Marvel Rivals Season 1 Updates: Enhanced Game Balance

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. The update features a mix of buffs and nerfs, addressing community feedback and re-shaping the meta. Key changes include significant adjustments to Duelists, Vanguards, Strategists, and team-up abilities.

The patch directly addresses player concerns regarding character balance. Several underperforming Duelists, such as Storm, have received welcome buffs. Storm's Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and her Wind Blade projectile speed has increased to 150m/s from 100m/s. Other Duelists receiving buffs include Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier, while Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch have received minor nerfs.

Vanguards also see adjustments. Captain America and Thor receive health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage has been increased. Strategists aren't left out; Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, and Rocket Raccoon all receive improvements to their abilities. These changes aim to create a more balanced and engaging gameplay experience.

Beyond individual character adjustments, the patch also fine-tunes various team-up abilities. These cooperative abilities, triggered by specific hero combinations, have undergone several tweaks to cooldowns and damage output. For example, the Hawkeye-Black Widow and Hela-Thor-Loki team-ups have seen their season bonuses reduced. Conversely, other team-ups, such as Rocket Raccoon-Punisher-Winter Soldier and Thor-Storm-Captain America, received cooldown reductions and damage increases.

The full patch notes detail the specific numerical changes to each character and ability. These extensive adjustments demonstrate NetEase's commitment to maintaining a dynamic and competitive environment in Marvel Rivals. The changes are sure to significantly impact gameplay strategies as players prepare for the arrival of Season 1.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes

Duelist

• Black Panther: Reduced Vibranium Marks self-health bonus.
• Black Widow: Increased Edge Dancer range and reduced Fleet Foot and Electro-Plasma Explosion recovery times.
• Hawkeye: Reduced Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus range and damage.
• 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.
• Punisher: Slightly reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
• Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, and increased Chthonian Burst projectile 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 bonus health, Roterstern projectile damage, and base health; reduced area damage and damage decay.
• Wolverine: Increased base health; reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.

Vanguard

• Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, Liberty Rush cooldown, and Freedom Charge energy cost and self-health bonus; increased base health.
• 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 bonus health ratio and Feast of the Abyss base 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 switching 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 and increased damage.