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 launch on January 10th. The update features a mix of nerfs, buffs, and adjustments to team-up abilities, addressing community feedback and re-shaping the meta.
Marvel Rivals, a popular hero-shooter, has quickly gained traction since its late 2024 release. Its diverse roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay mechanics, has contributed to its success. Season 1, focusing on the Fantastic Four, is on the horizon, but this pre-season patch introduces substantial changes to prepare players for the upcoming content.
The patch extensively revises all hero categories. Several Duelists, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch, have received minor nerfs. Conversely, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier have received buffs, enhancing their survivability and offensive capabilities. A notable improvement is the significant buff to Storm, previously considered underpowered. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and her Wind Blade projectile speed has increased to 150m/s from 100m/s.
Vanguards also see adjustments. Captain America and Thor receive health increases, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage has been boosted. Strategists receive various tweaks, including cooldown reductions for Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm and increased healing for Jeff the Land Shark's Joyful Splash. Rocket Raccoon's repair mode efficiency has also been improved.
Finally, several team-up abilities have been refined. Some team-up bonuses have been reduced (Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki), while others have seen cooldown decreases (Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier, Thor/Storm/Captain America).
Detailed Patch Notes:
Duelists:
- 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/damage.
- Hela: Reduced base health.
- Magik: Increased Umbral Incursion damage.
- 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.
- Punisher: Slightly 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 nearest enemies; reduced squirrel health.
- Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, increased Roterstern damage, reduced area damage and decay, increased base health.
- Wolverine: Increased base health, reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.
Vanguards:
- 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 health ratio, increased Feast of the Abyss damage.
Strategists:
- 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, increased damage.
This extensive balance patch sets the stage for Season 1, promising a refreshed and exciting competitive landscape in Marvel Rivals.
