Marvel Rivals Season 1 Updates: Balance Tweaks Unveiled

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. This update features buffs, nerfs, and tweaks to numerous characters and team-up abilities, promising a refreshed meta for players.

The popular hero-shooter, released late 2024, has quickly gained traction. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay elements like payloads and capture points, contributes to its appeal. Season 1, focusing on the Fantastic Four, is on the horizon, but this pre-season patch introduces substantial changes.

The patch extensively revises hero balance across all categories:

Duelists: Several Duelists received adjustments. Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch experienced minor nerfs, while Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, including health increases and shorter cooldown times. A significant buff to Storm, previously considered underpowered, enhances her Bolt Rush damage to 80 and increases her Wind Blade projectile speed to 150m/s from 100m/s.

Vanguards: Vanguards also saw improvements. Captain America and Thor received health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage was increased.

Strategists: The Strategist category saw various tweaks. Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown was reduced, Jeff the Land Shark's Joyful Splash healing increased, and Rocket Raccoon's repair mode received a boost.

Team-Up Abilities: The patch also adjusted several team-up abilities, impacting combinations such as Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki, and Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier. Some received cooldown reductions, while others, like the Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki team-ups, had their season bonuses reduced. Other team-ups, such as Luna Snow/Namor and Scarlet Witch/Magneto, received damage and effect enhancements. The Thor/Storm/Captain America team-up also saw a cooldown decrease and damage increase to their Charged Gale ability.

Detailed Patch Notes: (The following section mirrors the provided patch notes, offering a detailed breakdown of the individual character and ability adjustments.)

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 accounts for 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 modified Omega Hurricane health bonus.
• Squirrel Girl: Modified Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami effect and reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, increased Roterstern damage, reduced area damage and 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 bonus.
• 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.

This balance patch sets the stage for Season 1, promising a more dynamic and competitive Marvel Rivals experience.