Marvel Rivals Update 202521 Patch Notes Leaked: Balance Changes and New Heroes

Image credits: Marvel Games via The Game Post

Marvel Rivals has been making waves since its launch in December 2024, bringing together some of the biggest Marvel heroes and villains in a fast-paced 6v6 shooter. The first half of Season 1 has already introduced a lot, including two new heroes: Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman. Later this week, the mid-season update will drop, adding two new playable heroes: The Thing and Human Torch, along with balance changes to a bunch of existing characters. However, it looks like the patch notes have already surfaced early, thanks to dataminers.

A well-known Twitter account for sharing Marvel Rivals leaks, X0X_LEAK, posted what they believe are the patch notes for this week’s 202521 update. The update is set to go live on February 21, 2025. While this gives us a good look at what’s changing, it’s always good to approach the leaks with caution and wait for the official confirmation. The leaked patch notes reveal balance changes to multiple heroes, including Venom, Captain America, and Scarlet Witch, among others. Key updates affect damage, cooldowns, and ultimate costs.

Some of the notable changes include Venom’s “Frenzied Arrival” ability now featuring an inward knockback at a specific angle, making it more effective in controlling enemy positioning. Additionally, the ultimate energy cost has been reduced to allow for more frequent usage. Captain America’s defensive utility has been improved with “Absolute Will” now being usable while jumping. Thor’s “Rune Awakening” ability no longer has a cooldown after its duration ends. Other heroes, such as Iron Fist, Mr. Fantastic, and Spider-Man, have also received changes to their abilities and ultimate costs.

The update also brings changes to team-up abilities, such as Symbiote Bond and Frozen Chi. Symbiote Bond will have its skill time reduced from 4s to 1s, and its 50% damage reduction will be removed. Frozen Chi will have its healing increased from 50 to 75, and its enemy slow effect increased from 20% to 30%. These balance changes may impact the meta and gameplay strategies, and players should await official confirmation from NetEase Games before making any major changes to their playstyle.

With the update just a few days away, players are eagerly awaiting the official patch notes and the addition of the two new heroes, The Thing and Human Torch. The Marvel Rivals community is already discussing the potential implications of these changes and how they will affect the game’s balance. As with any update, it’s essential to keep an eye on the official channels for the latest information and to be prepared for any changes that may come with the new patch. The mid-season update is expected to bring a fresh wave of excitement to the game, and players are looking forward to seeing how the new heroes and balance changes will shake up the game’s meta.