Marvel Rivals Reveals Season 1 Balance Changes

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

NetEase has deployed a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting numerous characters ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. The update features buffs, nerfs, and adjustments across all hero categories, promising a refreshed meta for players. This precedes the substantial changes expected with the arrival of Season 1 and its Fantastic Four focus.

Launched late in 2024, Marvel Rivals has rapidly gained popularity within the hero-shooter genre, boasting a compelling roster of iconic Marvel characters and team-based gameplay mechanics. The new patch significantly alters the dynamics of combat, impacting Duelists, Vanguards, and Strategists alike.

Duelist Adjustments:

Several Duelists received minor nerfs, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch. Conversely, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, ranging from increased health to shorter cooldown periods. A notable enhancement is the buff to Storm, previously considered underpowered. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and Wind Blade's projectile speed has increased from 100m/s to 150m/s.

Vanguard and Strategist Changes:

Vanguards Captain America, Thor, and Venom also received buffs, with health increases for Captain America and Thor, and enhanced damage for Venom's Feast of the Abyss. Among Strategists, Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon saw various adjustments, including cooldown reductions and increased healing or repair rates.

Team-Up Ability Tweaks:

The patch also refined several team-up abilities, impacting combinations like Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki, Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier, and Thor/Storm/Captain America. These changes primarily involve cooldown reductions and adjusted season bonuses. Specific examples include a reduction in Hawkeye and Black Widow's season bonus from 20% to 15%, and a decrease in the cooldown for Rocket Raccoon, Punisher, and Winter Soldier's Ammo Invention.

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 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 accounts for barriers.
• Punisher: Reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
• Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, increased Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
• Storm: Increased Wind Blade speed and damage, increased Bolt Rush damage, and significantly improved 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 health bonus, increased Roterstern projectile damage, reduced area damage and 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 per second.
• Doctor Strange: Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness, 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 bonus health ratio, increased 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 – Punisher – Winter Soldier: Reduced Ammo Invention cooldown.
• Scarlet Witch – Magneto: Increased Metallic Fusion damage.
• Thor – Storm – Captain America: Reduced Charged Gale cooldown, increased damage.

This substantial update sets the stage for a dynamic Season 1 in Marvel Rivals.