I have spent a lot of time in Marvel Rivals chasing achievements, but few Easter eggs have made me stop and smile like Bats the ghost dog. As of 2026, this little spectral companion is still tucked away in the Sanctum Sanctorum, and he is easy to miss if I rush into a Doom Match looking only for eliminations. I load into the map, walk through the main entrance, and head toward the foyer. That is where the blue glow usually catches my eye. Bats drifts around the main stairs, the portrait of Doctor Strange, and sometimes the dog bed on the ground near the stairs. He is not a combat target, not a pickup, and not a mission marker. He is just there, a quiet piece of lore in a mode that is usually loud.
Why Bats Matters to Me
I like Bats because he makes the Sanctum Sanctorum feel lived in. According to the lore behind the character, Doctor Strange adopted Bats as a dog and later cast a spell that allowed him to speak. That detail is charming on its own, but the story takes a bittersweet turn: Bats had a weak heart and died not long after Strange adopted him. After his death, Bats came back to Strange in his ghost form and now hangs around the Sanctum. When I see that ghostly blue dog near the stairs, I do not see a random prop. I see a small story about loss, loyalty, and the strange everyday life of a sorcerer.
The Sanctum Sanctorum map itself is full of Marvel flavor. The reference to the Infinite Staircase is the kind of environmental detail that rewards players who slow down. I usually enter the map with a plan to fight, but Bats changes my route for a moment. I check the foyer, glance at the portrait, and look near the dog bed. If I find him, I take a second to listen. The game is fast, and Doom Match is a free-for-all deathmatch mode, so those quiet seconds are rare.
How I Trigger A Hounding Conversation
Talking to Bats completes the A Hounding Conversation achievement, but the important detail is that not every character can trigger the conversation. I learned this the hard way after walking up to Bats with the wrong hero and getting nothing. Only four specific characters can do it:
| Character | What I Do |
|---|---|
| Jeff the Land Shark | I pick Jeff before the match and visit Bats in the foyer. |
| Squirrel Girl | I use Squirrel Girl when I want to hear Bats respond. |
| Spider-Man | I swing into the Sanctum and look for the ghost dog near the stairs. |
| Thor | I play Thor and trigger the line while standing close to Bats. |
I also turn on subtitles before I try. Doom Match tends to have a lot of fighting, and the background noise can make voice lines hard to hear. Subtitles let me confirm that the conversation actually triggered. The achievement is tied to a specific voice line, so I do not just stand near Bats and assume it worked. I watch the subtitle text and listen for the response.
My Practical Route
When I want to check this Easter egg in 2026, I follow a simple routine:
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I queue into Doom Match, because the Sanctum Sanctorum map appears there.
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I make sure I am playing Jeff, Squirrel Girl, Spider-Man, or Thor.
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I enter through the main entrance and walk into the foyer.
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I check the main stairs, Doctor Strange's portrait, and the dog bed near the stairs.
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I look for the ghostly blue glow so I do not walk past Bats.
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I turn on subtitles and trigger the conversation line.
Bats is not hard to find once I know where to look, but he is easy to overlook during a fight. That is what makes him a good Easter egg. He rewards curiosity rather than speed. I like that Marvel Rivals uses small interactions like this to connect its maps to the wider Marvel Universe. The Stark-Fujikawa building in Tokyo 2099 and the voice lines about Brian Banner are other examples of the same design philosophy. They are not required for gameplay, but they make the world feel bigger.
For me, Bats is one of the best little details in the game. He is a ghost dog with a sad story, a speaking spell, and a cozy spot near the stairs. He also gives players a reason to slow down in a mode that is all about chaos. If I am chasing the A Hounding Conversation achievement, I pick one of the four heroes, enter Doom Match, and head straight for the foyer. Then I listen. That small moment is worth the detour.