Marvel Rivals Retools Balance in Season 1 Update

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

NetEase has deployed a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting various characters and team-up abilities before Season 1's January 10th launch. The update features buffs, nerfs, and tweaks aimed at refining gameplay and addressing community feedback.

The patch significantly addresses the balance across all hero categories. Duelists such as Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch have received minor nerfs, while others, including Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier, have been buffed with increased health, reduced cooldown times, or enhanced damage output. A notable buff has been applied to Storm, previously considered underpowered, improving her Bolt Rush and Wind Blade abilities.

Vanguards also see adjustments. Captain America and Thor receive health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage is increased. Strategists receive a mix of changes, with Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown reduced, Jeff the Land Shark's healing amplified, and Rocket Raccoon's repair mode enhanced.

Several team-up abilities also undergo modifications. Some team-up bonuses, such as those for Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki, have been reduced, while others, like Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier and Thor/Storm/Captain America, have experienced cooldown decreases.

The full patch notes detail the specific numerical changes implemented for each character and team-up ability. These changes aim to create a more balanced and engaging competitive experience ahead of the major content update arriving with Season 1. Players are encouraged to review the complete patch notes below to fully understand the impact on their preferred heroes and strategies.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes

Duelist

• Black Panther: Reduced Vibranium Marks health bonus.
• Black Widow: Increased Edge Dancer range, reduced Fleet Foot and Electro-Plasma Explosion cooldowns.
• Hawkeye: Reduced Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus damage and range.
• 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 checks for barriers.
• The 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, increased and modified Omega Hurricane health bonus.
• Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target nearest enemy; reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, increased Roterstern damage, reduced area damage and damage 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 regeneration.
• 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 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 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 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 Charged Gale damage.