As Marvel Rivals approaches the midpoint of its first season, with a significant balance patch scheduled for release on February 21, 2025. This update aims to refine hero abilities, buff those who need it, and cut back on some power from the best heroes in the game. The notes have been leaked on NetEase’s Chinese Marvel Rivals platform, but since then have been taken down – below, you can find all the proposed changes to the hero shooter.
Contents
Marvel Rivals Season 1 Patch 2
Vanguard Adjustments
Venom
- Frenzied Arrival’s knockup effect has been modified from a vertical to an inward trajectory at a 75° angle, enhancing crowd control by drawing enemies closer.
- Feast of the Abyss’ Energy requirement reduced from 2,800 to 2,500, allowing for more frequent use of this powerful ability.
Captain America
- Absolute Will is now usable during jumps, providing increased defensive versatility.
- Vibranium Energy Shield’s projectile speed increased from 60 m/s to 80 m/s; ricochet speed after hitting increased from 100 m/s to 150 m/s.
- Freedom Charge’s Energy requirement reduced from 3,100 to 2,800.
- Sentinel Strike’s throwing part has been detached from the hitting part, and using it in the air now doesn’t trigger Super-Soldier Slam.
Thor
- Rune Awakening’s global cooldown period after the skill’s duration ends have been removed, allowing for smoother transitions between abilities.
Groot
- Thornlash Wall’s deployment distance has been increased from 15 meters to 18 meters
Magneto
- Iron Volley’s damage has been increased from 35 to 40
- Metallic Curtain’s Energy cost has been increased from 50 to 65 per second, while the maximum duration has been reduced from 2 seconds to 1.5 seconds.
Doctor Strange
- Base Health has been reduced from 650 to 600.
These changes should bring Captain America closer to the meta. With a more fluid gameplay loop and some extra tools, he can be the diver his team needs. Alongside his changes, some of the best tanks in the game, Doctor Strange and Magneto have been brought down a peg, but Magneto got some compensation buffs for his damage.
Duelist Adjustments
Iron Fist
- Adjusted damage values across multiple Jeet Kune Do stages, reducing overall output.
- Yat Jee Chung Kuen now deals 1.7% of enemy max health per hit while damage per hit is reduced.
- Meditation additional health cap increased from 50 to 150, with new 25/sec decay rate after skill ends.
- Yat Jee Chung Kuen blocked damage conversion cap increased from 150 to 200.
- Base health increased from 250 to 300.
Mister Fantastic
- Stretch Freely radius increased from 2.5m to 5m, with new knockback effect that knocks enemies outside of the area. The charge recovery time has also been increased from 8s to 10s.
- Brainiac Bounce’ spell field damage increased from 50 to 70, but the energy cost will be increased from 2800 to 3400 with new damage decay at 3 meters, decaying to a minimum of 50 at 10 meters.
Iron Man
- Increased Repulsor Beam damage in both normal and Armor Overload states. Normal damage increased from 120/s to 140/s, Armor Overload from 180/s to 190/s.
Hawkeye
- Base health increased from 250 to 275.
- Blast Arrow’s projectile damage reduced from 20 to 15, spell field damage increased from 25 to 32.
- Crescent Slash’s cooldown reduced from 15s to 12s.
- His Ultimate, Hunter’s Sight drawing and charge speed increased, magnification increased from 1.2 to 1.35.
Storm
- Wind Blade damage decay at 30 meters increased from 70% to 60%.
- Weather Control’s Thunder mode self-buff reduced from 16% to 12%, team buff increased from 8% to 10%. The enhanced version of Thunder mode has also been nerfed, only giving a 25% boost from 30%.
Star-Lord
- Increased Rocket Propulsion max energy from 1200 to 1800, enhancing mobility.
Scarlet Witch
- Her ultimate, Reality Erasure now grants 100 additional health, decaying at 50/sec after skill ends.
Spider-Man
- Web Grenade charge time reduced from 3s to 2.5s.
Moon Knight
- Slowed Hand of Khonshu’s fall speed, but now every hit deals 150 damage from 75 – however, the initial 75 damage in the center is gone.
- Adjusted damage mechanics, increasing Khonsu’s Fist damage from 75 to 150 per hit.
Black Widow
- Increased Red Room Rifle magazine size from 8 to 15.
- Her Ultimate, Electro-Plasma Explosion enemy slow effect reduced from 80% to 55%, with a new enemy hit effect.
Magik
- Magic Sword Slash base damage lowered from 45 to 40.
- Demon’s Rage damage per second reduced from 80 per second to 72 per second.
- Dark Child energy cost reduced from 3700 to 3400.
Hela
- Soul Drain damage decay ratio at 30m increased from 70% to 80%, improving mid-to-long-range pressure.
As the Duelist class is the most populous in Marvel Rivals, the DPS heroes got the most changes. With some QoL adjustments to picks like Scarlet Witch, some nerfs to stronger picks such as Moon Knight and Magik, and some buffs to characters like Black Widow, we should see a shift in what Duelists are picked in both casual and competitive play.
Strategist Adjustments
Adam Warlock
- Quantum Magic damage increased from 55 to 60; damage decay at 40m raised from 50% to 60%.
- Soul Link healing effect on linked heroes increased from 10/s to 15/s.
Cloak & Dagger
- Their Ultimate, Eternal Bond’s energy cost has been increased from 3400 to 4000. Single-stage duration reduced from 10s to 8s; interval between stages lowered from 1s to 0.67s. Healing effect in each stage no longer stacks, applying only once when multiple stages overlap. Camera control is now unlocked during Light and Shadow release.
- Terror Cape’s vulnerability ratio increased from 20% to 28%.
Luna Snow
- Energy requirement of Fate of Both Worlds, her Ultimate increased from 4000 to 4500.
Loki
- Energy cost of God of Mischief, Loki’s Ultimate Ability increased from 3400 to 4000.
- Mystical Missile magazine capacity increased from 10 to 12.
Mantis
- Soul Resurgence’s additional health cap lowered from 100 to 75.
Invisible Woman
- Her Ultimate skill, Invisible Boundary now has an energy cost of 4300 from 4000.
Invisible Woman has been a staple ever since she and her husband has been added to the game, so she has been knocked down a peg alongside picks such as Cloak&Dagger and Luna Snow. With his buff, Loki could be in the spotlight more, but his unique playstyle still makes him a situational pick.
Team-Up Adjustments
Gamma Charge (Hulk, Iron Man and Doctor Strange)
- Iron Man’s Repulsor Beam (Gamma Overload) damage decreased from 220/s to 200/s.
- Synergy core health bonus for Hulk reduced from 150 to 100.
Psionic Disc (Psylocke, Magik and Black Panther)
- Riding Psylocke flashback time reduced from 5s to 3s.
- Wakanda Hitchhike flashback time reduced from 5s to 3s. Health-to-blue armor conversion ratio increased from 0.5 to 0.8.
Full Moon (Cloak&Dagger and Moon Knight)
- Looking at the Moon now provides 25/second healing within its range.
Symbiote Bond (Venom, Peni Parker and Spider-Man)
- Spider-Man’s Repulse Suit duration reduced from 4s to 1s, 50% damage reduction removed, and a new invincibility effect added.
- Peni Parker’s Repulse Suit duration reduced from 4s to 2s, 50% damage reduction removed, and a new invincibility effect added.
Frozen Chi (Luna Frost and Iron Fist)
- South Wind Returns healing increased from 50 to 75, and enemy slow effect increased from 20% to 30%.
Gamma Charge was among the best Team-Ups in Marvel Rivals – an integral part of the hero shooter. In turn, the trio of Psylocke, Magik, and Black Panther have been buffed, so if divecomps become a staple in the meta, we could see these three picked together!
Overall, the second patch of Season 1 of Marvel Rivals tries to shake up the meta, but the leaks show that NetEase don’t want to stir the pot that hard. The update should drop on the 21st of February, and all nerfs, and buffs are subject to change until they are live – however, the next period of Marvel Rivals should look something like this!
