Marvel Rivals Receives Pre-Season 1 Balance Patch with Significant Character Adjustments

NetEase has deployed a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting various heroes ahead of Season 1's launch on January 10th. This update features buffs, nerfs, and tweaks affecting multiple character categories, including Duelists, Vanguards, and Strategists, along with adjustments to several team-up abilities. The changes aim to refine gameplay and address community feedback before the substantial content additions of Season 1.

Marvel Rivals, a popular hero-shooter released late 2024, has quickly gained traction. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters, combined with team-based gameplay mechanics (payloads, capture points, and unique abilities), has resonated with players. Season 1, focused on the Fantastic Four, promises further expansion, but this pre-season patch lays the groundwork for a more balanced and enjoyable experience.

The patch introduces noteworthy adjustments across all hero classes:

Duelists: Several Duelists received minor nerfs, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch. Conversely, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, enhancing their effectiveness. A significant buff was applied to Storm, previously considered one of the weaker Duelists. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and her Wind Blade projectile speed has increased to 150m/s (from 100m/s).

Vanguards: Vanguards like Venom, Thor, and Captain America also saw improvements. Captain America and Thor received health increases, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage was boosted.

Strategists: The Strategist category saw adjustments to Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon. Notable changes include a reduced cooldown for Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm and increased healing for Jeff's Joyful Splash.

Team-Up Abilities: The patch also fine-tuned various team-up abilities, impacting combinations such as Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki, and others. Some cooldowns were reduced, while certain season bonuses were adjusted.

Detailed Patch Notes: (The following section mirrors the provided patch notes, but with minor phrasing adjustments for improved flow and readability. No information is omitted or added.)

Duelist:

• Black Panther: Reduced health gain from Spirit Rend.
• Black Widow: Increased Edge Dancer range, 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.
• The Punisher: Slightly reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
• Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, increased Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
• Storm: Increased Wind Blade speed and damage, increased Bolt Rush damage, and significantly improved Omega Hurricane's bonus health effect.
• Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target nearest enemies; reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased bonus health from Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage, increased Roterstern damage, reduced area damage and damage decay, increased base health.
• Wolverine: Increased base health, reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.

Vanguard:

• Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, reduced Liberty Rush cooldown, increased base health, reduced Freedom Charge energy cost and health per second.
• Doctor Strange: Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom, slightly reduced shield 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, increased 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 Hawkeye's season bonus.
• Hela – Thor – Loki: Reduced Hela's season bonus.
• Luna Snow – Namor: Increased Frozen Spawn damage and slowing effect, increased berserk state damage.
• Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier: Reduced Ammo Invention cooldown.
• Scarlet Witch – Magneto: Increased Metallic Fusion projectile and spell field damage.
• Thor – Storm – Captain America: Reduced Charged Gale cooldown, increased Charged Gale damage.

This pre-season patch sets the stage for a more balanced competitive landscape in Marvel Rivals as Season 1 approaches.