To enhance the gameplay experience and boost the popularity of underplayed characters like Storm and Black Widow, NetEase Games implemented significant balance adjustments to Marvel Rivals' heroes as Season 1 kicked off in January. These updates have notably transformed the game's dynamics.
Storm, in particular, has seen remarkable improvements, skyrocketing her popularity and effectiveness. According to Rivals Meta, she now holds the top spot in win rate, a significant leap from her previous standing on the hero selection list. In competitive mode, Storm boasts an impressive win percentage of over 56% and her pick rate has surged to 16%, a stark contrast to her previous negligible pick rate of less than 1%. She now outshines formidable heroes like Adam Warlock, Jeff, Spider-Man, Hela, Hulk, Magic, Iron Man, and others.
Despite Storm's rise, the most popular character duo of the first season remains Cloak and Dagger, though their win percentage has dipped below 49%. On the other end of the spectrum, Black Widow continues to be the least sought-after and least successful character in the game.
With hundreds of thousands of players actively engaging with Marvel Rivals, including its competitive mode, the game is witnessing substantial growth. Achieving the Grandmaster title is an elite feat, attainable by only 0.1% of players, even with the existence of the Celestial rank.
Reaching such heights is challenging, but one player has pulled off an extraordinary achievement during the first season. This player reached Grandmaster 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.
