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 across all hero categories, promising a refreshed meta for players.
The patch addresses community feedback, notably bolstering underperforming characters. Storm, previously considered a weaker Duelist, receives significant enhancements to her Bolt Rush and Wind Blade abilities. Other Duelists like Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier also see improvements, including increased health and reduced cooldown times. Conversely, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch receive minor nerfs to balance their strengths.
Vanguards also receive adjustments. Captain America and Thor gain increased health, while Venom's Feast of the Abyss ability receives a damage boost. Strategists aren't left out, with changes to Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon aimed at refining their effectiveness. Rocket Raccoon's repair mode, for example, now boasts a higher repair rate.
The patch extends to team-up abilities, those activated when specific heroes are paired. Several team-up combinations see adjustments to cooldowns and season bonuses, including those involving Hawkeye/Black Widow, Hela/Thor/Loki, Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier, and Thor/Storm/Captain America.
Here's a summary of the key changes:
Duelists:
- Black Panther: Nerfed Vibranium Marks health regeneration.
- Black Widow: Buffed Edge Dancer range and Fleet Foot recovery.
- Hawkeye: Nerfed Blast Arrow spread and Archer’s Focus.
- Hela: Health reduced.
- Magik: Increased Umbral Incursion damage.
- Moon Knight: Increased Hand of Khonshu talon count and radius.
- Namor: Improved Monstro/Frozen Spawn throwing accuracy.
- Psylocke: Dance of the Butterfly now interacts with barriers.
- Punisher: Slightly reduced Deliverance and Adjudication spread.
- Scarlet Witch: Adjusted Chaos Control damage and Chthonian Burst projectile damage.
- Storm: Significantly buffed Wind Blade speed and damage, Bolt Rush damage, and Omega Hurricane bonus health.
- Squirrel Girl: Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami squirrels now target nearest enemies; health reduced.
- Winter Soldier: Increased bonus health, Roterstern damage, and base health; reduced area damage and damage decay.
- Wolverine: Increased health; reduced Undying Animal damage reduction.
Vanguards:
- Captain America: Reduced shield restoration delay, Liberty Rush cooldown, and Freedom Charge energy cost; increased health.
- Doctor Strange: Added damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness; reduced shield recovery rate.
- Thor: Increased health; added immunity to control effects during God of Thunder.
- Hulk: Reduced Indestructible Guard shield value.
- Venom: Increased Symbiotic Resilience bonus 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 season bonuses across multiple team-ups.
This pre-Season 1 patch sets the stage for a dynamic and balanced competitive landscape in Marvel Rivals. Players are encouraged to experiment with these changes and discover new strategies.
