Marvel GamesMarvel Rivals‘ second half of its first season is rapidly approaching, and a new leak has revealed the buffs and nerfs players can expect to see for their favorite characters.
Whether you’re ranting about Hela’s need for more nerfs, calling out for Adam Warlock to finally be able to fly, or are just looking to try out a new character, Marvel Rivals is always bringing something new to the game. Most of the time, that’s through the various balance updates.
Naturally, alongside the arrival of The Thing and the Human Torch, Netease will be adding a series of buffs and nerfs to plenty of characters. Thanks to a leak from X0XLEAK, all these changes have finally been revealed.
All leaked buffs and nerfs in Marvel Rivals Season 1.5
Venom
According to leaks, Venom’s Frenzied Arrival will be changing to a more inwards knockback as opposed to the current vertical. However, his real buff comes from the Ultimate cost change, which will now be 2,500 as opposed to the current 2,800.
Previously, players had labeled Venom’s movement as “janky,” arguing that giving him a second swing would improve the character massively. However, this doesn’t seem to have happened for the A-tier hero, with his focus being on cost efficiency instead.
His changes have been listed below:
- Venom’s FRENZIED ARRIVAL has been changed from vertical Knockback to inwards knockback at a 75° angle
- Ultimate cost: 2800 -> 2500
Captain America
Marvel GamesWhile Venom hasn’t received any major movement changes (aside from the lower cost), Captain America will see the ability to use absolute will for defense during jumping. While we don’t know for certain what that is yet, he’ll likely increase his defense during jumping, perhaps allowing him to increase his armor or use his shield more efficiently.
On top of this, Cap’s Vibranium energy saw projectile speed has increased from 60m/s to 80m/s, and his ejection speed after a hit has increased from 100m/s to 150m/s. It’s just a shame the “worst skin” for the hero hasn’t been altered.
His changes have been listed below:
- Added the ability to use absolute will for defense during jumping
- Vibranium energy saw: Projectile speed increased from 60m/s to 80m/s. Ejection speed after a hit increased from 100m/s to 150m/s
Thor
Thor hasn’t received too many changes in the Season 1.5 update. However, what he has received is the removal of his Rune Awakening cooldown after the skill ends. This should dramatically speed up the A-tier character.
His changes have been listed below:
- Removed cooldown after the Rune Awakening skill duration ends
Groot
Just like Thor, Groot hasn’t seen too many changes in the 1.5 update. However, his walls will now be placed further than before, allowing those mains to get to a safer position before blocking off the enemy or keeping them in front of your chosen Vanguard.
His changes have been listed below:
- Groot walls can be placed up to 18m (up from 15m)
Magneto
Magneto will be seeing a small nerf in the Marvel Rivals 1.5 update, with his primary going from 35 to 40, Curtains energy cost rising from 50 to 65, and its maximum duration dropping from 2 to 1.5. Of course, the character is currently S-tier, so it’s unlikely this will drip his power too much.
His changes have been listed below:
- Primary 35 to 40
- Curtain: energy cost 50 to 65, Maximum duration 2 to 1.5
Doctor Strange
Marvel GamesDoctor Strange is about to get a little more squishy thanks to a reduction in his health, from 650 down to 600. Of course, that’s still quite a lot of health, so it’s not a huge nerf, but it’s something to consider if you main the hero.
His changes have been listed below:
- Base HP reduced from 650 to 600
Iron Fist
Iron Fist is among one of the biggest character changes in the 1.5 update. His base health is increasing from 250 to 300, his attacks are being reduced, and the cooldown of his hit to reduce his combo attack has been increased.
Unfortunately, his damage for Sun Punch has been decreased. However, Harmony Recovery and Dragons Defense have both been increased.
His changes have been listed below:
- Base HP increased from 250 to 300
- Jeet Kune Do’s 1st, 2nd, and 5th attack damage reduced from 32 to 30
- 3rd and 4th damage reduced from 16 to 15
- 6th damage reduced from 55 to 50.
- The cooldown time of each hit to reduce the combo attack increased from 1 second to 1.5 seconds, and the damage of each hit of the Sun Punch decreased from 19 to 10.
- HARMONY RECOVERY: Bonus HP provided increased from 50 to 150 with HP decay at 25/s
- DRAGON’S DEFENSE: HP converted from block increased from 150 to 200
Mr Fantastic
Despite only being in the game for the first part of season one, Mr Fantastic is receiving a fair few buffs in 1.5. Firstly, his Flexible Elongation spell field and charge are increasing, and he’ll now knock enemies outwards after he lands, pushing them away.
On top of this is his Brainiac Bounce, which now has increased damage, an increased energy cost, and a brand-new damage fall-off.
His changes have been listed below:
- FLEXIBLE ELONGATION: Spell Field increased from 2.5 to 5m
- Now knocks enemies outwards after landing
- Charge increased from 8s to 10s
- BRAINIAC BOUNCE: Damage increased from 50 to 70
- Energy cost increased from 2800 to 3400
- Damage fall off: dmg starts decaying at 3m to a max of 50dmg at 10m
Iron Man
Iron Man is receiving a nice increase in his Unibeam damage and Armor Overdrive Unibeam. Aside from this, the character will be relatively untouched in Season 1.5.
His changes have been listed below:
- UNIBEAM: Damage Increased from 120/s to 140/s
- Armor Overdrive Unibeam increased from 180/s to 190/s
Hawkeye
Marvel GamesHawkeye will see a few more changes than Iron Man, with his health increasing from 250 to 275. However, his Explosive Arrows have received a little balancing. The damage will reduce from 20 to 15, but the spell field damage increases from 25 to 32.
On top of this, Crescent Slash’s cooldown will be reduced from 15 to 12 seconds, and his Ultimate bow charge speed will be increased from 1.2 to 1.35 seconds.
His changes have been listed below:
- Base Health: 250 to 275
- Explosive arrows: Damage decreased from 20 to 15, spell field dmg increased from 25 to 32
- CRESCENT SLASH: Cooldown decreased from 15s to 12s
- Ultimate: Bow charge speed is accelerated, Draw speed increased from 1.2 to 1.35
Storm
Storm sees some changes to her Wind Blade, with reduced damage from afar. There’s also a reduction to her Aura, though the teamboost increases from 8% to 10%.
She also sees a damage increase for her Goddess Boost, with the self-boost damage increasing from 30% to 25%.
Her changes have been listed below:
- Wind blade Damage at 30m reduced from 70% to 60%
- Aura: Self-boost from 16% to 12% – Teamboost from 8% to 10%
- Goddess Boost (thunder) Self-boost dmg increased from 30% to 25%
Scarlet Witch
As opposed to Storm, Scarlet Witch hasn’t had too many changes to her power. Her ultimate will apply 100 bonus HP and decays at 50/s.
Her changes have been listed below:
- Ultimate: 100 bonus HP applied on cast, decays at 50/s after interrupt/end
Spider-Man
Spider-Man will remain the same for the most part in the Marvel Rivals 1.5 update. All that changes is his recharge time for his web-shooters, with them decreasing from 3 to 2.5 seconds.
His changes have been listed below:
- Web-Shooters: Recharge time decreased from 3s to 2.5s
Moon Knight
NetEase GamesMoon Knight is comfortably sitting in B-tier before 1.5, but these powerful buffs seem likely to move him up a tier.
Sure, his Khonshu’s fist speed has been reduced and Netease has Corrected the damage logic by removing the 75 dmg for being in the middle of the spell field, but each of his punches now do 150 damage, twice as much as previously.
His changes have been listed below:
- Ultimate: Khonshu’s fist speed reduced
- Corrected the damage logic, removed 75 dmg for being in the middle of the spell field
- Each fist now does 150 (up from 75)
Black Widow
Black Widow’s Rifle will not hold more ammunition, with the capacity being increased from 8 to 15 and her ultimate’s slowdown effect will be dramatically reduced. She currently sits in C-tier, so hopefully this changes her positioning in the meta.
Her changes have been listed below:
- Rifle Capacity increased from 8 to 15
- Ultimate: Slow down effect reduced from 80% to 55%
Magik
Magik will be seeing some major nerfs in season 1.5, specifically in her Eldritch Whirl and Demon’s Rage. For both of those, her damage will be decreased from 45 to 40 and 80 per second to 72 per second respectively.
Thankfully, her ultimate cost will be reduced from 3700 to 3400, which could help lessen the blow on her damage.
Her changes have been listed below:
- ELDRITCH WHIRL (normal): dmg decreased from 45 to 40
- DEMON’S RAGE (normal): dmg decreased from 80/s to 72/s
- Ultimate: cost reduced from 3700 to 3400
Hela
Marvel Rivals players have been calling for Hela to be nerfed, despite the character being a main subject of nerfing at the beginning of season one. Nevertheless, players have actually got the opposite, with her suppression ability being improved. That being said, her Soul Drainer ability has received an increase in damage falloff.
Her changes have been listed below:
- Improve Hela’s suppression ability when facing medium and long-range enemies;
- SOUL DRAINER: Damage falloff at 30m from 70% to 80%
Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock is often a point of contention, and he may become more of one after season 1.5. His primary damage is increasing from 55 to 60, as is his damage falloff.
His Soul Bond ability will have its healing increased though, so that’s a good sign for other players.
His changes have been listed below:
- Primary Fire damage increased from 55 to 60, 60% damage falloff at 40m (up from 50% dmg falloff)
- SOUL BOND: healing increased from 10/s to 15/s
Cloak and Dagger
NetEase GamesCloak and Dagger have seen a few nerfs, with their ultimate cost being increased, their Dash Lanes / Fog That Heals ability’s duration reduced, and the inability to stack the healing effect of those Dash lanes.
Nevertheless, the vulnerability of enemies with Terror Cape has been increased from 20% to 28%.
Their changes have been listed below:
- Ultimate: cost increased from 3400 to 4000
- “Dash lanes/Fog that heals” duration reduced from 10s to 8s
- Pause between dashes reduced from 1s to 0.67s
- Healing effect of the dash lanes no longer STACK, only 1 lanes works when overlayed on each other
- TERROR CAPE: Vulnerability on enemies increased from 20% to 28%
Luna Snow
Luna Snow won’t be changing too much, all she’ll be seeing is an ultimate cost increase from 4000 to 4500. However, it’s unlikely to take her out of S-tier.
Her changes have been listed below:
- Ultimate cost increased from 4000 to 4500
Loki
Similar to Luna Snow, Loki won’t be changing too much. All he’ll be seeing is a nerf to his Ultimate and a buff to his ammunition. His ultimate cost will increase from 3400 to 4000, and his ammo will be increased from 10 to 12.
His changes have been listed below:
- Ultimate Cost increased from 3400 to 4000
- Ammo increased from 10 to 12
Mantis
Mantis will be seeing a nerf to the bonus health from her Ultimate, decreasing from 100 to 75. Other than that, she’ll be the same.
Her changes have been listed below:
- Ultimate bonus HP reduced from 100 to 75
NetEaseInvisible Woman
After only just arriving, Invisible Woman will see an increase in her Ultimate cost, though it’s not as much as the likes of Loki or Luna Snow. Her ultimate will now cost 4300, as opposed to 4000.
Her changes have been listed below:
- Ultimate cost increased from 4000 to 4300
Team-Ups
Multiple Team-Ups will be changing in the upcoming season, from Hulk, Psylocke, Venom, Spider-Man, and Peni Parker all being affected.
Their details are below:
Gamma
- Hulk HP gained from being an anchor reduced from 150 to 100
Psionic Disc
- Teleport time reduced from 5s to 3s
- Bonus HP conversion increased from 0.5 to 0.8
NetEase GamesFull Moon
- New 25/s healing effect
Symbiote Bond
- Skill time reduced from 4s to 1s
- 50% damage reduction is removed
- Complete invincibility added
Frozen Chi
- Healing increased from 50 to 75
- Enemy slow effect increased from 20% to 30%
So, those are all the buffs and nerfs for Marvel Rivals’s mid-season update. Naturally, when more information is released and the official changes are announced we’ll update this article, so be sure to bookmark this to know exactly where your main lands in our tier list.
