Marvel Rivals Season 4, launching on September 12, is set to significantly shake up the hero shooter`s gameplay and meta, introducing a new hero and a series of important balance adjustments. Among the most anticipated changes is a nerf to Luna Snow`s ultimate ability.
In their recent “Dev Vision” video, developer NetEase provided an overview of the upcoming additions and changes for Season 4, though without diving into extensive detail. In addition to the introduction of a new Vanguard hero, Angela, many characters will receive significant balance adjustments aimed at making them more, or sometimes less, competitive.
A key alteration will be the reduced duration of Luna Snow`s potent ultimate ability, “Fate of Both Worlds.” While NetEase has yet to release detailed patch notes with specific numbers, this adjustment has long been anticipated. Luna`s ultimate has traditionally been considered one of the strongest in the game, granting allies near invincibility and the power to halt enemy advances entirely. Its excessive length often led to stalemates in battles, much to the frustration of many players.
Her ultimate became particularly problematic when combined with Loki, who could copy it to create another extended period of invulnerability. Loki himself will also see changes in Season 4, including nerfs to his damage and healing.
Among the Vanguard heroes, Emma Frost and Captain America will receive nerfs. Several Duelists will also be adjusted: Squirrel Girl will have her long-range poke reduced, Psylocke`s burst-damage potential will be modified, and Black Panther will see a decrease in his survivability.
Conversely, numerous Vanguard, Strategist, and Duelist heroes will receive buffs. Blade, Moon Knight, and Scarlet Witch will be strengthened to become more effective damage dealers. Thor and Peni Parker will have their ultimate abilities improved to provide them, as NetEase states, with “more playmaking material.” Doctor Strange, often subjected to nerfs, will this time receive an offensive buff.
Regarding Strategists, NetEase aims to broaden player choice and introduce “more diversity into the role.” This will manifest as buffs to the ultimate abilities of characters like Invisible Woman, Ultron, and Jeff the Land Shark. Combined with the nerf to Luna Snow`s ultimate, the Strategist landscape should become more dynamic in Season 4. NetEase also notes that popular heroes such as Cloak and Dagger, Magneto, and Phoenix will not receive balance changes this time, but their impact on the meta will be closely monitored.
Balance changes are only one aspect of Marvel Rivals Season 4`s new features. The game will introduce a new Vanguard hero, the Asgardian Angela. She will be capable of wielding various weapons depending on the situation: a spear to break through enemy lines, dual axes for damaging foes, and a shield for blocking incoming attacks.
Team-up abilities will also undergo significant changes. Thor and Angela will gain a new combined ability allowing Thor to throw one of Angela`s spears and then teleport to it. Existing team-up abilities will be revised: “Dimensional Shortcut” will be removed. Instead, Magik will join the “Arcane Order” team-up, and Black Panther will become part of Hulk`s “Gamma Charge” team-up, granting him a gamma shield when at critical health.
NetEase also confirmed several additional features that will arrive with Marvel Rivals Season 4. These include: the permanent addition of “Clone Rumble” and “Giant-Size Brain Blast” to Arcade mode, a new map, the ability for all players to see custom ultimate ability visual effects (with an option to disable it), and a new wave of summer-themed skins for heroes such as Mantis, Punisher, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing. NetEase also announced work on implementing competitive placement matches in response to feedback about the game`s current seasonal rank resets, though this feature will not be part of Season 4.
Marvel Rivals Season 4 will launch on September 12, coinciding with the game`s release on PlayStation 4.