Marvel Rivals
News
The Marvel Rival developers are shaking up the meta ahead of Season 1 with numerous buffs and nerfs.
As Marvel Rivals Season 0 comes to an end and Season 1 debuts on Jan. 10, NetEase Games has announced all the buffs and nerfs applied to heroes.
This is the first balance patch in Marvel Rivals since the hero shooter’s official release in December 2024. Everyone has been waiting for this update now that the developers had one month to look at the numbers and collect players' feedback.
That said, it comes as no surprise that Hela and Hawkeye were among the heroes hit with the nerf hammer ahead of Marvel Rivals Season 1. They had been dealing too much damage, and players clearly abused their abilities throughout Season 0.
The Hawkeye and Hela nerfs are an attempt to give other ranged heroes like Black Widow their time in the spotlight. As for buffs, Marvel Rivals chose to enhance the abilities of Storm and Wolverine, which were too much of a niche pick in Season 0.
Of course, the developers made adjustments to classes beyond Duelist, most notably buffing mobile Vanguards like Captain America and Venom so they have more sustainability.
The developers also adjusted the Strategists, mainly toning down Luna Snow’s strong ultimate and buffing Cloak and Dagger’s healing capability.
There are also characters who have been both buffed and nerfed such as Doctor Stranger, Jeff the Land Shark, and Winter Soldier.
These balance changes will go live after the maintenance period scheduled between Jan. 9 at 11 p.m PST and Jan. 10 at 1:10 a.m PST.
Here are all the buffs, nerfs, and team-up changes for Marvel Rivals Season 1.
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Heroes buffed for Marvel Rivals Season 1
Black Widow (Duelist)
Natasha was very much in need of optimization when evaluating the release experience of her abilities as well as a slightly increase to the threat of her ultimate ability,
Captain America (Vanguard)
Steve will receive some enhanced survivability, allowing more frequent entering and exiting of the combat.
Cloak and Dagger (Strategist)
Ty and Tandy will receive an increase to their healing capability as well as an expansion to the coverage area of their ultimate ability.
Doctor Strange (Vanguard)
The developers will be reducing the threat range and increasing the defense window of the Sorcerer Supreme.
Jeff the Land Shark (Strategist)
The game will be adjusting the range for his ultimate ability so it better fits the warning marker. In addition, the game will be increasing his healing capability.
Magik (Duelist)
The Queen of Limbo needed an increase to her threat after unleashing her ultimate ability.
Moon Knight (Duelist)
The Hand of Khonshu will receive a slight increase to the threat of his ultimate ability.
Namor (Duelist)
The developers will be optimizing the throwing feel of Namor’s eggs.
Rocket can use an enhancement to his healing capability.
Scarlet Witch (Duelist)
The developers will be increasing Wanda’s combat strength when she’s facing Duelists or Strategists.
Squirrel Girl (Duelist)
We’re increasing the threat of Doreen and her furry friends in their ultimate ability.
Storm (Duelist)
The Weather Witch needed an overall increase to her damage capability; We’re also optimizing the feel of her left-click projectile and the release experience of her ultimate ability.
We’re slightly increasing the damage capability of Frank’s weapons.
Thor (Vanguard)
The God of Thunder could use some slightly increased survivability and improved the success rate to his ultimate ability.
Venom (Vanguard)
With increased survivability and the threat of his ultimate ability, the symbiote menace will strike fear into the backlines of all enemy teams.
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Winter Soldier (Duelist)
The game will be adjusting Bucky by decreasing his long-range combat strength and increasing his survivability in medium-close range combat.
Wolverine (Duelist)
Logan will receive an increase to basic combat strength, but a slight decrease to the additional survivability after activating Undying Animal.
We’re slightly decreasing T’Challa’s combat survivability.
The game will be reducing the threat range and increasing the defense window of the Sorcerer Supreme.
Hawkeye (Duelist)
The game will be decreasing the medium-long range damage capability, reducing the threatening combat radius, and slightly improving the close combat resistance for the avenging archer.
Hela (Duelist)
The Goddess of Death has been a menace and the game will be slightly decreasing her combat strength.
Hulk (Vanguard)
Dr. Banner has been dominant, but some decreased sustained combat capability upon entering the battlefield will bring him more in line with other Vanguards.
The game will be adjusting the range for his ultimate ability so it now better fits the warning marker. In addition, the game will be increasing his healing capability.
Luna Snow (Strategist)
While we’ve enjoyed her dropping the bass, we’ve made adjustments to Luna’s ultimate ability to prevent players from abusing its healing capabilities.
Psylocke (Duelist)
The game will be providing more options for other heroes to counter the demon slayer’s ultimate.
Mantis (Strategist)
The game will be making Mantis a bit less fleet-footed, reducing her roaming support capability.
Nerfs and buffs to team-up abilities for Marvel Rivals Season 1
Hawkeye - Black Widow
To further tone down Hawkeye’s oppression, the game will be reducing his seasonal buff.
Hela - Thor - Loki
Much like Hawkeye, Hela’s overwhelming power will be receiving a slight reduction.
Luna Snow - Namor
The game will be increasing the threat of Namor’s Frozen Spawn.
One of Rocket’s best tools will be available more often!
Scarlet Witch - Magneto
A bit underwhelming, the damage capability of this father-daughter Team-Up ability will be enhanced.
Thor - Storm - Captain America
The game will be enhancing the damage capability of Storm’s side of this Team-Up ability.
This should be the latest nerfs and buffs until Marvel Rivals Season 1 hits the halfway point unless the additions of Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman break the game.
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That’s everything you need to know about the latest Marvel Rivals buffs and nerfs. Stay tuned to esports.gg for moreMarvel Rivalsnews.
