Marvel Rivals Announces Season 1 Balance Updates

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. This update features buffs, nerfs, and adjustments to team-up abilities, addressing community feedback and shaping the meta before the substantial changes Season 1 will introduce.

Marvel Rivals, a popular hero-shooter released late 2024, has quickly gained traction. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay featuring payloads and capture points, makes it a compelling addition to the genre. Season 1, focusing on the Fantastic Four, promises further expansion, but this pre-season patch provides a significant interim update.

The patch extensively revises hero balance across all categories:

Duelists: Several Duelists received adjustments. Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch experienced minor nerfs, while Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, including health increases and reduced cooldown times. A particularly notable buff enhances Storm, previously considered underpowered, increasing her Bolt Rush damage to 80 and Wind Blade projectile speed to 150m/s.

Vanguards: Vanguards, such as Venom, Thor, and Captain America, also saw improvements. Captain America and Thor received health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage was increased.

Strategists: The Strategist category saw several adjustments. Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown was reduced, Jeff the Land Shark's Joyful Splash healing increased, and Rocket Raccoon's repair mode efficiency improved.

Team-Up Abilities: Finally, numerous team-up abilities were tweaked. Some passive abilities and offensive/defensive options were adjusted, with several cooldown reductions and percentage-based bonus adjustments. For example, Hawkeye and Black Widow's team-up bonus was reduced, while the cooldown for Rocket Raccoon, Punisher, and Winter Soldier's team-up was decreased.

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 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 speed and damage, Bolt Rush damage, and Omega Hurricane bonus health and duration.
• Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target nearest enemies; 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 and health per second; increased base health.
• 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 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 slowing effect.
• 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.

This pre-season patch sets the stage for Season 1, promising a refined and balanced Marvel Rivals experience.