Season 6.5 of Marvel Rivals begins on February 13, 2026, introducing a new character along with updates to balance the game’s roster of heroes. These mid-season updates tend to be smaller than those at the start of a new season, but this one has surprised fans by being more substantial than usual. The reactions to it have been mixed, making it a topic of discussion among players.
Compared to Season 6, the changes in 6.5 affect fewer characters. Fans had hoped for broader adjustments to address the growing gap in power levels among heroes. For instance, Gambit remains unchanged, despite being widely viewed as one of the strongest characters.
Every Character Buff in Season 6.5
Many heroes received improvements to their abilities, especially those who needed more options in battle. Some of the buffs include extra health, shorter cooldowns, and entirely new skills. These changes aim to make underused heroes more effective or encourage players to try different team strategies.
Here’s a list of heroes who got buffs and what they received:
| Hero | Role | Buffs |
|---|---|---|
| Thor | Vanguard | Hammer Throw now grants 50 Bonus Health once per throw |
| Rogue | Vanguard | Improved damage absorption in Defensive Stance |
| Doctor Strange | Vanguard | Faster shield recovery speed for Shield of the Seraphim |
| Venom | Vanguard | Increased base health to 675; Feast of the Abyss damage boost improved |
| Deadpool | Duelist | More healing when using Pop Quiz! |
| Psylocke | Duelist | Less damage falloff for Psionic Crossbow projectiles |
| Star-Lord | Duelist | Reduced energy cost for Galactic Legend (Ultimate) |
| Squirrel Girl | Duelist | Faster projectile speed for Squirrel Blockade without charge |
| Wolverine | Duelist | Significantly lower energy cost for Last Stand (Ultimate) |
| Storm | Duelist | Longer-lasting bonus health from Weather Control |
| The Punisher | Duelist | Lower energy cost for Final Judgement (Ultimate) |
| Mister Fantastic | Strategist | New flight ability lasting 4 seconds, recharges in 15 seconds |
| Ultron | Strategist | Extended drone detachment range |
The most notable winners from these buffs are Storm and Adam Warlock. Warlock’s new abilities help him escape dangerous situations, while Storm’s longer-lasting weather effects make her easier to use effectively.
Nerfs in Season 6.5
While some characters received minor nerfs mainly to balance overpowered heroes, many fans felt that the most powerful characters were left mostly untouched. Several popular heroes like Gambit, Hela, Luna Snow, Groot, and Angela did not see any nerfs, even though many players considered them too strong.
Here’s an overview of the nerfs that did happen:
| Hero | Role | Nerfs |
|---|---|---|
| Thor | Vanguard | Reduced Bonus Health from Storm Surge |
| Phoenix | Duelist | Lowered base health from 275 to 250 |
| Moon Knight | Duelist | Reduced the bonus max health from Moon Blade |
| Psylocke | Duelist | Decreased damage of Dance of the Butterfly (Ultimate) |
| Storm | Duelist | Reduced bonus damage from Weather Control (Thunder) |
| Invisible Woman | Strategist | Increased cooldown of Force Physics |
| Loki | Strategist | Fewer Mystical Missile charges from 12 to 10 |
Overall, these nerfs are minimal and do not drastically change how these heroes are played. Fans hoped for more significant changes.
Team-Up Changes
One major change is the removal of a classic team-up: the Fantastic Four team-up featuring Mr. Fantastic, The Human Torch, Invisible Woman, and The Thing. This combination will no longer be available in Season 6.5. However, heroes from the Fantastic Four now have new partnerships with other characters, creating fresh team combinations.
With new characters like Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone, players have more options to form unique teams. Four new team-ups have been introduced, and three existing ones have been expanded with new heroes. These changes could lead to exciting new strategies in the game.
Overall, while the lack of significant nerfs might be worrisome for some fans, the variety of buffs and new team-up options could keep the game fresh and engaging in Season 6.5.