Marvel Rivals' first balance patch targets two popular Duelists and Jeff's ultimate
The leadup to Marvel Rivals season 1 is well underway. We already know that the entire Fantastic 4 squad is coming in a Dracula-themed season called Eternal Night, but in a video published today, NetEase shared something arguably more significant: the details of its very first balancing patch.
How NetEase plans to balance its popular new shooter has been an open question in its first month—its first handful of patches have consisted entirely of store updates and bug fixes, no hero adjustments. That changes in season 1.
«As season 0 closes, our tireless analysis along with player feedback has revealed a rich tapestry of team compositions in regular matches, showcasing exciting diversity,» said lead combat designer Zhiyong. «However, as rank levels climb, shield-and-ranged hero combos seem to have become our first meta, with ranged duelists particularly dominating their lineups.»
Indeed, the «stand behind a shield and shoot the other team» strategies of Overwatch 1 are alive and well in Rivals. Two particularly dominant Duelists are the targets of Marvel Rivals' first nerfs: Hawkeye and Hela. The specifics of the nerfs will have to wait for official patch notes, but NetEase says the idea is «ensuring all ranged heroes have a chance to shine.»
Interestingly, the other balance changes NetEase talked about are almost all buffs. «Mobile-type» Vanguard heroes Captain America and Venom are getting buffs, seemingly to their speed.
«Additionally, we're boosting the capabilities of heroes that shine in specialized compositions, like Wolverine and Storm, to ensure they are the cornerstone of unique strategies,» Zhiyong said.
I haven't played Wolverine or Storm (or seen them all that often in matches), so I'm not sure what to take away from NetEase's vagueness yet. Cloak and Dagger are getting an equally unclear buff to boost their effectiveness in «diverse» team comps.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Maybe the
Read more on pcgamer.com
