Marvel Rivals Receives Pre-Season 1 Balance Patch with Significant Character Adjustments
NetEase has deployed a comprehensive balance patch for Marvel Rivals, impacting numerous heroes ahead of Season 1's January 10th launch. The update features a mix of buffs and nerfs, addressing community feedback and aiming to create a more balanced gameplay experience.
Marvel Rivals, a popular hero-shooter released late 2024, has quickly gained traction. Its roster of iconic Marvel characters and team-based mechanics have resonated with players. Season 1, focused on the Fantastic Four, is eagerly anticipated, but this pre-season patch offers significant adjustments to prepare players.
The patch extensively revises hero abilities across all classes:
Duelists: Several Duelists received minor nerfs, including Black Panther, Hawkeye, Hela, and Scarlet Witch. However, substantial buffs were given to others. Black Widow's abilities received range and cooldown improvements, while Magik, Moon Knight, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier also saw significant enhancements. A notable highlight is the substantial buff to Storm, previously considered underpowered, with increased damage and projectile speed for her key abilities.
Vanguards: Vanguards like Captain America, Thor, and Venom received buffs focusing on health and damage output. Captain America's shield restoration and ability cooldowns were improved, Thor gained increased health and immunity during his ultimate, and Venom's ultimate ability, Feast of the Abyss, now deals significantly more damage.
Strategists: The Strategist class also saw adjustments. Cloak & Dagger's cooldown was reduced, Jeff the Land Shark's healing increased, and Rocket Raccoon's repair capabilities were boosted. Other Strategists, including Luna Snow and Mantis, received targeted tweaks.
Team-Up Abilities: The patch also refined various team-up abilities, adjusting cooldowns and seasonal bonuses for several hero combinations. Some notable changes include reductions to Hawkeye/Black Widow and Hela/Thor/Loki team-up bonuses, along with cooldown decreases for Rocket Raccoon/Punisher/Winter Soldier and Thor/Storm/Captain America combinations.
Detailed Patch Notes: (The following section mirrors the original detailed patch notes, providing specific numerical changes to each character and ability. Due to length constraints, it is omitted here but is available in the original document.)
This extensive balance patch sets the stage for Season 1, promising a more refined and competitive Marvel Rivals experience. Players are encouraged to review the complete patch notes to fully understand the impact on their preferred heroes and strategies.
