Marvel Rivals revamps gameplay with Season 1 balance update

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 January 10th launch. The update features a mix of buffs and nerfs, addressing community feedback and refining gameplay dynamics. Notably, Storm, previously considered underpowered, receives substantial enhancements.

Marvel Rivals, a popular hero shooter, has quickly gained traction since its late 2024 release. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters and team-based gameplay, incorporating elements like payloads and capture points, contribute to its appeal. Season 1, focused on the Fantastic Four, is on the horizon, but this pre-season patch introduces significant changes to prepare players.

The patch extensively revises all hero categories. Several Duelists, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch, experience minor nerfs. Conversely, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier receive buffs, ranging from increased health to shorter cooldown times. A key highlight is the significant boost to Storm's abilities, addressing player concerns about her effectiveness. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage, and Wind Blade's projectile speed increases to 150m/s from 100m/s.

Vanguard characters – Venom, Thor, and Captain America – also receive buffs. Captain America and Thor gain increased health, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss deals more damage. Strategists (Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon) see various adjustments, including cooldown reductions and increased healing.

The patch also fine-tunes several team-up abilities, adjusting season bonuses and cooldowns for various hero combinations. For example, Hawkeye and Black Widow's team-up bonus is reduced, while cooldowns for Rocket Raccoon, Punisher, and Winter Soldier's team-up are decreased.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes Summary:

The detailed patch notes below outline specific adjustments for each character and team-up ability:

Duelists:

• Black Panther: Nerfed Vibranium Marks health regeneration.
• Black Widow: Buffed Edge Dancer range, Fleet Foot recovery, and Electro-Plasma Explosion charge time.
• Hawkeye: Nerfed 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 and 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, and increased Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
• Storm: Significantly buffed Wind Blade speed and damage, Bolt Rush damage, and Omega Hurricane bonus health.
• Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target the nearest enemy; reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage bonus health, Roterstern projectile damage, and base health; reduced area damage and damage decay.
• Wolverine: Increased base health; reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.

Vanguards:

• Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, Liberty Rush cooldown, and Freedom Charge energy cost; increased base health and reduced self-healing.
• Doctor Strange: Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom; 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 and Feast of the Abyss base damage.

Strategists:

• 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 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 and increased damage.

This substantial update sets the stage for Season 1, promising a more balanced and engaging Marvel Rivals experience.