Marvel Rivals is set to undergo its most significant combat system overhaul since launch with the arrival of Season 9, which will impact approximately 80% of its hero roster. NetEase is implementing widespread hero reworks, a substantial change to the Team-Up system, and a notable nerf to ultimate charge rates, a move described as prioritizing a more 'fun' approach over strict balance.
The game has faced player contention in recent seasons due to balance issues, the perceived strength of Strategist characters, and the prevalence of ultimate ability contests. Season 9 appears to be NetEase's response to these frustrations, with a sweeping set of changes designed to revitalize the gameplay.
Ultimate charge rates will see a reduction, with Vanguard and Duelist heroes experiencing a drop from 70% to 55%. Strategists will also see their conversion rates adjusted, decreasing from 75% to 55% for damage and from 75% to 60% for healing. This adjustment aims to lessen the frequency of ultimate abilities and reduce instances where team fights are decided solely by which team has superior ultimate deployments.
The Team-Up system is also being fundamentally re-engineered. Lead combat designer Zhiyong explained in a developer diary that the growing number of abilities and some uninspired Team-Up designs prompted a decision to "absolutely revolutionise" the system. The existing Team-Up Anchor bonus has been removed. Instead, each hero will now have two distinct Team-Ups: a base effect and an enhanced effect. The base effect will remain active irrespective of the other hero's presence on the team.
For instance, Hulk's new Team-Ups include one with Captain America, which provides an Area of Effect (AoE) damage and cooldown reduction as a base effect. This effect triggers even if Captain America is not on Hulk's team. The enhanced version of this Team-Up grants Hulk increased damage when Captain America is present. Hulk also gains crowd control immunity as a base effect with his Wolverine Team-Up.
Season 9 appears to move away from previous attempts at achieving "perfect" balance, instead embracing a philosophy of balancing for fun. This shift is evident in the hero-specific balance notes, which include much-needed nerfs for characters like Cyclops, whose damage output has been reduced. However, other changes have raised eyebrows, such as Magik's ability to chain enemies together, Luna Snow's capacity to perform combo kills on tanks, and the addition of regenerating shields. These regenerating shields, which activate after five seconds without taking damage, could particularly benefit flankers.
A primary concern voiced is that this focus on universal accessibility and 'fun' might inadvertently lead to a less enjoyable experience for players. The idea that "if everyone's busted, no one is" is seen as potentially flawed, as it could result in a game where all characters feel difficult to play against.
Black Widow's redesign exemplifies this debate. While the developers aim to make her more accessible by reducing her one-shot potential and increasing her overall damage, this change may undermine her intended role as a high-risk, high-reward sniper character. Lowering the skill floor and homogenizing hero abilities could diminish the need for specialized skill and strategic depth, potentially making the game less engaging for skilled players.
Despite these concerns, the hope remains that Season 9 will usher in a period of resurgence for Marvel Rivals, with the influx of new characters, abilities, and cosmetics potentially addressing the game's current challenges.