NetEase has unveiled a sneak peek of Season 2 for Marvel Rivals, showcasing an array of character and system modifications. Rivals has launched impressively, particularly for a free-to-play live service game, thanks to its captivating gameplay, straightforward mechanics, and the strong support from the iconic Marvel brand.
Although Season 1 was twice as expansive as typical seasons, it provided valuable insights into the game’s future updates. Upcoming seasons are set to introduce two new heroes, at least one new map, and various balance adjustments to ensure gameplay remains fresh. NetEase has demonstrated that it pays attention to player feedback and is committed to making necessary system changes.
Character Changes for Season 2
Adjusting Damage Balance
Season 2 is packed with balance adjustments, most notably affecting Vanguards and Duelists. Detailed information can be found on the official Marvel Rivals website. Among the newcomers are Emma Frost (Vanguard) and Ultron, expected to join as a Strategist later in the season. Emma Frost will be available right at the beginning, while Ultron is slated for release in the latter part of the season.
Starting with the Vanguards, Captain America is facing minor nerfs to his base and shield health. Doctor Strange will see a slight decrease in his primary fire and Maelstrom damage, while gaining some survivability as a rumored trade-off. Additionally, the cost of charging Magneto’s ultimate is rising by 300, and The Thing’s damage-reduction shield is being trimmed from 30% to 25%.
On the upside, Hulk will enjoy enhanced mobility and a shorter cooldown on his shield ability. Thor’s effectiveness as a solo tank is being bolstered with health and movement speed improvements. Among the most significant buffs is Peni Parker, who will gain an additional 75 health and a chance for her primary fire to critic and improve her firing speed.
In the Duelists category, Hawkeye will receive surprising buffs that enhance his movement speed while charging and significantly empower his ultimate. On the other hand, Hela will see damage buffs but her escape ability will have a longer cooldown. Two flying characters, Iron Man and Human Torch, will gain temporary health through their Armor Overdrive and Flaming Meteor abilities, respectively.
Iron Fist is undergoing a series of adjustments that will reduce his survivability while boosting his damage output. Star-Lord, considered a nuisance by many, will experience damage falloff on his ultimate as a calibrating measure. Comparatively, Winter Soldier will maintain his effectiveness against smaller targets but will find his presence diminished against Vanguards due to health adjustments. Lastly, while Wolverine retains his ability to shred Vanguards, his crowd control potential will diminish.
The largest enhancements are reserved for Mr. Fantastic and Moon Knight. The former will undergo significant boosts to damage and health but will lose some speed in building his Inflated State. Moon Knight’s primary fire will travel more swiftly and provide an extra 100 health to improve his survivability, while his ultimate, Hand of Khonshu, will operate longer and fire additional projectiles.
Strategist characters are seeing fewer changes, mostly nerfs. Key nerfs are aimed at Loki’s Regeneration Domain and Adam Warlock’s Bond of Life, enhancing counterplay options against them. Sue Storm’s Guardian Shield will also lose some maximum health. Meanwhile, Cloak and Dagger, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon will see various improvements to their abilities to make their healing more effective during quick damage flurries.
System Changes for Season 2
Creating a Positive Player Environment
Even though there are fewer system adjustments in Marvel Rivals, their significance shouldn’t be underestimated. A major upcoming change is that, beginning in Season 3, all seasons will be shortened to two months, with each month unveiling a new hero. This is a groundbreaking shift in the hero shooter genre and a remarkable speed for character releases, especially under the Marvel umbrella.
While most hero shooters are fortunate to introduce four new characters annually, Rivals‘ plan to launch at least 12 each year is revolutionary.
Secondly, Rivals will undergo substantial updates to prominent character collaborations. At the start of Season 2, Emma Frost will enable a duplication team-up with Magneto and Psylocke, Scarlet Witch will gain a burst ability from Doctor Strange, and Captain America will team up with Bucky for a powerful combo. To keep balance, the Magneto/Witch and Thor/Storm/Cap team-ups have been removed.
Competitive gameplay will also see shifts in Season 2. The key enhancement is a greater emphasis on individual performance affecting rank points. However, to balance this, the pick/ban feature will initiate at Gold III instead of Diamond. Moreover, Competitive mode will feature a reduced map pool that rotates with Quick Play maps. While these modifications do not directly address Marvel Rivals’ rank inflation issue, they may help alleviate other concerns.
Revolutionizing Live Service Gaming
Raising the Standard for Others
All these changes illustrate how Marvel Rivals is reshaping the live service gaming space. This transformation is comparable to what Fortnite achieved with its battle pass introduction. While Rivals’ battle pass may not be as welcoming as Fortnite’s, it stands out in several aspects, especially compared to other games. The battle pass offers great value for its cost, and players find it easy to earn shop currencies.
The plan to introduce one hero a month is monumental. With the majority of hero shooters managing to add just four new characters a year, Rivals transitioning to a schedule of at least 12 is groundbreaking. That said, this change may be cause for concern regarding the entry experience for newcomers, who might feel overwhelmed by a game filled with over 50 characters within a year. Nevertheless, the strength of the Marvel brand lends enough appeal to encourage players to remain invested.
In summary, Season 2 represents yet another significant step in the promising trajectory of Rivals. While it may not seem as expansive as Season 1, the importance of the adjustments to beloved heroes and the still challenging Competitive mode should not be underestimated. Players can experience all the changes in Season 2 of Marvel Rivals starting April 11.
Source: Marvel Rivals
