Marvel Rivals receives a pre-Season 1 balance patch from NetEase, addressing character balance and team-up abilities. The update, released before Season 1's January 10th launch, features buffs and nerfs across all hero categories.
The patch significantly impacts Duelists. While Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch received minor nerfs, Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, including health increases and cooldown reductions. A notable buff enhances Storm's abilities, addressing her previously low effectiveness. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage, and Wind Blade's projectile speed increases to 150m/s from 100m/s.
Vanguards also see adjustments. Captain America and Thor receive health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage is increased. Strategists receive various tweaks, including cooldown reductions for Cloak & Dagger's Dagger Storm and increased healing for Jeff the Land Shark's Joyful Splash. Rocket Raccoon's repair mode receives a boost.
Finally, the patch modifies several team-up abilities. Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki team-up bonuses are reduced to 15%, while cooldowns for other team-ups, including Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier and Thor/Storm/Captain America, are decreased. Specific changes to damage and effects are also implemented in several team-ups (Luna Snow/Namor, Scarlet Witch/Magneto).
Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes Summary:
Duelists:
- Black Panther: Nerfed Vibranium Marks health bonus.
- Black Widow: Buffed Edge Dancer range, Fleet Foot recovery, and Electro-Plasma Explosion power-up speed.
- Hawkeye: Nerfed Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus damage and range.
- Hela: Nerfed base health.
- Magik: Buffed Umbral Incursion damage.
- Moon Knight: Buffed 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: Adjusted Chaos Control damage and buffed Chthonian Burst damage.
- Storm: Significantly buffed Wind Blade speed and damage, Bolt Rush damage, and Omega Hurricane health bonus.
- Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target nearest enemy; reduced squirrel health.
- Winter Soldier: Buffed Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, Roterstern damage, and base health; slightly reduced area damage and damage decay.
- Wolverine: Buffed base health; slightly reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.
Vanguards:
- Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, Liberty Rush cooldown, and Freedom Charge energy cost; increased base health; reduced self-heal from Freedom Charge.
- 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 health ratio and Feast of the Abyss 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 adjustments to cooldowns and bonuses for specific team-ups.
