Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Changes Unveiled

Overview of Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Update

NetEase has unveiled a balance patch for Marvel Rivals in anticipation of Season 1’s launch on January 10.
Players are excited about the improvements made to Storm, as she has been previously viewed as one of the less competitive Duelists.
The update brings numerous adjustments to team-up abilities across the game.

In a strategic move ahead of the new season, developer NetEase has published a balance patch for Marvel Rivals. This update brings a mix of nerfs, buffs, and various adjustments affecting characters such as Black Panther, Hawkeye, Namor, and Psylocke. Players diving into Marvel Rivals will have a lot to consider as they prepare for Season 1, which promises even more significant changes.

Since its launch in late 2024, Marvel Rivals has emerged as a fresh favorite in the competitive hero shooter genre. With a diverse cast of iconic characters, the game stands out not only for its impressive roster but also for its engaging team-oriented gameplay featuring elements like payloads and capture points. The upcoming Season 1 will center around The Fantastic Four, further expanding the game’s universe, but first, this critical balance patch warrants players’ attention.

The extensive patch affects every hero class in Marvel Rivals. Among Duelists, characters like Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch have undergone slight nerfs. In contrast, buffs have been rolled out for heroes including Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier, enhancing their health and overall effectiveness. Notably, Storm has received much-needed buffs, addressing her prior status as an underperforming Duelist. Her ability Bolt Rush now inflicts 80 damage, and the speed of her Wind Blade projectile has increased from 100m/s to 150m/s.

Vanguards such as Venom, Thor, and Captain America have also celebrated buffs in this patch. Captain America and Thor received health enhancements, while Venom’s Feast of the Abyss damage has been increased. Meanwhile, Strategists Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon have also seen significant adjustments. For instance, Cloak & Dagger’s Dagger Storm cooldown has reduced from 15 seconds to 12 seconds, and Jeff’s healing ability, Joyful Splash, now provides increased healing from 140 to 150 health per second.

The patch also addresses team-up abilities that give players additional options based on their character selections during matches. Adjustments have been made across the board for team-ups involving Hawkeye and Black Widow as well as Hela, Thor, and Loki. For example, Hawkeye’s seasonal bonuses have dropped to 15%. There are also cooldown reductions for other team combinations, enhancing the dynamic interactions within matches.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes

Character Adjustments for Duelists

Black Panther

Reduced additional self-health from Vibranium Marks with Spirit Rend from 40 to 30; overall health gain capped at 75.

Black Widow

Expanded range on Edge Dancer from 3m to 5m.
Decreased recovery time for Fleet Foot from 12s to 4s.
Accelerated ultimate ability power-up time for Electro-Plasma Explosion from 1s to 0.6s.

Hawkeye

Slightly tightened the spread of Blast Arrows.
Reduced passive ability Archer’s Focus distance from 60m to 40m; maximum damage reduced from 80 to 70.

Whole

Base health decreased from 275 to 250.

Magic

Increased Umbral Incursion damage in Darkchild form from 115 to 135.

Moon Knight

Raised the talons generated by Hand of Khonshu from 10 to 14.
Expanded explosion radius of talons from 4m to 5m.

Namor

Improved accuracy in throwing Monstro Spawn and Frozen Spawn.

Psylocke

Now checks for barriers with Dance of the Butterfly (ultimate ability).

The Punisher

Slightly narrowed the spread of Deliverance and Adjudication.

Scarlet Witch

Fixed damage for Chaos Control increased from 50/s to 60/s; percentage damage per second reduced from 5% to 3%.
Enhanced projectile damage for Chthonian Burst from 30 to 35.

Storm

Projectile speed of Wind Blade increased from 100m/s to 150m/s; left-click damage raised from 50 to 55.
Increased Bolt Rush damage from 70 to 80.
After using Omega Hurricane (ultimate ability), health boost now increases from 350 to 450 and will decay gradually instead of vanishing instantly.

Squirrel Girl

New effect added to Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami (ultimate ability): squirrels will pursue the nearest enemy upon bouncing, rather than bouncing randomly.
Health of the squirrel tsunami reduced from 600 to 300.

Winter Soldier

Enhanced bonus health from Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage from 30 to 40.
Increased damage for Roterstern from 70 to 75.
Area damage reduced from 70 to 65; damage decay improved from 65% at 40m to 60%.
Base health increased from 250 to 275.

Wolverine

Base health increased from 300 to 350; damage reduction ratio for Undying Animal decreased from 50% to 40%.

Character Adjustments for Vanguards

Captain America

Shortened shield restoration delay after using Living Legend from 3s to 2s.
Decreased cooldown for Liberty Rush from 12s to 10s.
Base health incremented from 650 to 675; reduced energy cost for Freedom Charge (ultimate ability) from 3400 to 3100.
Reduced health restoration per second after using it from 110 to 100.

Doctor Strange

Implemented damage fall-off for Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom, starting at 5m and decreasing to 70% at 8m.
Slightly lowered shield recovery rate value post Shield of the Seraphim usage from 80/s to 70/s.

Thor

Base health boosted from 500 to 525; control effect immunity added during God of Thunder (ultimate ability).

Hulk

Reduced Indestructible Guard gamma shield value for Hero Hulk from 250 to 200.

Venom

Increased Symbiotic Resilience health ratio gains from 1 to 1.2; boosted Feast of the Abyss (ultimate ability) damage from 40 to 50.

Character Adjustments for Strategists

Cloak & Dagger

Cooldown for Dagger Storm reduced from 15s to 12s; increased Eternal Bond (ultimate ability) dashes from 3 to 4.

Jeff the Land Shark

Adjusted It’s Jeff! (ultimate ability) dimensions; increased Joyful Splash healing from 140/s to 150/s.

Luna Snow

Extended healing-to-damage switching interval in Fate of Both Worlds from 0.1s to 0.5s.

Mantis

Reduced movement boost from Nature’s Favor (passive) from 2.5m/s to 1.5m/s.

Rocket Raccoon

Enhanced Repair Mode healing from 60 per/s to 70 per/s.

Adjustments to Team-Up Abilities

Hawkeye – Black Widow

Reduced seasonal bonus for Hawkeye from 20% to 15%.

Hela – Thor – Loki

Reduced seasonal bonus for Hela from 20% to 15%.

Luna Snow – Namor

Increased Frozen Spawn damage from 25 to 27; added a stronger slowing effect on hit.
Pumped berserk state Frozen Spawn damage from 16 to 18.

Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier

Shortened cooldown on Ammo Invention from 45s to 40s.

Scarlet Witch – Magneto

Increased projectile damage of Metallic Fusion from 55 to 60; spell field damage increased from 30 to 35.

Thor – Storm – Captain America

Reduced cooldown on Charged Gale from 20s to 15s; increased damage from 50 to 55.

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