Marvel Rivals Receives Pre-Season 1 Balance Patch with Significant Character Adjustments
NetEase has deployed a substantial balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting numerous characters ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. This update features buffs, nerfs, and refinements across all hero categories, offering players a revised meta to master before the upcoming season's major content additions.
Marvel Rivals, a popular hero shooter released late 2024, has quickly gained traction. Its blend of iconic Marvel characters, team-based gameplay (including payloads and capture points), and potent abilities has resonated with players. Season 1, focusing on the Fantastic Four, promises even more, but this pre-season patch provides crucial adjustments.
The patch extensively revises every hero class. Several Duelists—Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch—received minor nerfs. Conversely, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier benefited from buffs, including increased health and reduced cooldown times. A significant enhancement was applied to Storm, previously considered underpowered, boosting her Bolt Rush damage to 80 and Wind Blade projectile speed to 150m/s.
Vanguards also saw adjustments. Captain America and Thor received health increases, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage was amplified. Strategists, including Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon, also underwent various changes. Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown was reduced, Jeff's Joyful Splash healing increased, and Rocket Raccoon's repair rate improved.
Finally, several team-up abilities—activated by specific hero combinations—were tweaked. Some passive abilities were adjusted, while others saw cooldown reductions or damage modifications. For instance, Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki team-up bonuses were reduced, while Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier and Thor/Storm/Captain America team-ups received cooldown decreases.
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.
- The Punisher: Reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
- Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, increased Chthonian Burst damage.
- Storm: Increased Wind Blade speed and damage, Bolt Rush damage, and 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, Roterstern damage, and base health; reduced area damage and damage decay.
- Wolverine: Increased base health, reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.
Vanguards:
- Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, Liberty Rush cooldown, and Freedom Charge energy cost; increased base health and reduced self-healing.
- 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 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 – The Punisher – Winter Soldier: Reduced Ammo Invention cooldown.
- Scarlet Witch – Magneto: Increased Metallic Fusion damage.
- Thor – Storm – Captain America: Reduced Charged Gale cooldown, increased damage.
