Marvel Rivals Patch

Version 20250221 Balance - Season 1.5!

Version 2025.02.19 · Who won the patch?

Data Reliability

Verified Data

Parser reliability check passed. Hero distribution looks healthy — competitive intelligence data is trustworthy.

Buffs

29

Nerfs

17

Top Winner

Captain America

Changes

61

Patch Impact Summary

Magneto leads the patch, but several roles shifted.

VANGUARDs gained the most from this balance patch. 29 buffs, 17 nerfs across 23 heroes.

29 Buffs
17 Nerfs
Net +41.0
Meta Context

Best Picks by Role

VANGUARD

Vanguard

Role Winner

9B / 4N · Net +29.5

Best Pick

Magneto

Needs Caution

Hulk
STRATEGIST

Strategist

Role Winner

7B / 4N · Net +9.0

Best Pick

Adam Warlock

Needs Caution

Loki
DUELIST

Duelist

Mixed Role

13B / 9N · Net +2.5

Best Pick

Hawkeye

Needs Caution

Black Panther

Meta context sourced from marvelrivals.gg. BuffTracker recommendation is derived.

View meta source

Who Won The Patch?

Magik won the patch.

Magik received the strongest positive impact in this patch with Relevant Buff (+5). This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Role Impact

Which role changed most?

Vanguard came out strongest this patch.

Vanguard

Vanguard

+28net impact

19 changes · avg +1.5

Duelist

Duelist

+23net impact

28 changes · avg +0.8

Strategist

Strategist

+7net impact

14 changes · avg +0.5

Patch Notes

All Patch Changes

Every hero change in this patch with player-focused verdicts.

Magik

Magik

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

Reduce the energy cost of Darkchild (ultimate ability) from 3700 to 3400.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

Survivability and healing ability during the activation of their Ultimate Ability will be increased, while the frequency, duration, and intensity of the Ultimate Ability reduced. Additionally, Tyrone’s threat level will be enhanced.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Venom

Venom

VanguardVanguardULTIMATE

Reduce the energy cost of Feast of the Abyss (ultimate ability) from 2800 to 2500.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Black Widow

Black Widow

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

Natasha's combat effectiveness has been enhanced, increasing the threat level to enemies after using her Ultimate Ability.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Captain America

Captain America

VanguardVanguardULTIMATE

Reduce the energy cost of Freedom Charge (ultimate ability) from 3100 to 2800.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

Gain an additional 100 Bonus Health upon activating Reality Erasure (Ultimate Ability). After the ability ends or is interrupted, this Bonus Health will decay at a rate of 50/s.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

Increase bow draw speed during the duration of Hunter's Sight (Ultimate Ability) and raise damage multiplier from 1.2 to 1.35.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Captain America

Captain America

VanguardVanguardULTIMATE

Steve will receive some enhanced survivability, his Vibranium Energy Saw will feel smoother, and his Ultimate Ability will be more attainable thanks to a reduced energy cost.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock

StrategistStrategistHEALING

Increase the healing amount provided by Soul Bond to linked allies from 10/s to 15/s.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock

StrategistStrategistDAMAGE

Increase the damage of Quantum Magic from 55 to 60. Additionally, the Damage Falloff at 40 meters will be changed from 50% to 60%.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Moon Knight

Moon Knight

DuelistDuelistSHIELD

Correct the damage trigger logic for Hand of Khonshu. The previous mechanism that dealt 75 damage when positioned at the center of the spell field has been removed. Increase the damage of each hit from 75 to 150.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Luna Snow

Luna Snow

StrategistStrategistHEALING

Increase the healing amount of Frozen Chi from 50 to 75, and the slow effect on enemies from 20% to 30%.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Thor

Thor

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

Increase the maximum Bonus Health converted from damage blocked during Dragon's Defense from 150 to 200.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock

StrategistStrategistHEALING

Adam's damage capability will be enhanced, along with a slight increase in healing ability after activating Soul Bond.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Moon Knight

Moon Knight

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

The Hand of Khonshu will offer improved reaction times for foes and an optimized damage logic.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Thor

Thor

VanguardVanguardHEALTH

Increase base health from 250 to 300.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Iron Man

Iron Man

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Increase Unibeam damage from 120/s to 140/s.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Iron Man

Iron Man

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Increase Unibeam (Armor Overdrive) damage from 180/s to 190/s.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Magik

Magik

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

The Queen of Limbo will see her damage capability be slightly reduced, but the energy cost to unleash her Ultimate Ability will be slightly lowered. It’s time to behold Darkchild!

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

DuelistDuelistHEALTH

Increase base health from 250 to 275.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Magneto

Magneto

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

Increase Iron Volley projectile damage from 35 to 40.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Magneto

Magneto

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

Increase Metallic Curtain's energy consumption from 50/s to 65/s; Reduce its Maximum Duration from 2s to 1.5s.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Mister Fantastic

Mister Fantastic

VanguardVanguardSHIELD

Increase the spell field radius after landing from Flexible Elongation from 2.5 meters to 5 meters. Additionally, Flexible Elongation will now feature a knockback effect, launching enemies outward within the area upon landing. The recharge time for a single use of Flexible Elongation will be adjuste

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Captain America

Captain America

VanguardVanguardMOBILITY

Increase Vibranium Energy Saw's projectile speed from 60m/s to 80m/s, with ricochets ramping up from 100m/s to a supercharged 150m/s.

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Captain America

Captain America

VanguardVanguardSHIELD

Enhance Captain America's combat experience by separating Sentinel Strike from melee attacks. Captain America will be able to use melee attacks while his shield is thrown or during the Team-Up Ability Charged Aegis state to activate the first two hits of Sentinel Strike. Additionally, while airborne

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Black Widow

Black Widow

DuelistDuelistABILITY

Increase the magazine capacity of the Red Room Rifle from 8 to 15.

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

DuelistDuelistCOOLDOWN

Reduce the cooldown time for Crescent Slash from 15s to 12s.

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Star-Lord

Star-Lord

DuelistDuelistABILITY

Increase Rocket Propulsion's maximum energy from 1200 to 1800.

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger

StrategistStrategistABILITY

· Increase the Vulnerability inflicted on enemies by Terror Cape from 20% to 28%.

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Loki

Loki

StrategistStrategistABILITY

Increase Mystical Missile charges from 10 to 12.

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Spider-Man

Spider-Man

DuelistDuelistCOOLDOWN

We're slightly reducing Web-Cluster cooldown to increase his offense.

This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.

Minor Buff · +2Situational Upgrade
Mister Fantastic

Mister Fantastic

VanguardVanguardULTIMATE

Increase the damage of Brainiac Bounce (Ultimate Ability) spell from 50 to 70. Increase the energy cost from 2800 to 3400. Additionally, a new damage decay mechanism has been introduced: spell field damage will begin to decrease starting at 3 meters and will reach a maximum reduction of 50 at 10 met

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Hela

Hela

DuelistDuelistABILITY

The Asgardian goddess of death will cast a longer shadow with an increase to her mid-to-long-range suppression.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Moon Knight

Moon Knight

DuelistDuelistMOBILITY

Reduced the Hand of Khonshu talons falling speed.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

DuelistDuelistSHIELD

Reduce projectile damage of Blast Arrow from 20 to 15, while the spell field damage will be increased from 25 to 32.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

We're boosting her survivability when unleashing her Ultimate Ability.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

We're sharpening Clint’s survival instincts and honing his close-quarters capabilities, while his Ultimate Ability takes aim with greater peril.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Thor

Thor

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

Reduce the damage of Jeet Kune Do's 1st, 2nd, and 5th strikes from 32 to 30, while the 3rd and 4th strikes will deal 15 damage instead of 16. The final, devastating 6th strike has been dialed back from 55 to 50. The cooldown reduction for Dragon's Defense has been extended from 1s to 1.5s. The damag

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Moon Knight

Moon Knight

DuelistDuelistHEALING

Full Moon New Effect: Continuously heal Moon Knight for 25 health per/s while within the effect area.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Venom

Venom

VanguardVanguardULTIMATE

The symbiote menace will enter the fray more menacing than ever, with a heightened threat upon entering the battle and a leaner energy appetite for his Ultimate Ability.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Thor

Thor

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

Remove the shared cooldown time after the duration of Awakening Rune ends.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Invisible Woman

Invisible Woman

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

We're reducing the frequency of her Ultimate Ability.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Loki

Loki

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

We're reducing the trickster god's Ultimate Ability frequency, while slightly enhancing his survivability.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Luna Snow

Luna Snow

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

We're reducing her Ultimate Ability frequency.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Captain America

Captain America

VanguardVanguardSHIELD

He will be able to shield himself with Living Legend mid-leap.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Mister Fantastic

Mister Fantastic

VanguardVanguardULTIMATE

Reed will stretch his nuisance factor with a greater impact from his Ultimate Ability.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Spider-Man

Spider-Man

DuelistDuelistABILITY

Reduce Web-Cluster energize time from 3s to 2.5s.

This hero received a small nerf, but should remain mostly playable.

Minor Nerf · -3Still Playable
Black Panther

Black Panther

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Reduced the Rewind Time for Wakandan Master from 5s to 3s. Additionally, the conversion ratio of lost health to blue armor will be increased from 0.5 to 0.8.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Hulk

Hulk

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

Reduce Unibeam (Gamma Overdrive) damage from 220/s to 200/s.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Moon Knight

Moon Knight

DuelistDuelistSHIELD

Reduce Spider-Man's Suit Expulsion duration from 4s to 1s. Replace the 50% damage reduction effect with a new invincibility effect during the duration.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Magik

Magik

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Decrease the damage dealt by Demon's Rage (regular state) from 80/s to 72/s.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Reduce Storm's damage increase from Thunder during Weather Control from 16% to 12%. However, the damage increase for allies within range has been increased from 8% to 10%.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Thor

Thor

VanguardVanguardHEALING

Increase the additional maximum health granted by Harmony Recovery from 50 to 150. A new decay mechanism for the extra health has also been introduced: one second after the ability ends, the additional health will deplete at a rate of 25 health per second.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Black Panther

Black Panther

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Reduced the Rewind Time for Psionic Disc from 5s to 3s. Additionally, the conversion ratio of lost health to blue armor will be increased from 0.5 to 0.8.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange

VanguardVanguardHEALTH

Reduce base health from 650 to 600.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Moon Knight

Moon Knight

DuelistDuelistSHIELD

Reduce Peni Parker's Armor Expulsion duration from 4s to 2s. Replace the 50% damage reduction effect with a new invincibility effect during the duration.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Loki

Loki

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

Increase the energy cost of God of Mischief (ultimate ability) from 3400 to 4000.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -5Proceed With Caution
Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

· Increase the energy cost to activate Eternal Bond (Ultimate Ability) from 3400 to 4000. The healing amount of each segment will be increased from 220/s to 250/s, the duration will be reduced from 10s to 8s, and the pause time between segments decrease from 1s to 0.67s. Now, the healing effect from

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -5Proceed With Caution
Black Widow

Black Widow

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

Enhance the slow effect of Electro-Plasma Explosion (Ultimate Ability) on enemies from 80% to 55%. Additionally, it will apply a 15% Vulnerability effect to hit enemies for 4 seconds.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -5Proceed With Caution
Invisible Woman

Invisible Woman

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

Increase the energy cost of Invisible Boundary (ultimate ability) from 4000 to 4300.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -5Proceed With Caution
Luna Snow

Luna Snow

StrategistStrategistULTIMATE

Increase the energy cost to activate Fate of Both Worlds (Ultimate Ability) from 4000 to 4500.

This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.

Relevant Nerf · -5Proceed With Caution