Summary

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

NetEase has unveiled a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals just before the game's eagerly anticipated Season 1 kicks off on January 10. This patch introduces a series of nerfs, buffs, and other adjustments across multiple characters, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Namor, and Psylocke. As players gear up for the new season, which promises significant changes of its own, this patch offers plenty of new strategies to explore.

Launched towards the end of 2024, Marvel Rivals has quickly risen to prominence as one of the most exciting new entries in the hero-shooter genre. With its roster of iconic characters, the game not only brings fresh energy to the genre but also incorporates essential elements of team-based shooters such as payloads, capture points, and powerful abilities. Season 1 will introduce The Fantastic Four, adding even more depth to the game's already impressive lineup. However, before this update goes live, NetEase has rolled out a crucial balance patch that players should definitely take note of.

The new patch brings changes to every hero category in Marvel Rivals. Among the Duelists, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch have received slight nerfs, while Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier have been buffed with improvements like increased health and reduced cooldowns. A particularly notable update is the buff to Storm's abilities, previously considered one of the less effective Duelists. Storm's Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage instead of 70, and her Wind Blade projectile speed has been boosted from 100m/s to 150m/s.

Vanguards such as Venom, Thor, and Captain America have also seen enhancements. Both Captain America and Thor now have increased health, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage has been raised. For Strategists, adjustments have been made to Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon. Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm cooldown has been reduced from 15 seconds to 12, while Jeff's Joyful Splash healing has been increased from 140/s to 150/s. Rocket Raccoon's repair mode now heals at 70 per/s instead of the previous 60 per/s.

The patch also includes modifications to various team-up abilities in Marvel Rivals, which are special abilities activated when specific hero combinations are chosen. Some of these are passive, while others provide additional offensive or defensive options. Adjustments include reduced season bonuses for Hawkeye and Black Widow, Hela, Thor, and Loki team-ups, and decreased cooldowns for Rocket Raccoon, The Punisher, and Winter Soldier, as well as Thor, Storm, and Captain America team-ups.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes

Duelist

Black Panther

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

Black Widow

• Increase Edge Dancer's first effect range from 3 meters to 5 meters.
• Reduce Fleet Foot recovery time from 12s to 4s.
• Reduce Electro-Plasma Explosion's time to reach maximum power from 1s to 0.6s.

Hawkeye

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

Hela

• Reduce base health from 275 to 250.

Magik

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

Moon Knight

• Increase Hand of Khonshu talons from 10 to 14.
• Increase talon explosion radius from 4 meters to 5 meters.

Namor

• Improve throwing accuracy of Monstro Spawn and Frozen Spawn.

Psylocke

• Dance of the Butterfly now checks for barriers.

The Punisher

• Slightly reduce spread of Deliverance and Adjudication.

Scarlet Witch

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

Storm

• Increase Wind Blade projectile speed from 100m/s to 150m/s and left-click damage from 50 to 55.
• Increase Bolt Rush damage from 70 to 80.
• Increase Omega Hurricane bonus health from 350 to 450, and post-ability health diminishes at 100 per second.

Squirrel Girl

• Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now rush towards the nearest enemy instead of bouncing randomly.
• Reduce squirrel tsunami health from 600 to 300.

Winter Soldier

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

Wolverine

• Increase base health from 300 to 350.
• Reduce Undying Animal damage reduction ratio from 50% to 40%.

Vanguard

Captain America

• Reduce shield restoration delay after Living Legend from 3s to 2s.
• Reduce Liberty Rush cooldown from 12s to 10s.
• Increase base health from 650 to 675.
• Reduce Freedom Charge energy cost from 3400 to 3100 and additional health per second from 110 to 100.

Doctor Strange

• Add damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom, starting at 5 meters and reducing to 70% at 8 meters.
• Slightly decrease Shield of the Seraphim recovery rate from 80/s to 70/s.

Thor

• Increase base health from 500 to 525.
• Add immunity to control effects during God of Thunder.

Hulk

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

Venom

• Increase Symbiotic Resilience bonus health ratio per lost health point from 1 to 1.2.
• Increase Feast of the Abyss base damage from 40 to 50.

Strategist

Cloak & Dagger

• Reduce Dagger Storm cooldown from 15s to 12s.
• Increase Eternal Bond dashes from 3 to 4.

Jeff the Land Shark

• Adjust It’s Jeff! range to a 10m radius, 5m high cylindrical field.
• Increase Joyful Splash healing from 140/s to 150/s.

Luna Snow

• Increase Fate of Both Worlds switch interval between healing and damage from 0.1s to 0.5s.

Mantis

• Reduce Nature’s Favor movement boost from 2.5m/s to 1.5m/s.

Rocket Raccoon

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

Team-Up Abilities

Hawkeye – Black Widow

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

Hela – Thor – Loki

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

Luna Snow – Namor

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

Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier

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

Scarlet Witch – Magneto

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

Thor – Storm – Captain America

• Reduce Charged Gale cooldown from 20s to 15s.
• Increase Charged Gale damage from 50 to 55.