Marvel Rivals Patch
Version 20260116 Balance
Version 2026.01.13 · Who won the patch?
Data Reliability
Verified DataParser 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.
Most Positive Predicted Impact
Heroes predicted to gain the most from the latest patch.
Most Negative Predicted Impact
Heroes predicted to lose the most value from the latest patch.
Best Picks by Role
Positive Predicted Impact
Black Panther
+10.5
2B / 0N
Doctor Strange
+3.0
1B / 0N
Captain America
+5.0
1B / 0N
Hulk
+4.5
1B / 1N
Blade
+4.5
4B / 4N
Negative Predicted Impact
Meta context sourced from marvelrivals.gg. BuffTracker recommendation is derived.
View meta sourceWho 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.
Patch Intelligence
Black Panther won the patch.
Black Panther received a clean buff package with no detected nerfs.
Most Positive Predicted Impact
#1
Black Panther
Clean buff package with no nerfs.
+10.5
2B / 0N
#2
Captain America
Mostly positive changes — a clear net gain.
+5
1B / 0N
#3
Blade
Mostly positive changes, but includes some nerfs. (Mixed)
+4.5
4B / 4N
#4
Hulk
Mostly positive changes, but includes some nerfs. (Mixed)
+4.5
1B / 1N
#5
Doctor Strange
Small buff. Impact depends on playstyle.
+3
1B / 0N
Most Negative Predicted Impact
#1
Storm
Heavily nerfed with no compensation.
-12
0B / 4N
#2
Loki
Took a hit. Check if your main was affected.
-7.5
0B / 1N
#3
Namor
Took a hit, but some compensating buffs. (Mixed)
-6
2B / 4N
#4
Rocket Raccoon
Took a hit. Check if your main was affected.
-4.5
0B / 1N
Positive Predicted Impact
Role Impact
Which role changed most?
Vanguard came out strongest this patch. Duelist lost the most ground.
Vanguard
6 changes · avg +2.3
Strategist
2 changes · avg -3.5
Duelist
24 changes · avg -0.5
Patch Notes
All Patch Changes
Every hero change in this patch with player-focused verdicts.
Black Panther
Gain 50% Damage Reduction during Bast's Descent (Ultimate Ability) startup animation.
This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.
Doctor Strange
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.
Blade
Increase Dragon's Defense maximum duration from 1s to 1.2s.
This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.
Blade
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.
Namor
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.
Blade
Increase damage of Jeet Kune Do's first four strikes from 30 to 35.
This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.
Hulk
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.
Black Panther
Increase Spear Toss Damage from 45 to 50.
This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.
Blade
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.
Namor
Increase Enhanced Monstro Spawn Damage from 11 to 12.
This hero received meaningful improvements and should feel noticeably stronger.
Emma Frost
Increase Energy gained:
This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.
Captain America
Reduce Vibranium Energy Saw cooldown from 8s to 6s.
This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.
Emma Frost
The White Queen's energy gain gets a little more dazzling.
This hero received a small improvement, but the overall impact is limited.
Deadpool
Duelist: +5% Damage
This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.
Storm
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.
Storm
The King of Cards takes a hit to his healing and ultimate.
This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.
Deadpool
Vanguard: +50 Health
This hero was not meaningfully changed in this patch.
Namor
Increase Tidal Dirge cooldown from 20s to 30s.
This hero received a small nerf, but should remain mostly playable.
Storm
Reduce Guardian Shield value from 250 to 200.
This hero received a small nerf, but should remain mostly playable.
Hulk
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.
Blade
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.
Rocket Raccoon
Reduce Movement Speed during Wild Crawl from 10m/s to 8m/s.
This hero received a small nerf, but should remain mostly playable.
Namor
Reduce Aquatic Dominion time for a single charge from 12s to 10s.
This hero received a small nerf, but should remain mostly playable.
Namor
Reduce Undead Monstro Damage from 12 to 10.
This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.
Namor
·Reduce Berserk state Undead Monstro Damage from 7 to 6.
This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.
Blade
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.
Storm
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.
Blade
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.
Loki
Reduce Deific Blessing ally Damage Boost effect from 25% to 15%.
This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.
Storm
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.
Storm
Reduce Ragin' Royal Flush's Healing from 75/s to 55/s.
This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.
Blade
Reduce Devil's Chain high damage range Damage from 80 to 75.
This hero was meaningfully weakened and may feel worse after the patch.
Source
MarvelRivals.com