Marvel Rivals Reveals Season 1 Balance Changes

Marvel Rivals Receives Pre-Season 1 Balance Patch with Significant Character Adjustments

NetEase has deployed a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting various heroes ahead of Season 1's launch on January 10th. The update features buffs, nerfs, and adjustments to team-up abilities, addressing community feedback and shaping the meta before the substantial changes Season 1 will bring.

Marvel Rivals, a popular hero shooter released late 2024, has quickly gained traction. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay featuring payloads and capture points, provides a compelling experience. Season 1, focused on the Fantastic Four, promises further expansion, but this pre-season patch is crucial for balancing the existing heroes.

The patch extensively modifies every hero category. Several Duelists, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch, received minor nerfs. Conversely, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, ranging from increased health to shorter cooldown times. A notable buff enhances Storm's abilities, significantly improving her effectiveness, addressing player concerns about her previous underperformance. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage, and her Wind Blade projectile speed increases to 150m/s.

Vanguards also see adjustments. Captain America and Thor receive health boosts, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage increases. Strategists receive various tweaks, with Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown reduced, Jeff the Land Shark's Joyful Splash healing improved, and Rocket Raccoon's repair mode enhanced.

Finally, numerous team-up abilities undergo adjustments. Some passive abilities receive changes, while others see their offensive or defensive capabilities altered. Several team-up bonuses are reduced (Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki), while cooldowns for others (Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier, Thor/Storm/Captain America) are decreased.

Below are the detailed patch notes:

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes

Duelist

• Black Panther: Reduced Vibranium Marks health bonus.
• Black Widow: Increased Edge Dancer range, reduced Fleet Foot and Electro-Plasma Explosion recovery times.
• Hawkeye: Reduced Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus range and damage.
• Hela: Reduced base health.
• Magik: Increased Umbral Incursion damage.
• Moon Knight: Increased Hand of Khonshu talon count and explosion radius.
• Namor: Improved Monstro/Frozen Spawn throwing accuracy.
• Psylocke: Dance of the Butterfly now detects barriers.
• The Punisher: Reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
• Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, increased Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
• Storm: Increased Wind Blade speed and damage, increased Bolt Rush damage, and significantly improved Omega Hurricane bonus health.
• Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target nearest enemy; reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, increased Roterstern damage, reduced area damage and damage decay, increased base health.
• Wolverine: Increased base health, reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.

Vanguard

• Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, reduced Liberty Rush cooldown, increased base health, reduced Freedom Charge energy cost and health per second.
• Doctor Strange: Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness, reduced Shield of the Seraphim recovery rate.
• Thor: Increased base health, added immunity to control effects during God of Thunder.
• Hulk: Reduced Indestructible Guard shield value.
• Venom: Increased Symbiotic Resilience health ratio, increased Feast of the Abyss damage.

Strategist

• Cloak & Dagger: Reduced Dagger Storm cooldown, increased Eternal Bond dashes.
• Jeff the Land Shark: Adjusted It’s Jeff! range, increased Joyful Splash healing.
• Luna Snow: Increased Fate of Both Worlds switching interval.
• Mantis: Reduced Nature’s Favor movement boost.
• Rocket Raccoon: Increased Repair Mode healing.

Team-Up Abilities

• Hawkeye – Black Widow: Reduced season bonus.
• Hela – Thor – Loki: Reduced season bonus.
• Luna Snow – Namor: Increased Frozen Spawn damage and slow effect.
• Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier: Reduced Ammo Invention cooldown.
• Scarlet Witch – Magneto: Increased Metallic Fusion damage.
• Thor – Storm – Captain America: Reduced Charged Gale cooldown, increased damage.