Marvel Rivals receives pre-Season 1 balance patch with significant character adjustments. NetEase's latest update introduces buffs and nerfs across all character classes, impacting gameplay strategies ahead of the Season 1 launch on January 10th.
Marvel Rivals, a popular hero shooter released late 2024, is preparing for its first season focused on the Fantastic Four. But before the new season's content arrives, NetEase has deployed a substantial balance patch affecting Duelists, Vanguards, and Strategists.
Duelist Adjustments: Several Duelists received adjustments. Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch experienced minor nerfs. Conversely, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, including increased health and reduced cooldown times. A significant buff was applied to Storm, addressing player concerns about her effectiveness. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and Wind Blade projectile speed increased to 150m/s (from 100m/s). Other notable changes include improvements to Squirrel Girl's Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami and Winter Soldier's abilities.
Vanguard and Strategist Changes: Vanguards like Captain America, Thor, and Venom also received buffs, primarily focused on increased health and damage output. Strategist characters, including Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon, saw various adjustments to their abilities, primarily focusing on cooldown reductions and increased healing.
Team-Up Ability Tweaks: The patch also includes adjustments to team-up abilities, altering the bonuses and cooldowns of specific hero combinations. For example, Hawkeye and Black Widow's team-up bonus was reduced, while others like Rocket Raccoon, Punisher, and Winter Soldier saw decreased cooldowns.
Detailed Patch Notes:
The following provides a detailed breakdown of the changes implemented in the Marvel Rivals Season 1 balance patch:
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 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 and Frozen Spawn throwing accuracy.
- Psylocke: Dance of the Butterfly now checks for barriers.
- Punisher: Slightly reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
- Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, and increased Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
- Storm: Increased Wind Blade speed and damage, Bolt Rush damage, and Omega Hurricane bonus health and duration.
- Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target the nearest enemy; reduced squirrel health.
- Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook and 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 and reduced self-heal per second.
- Doctor Strange: Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom; reduced shield 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.
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 season bonus.
- Hela – Thor – Loki: Reduced season bonus.
- Luna Snow – Namor: Increased Frozen Spawn damage and slow effect.
- Rocket Raccoon – 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 comprehensive balance patch aims to refine the Marvel Rivals meta before the arrival of Season 1.
