To enhance gameplay and increase the appeal of certain characters, NetEase Games made substantial adjustments to the balance of heroes in Marvel Rivals as Season 1 kicked off in January. These updates have particularly transformed the roles of Storm and Black Widow, who were previously underplayed.
Storm has seen a remarkable surge in popularity and effectiveness after receiving significant buffs. According to Rivals Meta, her win rate has soared to the top, marking a significant leap from her earlier standings on the hero selection list. In competitive mode, Storm now boasts a win percentage above 56% and her pick rate has climbed to 16%, a stark contrast to her previous negligible 1%.
She now outshines popular heroes such as Adam Warlock, Jeff, Spider-Man, Hela, Hulk, Magic, Iron Man, and many others. Despite this shift, the most favored character duo of the season remains Cloak and Dagger, although their win rate has slipped below 49%. Conversely, Black Widow continues to be the least popular and least successful character in the game.
Marvel Rivals is thriving with hundreds of thousands of players engaging in both casual and competitive modes. The coveted Grandmaster title is achieved by only 0.1% of players, making it an elite achievement even above the Celestial rank. Reaching such heights is challenging, but one player achieved a feat that's nothing short of astonishing. In the first season, this player reached Grandmaster status without taking any damage across 108 games, focusing solely on healing teammates while playing as Rocket Raccoon. They managed to restore over 2.9 million health points and recorded nearly 3,500 assists, all while avoiding knockouts.
