Marvel Rivals Season 1 Gameplay Updates Unveiled

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Pre-Launch Balance Patch: Significant Character Adjustments

NetEase has unveiled a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting numerous heroes ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. This update features a mix of buffs and nerfs, addressing community feedback and fine-tuning the gameplay experience. The changes are extensive, affecting every hero category and several team-up abilities.

Marvel Rivals, a popular hero-shooter released late 2024, blends iconic Marvel characters with team-based gameplay mechanics. Season 1 introduces the Fantastic Four, but before that, NetEase is preparing the battlefield with this crucial balance adjustment.

Duelist Class Changes:

Several Duelists received adjustments. Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch experienced minor nerfs, while others like Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier received buffs, impacting health, cooldowns, and damage output. A notable highlight is the significant buff to Storm, previously considered underpowered. Her Bolt Rush now deals 80 damage (up from 70), and Wind Blade's projectile speed increased to 150m/s from 100m/s.

Vanguard Class Changes:

Vanguards also saw adjustments. Captain America and Thor received health boosts, and Venom's Feast of the Abyss damage was increased.

Strategist Class Changes:

The Strategist class saw various tweaks to Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon. These changes primarily focused on cooldown reductions and damage/healing increases.

Team-Up Ability Adjustments:

The patch also refined several team-up abilities. Some team-up bonuses were reduced (Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki), while others saw cooldown decreases or damage/effect increases (Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier, Thor/Storm/Captain America, Luna Snow/Namor, Scarlet Witch/Magneto).

Detailed Patch Notes:

The following is a summary of the specific numerical changes to each character and team-up ability:

Duelist:

• Black Panther: Reduced Vibranium Mark health bonus.
• Black Widow: Increased Edge Dancer range, reduced Fleet Foot and Electro-Plasma Explosion cooldowns.
• Hawkeye: Reduced Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus range and damage.
• Hela: Reduced base health.
• Magik: Increased Umbral Incursion damage.
• Moon Knight: Increased Hand of Khonshu talon count and explosion radius.
• Namor: Improved Monstro/Frozen Spawn throwing accuracy.
• Psylocke: Dance of the Butterfly now accounts for barriers.
• Punisher: Reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
• Scarlet Witch: Increased Chaos Control fixed damage, reduced percentage damage, increased Chthonian Burst damage.
• Storm: Increased Wind Blade speed and damage, increased Bolt Rush damage, and significantly improved Omega Hurricane's post-ability health bonus.
• Squirrel Girl: Improved Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami targeting, reduced squirrel health.
• Winter Soldier: Increased Bionic Hook/Tainted Voltage health bonus, increased Roterstern damage, reduced area damage and 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, 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, increased Feast of the Abyss 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 season bonus.
• Hela – Thor – Loki: Reduced season bonus.
• Luna Snow – Namor: Increased Frozen Spawn damage and slow.
• Rocket Raccoon – Punisher – Winter Soldier: Reduced Ammo Invention cooldown.
• Scarlet Witch – Magneto: Increased Metallic Fusion damage.
• Thor – Storm – Captain America: Reduced Charged Gale cooldown, increased damage.

This extensive balance patch aims to create a more balanced and engaging competitive experience in Marvel Rivals before the launch of Season 1.