Marvel Rivals Reveals Season 1 Balance Changes

Marvel Rivals Receives Pre-Season 1 Balance Patch with Buffs and Nerfs

NetEase has deployed a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting various heroes ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. The update features adjustments to numerous characters, including significant buffs to previously underperforming heroes.

The patch, released late in 2024, addresses the balance across all hero categories. Duelists such as Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch received minor nerfs, while others like Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier gained enhancements, including increased health and reduced cooldown times. A notable buff affects Storm, whose Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage and Wind Blade boasts a faster projectile speed (150m/s from 100m/s).

Vanguards also received attention. Captain America and Thor experienced health increases, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage was boosted. Among Strategists, Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon all saw adjustments to their abilities, primarily focused on cooldown reductions and increased healing outputs.

The patch also includes refinements to several team-up abilities, impacting combinations such as Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki, and Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier, primarily through cooldown reductions and adjusted season bonuses. Specific changes to team-up abilities include increased damage and slow effects for Luna Snow/Namor and Scarlet Witch/Magneto. The Thor/Storm/Captain America team-up also received a cooldown reduction and damage increase.

Detailed Patch Notes:

Duelists:

• Black Panther: Nerfed Vibranium Marks health regeneration.
• Black Widow: Enhanced Edge Dancer range and reduced Fleet Foot and Electro-Plasma Explosion cooldowns.
• Hawkeye: Slightly reduced Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus range and damage.
• Hela: Reduced base health.
• Magik: Increased Umbral Incursion damage in Darkchild form.
• Moon Knight: Increased Hand of Khonshu talon count and explosion radius.
• Namor: Improved Monstro and Frozen Spawn throwing accuracy.
• Psylocke: Dance of the Butterfly now accounts for barriers.
• Punisher: Slightly reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
• Scarlet Witch: Adjusted Chaos Control damage and increased Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
• Storm: Significantly buffed Wind Blade speed and damage, and Bolt Rush damage; Omega Hurricane now provides a decaying health bonus.
• Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target the nearest enemy; reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage health bonuses, Roterstern damage, and base health; reduced area damage and damage decay.
• Wolverine: Increased base health; reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.

Vanguards:

• Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay and Liberty Rush cooldown; increased base health and 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.
• Venom: Increased Symbiotic Resilience health ratio and Feast of the Abyss base damage.

Strategists:

• 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: Various cooldown reductions and season bonus adjustments across multiple team-ups.

This balance patch aims to create a more competitive and enjoyable experience for Marvel Rivals players before the launch of Season 1 and its accompanying content.