Marvel Rivals Reveals Season 1 Balance Changes

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

NetEase has deployed a substantial balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting numerous characters ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. The update features buffs, nerfs, and tweaks across all hero categories, promising a refreshed meta for players. This follows the game's successful late 2024 release, quickly establishing itself as a prominent contender in the hero-shooter genre.

The patch significantly addresses character balance, with notable adjustments to popular heroes. Duelists like Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch received minor nerfs, while others, including Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier, gained buffs in areas such as health and ability cooldown reduction. A key highlight is the considerable buff to Storm, previously considered underpowered, with increased damage and projectile speed for her core abilities.

Vanguards also see adjustments. Captain America and Thor receive health increases, and Venom's ultimate ability, Feast of the Abyss, gains a damage boost. Strategists are not left out, with changes affecting Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon. These changes include cooldown reductions and increased healing output.

Furthermore, the patch introduces refinements to various team-up abilities. These synergistic abilities, activated by specific hero combinations, have seen cooldown reductions and, in some cases, percentage-based damage adjustments. For instance, the season bonuses for Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki team-ups have been reduced.

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 cooldowns.
• Hawkeye: Reduced Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus damage and range.
• 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: Slightly reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
• Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, increased Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
• Storm: Increased Wind Blade projectile speed and damage, increased Bolt Rush damage, and significantly enhanced Omega Hurricane's health bonus.
• Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target nearest enemies; reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, increased Roterstern projectile 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 regeneration.
• 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, increased Feast of the Abyss base 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 switch interval.
• Mantis: Reduced Nature’s Favor movement boost.
• Rocket Raccoon: Increased Repair Mode healing.

Team-Up Abilities

• Hawkeye – Black Widow: Reduced Hawkeye's season bonus.
• Hela – Thor – Loki: Reduced Hela's 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 Charged Gale damage.

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