Marvel Rivals Patch

Version 20260116 Balance

Version 2026.01.13 · Who won the patch?

Data Reliability

Verified Data

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

Buffs

13

Nerfs

15

Top Winner

Black Panther

Changes

32

Patch Prediction Summary

Black Panther leads the patch, but several roles shifted.

VANGUARDs gained the most from this balance patch. 13 buffs, 15 nerfs across 11 heroes.

13 Buffs
15 Nerfs
Net +0.5
Meta Context

Best Picks by Role

VANGUARD

Vanguard

Role Winner

5B / 1N · Net +15.5

DUELIST

Duelist

Slightly Weakened

8B / 12N · Net -3.0

Best Pick

Black Panther

Needs Caution

Storm
STRATEGIST

Strategist

Role Loser

0B / 2N · Net -12.0

Needs Caution

Loki

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

View meta source

Who Won The Patch?

Black Panther won the patch.

Black Panther 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. Duelist lost the most ground.

Vanguard

Vanguard

+14net impact

6 changes · avg +2.3

Strategist

Strategist

-7net impact

2 changes · avg -3.5

Duelist

Duelist

-11net impact

24 changes · avg -0.5

Patch Notes

All Patch Changes

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

Black Panther

Black Panther

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

Gain 50% Damage Reduction during Bast's Descent (Ultimate Ability) startup animation.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +5Recommended
Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

Increase the Maelstrom of Madness conversion ratio of Dark Magic to damage from 1.2 to 1.3.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Increase Dragon's Defense maximum duration from 1s to 1.2s.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Reduce pellets fired per round of Hunter's Shotgun from 12 to 11. Damage falloff now starts at 15m (was 20m); at 30m, damage drops to 50% of base (was 40%).

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Namor

Namor

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Increase default Monstro Spawn Health from 100 to 125 and Damage from 17 to 18.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Increase damage of Jeet Kune Do's first four strikes from 30 to 35.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Hulk

Hulk

VanguardVanguardDAMAGE

In Hero Hulk form, reduce Gamma Burst cooldown from 8s to 6s and increase projectile Damage from 70 to 75.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Black Panther

Black Panther

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Increase Spear Toss Damage from 45 to 50.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Slow enemies by 40% for 1.5s. Increase second hit damage from 20 to 50.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Namor

Namor

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Increase Enhanced Monstro Spawn Damage from 11 to 12.

This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.

Relevant Buff · +4Recommended
Emma Frost

Emma Frost

VanguardVanguardABILITY

Increase Energy gained:

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

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Captain America

Captain America

VanguardVanguardCOOLDOWN

Reduce Vibranium Energy Saw cooldown from 8s to 6s.

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

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Emma Frost

Emma Frost

VanguardVanguardABILITY

The White Queen's energy gain gets a little more dazzling.

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

Minor Buff · +3Situational Upgrade
Deadpool

Deadpool

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Duelist: +5% Damage

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Storm

Storm

DuelistDuelistCOOLDOWN

These 2 abilities now share charges, capped out at 2 with each taking 10s to recharge. After using either, both abilities enter a 2s cooldown.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Storm

Storm

DuelistDuelistULTIMATE

The King of Cards takes a hit to his healing and ultimate.

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Deadpool

Deadpool

DuelistDuelistHEALTH

Vanguard: +50 Health

This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.

Neutral · 0No Priority Change
Namor

Namor

DuelistDuelistCOOLDOWN

Increase Tidal Dirge cooldown from 20s to 30s.

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

Minor Nerf · -3Still Playable
Storm

Storm

DuelistDuelistSHIELD

Reduce Guardian Shield value from 250 to 200.

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

Minor Nerf · -3Still Playable
Hulk

Hulk

VanguardVanguardABILITY

Reduce Hero Hulk Incredible Leap minimum charge time from 0.5s to 04s; maximum charge time from 2s to 1.7s.

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

Minor Nerf · -3Still Playable
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistABILITY

Reduce Fury gained from Devil's Latch when grappling a surface from 2 to 1.

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

Minor Nerf · -3Still Playable
Rocket Raccoon

Rocket Raccoon

StrategistStrategistMOBILITY

Reduce Movement Speed during Wild Crawl from 10m/s to 8m/s.

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

Minor Nerf · -3Still Playable
Namor

Namor

DuelistDuelistABILITY

Reduce Aquatic Dominion time for a single charge from 12s to 10s.

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

Minor Nerf · -3Still Playable
Namor

Namor

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Reduce Undead Monstro Damage from 12 to 10.

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Namor

Namor

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

·Reduce Berserk state Undead Monstro Damage from 7 to 6.

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Reduce Devil's Throw single Projectile Damage from 32.5 to 30 (total from 65 to 60 on a single target).

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Storm

Storm

DuelistDuelistSHIELD

Reduce shield restoration rate after reclaiming from 42/s to 34/s (total time unchanged).

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistHEALING

Remove Slow effect from enemies and apply 8% Healing Reduction per strike (32% total if all hit), for 3s. Reduce Damage from 15 to 8 per hit.

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Loki

Loki

StrategistStrategistDAMAGE

Reduce Deific Blessing ally Damage Boost effect from 25% to 15%.

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Storm

Storm

DuelistDuelistHEALING

Reduce Big Easy Impact Healing Amount per explosion from 25 to 15 (total from 75 to 45).

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Storm

Storm

DuelistDuelistHEALING

Reduce Ragin' Royal Flush's Healing from 75/s to 55/s.

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution
Blade

Blade

DuelistDuelistDAMAGE

Reduce Devil's Chain high damage range Damage from 80 to 75.

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

Relevant Nerf · -4Proceed With Caution