches show up in events a few times a year.
FAQ
What are Unstable Molecules used for?
Buying costume colors (chromas) in Marvel Rivals. They have no other use in the game.
How do I get Unstable Molecules for free in Marvel Rivals?
Through events and tournaments when NetEase offers them, such as Shou-Lao’s Blessing, which granted 500 in 2025, and the Galacta’s Gift quests, which granted 300.
Can I convert Lattice into Unstable Molecules?
Yes, at a 1:1 rate.
How much does a costume color cost?
When the feature launched in April 2025, each color cost 600 Unstable Molecules. Check the in-game store for current prices.
Do I need to own the costume to buy its color?
Yes. A color is an add-on for a costume you already own.
When were costume colors added to Marvel Rivals?
The feature unlocked on April 17, 2025 at 09:00 UTC, announced in the Version 20250415 patch notes.
