Marvel Rivals patch has way more nerfs and buffs than we thought: A whopping 24 heroes are changing this week

GamesThird Person ShooterMarvel RivalsMarvel Rivals patch has way more nerfs and buffs than we thought: A whopping 24 heroes are changing this weekWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Magneto

Earlier this week, NetEase said Marvel Rivals season 1 patch would target key heroes for nerfs and buffs, including dominant long-range duelists Hela and Hawkeye. Turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg: theupcoming patchwill nerf or buff a total of 24 heroes (over two-thirds of the roster) and adjust several seasonal bonuses.

First, the highlights. Here’s how Marvel Rivals' most popular heroes are changing in season 1:

Hela🔽The Goddess of Death has been a menace and we’ll slightly decreasing [sic] her combat strength.-Reduce base health from 275 to 250

Hawkeye🔽🔼We’ll be decreasing the medium-long range damage capability, reducing the threatening combat radius, and slightly improving the close combat resistance for the avenging archer.

Slightly reduce the spread angle between every two Blast Arrows.
Reduce the triggering distance of passive ability Archer’s Focus from 60 meters to 40 meters. Reduce the maximum additional damage of the passive from 80 to 70.

Cloak & Dagger 🔼Ty and Tandy will receive an increase to their healing capability as well as an expansion to the coverage area of their ultimate ability.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Reduce Dagger Storm cooldown from 15s to 12s.
Increase the number of dashes in Eternal Bond (ultimate ability) from 3 to 4.

Jeff the Land Shark🔽🔼We’ll be adjusting the range for his ultimate ability so it now better fits the warning marker. In addition, we’ll also be increasing his healing capability.

Adjust It’s Jeff! (ultimate ability) range from a 10m sphere to a 10m radius, 5m high cylindrical spell field.
Increase the healing of Joyful Splash from 140/s to 150/s.

Luna Snow🔽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.

Increase the interval for switching between healing and damage in Fate of Both Worlds from 0.1s to 0.5s.

Mantis🔽We’ll be making Mantis a bit less fleet-footed, reducing her roaming support capability.

Reduce Nature’s Favor (passive) movement boost from 2.5m/s to 1.5m/s.

Across the board, these are smaller changes than I expected. Health reductions, cooldown tweaks, damage adjustments—NetEase is being cautious about its first round of balancing. Of course, seemingly small changes can make a big difference: Hela’s loss of 25 HP means several heroes need to land fewer shots to kill her. Similarly, Mantis mains might be taking more damage than before now she’s a slower, easier target. I’ll be curious to see how much these changes move the needles on the officialMarvel Rivals pick rates/win rates leaderboards, which indicate Hela and Mantis currently dominate.

(Image credit: NetEase)

marvel rivals healers

As teased earlier this week, three underperforming heroes are getting a thick stack of buffs, including Black Widow and Storm, two of the least-picked characters right now.

Captain AmericaSteve will receive some enhanced survivability, allowing more frequent entering and exiting of the combat.

Reduce the delay time for shield restoration after releasing Living Legend from 3s to 2s.
Reduce Liberty Rush cooldown from 12s to 10s.
Increase base health from 650 to 675.
Reduce the energy cost for releasing Freedom Charge (ultimate ability) from 3400 to 3100; Reduce the additional health provided per second to self after releasing it from 110 to 100.

Black WidowNatasha 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,

Increase the range of the first effect of Edge Dancer from a 3-meter radius to a 5-meter radius.
Reduce the time required for Fleet Foot to recover from 0 stamina to full from 12s to 4s.
Reduce the time required for Electro-Plasma Explosion (ultimate ability) to reach maximum power from 1s to 0.6s.

StormThe 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.

Increase Wind Blade projectile speed from 100m/s to 150m/s and left-click damage from 50 to 55.
Increase Bolt Rush damage from 70 to 80.
After releasing Omega Hurricane (ultimate ability), the bonus health provided for herself will be increased from 350 to 450. Moreover, following its conclusion, the extra health will no longer vanish instantly but will instead diminish at a rate of 100 per second.

There’s a lot more still. Those arbitrary seasonal bonuses that give Hela and Hawkeye extra damage are getting toned down from 20% to 15%. Conversely, Luna Snow’s team-up with Namor and Rocket Raccoon’s team-up with Winter Soldier and Punisher is getting a buff. For an extensive accounting of all 24 hero changes, read thefull patch notes.

Marvel Rivals tier list: Best characters for each roleMarvel Rivals units: How to earn the currencyMarvel Rivals codes: Grab free gear and moreMarvel Rivals review: Hero shooter reportBest FPS games: Finest gaming gunplay

Marvel Rivals tier listMarvel Rivals unitsMarvel Rivals codesMarvel Rivals reviewBest FPS games

More about third person shooterMarvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneThe best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kitLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12See more latest►

More about third person shooter

Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneThe best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit

Marvel Rivals tier list - Wolverine

Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

Mister Fantastic mid ultimate

The best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit

LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12See more latest►

Latest

Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12

Wordle today being played on a phone

Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12

See more latest►

Most PopularToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in AprilLords of the Fallen publisher embraces fear of the DEI boogeyman, says it will not include ‘any social or political agendas’ in its gamesEpic CEO Tim Sweeney says tech leaders are ‘pretending to be Republicans’ to gain favor with Trump, skirt antitrust laws, and ultimately ‘rip off consumers and crush competitors’If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo videoSquare Enix launches new anti-harassment policy to protect its employees and partners from abusive fansThe Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcementsPath of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better lootPalestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 NakbaPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

Most Popular

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in April

Lords of the Fallen publisher embraces fear of the DEI boogeyman, says it will not include ‘any social or political agendas’ in its games

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says tech leaders are ‘pretending to be Republicans’ to gain favor with Trump, skirt antitrust laws, and ultimately ‘rip off consumers and crush competitors’

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo video

Square Enix launches new anti-harassment policy to protect its employees and partners from abusive fans

The Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcements

Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot

Palestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 Nakba

Piranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’

Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals