Marvel Rivals is set to launch its season 9.5 update today, introducing the new hero The Hood and a series of adjustments to the game's Vanguard class. The Hood, a magical supervillain known for his iconic cloak, will officially join the roster on August 7.
Season 9.5's balance changes primarily focus on bolstering the Vanguard characters. Devil Dinosaur receives a buff to his Frenzied Feast ability, and his Team-Up with Jeff now offers extended duration and increased ally healing. Doctor Strange's Daggers of Denak will deal more single-hit damage, and the cooldown for his Gamma Maelstrom Team-Up with Hulk has been reduced. Magneto's Metallic Chaos projectile, when used in a Team-Up with Scarlet Witch, will now apply a minor launch-up effect to enemies. Rogue benefits from an increased damage reduction multiplier while in Defensive Stance, along with a boost to her Regen Shield capacity.
However, two Vanguards, Venom and Peni Parker, will see their abilities scaled back. Venom's bonus health has been reduced, and his swing cooldown has been increased to encourage more strategic play, particularly to limit his ability to dive the backline with minimal consequence. Peni Parker's control and survivability are also being slightly weakened. The developers noted that the Immobilize effect from her Cyber-Web Snare was too frequent and oppressive, so its application cost has been increased. In return, the freedom of her secondary fire will be enhanced.
Further adjustments include buffs to some Duelist characters and minor nerfs to a few Strategists. However, the central attraction of season 9.5 is the addition of The Hood. His character design has been praised, with some noting a resemblance between his ultimate form and the Gun Devil from Chainsaw Man. His abilities appear to share similarities with existing Marvel Rivals heroes like Hela and Deadpool, as well as Overwatch's Shion, though the developer aims for a unique and engaging gameplay experience.