Marvel Rivals is set to undergo a dramatic meta shift with the upcoming Season 1 Part 2 update, which is expected to drop on February 21.
A recent leak from dataminers has provided an early look at the balance changes, revealing significant adjustments to Vanguard heroes, Duelists, and Strategists, alongside major reworks for Team-Up abilities. These changes could redefine the game’s competitive landscape as new strategies emerge.
Biggest Vanguard Adjustments
Tanks are seeing some of the most impactful updates, with buffs aimed at diversifying the meta beyond Doctor Strange and Magneto. Some of the key changes include:
- Venom – Faster Ultimate charge and adjustments to his main dive ability.
- Captain America – Improved shield throw speed, faster Ultimate charge, and new aerial usability.
- Thor – Global cooldown removed from “Rune Awakening.”
- Groot – Increased placement distance for his Thorn Wall.
- Doctor Strange – Health reduced from 650 to 600.
- Magneto – Reduced shield duration but increased base attack damage.
Duelist Class Overhaul
The Duelist category, being the largest in the game, is receiving a major rebalancing, with some heroes getting nerfs to damage while others gain increased survivability. The biggest highlights include:
- Iron Fist – Reduced attack damage and speed but increased self-healing and base HP.
- Mister Fantastic – Improved grapple range and knockback effect.
- Hawkeye – Increased health, better bow speed in Ultimate, and faster melee cooldown.
- Storm – More damage fall-off at long range and reduced self-buff effectiveness.
- Scarlet Witch – Gains 100 extra HP when using her Ultimate.
- Moon Knight – Ultimate now has a slower hit rate with more balanced damage distribution.
- Black Widow – Ammo increased to 15, Ultimate damage boosted but with less slowdown.
- Magik – Reduced base damage but faster Ultimate charge.
- Iron Man – Unibeam damage increased in both normal and Hulk-boosted modes.
Strategist Class Changes
Strategists are also receiving substantial tweaks, shifting how these characters will be played in high-level matches:
- Luna Snow & Loki – Reduced Ultimate charge rates.
- Mantis – Lower survivability when using Ultimate.
- Adam Warlock – Increased damage but with more range-based falloff, and improved Soul Bond healing.
- Invisible Woman – Slightly slower Ultimate charge.
- Cloak & Dagger – Extended Ultimate charge time, faster dash cooldown, unlocked camera control during Ultimate, and a new single healing area mechanic.
Team-Up Reworks Shake Up Competitive Play
Some of the most surprising changes in the leak involve Team-Up abilities, which could dramatically affect hero pairings in competitive play.
- Hulk’s Gamma Charge – Reduced benefits for Iron Man and Doctor Strange.
- Psylocke’s Psionic Disk – Now grants Black Panther additional armor based on health lost.
- Cloak and Dagger’s Full Moon – Grants Moon Knight 2.5 seconds of healing within its radius.
- Venom’s Touch of Klyntar – Now provides true invincibility at a reduced duration instead of damage reduction.
Esports Implications
These changes mark a pivotal moment for Marvel Rivals in the esports scene. The reworks and balance updates encourage a wider pool of tanks and Team-Up combinations, moving away from the dominant Doctor Strange and Magneto meta. Competitive teams will need to quickly adapt their hero selections and playstyles to stay ahead as tournaments approach.
Final Thoughts
With Season 1 Part 2 set to launch soon, fans can expect a completely refreshed competitive landscape, ensuring more diverse and dynamic matches. Stay tuned for the official patch notes to confirm these leaks and any last-minute adjustments before the update goes live.