The cosmos is ever-expanding, and our balance team is working in overdrive! We're rolling out another massive wave of balance tweaks to Marvel Rivals. Hulk is seeing an adjustment to his irradiated muscles, Doctor Strange is reinforcing his mystic barriers, and our brand-new Regenerative Shields are officially entering the fray!
Let's dive into the patch notes and see how the meta is shifting!
ADJUSTMENTS
GLOBAL CHANGES
1) To perfectly sync with the massive gameplay changes introduced this season, we've once again adjusted the efficiency of Ultimate Ability energy generation. This ensures the overall rhythm of combat remains stable and exciting. The specific tweaks are:
- Vanguards & Duelists:
Reduce damage-to-energy conversion from 70% to 55%.
- Strategists:
Reduce healing-to-energy conversion from 75% to 60%.
Reduce damage-to-energy conversion from 75% to 55%.
2) For Season 9, we are officially introducing a brand-new type of Health: Regenerative Shields! Here's how they work:
- Regenerative Shields operate using the exact same logic as base Health. Any mechanic that relies on base Health (like percentage-based healing or percentage-based damage) will apply identically to Regenerative Shields. However, Regenerative Shields possess a powerful unique property: If you manage to avoid taking any damage for 5 seconds, your shields will automatically begin regenerating, fully recovering all chargeable shield points over the next 5 seconds! (For example, if you have a 300 Regenerative Shield pool, it recovers at 60/s. If you have a 150 Regenerative Shield pool, it recovers at 30/s.)
Hero Adjustments
The balance tweaks in this patch were primarily driven by two core factors:
- First, we evaluated every hero's overall performance during the Season 8.5 meta. To guarantee a baseline level of balance across the board, our primary focus was targeting heroes who were heavily overperforming or severely underperforming during that patch.
- Second, and most importantly, we conducted a comprehensive balance pass on every single hero based on the new Team-Up system. We calculated the raw strength of their new Team-Up effects and analyzed their playtest data in this wildly new meta.
Note: Because this patch isn't just about "fixing Season 8.5," you might notice that some heroes who were underperforming last season are still getting nerfed today. This is because, in our internal playtests, these specific heroes synergized so incredibly well with the new Team-Up system that they became utterly overpowered. We had to slightly reduce their baseline stats to ensure their overall gameplay experience, especially when paired with their Team-Up partner, remains fair and balanced. (For example, with the return of his Gamma Charge Team-Up with Hulk, Iron Man was slightly passing his absolute peak power levels! Therefore, we've slightly shaved down his baseline numbers to ensure he falls within acceptable balance parameters when utilizing that Team-Up).
We highly recommend reading these balance changes alongside the Team-Up Ability showcase videos and the detailed stat/effect breakdowns on our official website.
VANGUARD
Angela
Asgard's premier assassin is trading raw vitality for recovering shields, letting her slip in and out of the fight with renewed grace.
- Reduce base Health from 450 to 350. Add 200 Regenerative Shield.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 100 Bonus Health.
Captain America
Cap is getting the new Regenerative Shield to help him hold the line, but at the cost of some base tankiness.
- Reduce base Health from 600 to 300. Add 300 Regenerative Shield.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 100 Bonus Health. (Total Health reduced from 700 to 600).
Deadpool - Vanguard
We've slipped Wade a few extra bucks so he'd bother to actually aim those hand cannons and use his defensive gear properly.
- Increase Dual Desert Eagles - Vanguard single-shot damage from 34 to 36 (standard) and from 39 to 40 (upgraded).
- Deadpool In Your Area - Upgraded (Vanguard): Increase the Damage Reduction provided to allies from 20% to 25% and from 30% to 35% for Deadpool.
- Increase base Health from 450 to 500.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 50 Bonus Health.
Devil Dinosaur
Our prehistoric pal is beefing up his scales, making him an absolute terror to take down!
- Increase base Health from 750 to 850.
- Increase the critical hit damage reduction provided by Prehistoric Plating (Passive) from 50% to 60%.
- Increase the reduced Ultimate Energy gain for enemies damaging or allies healing Devil Dinosaur from 35% to 40%.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 100 Bonus Health.
Doctor Strange
The Sorcerer Supreme has spent some time studying the mystic arts of durability! We're padding Stephen's health and significantly fortifying the Shield of the Seraphim.
- Increase base Health from 575 to 650.
- Increase the shield value of Shield of the Seraphim from 700 to 850.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 100 Bonus Health.
- When Invisible Woman is selected as a Team-Up partner, Doctor Strange's Shield of the Seraphim gains an additional 150 shield value (Total 1000).
Groot
The Flora Colossus stands straighter as his own anchor to root himself firmly on the frontline!
- Increase base Health from 700 to 850.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 150 Bonus Health.
Hulk
"HULK SMASH... slightly less often!"
We're reshaping the Green Goliath's bulk. While his punches hit harder, his massive HP pool is getting trimmed and supplemented with the new Regenerative Shield.
- Increase Heavy Blow Damage from 40 to 45.
- Reduce base Health from 650 to 400. Add 300 Regenerative Shield.
- Increase the energy cost of Hulk Smash! (Ultimate Ability) from 3400 to 3700.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 100 Bonus Health. (Total Health reduced from 750 to 700).
Peni Parker
The SP//dr suit's core plating gets a minor adjustment to sync with the new Team-Up system.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 50 Bonus Health.
Rogue
Rogue's brawling power was a bit too oppressive. We're pulling back her damage reduction and burst potential.
- Reduce the Damage Reduction provided during Defensive Stance from 60% to 55%.
- Reduce the maximum bonus damage added to Southern Brawl at full energy from 90 to 75.
- Reduce base Health from 650 to 350. Add 225 Regenerative Shield (Total Health reduced from 650 to 575).
The Thing
It truly is Clobberin' Time! Ben's getting some extra survivability on his heavy swings, and we're tweaking his hitboxes to properly lock down launched targets.
- Increase Bonus Health cap provided by Stone Haymaker from 100 to 150.
- Slightly increase the vertical detection height of the anti-movement zone generated at the end of Yancy Street Charge to prevent Launched enemies from unexpectedly being able to use their movement abilities.
- Slightly reduce the backswing animation time when using Clobberin' Time (Ultimate Ability) immediately following Battle Blitz or Embattled Leap.
Thor
The God of Thunder is getting a jolt of agility and some fierce new shielding so he can bring the storm more effectively.
- Slightly increase the travel distance of an uncharged, quick-cast Storm Surge.
- Increase the damage of Hammer Throw from 45 to 50 on throw and increase the damage on return from 20 to 25.
Increase Bonus Health provided upon hit from 50 to 75.
- Reduce base Health from 600 to 300. Add 300 Regenerative Shield.
Venom
We are reeling in the symbiote's ravenous resilience to ensure he isn't quite so impossible to put down.
- Reduce base Health from 675 to 500. Add 250 Regenerative Shield.
- Remove the Team-Up Anchor 150 Bonus Health. (Total Health reduced from 825 to 750).
DUELIST
Black Cat
Felicia's luck is taking a swing! She's getting a massive boost to her payout odds, but she'll have to rely on her new shields to survive the heist!
- Reduce base Health from 275 to 150. Add 125 Regenerative Shield.
- Increase maximum Fortune cap from 1,000 to 1,200.
- Increase the odds of securing a high Fortune payout when using the Tablet of Destinies.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
Black Panther
The King of Wakanda swaps raw vitality for Vibranium-grade Regenerative Shields perfect for pouncing from the flanks.
- Reduce base Health from 275 to 150. Add 125 Regenerative Shield.
Cyclops
Scott was melting targets a bit too easily. We're dialing down his raw output and slowing his mobility so enemies have room to breathe.
- Reduce Optic Blast single-hit damage from 25 to 21.
- Reduce Ricochet Force damage from 80 to 70.
- Increase the cooldowns of Propulsion Burst and Optic Ascent from 12s to 15s.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
Daredevil
The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen gets some Regenerative Shielding, but needs to work a bit harder to take down the backline.
- Reduce base Health from 300 to 150. Add 150 Regenerative Shield.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
Deadpool – Duelist
The Merc with a Mouth’s bite becomes a little worse than his bark.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
Elsa Bloodstone
Our favorite monster hunter is packing more heat in her shotgun, ensuring no beast walks away from the brawl!
- Increase Double-Barrel Blaster ammo capacity from 8 to 12 shells.
- Increase Helix Advance cooldown from 10s to 11s.
- When Devil Dinosaur is selected as her Team-Up partner, increase Double-Barrel Blaster individual pellet damage from 4.5 to 5.
Hawkeye
Clint's arrows are flying faster and hitting harder when partially charged. They'll never see him coming.
- Slightly increase the damage scaling of Piercing Arrow while charging, though the maximum fully-charged damage remains unchanged. Increase Piercing Arrow's base projectile speed from 120m/s to 130m/s, and its maximum projectile speed from 180m/s to 195m/s.
Hela
The Goddess of Death extends her deadly reach, and her Nastrond Crow form is now fully unleashed!
- Increase Nightsword Thorn base damage from 70 to 80.
- Adjust the damage falloff from starting at 18m and reducing to 70% at 30m to starting at 18m and reducing to 75% at 35m.
- Astral Flock Adjustment: Hela can now fly freely in any direction while in Crow form.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 15% Damage Boost.
Human Torch
Johnny's tightening his fiery focus, meaning you'll need slightly better aim to roast your targets.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
Iron Man
Tony's new Team-Up synergies are so powerful we had to slightly dim the baseline glow on his Repulsors and Unibeam to keep things fair.
- Reduce the spell field damage of a single-handed Repulsor Blast from 50 to 45.
- Reduce the spell field damage of a dual-handed Repulsor Blast from 55 to 50.
While Armor Overdrive is active, reduce the Repulsor Blast spell field damage from 65 to 60.
- Reduce Unibeam (Armor Overdrive) damage from 190/s to 180/s.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
Magik
The Queen of Limbo gets the new Regenerative Shields treatment, letting her blink in and out of the fray with impunity.
- Reduce base Health from 250 to 150. Add 125 Regenerative Shield. (Total Health increased from 250 to 275).
Moon Knight
Khonshu demands more, so Marc is throwing sharper darts and working a bit harder to unleash his ultimate wrath.
- Increase Crescent Dart damage per hit from 23 to 25.
- Increase the energy cost of Hand of Khonshu (Ultimate Ability) from 2800 to 3100.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
Phoenix
Jean's fire gets a minor dimming, but her Ultimate is burning hotter than ever!
- Increase Endsong Inferno (Ultimate Ability) Explosion Damage from 140 to 150.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 10% Damage Boost.
Psylocke
The telepathic ninja hits harder from the shadows and synergizes flawlessly with her new telepathic peers.
- Increase Psionic Crossbow single-hit base damage from 12 to 13.
- Reduce base Health from 250 to 150. Add 100 Regenerative Shield.
- When Emma Frost is selected as her Team-Up partner, increase the Bonus Health granted to Psylocke upon hitting an enemy with Wing Shurikens from 10 to 15.
- When Cloak & Dagger are selected as her Team-Up partners, increase Psionic Crossbow single-hit base damage from 13 to 14.
Scarlet Witch
Wanda's chaos magic just got smoother, allowing her to snap out of projections with a lethal seal.
- Dark Seal can now be cast while Mystic Projection is active, though doing so will prematurely cancel the Mystic Projection.
Star-Lord
Peter Quill will have to dance a little faster now that we've taken away his extra on-demand padding.
- Remove the 25 Bonus Health gained upon using Stellar Shift.
- Reduce base Health from 250 to 150. Add 100 Regenerative Shield.
Storm
The weather goddess is summoning deadlier gusts to slice through the opposition.
- Increase Wind Blade base damage from 55 to 60.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Damage Boost.
The Punisher
Frank Castle's baseline arsenal is taking a tiny hit, but pairing him with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen creates a lethal combo.
- Reduce Adjudication damage per hit from 20 to 19.
- Reduce Deliverance damage per hit from 10 to 9.5.
- When Daredevil is selected as his Team-Up partner, increase Adjudication single-hit damage by 1 (from 19 to 20), and increase Deliverance single-hit damage by 0.5 (from 9.5 to 10).
STRATEGIST
Adam Warlock
The golden gladiator is bulkier and pairs beautifully with the robotic menace with whom he once shared a body.
- Increase base Health from 250 to 275.
- Reduce Cosmic Cluster projectile damage from 38 to 35.
- When Ultron is selected as his Team-Up partner, increase Quantum Magic ammo capacity from 15 to 25.
Cloak & Dagger
The duo's restorative light is shining brighter than ever across the entirety of their supportive kit.
- Increase Lightforce Dagger direct-hit healing from 12 to 15. Increase the lingering spell field healing from 20 to 25.
- Increase the one-time healing amount of Veil of Lightforce from 45 to 50.
- Increase Dagger Storm healing output from 45/s to 50/s.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 15% Healing Boost.
Deadpool – Strategist
It's Anchors Away for Mr. Pool!
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Healing Boost.
Gambit
Remy's throwing hot hands and healing hearts with a buff to his life-saving kinetic cards, but on the river comes a bonus removal.
- Increase Kinetic Cards single-hit healing output from 28 to 30.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Healing Boost.
Invisible Woman
Sue's psionic shields might be gone as a flat anchor buff, but her direct healing is packing a bigger punch.
- Increase the healing provided by an outgoing Orb Projection from 45 to 50, and the healing on the return from 35 to 40.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 15% Healing Boost.
Luna Snow
Seol Hee is stepping out of the Team-Up Anchor spotlight to focus on what she does best: keeping her team alive with chart-topping healing tunes!
- Remove the 10% Damage Boost from Number One Idol. Increase the Healing Boost from 10% to 20%.
- Increase the Healing Boost provided to an attached ally via Idol Aura from 35% to 40%.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 15% Healing Boost.
Mantis
Mantis is blooming with new potential! Her floral healing is receiving some incredible buffs when paired with the right Guardians.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 10% Healing Boost.
- When Star-Lord is selected as her Team-Up partner, enhance the healing output of Healing Flower from 10 + 2.5% of target's max Health/s to 15 + 3% of target's max Health/s.
- When Adam Warlock is selected as her Team-Up partner, the Nature's Favor passive effect is enhanced. After casting Natural Anger (and ONLY while Natural Anger is active), increase her self-healing from 12.5/s to 17.5/s.
Rocket Raccoon
Rocket is reeling back his ultimate's massive safety net, but he's compensating by making his Repair Mode even better at keeping his Vanguards alive.
- Increase the healing amount when a Repair Mode orb passes through an ally from 50 to 55.
- Increase the energy cost of C.Y.A. (Ultimate Ability) from 4000 to 4300. Add distance-based falloff logic to C.Y.A.: its Damage Boost and Bonus Health generation will begin decaying at 8m, maxing at a 60% reduction at 20m.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 5% Healing Boost.
Ultron
The age of Ultron is looking surprisingly supportive! His drones are now even better at patching up the meatbags on his team.
- Increase the area healing output of the Imperative: Firewall drones from 30/s to 35/s.
White Fox
Ami Han sacrifices some baseline healing to become even harder to take down when she lets the Kumiho loose!
- Increase Spirit Sanctuary cooldown from 12s to 15s.
- Remove Team-Up Anchor bonus 10% Healing Boost.
- Upon activating Kumiho Unleashed (Ultimate Ability), increase total Health from 900 to 1,200.
