In a strategic move to enhance gameplay and boost the appeal of underutilized characters, NetEase Games introduced significant balance adjustments to the heroes of Marvel Rivals in January, coinciding with the launch of Season 1. These updates have had a profound impact, particularly on characters like Storm and Black Widow.
Storm, in particular, has seen a remarkable transformation. After the updates, her abilities received substantial enhancements, catapulting her to the top of the win rate charts on Rivals Meta. Previously languishing in the lower echelons of hero selection, Storm now boasts an impressive win percentage of over 56% in competitive mode, with her pick rate soaring to 16%. This represents a staggering leap from her former obscurity, where she barely registered a 1% pick rate. Storm now outshines many established heroes, including Adam Warlock, Jeff, Spider-Man, Hela, Hulk, Magic, and Iron Man.
Despite Storm's rise, the duo of Cloak and Dagger remains the most popular character pairing of Season 1. However, their win percentage has dipped below 49%, indicating a shift in the game's meta. On the other end of the spectrum, Black Widow continues to struggle, remaining the least sought-after and least successful character in the game.
With a thriving player base numbering in the hundreds of thousands, Marvel Rivals is experiencing significant growth, especially in its competitive mode. The coveted Grandmaster title, held by only 0.1% of all players, underscores the exclusivity of this achievement, even above the Celestial rank. Attaining such heights is no small feat, yet one player has achieved something extraordinary during the first season. Playing as Rocket Raccoon, this player reached Grandmaster status without taking any damage in all 108 games played. Their focus was solely on healing teammates, amassing over 2.9 million health points restored and nearly 3,500 assists, all while avoiding any knockouts.
