Marvel Rivals Receives Pre-Season 1 Balance Patch with Buffs and Nerfs
NetEase has deployed a balance patch for Marvel Rivals ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. This update features adjustments to various characters, addressing community feedback and preparing the game for the upcoming season's significant changes. The patch includes nerfs, buffs, and modifications to team-up abilities, impacting gameplay across all hero categories.
Marvel Rivals, a popular hero-shooter, has quickly gained traction since its late 2024 release. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay elements (payloads, capture points, and unique abilities), has resonated with players. Season 1, focused on the Fantastic Four, promises further expansion, but this pre-emptive balance patch ensures a smoother launch.
The patch extensively revises hero abilities:
Duelists: Several Duelists received adjustments. Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch experienced minor nerfs, while Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, including health increases and reduced cooldown times. A significant buff to Storm's abilities is particularly noteworthy, addressing player concerns about her effectiveness. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and Wind Blade projectile speed increased from 100m/s to 150m/s.
Vanguards: Vanguards like Venom, Thor, and Captain America also received buffs. Captain America and Thor received health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage increased.
Strategists: The Strategist category saw adjustments to Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon. Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown reduced, Jeff's Joyful Splash healing increased, and Rocket Raccoon's repair mode improved.
Team-Up Abilities: Finally, various team-up abilities were tweaked. Some passive abilities and offensive/defensive options were adjusted, with several cooldown reductions and percentage-based bonus adjustments. For instance, Hawkeye and Black Widow's team-up bonus decreased, as did Hela, Thor, and Loki's. Other team-ups, such as Rocket Raccoon, The Punisher, and Winter Soldier, saw cooldown reductions.
Detailed Patch Notes: (The full detailed patch notes follow, mirroring the provided text. Due to formatting limitations, they are presented as a continuous block of text instead of a table.)
Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes
Duelist
Black Panther: Reduce Spirit Rend's additional self-health from 40 to 30, and the upper limit from 120 to 75.
Black Widow: Increase Edge Dancer's range to 5 meters (from 3); reduce Fleet Foot recovery time to 4s (from 12s); reduce Electro-Plasma Explosion power-up time to 0.6s (from 1s).
Hawkeye: Slightly reduce Blast Arrow spread; reduce Archer’s Focus triggering distance to 40 meters (from 60) and maximum damage bonus to 70 (from 80).
Hela: Reduce base health from 275 to 250.
Magik: Increase Umbral Incursion damage (Darkchild form) from 115 to 135.
Moon Knight: Increase Hand of Khonshu talons to 14 (from 10); increase talon explosion radius to 5 meters (from 4).
Namor: Adjust Monstro and Frozen Spawn throwing mechanics for improved accuracy.
Psylocke: Dance of the Butterfly now checks for barriers.
The Punisher: Slightly reduce Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
Scarlet Witch: Increase Chaos Control fixed damage to 60/s (from 50/s); reduce percentage damage to 3% (from 5%); increase Chthonian Burst projectile damage to 35 (from 30).
Storm: Increase Wind Blade speed to 150m/s (from 100m/s) and left-click damage to 55 (from 50); increase Bolt Rush damage to 80 (from 70); increase Omega Hurricane bonus health to 450 (from 350), now decaying at 100 per second.
Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target the nearest enemy; reduce squirrel health to 300 (from 600).
Winter Soldier: Increase Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage bonus health to 40 (from 30); increase Roterstern projectile damage to 75 (from 70); reduce area damage to 65 (from 70) and damage decay to 60% at 40 meters (from 65%); increase base health to 275 (from 250).
Wolverine: Increase base health to 350 (from 300); reduce Undying Animal damage reduction to 40% (from 50%).
Vanguard
Captain America: Reduce Living Legend shield restoration delay to 2s (from 3s); reduce Liberty Rush cooldown to 10s (from 12s); increase base health to 675 (from 650); reduce Freedom Charge energy cost to 3100 (from 3400); reduce self-healing to 100/s (from 110/s).
Doctor Strange: Add damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness/Gamma Maelstrom (70% at 8 meters); slightly decrease Shield of the Seraphim recovery rate to 70/s (from 80/s).
Thor: Increase base health to 525 (from 500); add immunity to control effects during God of Thunder.
Hulk: Reduce Indestructible Guard shield value (Hero Hulk) to 200 (from 250).
Venom: Increase Symbiotic Resilience bonus health ratio to 1.2 (from 1); increase Feast of the Abyss damage to 50 (from 40).
Strategist
Cloak & Dagger: Reduce Dagger Storm cooldown to 12s (from 15s); increase Eternal Bond dashes to 4 (from 3).
Jeff the Land Shark: Adjust It’s Jeff! range to a 10m radius, 5m high cylinder; increase Joyful Splash healing to 150/s (from 140/s).
Luna Snow: Increase Fate of Both Worlds switch interval to 0.5s (from 0.1s).
Mantis: Reduce Nature’s Favor movement boost to 1.5m/s (from 2.5m/s).
Rocket Raccoon: Increase Repair Mode healing to 70 per/s (from 60 per/s).
Team-Up Abilities
Hawkeye – Black Widow: Reduce Hawkeye's season bonus to 15% (from 20%).
Hela – Thor – Loki: Reduce Hela's season bonus to 15% (from 20%).
Luna Snow – Namor: Increase Frozen Spawn damage to 27 (from 25); increase slow effect to 30% (from 25%); increase berserk state damage to 18 (from 16).
Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier: Reduce Ammo Invention cooldown to 40s (from 45s).
Scarlet Witch – Magneto: Increase Metallic Fusion projectile damage to 60 (from 55); increase spell field damage to 35 (from 30).
Thor – Storm – Captain America: Reduce Charged Gale cooldown to 15s (from 20s); increase Charged Gale damage to 55 (from 50).
