Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update: New Heroes, Maps, Gameplay & More

Introduction

The much-anticipated Marvel Rivals Season 1 is here, and it’s bringing an avalanche of updates, including fresh heroes, maps, gameplay tweaks, and plenty more to keep players hooked. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just diving into the world of Marvel Rivals, here’s everything you need to know about the exciting changes and additions in this latest update.

New Heroes Join the Fight

The Fantastic Four Assemble

The spotlight is on the Fantastic Four as they make their grand entrance into Marvel Rivals. Leading the charge are Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, available at the season’s launch. Their arrival sets the stage for the cosmic and science-driven narrative of Season 1: Eternal Night Falls.

• Mister Fantastic (Duelist): A tanky duelist with abilities like Reflexive Rubber to absorb damage and reflect it back at enemies. His utility overlaps with vanguards, making him a versatile pick for both aggressive and defensive gameplay. Players will find his blend of mobility and defensive capability ideal for leading a team.
• Invisible Woman (Strategist): A high-skill hero with a mix of stealth and utility. She can deploy shields, manipulate enemies with her push/pull mechanics, and use her ultimate to create zones of healing for allies while denying enemy recovery.

Later in the season, The Thing and Human Torch will join the roster, rounding out the Fantastic Four. The Thing will take on the role of a vanguard, while the Human Torch will add firepower as a duelist.

Fresh Maps and Game Modes

New Convoy Map: Midtown

Midtown takes players to the heart of New York, where they’ll escort the Fantastic Four’s robot ally, H.E.R.B.I.E., to Avengers Tower. This dynamic map offers verticality and unique choke points for intense convoy battles. It’s one of three new maps confirmed for Season 1.

Arcade Mode: Doom Match

Set in Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, the new Doom Match arcade mode pits players against waves of enemies and mini-bosses in a mystical, high-stakes battle for survival. This mode introduces a new layer of cooperative gameplay, perfect for casual and competitive players alike.

Upcoming Map: Central Park

While details are sparse, Central Park promises a mix of open arenas and tight pathways, catering to both long-range snipers and brawlers. Expect more updates mid-season!

Balance Changes and Gameplay Tweaks

The first half of Season 1 brings a host of balance adjustments aimed at improving hero viability and gameplay diversity:

Hero Updates

• Captain America: Gains increased survivability with faster shield regeneration and reduced cooldowns.
• Doctor Strange: Reduced threat range and shield recovery tweaks to improve balance.
• Hela: Base health reduced to temper her dominance.
• Jeff the Land Shark: Enhanced healing with increased Joyful Splash output.

Strategist Changes

Strategists see notable adjustments to refine their utility and healing capabilities:

• Luna Snow: Alterations to her ultimate, Fate of Both Worlds, prevent abuse of its healing/damage switching.
• Rocket Raccoon: Boosted healing for Repair Mode strengthens his role as a team support.

Team-Up Ability Updates

Seasonal buffs and team-up abilities receive minor tweaks to align with the season’s focus on balanced team compositions. For example:

• Luna Snow – Namor: Frozen Spawn gains improved damage and crowd control effects.
• Hawkeye – Black Widow: Hawkeye’s seasonal bonus reduced to moderate his ranged dominance.

Cosmetic Overhaul: Goodbye Mods

In a surprising move, Marvel Rivals has disabled in-game cosmetic mods. While this decision limits customization, it ensures a level playing field and preserves the integrity of official skins and cosmetics available through the game’s battle pass and store. The game’s creative director explained this approach ensures fairness going forward.

Battle Pass and Seasonal Rewards

The new battle pass introduces over 100 tiers of rewards, featuring:

• Exclusive Skins: Iconic designs for the Fantastic Four and fan-favourites like Loki and Scarlet Witch.
• Emotes, MVP Animations, and Sprays: Fresh ways to express yourself on the battlefield.
• Units and Currencies: Earn valuable resources to unlock new heroes or purchase cosmetics.

The Fantastic Four Showcase Event also offers limited-time missions and rewards tied to the new heroes. Complete challenges to earn special cosmetics and highlight intros.

Tips to Master Season 1

1. Learn the New Heroes: Understanding the synergy between Mr. Fantastic’s durability and Invisible Woman’s utility can give your team a significant edge.
2. Master Midtown: Use the vertical elements of the new map to control key objectives and dominate convoy gameplay.
3. Experiment with Team Compositions: The recent balance changes open the door for creative lineups. Pair offensive strategists like Loki with tanky duelists for unexpected combinations.
4. Keep an Eye on Updates: With additional heroes and maps arriving mid-season, adaptability will be key to staying ahead.

The Lore Behind Season 1: Eternal Night Falls

The Marvel Rivals multiverse is in peril as the Timestream Entanglement unleashes chaos across dimensions. Doctor Doom and Dracula have plunged New York into a state of eternal night, scattering the powerful Darkhold pages. Vampiric creatures now roam the streets, and the world teeters on the brink of disaster. Heroes and villains must unite to reclaim the multiverse from darkness.

At the center of this crisis, the Fantastic Four emerge as key players. Their scientific ingenuity and unique powers provide hope against the chaos. Mister Fantastic races to construct a Timestream Reintegration Device, while the Invisible Woman uses her stealth and shield abilities to rescue civilians and allies alike. Together, they ignite the battle to restore order to the Marvel world.

Conclusion

Season 1 of Marvel Rivals marks an exciting chapter for the game, blending iconic Marvel heroes with fresh gameplay elements and strategic depth. Whether you’re unleashing chaos with the Fantastic Four or perfecting your tactics on Midtown, there’s never been a better time to dive into the action.

Suit up, assemble your team, and take on the Eternal Night – the battle for the Marvel multiverse has just begun!