Marvel Rivals Updates Gameplay With Season 1 Balance Adjustments

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 across all classes ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. The update features buffs, nerfs, and refinements to abilities, addressing community feedback and re-shaping the competitive landscape.

The patch significantly alters the meta, with notable adjustments to popular characters. Duelists such as Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch receive minor nerfs, while others, including Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier, see improvements to their stats and abilities. A particularly welcome buff enhances Storm's effectiveness, addressing player concerns about her previously underwhelming performance. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage, and Wind Blade's projectile speed increases to 150m/s.

Vanguards also receive attention, with Captain America and Thor gaining health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss dealing increased damage. Strategists see changes to Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon, focusing on cooldown reductions and healing enhancements. Rocket Raccoon's repair mode now heals at 70 per/s.

Team-up abilities, activated by specific hero combinations, also undergo adjustments. Several team-ups, including Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki, see reduced season bonuses. Other team-ups, such as Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier and Thor/Storm/Captain America, benefit from cooldown reductions and damage increases.

Detailed 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 range/damage.
• Hela: Reduced base health.
• Magik: Increased Umbral Incursion damage (Darkchild form).
• Moon Knight: Increased Hand of Khonshu talon count and radius.
• Namor: Improved Monstro/Frozen Spawn throwing accuracy.
• Psylocke: Dance of the Butterfly now detects barriers.
• 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, increased Bolt Rush damage, 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.

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 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 (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 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 pre-Season 1 patch promises a dynamic shift in Marvel Rivals' gameplay, offering players a fresh challenge as they prepare for the upcoming content.