Summary
Developer NetEase has released a new balance patch forMarvel Rivalsahead of the game’s brand-new season later this week. The patch includes nerfs, buffs, and other changes to various characters, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Namor, and Psylocke. This givesMarvel Rivalsplayers quite a few things to figure out as they brace for Season 1, which will make significant changes of its own.
Released at the tail end of 2024,Marvel Rivalshas quickly become one of the most popular new releases in recent memory, breathing new life into the ever-crowded hero-shooter genre. Filled with iconic characters,Marvel Rivals' impressive roster is just one piecce of the puzzle, with the game featuring the hallmarks of a team-oriented shooter, complete with payloads, capture points, and powerful abilities. This roster will grow with the release ofMarvel RivalsSeason 1, which is all about The Fantastic Four. However, ahead of this update’s release, NetEase has dropped a balance patch that players won’t want to miss.
There’s a lot to go over inMarvel Rivals' sprawling new patch, which makes changes to every hero category in the game. Starting withMarvel Rivals' selection of Duelists, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch have all received small nerfs. However, characters like Black Widow, Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier have all received buffs, ranging from health boosts to reduced effect cooldowns. Perhaps the most welcome change is a buff to Storm’s abilities, who has been considered one of the least effective Duelists inMarvel Rivalsup to this point. Now, the X-Men fighter’s Bolt Rush deals 80 damage instead of 80, with Storm’s Wind Blade projectile speed getting boosted from 100m/s to 150m/s.
Venom, Thor, and Captain America,who are all Vanguards inMarvel Rivals, have received buffs of their own. Both Captain America and Thor have had their health increased, with Venom seeing an increase in his Feast of the Abyss damage. Capping things off withMarvel Rivals' Strategist selection, several changes have been made to Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon. Cloak & Dagger has had their Dagger Storm cooldown decreased from 15 seconds to just 12, with Jeff seeing an increase in the healing of his Joyful Splash from 140/s to 150/s. Rocket Raccoon’s repair mode has been raised to 70 per/s from its original 60 per/s.
To end the patch, several other tweaks have been made to thevarious team-up abilities presented inMarvel Rivals, which are essentially extra abilities that are activated if players pick certain heroes in a given match. Some of them are passive, while some actually grant players an extra offensive or defensive option. Hawkeye and Black Widow team-ups, along with Hela, Thor, and Loki team-ups, have all had theirMarvel Rivalsseason bonuses reduced to 15%. Certain cooldowns on team-ups between Rocket Raccoon, The Punisher, and Winter Soldier have decreased, as have ones between Thor Storm and Captain America.
Marvel Rivals
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
