Season 1 Balance Changes Unveiled by Marvel Rivals

Summary

• NetEase has released a new balance patch for Marvel Rivals before Season 1 launches on January 10.
• Fans are thrilled with the buffs to Storm's abilities, as she was previously considered one of the least effective Duelists.
• The patch also includes several tweaks to the various team-up abilities in Marvel Rivals.

NetEase, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has rolled out a comprehensive balance patch just ahead of the game's highly anticipated Season 1, set to launch on January 10. This update brings a mix of nerfs, buffs, and other modifications to a wide array of characters, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Namor, and Psylocke. As players gear up for the new season, which promises significant changes on its own, this patch offers a fresh set of challenges and strategies to explore.

Launched towards the end of 2024, Marvel Rivals has quickly risen to prominence, revitalizing the hero-shooter genre with its dynamic gameplay and beloved characters. The game's robust lineup, combined with team-based mechanics like payloads and capture points, has captivated players worldwide. With Season 1 centered around The Fantastic Four, anticipation is high. However, before the season kicks off, NetEase has ensured players have plenty to chew on with this latest balance patch.

The patch touches every hero category in Marvel Rivals, starting with the Duelists. Characters like Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch have seen minor nerfs, while Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier have received buffs, ranging from health increases to reduced cooldowns. Notably, Storm, previously one of the least effective Duelists, has received significant upgrades. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage instead of 70, and the Wind Blade's projectile speed has been boosted from 100m/s to 150m/s.

Vanguards such as Venom, Thor, and Captain America have also been buffed. Both Captain America and Thor now boast increased health, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage has been enhanced. In the Strategist category, Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon have seen various adjustments. Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown has been reduced from 15 seconds to 12, Jeff's Joyful Splash healing has been bumped up from 140/s to 150/s, and Rocket Raccoon's repair mode now heals at 70 per/s, up from 60 per/s.

Additionally, the patch includes tweaks to team-up abilities, which offer extra powers when specific heroes are selected in a match. Some of these are passive, while others provide offensive or defensive options. Notable changes include reduced season bonuses for Hawkeye and Black Widow team-ups, as well as Hela, Thor, and Loki team-ups, now set at 15%. Cooldowns for team-ups involving Rocket Raccoon, The Punisher, and Winter Soldier have been decreased, along with those between Thor, Storm, and Captain America.

For a detailed breakdown of the changes, here are the patch notes:

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes

Duelist

Black Panther

• Reduced additional health after refreshing Vibranium Marks with Spirit Rend from 40 to 30, and the upper limit from 120 to 75.

Black Widow

• Increased the range of Edge Dancer's first effect from a 3-meter radius to a 5-meter radius.
• Reduced Fleet Foot recovery time from 12s to 4s.
• Reduced Electro-Plasma Explosion (ultimate ability) time to reach maximum power from 1s to 0.6s.

Hawkeye

• Slightly reduced the spread angle between Blast Arrows.
• Reduced Archer’s Focus triggering distance from 60 meters to 40 meters and maximum additional damage from 80 to 70.

Hela

• Reduced base health from 275 to 250.

Magik

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

Moon Knight

• Increased talons generated by Hand of Khonshu (ultimate ability) from 10 to 14.
• Increased explosion radius of each talon from 4 meters to 5 meters.

Namor

• Adjusted throwing feel of Monstro Spawn and Frozen Spawn for better accuracy.

Psylocke

• Dance of the Butterfly (ultimate ability) now checks for barriers.

The Punisher

• Slightly reduced the spread of Deliverance and Adjudication.

Scarlet Witch

• Increased Chaos Control’s fixed damage from 50/s to 60/s.
• Reduced percentage damage per second from 5% to 3%.
• Increased Chthonian Burst’s projectile damage from 30 to 35.

Storm

• Increased Wind Blade projectile speed from 100m/s to 150m/s and left-click damage from 50 to 55.
• Increased Bolt Rush damage from 70 to 80.
• Increased Omega Hurricane (ultimate ability) bonus health from 350 to 450, with a gradual reduction at 100 per second post-use.

Squirrel Girl

• Added new effect to Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami (ultimate ability): squirrels now target the nearest enemy.
• Reduced squirrel tsunami health from 600 to 300.

Winter Soldier

• Increased bonus health from Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage from 30 to 40.
• Increased Roterstern’s projectile damage from 70 to 75.
• Reduced area damage from 70 to 65 and damage decay from 65% at 40 meters to 60%.
• Increased base health from 250 to 275.

Wolverine

• Increased base health from 300 to 350.
• Reduced damage reduction from Undying Animal from 50% to 40%.

Vanguard

Captain America

• Reduced shield restoration delay after Living Legend from 3s to 2s.
• Reduced Liberty Rush cooldown from 12s to 10s.
• Increased base health from 650 to 675.
• Reduced Freedom Charge (ultimate ability) energy cost from 3400 to 3100.
• Reduced additional health per second after release from 110 to 100.

Doctor Strange

• Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom, reducing to 70% at 8 meters.
• Slightly decreased Shield of the Seraphim recovery rate from 80/s to 70/s.

Thor

• Increased base health from 500 to 525.
• Added immunity to control effects during God of Thunder (ultimate ability).

Hulk

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

Venom

• Increased Symbiotic Resilience bonus health ratio from 1 to 1.2.
• Increased Feast of the Abyss (ultimate ability) base damage from 40 to 50.

Strategist

Cloak & Dagger

• Reduced Dagger Storm cooldown from 15s to 12s.
• Increased Eternal Bond (ultimate ability) dashes from 3 to 4.

Jeff the Land Shark

• Adjusted It’s Jeff! (ultimate ability) range to a 10m radius, 5m high cylindrical spell field.
• Increased Joyful Splash healing from 140/s to 150/s.

Luna Snow

• Increased interval for switching between healing and damage in Fate of Both Worlds from 0.1s to 0.5s.

Mantis

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

Rocket Raccoon

• Increased Repair Mode healing from 60 per/s to 70 per/s.

Team-Up Abilities

Hawkeye – Black Widow

• Reduced Hawkeye’s season bonus from 20% to 15%.

Hela – Thor – Loki

• Reduced Hela’s season bonus from 20% to 15%.

Luna Snow – Namor

• Increased Frozen Spawn damage from 25 to 27.
• Increased Frozen Spawn slowing effect from 25% to 30%.
• Increased berserk state Frozen Spawn damage from 16 to 18.

Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier

• Reduced Ammo Invention cooldown from 45s to 40s.

Scarlet Witch – Magneto

• Increased Metallic Fusion projectile damage from 55 to 60.
• Increased Metallic Fusion spell field damage from 30 to 35.

Thor – Storm – Captain America

• Reduced Charged Gale cooldown from 20s to 15s.
• Increased Charged Gale damage from 50 to 55.