Marvel Rivals: Upcoming Hero Buffs and Nerfs Leaked

Exciting news for Marvel Rivals players, as leaked information reveals a list of upcoming hero buffs and nerfs. While the details are not yet finalized, the leaked content schedule indicates several heroes will be buffed, while only a few will receive nerfs.

This approach aligns with the developers’ philosophy of enhancing weaker heroes to improve overall balance rather than nerfing stronger ones down to the level of weaker characters. The heroes listed for buffs include Venom, Captain America, Wolverine, Storm, and Cloak and Dagger. Meanwhile, only Hela and Hawkeye are currently set to be nerfed due to their high performance in ranked play.

Let's take a brief look at all the heroes getting buffed and those who will receive the short end of the stick.

Buffed Heroes

The leak mentions Venom, Captain America, Wolverine, Storm, and Cloak and Dagger as the heroes set to receive buffs. Although the exact nature of these buffs remains unknown, they are likely aimed at improving these characters’ consistency and competitiveness.

• Wolverine: Despite being initially perceived as a weak hero, Wolverine^[1] has recently gained attention thanks to highly skilled players showcasing his potential. A buff could make him more viable for a wider range of players and increase his impact in matches.
• Storm: Many players feel that Storm’s damage output is insufficient compared to other ranged heroes. A damage buff or reduced cooldowns could significantly improve her viability, especially in high-level play where precision and speed matter.
• Captain America: Known for his defensive utility, Captain America might be receiving a slight damage increase to make him more effective offensively. This would allow him to contribute more meaningfully during team fights and engage in skirmishes with greater impact.
• Cloak and Dagger: While Cloak and Dagger have decent utility, they lack consistency in higher-level matches. A buff could enhance their synergy or damage potential, making them more reliable choices in both casual and ranked games.

Nerfed Heroes

Only two heroes are listed for nerfs in the leaked schedule: Hela and Hawkeye. Both characters have been dominant in high-level ranked matches, particularly above the Diamond rank, where they are frequently banned due to their overwhelming damage output.

• Hela: With her high DPS^[2] and mobility, Hela often feels uncounterable in prolonged fights. Her nerf will likely target her burst damage or cooldowns, making her more manageable for opponents without completely diminishing her power.
• Hawkeye: Hawkeye’s long-range precision and ability to eliminate squishier targets with ease make him a top-tier damage dealer. His nerf may focus on reducing his damage scaling or increasing cooldowns to limit his one-shot potential without removing his utility.

Balancing Philosophy: More Buffs, Fewer Nerfs

The leaked schedule also provides insight into the developers’ balancing philosophy. Rather than over-nerfing strong characters, they prefer to buff weaker heroes to improve their viability and encourage diverse hero picks.

This approach helps maintain excitement in the game by making more heroes competitive, rather than flattening the overall power level by reducing the effectiveness of top-tier characters. As a result, players can expect fewer nerfs and more buffs in future updates.

Related: Marvel Rivals: Leaked Updates on Blade.

The upcoming hero buffs and nerfs in Marvel Rivals are likely to bring significant shifts to the game’s meta. Buffs to heroes like Wolverine, Storm, and Captain America may open up new strategies and strengthen underused heroes, while nerfs to Hela and Hawkeye should help reduce their current dominance.

While these changes are based on leaked information and could still evolve, they demonstrate the developers’ commitment to balancing the game while keeping it fun and engaging. Stay tuned for the official patch notes, and be prepared to adjust your strategies once the changes go live!

References

1. [1] "Wolverine". marvelrivals.fandom.com. Retrieved January 05, 2025
2. [2] "DPS". www.dictionary.com. Retrieved January 05, 2025