Marvel Rivals Season 9 arrives with one of the more substantial balance patches the game has seen, touching over 25 heroes across all classes alongside two global system changes that will affect how every match plays out. Instead, it reworks core gameplay systems, introduces a brand-new Regenerative Shield mechanic, and adjusts the balance of more than 25 heroes to better fit the new Team-Up system.
Much of the update focuses on making fights last longer while reducing how often Ultimate abilities appear. At the same time, several Vanguards have had their health pools reshaped, with many trading raw HP for Regenerative Shields that recover after staying out of combat.
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Marvel Rivals Season 9 Hero Buffs and Nerfs
Marvel Rivals Season 9 delivers one of the game’s biggest balance updates yet, introducing sweeping hero adjustments alongside several global gameplay changes. Here’s a complete breakdown of every buff, nerf, and balance tweak arriving with the Season 9 update:
Marvel Rivals Season 9: All Vanguard Hero Changes
Angela
Angela’s base health drops significantly from 450 to 350, with 200 Regenerative Shield added to compensate. The Team-Up Anchor bonus of +100 health has also been removed.
Peni Parker
The Team-Up Anchor +50 Bonus Health has been removed. No other changes listed.
Devil Dinosaur
Devil Dinosaur gets a meaningful buff this season. Base health increases from 750 to 850, and the Prehistoric Plating passive’s critical-hit damage reduction improves from 50% to 60%. The Team-Up Anchor +100 Bonus Health is removed, and the reduced Ultimate Energy generation from enemies damaging or allies healing Devil Dinosaur increases from 35% to 40%.
Thor
Thor receives a mix of buffs with a significant health restructure. The uncharged Storm Surge gets a slight increase to travel distance. Hammer Throw damage goes up on both the throw (45 to 50) and the return (20 to 25). Bonus health gained on hit increases from 50 to 75. Base health drops sharply from 600 to 300, with 300 Regenerative Shield added in its place.
The Thing
The Thing gets quality of life improvements across the board. Stone Haymaker Bonus Health cap increases from 100 to 150. The backswing animation after Clobberin’ Time when chained from Battle Blitz or Embattled Leap has been reduced. Yancy Street Charge’s anti-movement zone also gains improved vertical detection height to better catch launched enemies.
Rogue
Rogue takes nerfs across her durability and damage output. Defensive Stance damage reduction drops from 60% to 55%, and maximum bonus damage from Southern Brawl at full energy reduces from 90 to 75. Base health is cut from 650 to 350 with 225 Regenerative Shield added, bringing total health down from 650 to 575.
Captain America
Cap’s base health drops from 600 to 300 with 300 Regenerative Shield replacing the difference. The Team-Up Anchor +100 Bonus Health is removed, bringing total health down from 700 to 600.
Groot
Groot receives a straight health buff this season. Base health increases from 700 to 850, while the Team-Up Anchor +150 Bonus Health is removed.
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange gets buffed noticeably. Base health increases from 575 to 650, and Shield of the Seraphim value goes up from 700 to 850. The Team-Up Anchor +100 Bonus Health is removed. When paired with Invisible Woman, Shield of the Seraphim gains an additional 150 shield, pushing the total to 1000.
Hulk
Hulk sees a damage buff alongside health restructuring. Heavy Blow damage increases from 40 to 45. However, the Hulk Smash! Ultimate cost rises from 3400 to 3700, making it harder to access. Base health drops from 650 to 400 with 300 Regenerative Shield added. The Team-Up Anchor +100 Bonus Health is removed, bringing total health down from 750 to 700.
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Deadpool (Vanguard)
Deadpool gets buffs across his damage and survivability. Dual Desert Eagles single-shot damage increases for both the standard version (34 to 36) and the upgraded version (39 to 40). Deadpool In Your Area damage reduction improves for allies (20% to 25%) and for Deadpool himself (30% to 35%). Base health increases from 450 to 500, and the Team-Up Anchor +50 Bonus Health is removed.
Venom
Venom’s health is restructured significantly. Base health drops from 675 to 500 with 250 Regenerative Shield added. The Team-Up Anchor +150 Bonus Health is removed, reducing total health from 825 to 750.
Marvel Rivals Season 9: All Duelist Changes
Black Cat
Base health drops from 275 to 150 with 125 Regenerative Shield added. Maximum Fortune cap increases from 1,000 to 1,200, and the odds of securing a high Fortune payout from the Tablet of Destinies have been improved. Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed.
Black Panther
Base health reduced from 275 to 150 with 125 Regenerative Shield added. No other changes listed.
Cyclops
Nerfs across the board. Optic Blast single-hit damage drops from 25 to 21, Ricochet Force damage reduces from 80 to 70, and cooldowns on both Propulsion Burst and Optic Ascent increase from 12s to 15s. Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed.
Daredevil
Base health reduced from 300 to 150 with 150 Regenerative Shield added. Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed.
Deadpool (Duelist)
Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed. No other changes.
Elsa Bloodstone
Double-Barrel Blaster ammo capacity increases from 8 to 12 shells. Helix Advance cooldown extends from 10s to 11s. When Devil Dinosaur is the Team-Up partner, individual pellet damage increases from 4.5 to 5.
Hawkeye
Piercing Arrow damage scaling while charging has been slightly increased, though maximum fully-charged damage stays the same. Projectile speed increases from 120m/s to 130m/s at base and from 180m/s to 195m/s at maximum.
Hela
Nightsword Thorn base damage increases from 70 to 80. Damage falloff adjusted to begin at 18m and reduce to 75% at 35m rather than 70% at 30m. Hela can now fly freely in any direction while in Crow form during Astral Flock. Team-Up Anchor 15% Damage Boost removed.
Human Torch
Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed. No other changes.
Iron Man
Multiple damage reductions this patch. Single-handed Repulsor Blast spell field damage drops from 50 to 45, dual-handed from 55 to 50, and Armor Overdrive Repulsor Blast from 65 to 60. Unibeam damage in Armor Overdrive reduces from 190/s to 180/s. Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed.
Magik
Base health drops from 250 to 150 with 125 Regenerative Shield added, which actually brings total health up from 250 to 275.
Moon Knight
Crescent Dart damage per hit increases from 23 to 25. Hand of Khonshu Ultimate energy cost rises from 2800 to 3100. Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed.
Phoenix
Endsong Inferno explosion damage increases from 140 to 150. Team-Up Anchor 10% Damage Boost removed.
Psylocke
Psionic Crossbow single-hit base damage increases from 12 to 13. Base health reduced from 250 to 150 with 100 Regenerative Shield added. Emma Frost Team-Up bonus health from Wing Shurikens increases from 10 to 15. Cloak and Dagger Team-Up further boosts Psionic Crossbow damage from 13 to 14.
Scarlet Witch
Dark Seal can now be cast during Mystic Projection, though doing so cancels the Projection early.
Star-Lord
The 25 Bonus Health gained from Stellar Shift has been removed. Base health reduced from 250 to 150 with 100 Regenerative Shield added.
Storm
Wind Blade base damage increases from 55 to 60. Team-Up Anchor 5% Damage Boost removed.
The Punisher
Adjudication damage per hit drops from 20 to 19, and Deliverance from 10 to 9.5. When Daredevil is the Team-Up partner, Adjudication recovers to 20 and Deliverance to 10.
Marvel Rivals Season 9: All Strategist Changes
Adam Warlock
Base health increases from 250 to 275. Cosmic Cluster projectile damage reduced from 38 to 35. Ultron Team-Up boosts Quantum Magic ammo capacity from 15 to 25.
Cloak and Dagger
Lightforce Dagger direct-hit healing increases from 12 to 15, and lingering spell field healing from 20 to 25. Veil of Lightforce one-time healing goes from 45 to 50. Dagger Storm healing output rises from 45/s to 50/s. Team-Up Anchor 15% Healing Boost removed.
Deadpool (Strategist)
Team-Up Anchor 5% Healing Boost removed. No other changes.
Gambit
Kinetic Cards single-hit healing increases from 28 to 30. Team-Up Anchor 5% Healing Boost removed.
Invisible Woman
Outgoing Orb Projection healing increases from 45 to 50, return healing from 35 to 40. Team-Up Anchor 15% Healing Boost removed.
Luna Snow
Number One Idol loses its 10% Damage Boost and the Healing Boost doubles from 10% to 20%. Idol Aura ally Healing Boost increases from 35% to 40%. Team-Up Anchor 15% Healing Boost removed.
Mantis
Team-Up Anchor 10% Healing Boost removed. Star-Lord Team-Up enhances Healing Flower from 10 + 2.5% max health/s to 15 + 3% max health/s. Adam Warlock Team-Up increases self-healing during Natural Anger from 12.5/s to 17.5/s.
Rocket Raccoon
Repair Mode orb healing increases from 50 to 55 per ally hit. C.Y.A. Ultimate cost rises from 4000 to 4300, and distance-based falloff is added, with Damage Boost and Bonus Health generation decaying from 8m and capping at a 60% reduction at 20m. Team-Up Anchor 5% Healing Boost removed.
Ultron
Imperative Firewall drone area healing increases from 30/s to 35/s.
White Fox
Spirit Sanctuary cooldown extends from 12s to 15s. Team-Up Anchor 10% Healing Boost removed. Upon activating Kumiho Unleashed, total health increases from 900 to 1,200.
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