Marvel Rivals Receives Pre-Season 1 Balance Patch with Significant Character Adjustments
NetEase has deployed a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting numerous heroes ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. The update features a mix of buffs and nerfs, addressing community feedback and re-shaping the meta. Key changes include substantial improvements to underperforming characters, adjustments to team-up abilities, and fine-tuning of various skills.
Marvel Rivals, a popular hero-shooter, has quickly gained traction since its late 2024 release. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay mechanics (payloads, capture points, and powerful abilities), has contributed to its success. Season 1, focusing on the Fantastic Four, is on the horizon, but this pre-season patch introduces notable changes to prepare players.
The patch extensively revises every hero category:
Duelists: While Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch received minor nerfs, several others received boosts. Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier all benefit from increased health, reduced cooldowns, or enhanced damage. A significant buff to Storm, previously considered weak, is a highlight, increasing her Bolt Rush damage to 80 and Wind Blade projectile speed to 150m/s.
Vanguards: Captain America and Thor receive health increases, while Venom sees a damage boost to his Feast of the Abyss ultimate.
Strategists: Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon all experience adjustments to their abilities, primarily focusing on cooldown reductions and increased healing or repair output.
Team-Up Abilities: The patch also refines several team-up abilities, adjusting season bonuses and cooldowns for various hero combinations. For instance, Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki team-up bonuses are reduced, while others, such as Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier, see decreased cooldowns.
Detailed Patch Notes:
The following provides a detailed breakdown of the individual character and team-up adjustments:
Duelist:
- 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 damage and range.
- Hela: Reduced base health.
- Magik: Increased Umbral Incursion damage (Darkchild form).
- 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: Adjusted Chaos Control damage and Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
- Storm: Significantly buffed Wind Blade and Bolt Rush damage and Omega Hurricane health bonus.
- Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target the nearest enemy; reduced squirrel health.
- Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, Roterstern projectile damage, and base health; reduced area damage and damage decay.
- Wolverine: Increased base health; reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.
Vanguard:
- Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, Liberty Rush cooldown, and Freedom Charge energy cost; increased base health; reduced self-heal from Freedom Charge.
- 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 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 Charged Gale damage.
This extensive balance patch sets the stage for Season 1, promising a refreshed and potentially more competitive Marvel Rivals experience.
