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 includes buffs, nerfs, and modifications to team-up abilities, addressing community feedback and re-shaping the meta.
The popular hero shooter, released late 2024, has quickly gained traction. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay (payloads, capture points, and unique abilities), fuels its appeal. Season 1, featuring the Fantastic Four, promises further expansion, but this pre-emptive patch offers substantial changes.
The patch significantly alters all hero categories. Several Duelists (Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, Scarlet Witch) received minor nerfs, while others (Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, Winter Soldier) gained buffs, such as increased health or reduced cooldown times. A notable enhancement boosts Storm's effectiveness, addressing player concerns about her previous underperformance. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and Wind Blade's projectile speed increases to 150m/s (from 100m/s).
Vanguards (Venom, Thor, Captain America) also see improvements. Captain America and Thor receive health boosts, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss deals increased damage. Strategists (Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, Rocket Raccoon) undergo various adjustments, including cooldown reductions and increased healing outputs.
Team-up abilities, activated by specific hero combinations, also receive tweaks. Some passive abilities are adjusted, while others see cooldown reductions or damage modifications. Season bonuses for certain team-ups (Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki) are lowered to 15%. Other team-ups, such as Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier and Thor/Storm/Captain America, experience cooldown decreases.
Below are the detailed patch notes:
Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes
Duelist
- Black Panther: Reduced additional self-health from Spirit Rend.
- Black Widow: Increased Edge Dancer range and reduced Fleet Foot and Electro-Plasma Explosion recovery times.
- Hawkeye: Slightly reduced Blast Arrow spread and Archer's Focus range and damage.
- 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 detects barriers.
- The 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 projectile 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/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.
Vanguard
- Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, Liberty Rush cooldown, and Freedom Charge energy cost and additional health per second; increased base health.
- Doctor Strange: Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom; slightly 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 (Hero Hulk).
- Venom: Increased Symbiotic Resilience bonus 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 switching 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, and berserk state damage.
- Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier: Reduced Ammo Invention cooldown.
- Scarlet Witch – Magneto: Increased Metallic Fusion projectile and spell field damage.
- Thor – Storm – Captain America: Reduced Charged Gale cooldown and increased damage.
