Marvel Rivals will begin its first season proper later this week, and while Netease hasn't yet provided us with a full list of patch notes for us to peruse, it has detailed some notable balance changes coming in the update. Top line? Ranged duelists will receive the nerf hammer.
“As Season 0 draws to a close, our tireless analysis, along with player feedback, has revealed a rich tapestry of team compositions in regular matches, showcasing exciting diversity,” says lead combat designer Zhiyong in the latest Developer vision video. “However, as rank levels increase, shield and ranged hero combos seem to have become our first meta, with ranged Duelists particularly dominating rosters. In the first half of Season 1, we will be making adjustments of balance to keep the battles fresh and exciting!”
Marvel Rivals: Season 1 begins | Developer Vision Vol. 03 – YouTube
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As Zhiyong explains, the developers will “slightly tone down the prowess of formidable ranged Duelists like Hela and Hawkeye, ensuring all ranged heroes have a chance to shine. We're also buffing mobile-type Vanguards like Captain America and Venom by giving them power to rush into battle and protect his allies with renewed vigor.”
While we won't get all the details on the nerfs and buffs until we get closer to the launch of Season 1, there's more. “We're boosting the capabilities of heroes who shine in specialized compositions, like Wolverine and Storm, to ensure they are the cornerstone of unique strategies,” Zhiyong continues. “As for Cloak & Dagger, we are raising their potential, making them more formidable in various team builds. Additionally, the detection range of Jeff the Land Shark's ult will also be adjusted to better align with early warning signals.” .
This last point sounds like a fairly minor weakening of the amount of terror Jeff has brought to Marvel Rivals, but it should hopefully make dealing with his ultimate a little less frustrating. We'll soon get more details on the actual viability of each hero, as the developers confirm in the video that pick and win rates will be revealed at the end of Season 0, and these stats will continue to be revealed every half-season. .
Marvel Rivals Season 1 has “twice the playable content of a regular season” and adds maps, heroes, balance changes, and more.