As Marvel Rivals moves from Season 0 to Season 1, the game introduces various seasonal updates targeting character balance through buffs and nerfs. Out of the total 33 characters in the initial roster, 24 have experienced adjustments to their abilities, shaping both their individual effectiveness and their contributions to team formations. This guide highlights the changes made in Season 1, detailing how they can impact gameplay and strategies.
Vanguard Buffs and Nerfs in Season 1
| Character | Change Type | Change Description | Improved from Season 0? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain America | Buff | Cooldown for shield restoration has decreased from 3 seconds to 2. Liberty Rush cooldown is now 10 seconds instead of 12. Starting health increased from 650 to 675, while the energy required for Freedom Charge drops from 3400 to 3100, though the bonus health gain changes from 110 to 100 per second. | Yes |
| Doctor Strange | Nerf | Damage falloff for Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom activates at 5 meters, decreasing to 70% at 8 meters. The shield recovery rate for Shield of the Seraphim reduces from 80 to 70 per second. | Almost Same |
| Thor | Buff | Base health rises from 500 to 525. God of Thunder now grants immunity to control effects while in play. | Yes |
| Hulk | Nerf | The gamma shield value for Indestructible Guard decreases from 250 to 200. | Almost Same |
| Venom | Buff | Symbiotic Resilience enhances health gained when taking damage, from a ratio of 1 to 1.2. Feast of the Abyss’s base damage rises from 40 to 50. | Yes |
In Marvel Rivals, Vanguard characters function as tanks, with many performing admirably during Season 0. Mobile tanks like Venom and Captain America, however, needed balance. The adjustments made in Season 1 enhance their role and effectiveness significantly. Meanwhile, Doctor Strange, previously overpowered, now offers a more equitable gaming experience, aligning better with the competitive landscape.
Duelists Buffs and Nerfs in Season 1
| Character | Change Type | Change Description | Improved from Season 0? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Panther | Nerf | Health boost from refreshing Vibranium Marks through Spirit Rend reduced from 40 to 30, lowering the maximum possible bonus health from 120 to 75. | No |
| Black Widow | Buff | Edge Dancer’s radius expands from 3 meters to 5 meters. Fleet Foot’s stamina replenishment time drops from 12 seconds to 4 seconds, while the charge time for Electro-Plasma Explosion decreases from 1 second to 0.6 seconds. | Yes |
| Hawkeye | Nerf | Blast Arrows’ spread angle narrows for enhanced precision. Archer’s Focus activation range shortens from 60 meters to 40 meters, with maximum damage adjusted from 80 to 70. | No |
| Whole | Nerf | Base health decreases from 275 to 250, reducing her durability in combat. | No |
| Magic | Buff | Umbral Incursion damage while in Darkchild form increases from 115 to 135. | Yes |
| Moon Knight | Buff | Hand of Khonshu’s talons produced rises from 10 to 14, with an explosion radius increase from 4 meters to 5 meters. | Yes |
| Namor | Buff | Increased accuracy for both Monstro Spawn and Frozen Spawn, improving targeting capabilities. | Yes |
| Psylocke | Nerf | Ultimate ability Dance of the Butterfly is now blocked by shields like Magneto’s Metal Bulwark and Hulk’s Indestructible Guard. | Almost Same |
| The Punisher | Buff | Spread of Deliverance (Shotgun) becomes more precise. | Yes |
| Scarlet Witch | Buff | Fixed damage from Chaos Control increases from 50 to 60 per second, although percentage-based damage drops from 5% to 3%. Chthonian Burst’s projectile damage increases from 30 to 35. | Yes |
| Storm | Buff | Speed of Wind Blade projectiles rises from 100m/s to 150m/s; left-click damage goes from 50 to 55. Bolt Rush damage increases from 70 to 80, and Omega Hurricane’s bonus health rises from 350 to 450. | Yes |
| Squirrel Girl | Buff | Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami gains a new effect: after bouncing, squirrels now target the closest enemy. Health of the squirrel tsunami drops from 600 to 300. | Yes |
| Winter Soldier | Buff and Nerf | Bonus health from Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage rises from 30 to 40. Damage for Roterstern’s projectiles improves from 70 to 75, but area damage slightly decreases. | Almost Same |
| Wolverine | Buff | Base health grows from 300 to 350; damage reduction from Undying Animal moderately drops from 50% to 40%. | Yes |
Duelists, the largest character class within Marvel Rivals, were often underestimated due to a lack of balanced abilities. Season 1 addresses these concerns, enhancing characters like Storm, Wolverine, Black Widow, and Namor to improve gameplay enjoyment and viability. Previously dominant characters, such as Hela and Hawkeye, have been toned down to foster a more equitable combat environment, ensuring that high kill counts require skillful execution.
Strategist Buffs and Nerfs in Season 1
| Character | Change Type | Change Description | Improved from Season 0? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloak & Dagger | Buff | Cooldown for Dagger Storm shortens from 15 seconds to 12 seconds. Eternal Bond dashes increase from 3 to 4. | Yes |
| Jeff the Land Shark | Buff and Nerf | Range of It’s Jeff! changes from a 10-meter sphere to a cylinder, enhancing precision. Healing from Joyful Splash rises from 140 to 150 per second. | Almost Same |
| Luna Snow | Nerf | Healing and damage interval in Fate of Both Worlds extends from 0.1 seconds to 0.5 seconds. | Yes |
| Mantis | Nerf | Movement boost from Nature’s Favor decreases from 2.5m/s to 1.5m/s. | Yes |
| Rocket Raccoon | Buff | Healing provided by Repair Mode increases from 60 per second to 70 per second. | Yes |
While Strategist characters were mostly balanced in Season 0, slight tweaks have improved character efficiency, particularly for Jeff the Land Shark and Mantis. Cloak & Dagger have welcomed a much-needed addition to their ultimate ability, enhancing both their healing and damaging capabilities.
Interestingly, Loki remains unaffected in this season. His existing abilities were well-structured from the start, ensuring his continued effectiveness.
Team-Up Abilities Buffs and Nerfs in Season 1
| Team Up Heroes | Change Type | Change Description | Improved from Season 0? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkeye – Black Widow | Nerf | Season bonus for Hawkeye reduces from 20% to 15%. | No |
| Hela – Thor – Loki | Nerf | Hela’s season bonus drops from 20% to 15%. | No |
| Luna Snow – Namor | Buff | Damage from Frozen Spawn increases from 25 to 27; slowing effect enhances from 25% to 30% during its berserk phase. | Yes |
| Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier | Buff | Cooldown for Ammo Invention decreases from 45 seconds to 40 seconds. | Yes |
| Scarlet Witch – Magneto | Buff | Projectile damage from Metallic Fusion rises from 55 to 60; spell field damage increases from 30 to 35. | Yes |
| Thor – Storm – Captain America | Buff | Cooldown for Charged Gale reduces from 20 seconds to 15 seconds; damage increased from 50 to 55. | Yes |
For additional tips on Marvel Rivals, check out our guides, including how to interact with Bats the Ghost Dog, acquire the Invisible Woman’s Blood Shield Costume, or achieve Histrionic Perfection.
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