Season 1.5 Hero Buffs and Nerfs Explained
Gaming
Feb 26, 2025
Season 1.5 redefines the gameplay in Marvel Rivals with significant hero buffs and nerfs, promoting aggressive strategies over healing-focused tactics.
Season 1.5 in Marvel Rivals changes everything. Key updates include buffs to heroes like Iron Man (+20/s Unibeam damage) and Black Widow (expanded magazine size), while nerfs hit Storm (reduced self-buff) and Doctor Strange (-50 HP). These tweaks shift the meta toward aggressive playstyles, reducing the dominance of healing-focused strategies.
What’s New?
Buffs: Improved damage, health, and mobility for heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, and Star-Lord.
Nerfs: Reduced ultimate frequency and healing for supports like Luna Snow and Invisible Woman.
Technical Upgrades: NVIDIA DLSS 4 and AMD Anti-Lag 2 for smoother gameplay.
These changes encourage faster, more aggressive combat and creative team setups. Dive into Season 1.5 with reworked strategies and adapt to the evolving meta.
Every Hero Change in Season 1.5 - Side-by-Side Gameplay Comparison
1. Hero Power Increases
Season 1.5 brings updates that improve several heroes' damage, durability, and mobility. Iron Man gets a notable boost: his Unibeam damage rises from 120/s to 140/s during Armor Overdrive. This makes him more effective even without relying on Gamma Charge synergy.
Captain America sees upgrades to his survivability and combat performance. The Vibranium Energy Saw now travels at 80m/s (up from 60m/s), with ricochets hitting speeds of 150m/s (previously 100m/s).
Other heroes also receive health and weapon improvements:
Hawkeye's health increases to 275.
Iron Fist's health goes up to 300.
Black Widow's Red Room Rifle magazine expands to 15 rounds.
"Iron Fist is about to become the most banned character in the game next to Wolverine I think. Giving him more health and more damage will let him terrorize the backline with ease." - CanadianAlfredo, Grand Master Rivals player
Star-Lord benefits from a 50% increase in jet boot fuel capacity, going from 1200 to 1800. This change enhances his ability to flank and escape effectively.
Adam Warlock also gets attention, with Quantum Magic damage increasing from 55 to 60 and Soul Bond offering stronger healing. These tweaks position him as a more versatile and strategic pick.
These adjustments lay the groundwork for broader balance changes, which are explored in the next section.
2. Hero Power Decreases
Season 1.5 brings noticeable reductions in power for several heroes. Storm's long-range damage and self-buff have been scaled back (from 16% to 12%), while her ally bonus gets a slight boost (from 8% to 10%). This adjustment shifts her focus more toward a support role.
Doctor Strange now has 50 fewer HP, making positioning and precise team coordination even more critical during battles.
Strategist-class heroes also see changes to their ultimates:
These tweaks have a major impact on the support meta. Professional player Carver Fisher notes, "A ton of power has been taken out of support players' hands".
The changes push the meta toward emphasizing individual skill and mechanical precision. Luna Snow, for example, now faces a significant challenge as her ultimate, "Fate of Both Worlds", has the highest energy cost in the game.
Introduced on February 21, 2025, these updates also aim to address Storm's dominance in competitive play. Following her Season 1 buffs, she had become one of the most frequently banned characters. These adjustments highlight a growing focus on positioning, teamwork, and individual performance.
Effects on Game Balance
The latest patch doesn't just tweak individual heroes - it shakes up team dynamics and reshapes the meta. These changes redefine strategies and alter how players approach competitive play.
One major update involves adjustments to Strategist-class heroes. Grand Master player CanadianAlfredo shared their perspective:
"Considering the entire meta currently revolves around the healers negating ultimates, these nerfs will definitely cause a shift in what strategists we see the most of".
Here’s how the meta has shifted:
The improved Unibeam and jet boot fuel have sparked the rise of 'flying compositions.' Human Torch’s addition further boosts aerial strategies, giving teams more flexibility in air-based combat.
Team synergy is also evolving. The weakened Gamma Charge has reduced the effectiveness of the Hulk/Iron Man pairing, while the upgraded Symbiote Bond now creates exciting synergies between Spider-Man and Peni Parker.
Adam Warlock stands out with his upgraded Quantum Magic and healing abilities, offering an alternative to traditional healers. Meanwhile, Iron Fist’s changes make him a strong counter to aerial strategies, and Storm’s adjustments pull back her dominance in competitive play.
"If you were on the fence about Rocket Raccoon before, now may be a good time to try him out".
Overall, the patch encourages a faster, more aggressive playstyle. With healing reduced and ultimates less frequent, teams need sharp coordination and precise positioning to succeed. Defensive ultimate cycling is no longer the go-to strategy - it’s all about proactive, well-timed engagements.
Conclusion
Season 1.5 brings a shift in Marvel Rivals' gameplay, leaning toward faster, more aggressive combat. Key updates to heroes like Iron Man, Star-Lord, and Adam Warlock adjust their roles on the battlefield - Iron Man's beam, Star-Lord's mobility, and Adam Warlock's healing have all been fine-tuned to support a more offensive playstyle.
These changes push players to rethink their strategies. With healing-focused builds becoming less dominant, aggressive tactics and creative hero combinations are set to take center stage. Winning in Season 1.5 will require sharp positioning, solid team coordination, and the ability to adapt to the game's quicker pace.
For in-depth guides, tier lists, and strategy advice to tackle these updates, check out Marvel Rivals Guides & Tier List at https://marvelrivalsmeta.com.