These 5 Marvel Rivals characters desperately need a nerf

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can confidently say that the current state of Marvel Rivals is both exhilarating and infuriating in equal measure. The game boasts an impressive roster of 33 characters, each with their unique strengths and weaknesses, but some stand head and shoulders above the rest, making for a rather unbalanced playing field.

There’s no denying that not every character from the Marvel Rivals universe is balanced; some have been given abilities that make them too powerful. These powerhouses, whether they be heroes or villains, urgently require a reduction in their capabilities.

Achieving balance is crucial in every hero-based shooter, yet it’s remarkably challenging to execute; this is something Overwatch can attest to, even after eight years since its debut and continuous roster adjustments. Marvel Rivals has made its entrance with a massive roster of 33 characters, each possessing unique strengths and weaknesses. However, some characters seem significantly more powerful compared to others.

So, here are 5 Marvel Rivals characters that need a nerf in a future update.

Jeff the Land Shark

As a devoted fan, let me tell you, Jeff the Land Shark is undeniably one of the most challenging characters to go up against in Marvel Rivals at launch. With his adorable exterior hiding an arsenal of formidable abilities, he’s both a delight and a headache. His healing capabilities are nothing short of incredible, and his long-range damage can leave opponents reeling. However, when skilled players get their hands on him, he becomes nearly invincible, making him a formidable foe indeed.

As a fan, I can say that he possesses an incredible ability – he can dive beneath the map’s surface, leaving only his fin above water, making him a hard-to-spot target and buying him precious time to escape tricky situations. To make matters worse for his enemies, this maneuver also serves as a healing mechanism, boosting his survival rate far beyond any other character in the game.

Reducing the strength of Jeff’s Aqua Burst long-range attack could help balance him out, since removing Hide and Seek from his arsenal makes him more of a specialized healer. This way, Jeff remains potent in healing but becomes less versatile in other roles.

Venom

If you’ve engaged in numerous Marvel Rivals battles post-launch, it’s likely that you’ve grown tired of frequently encountering Venom. Given the game primarily revolves around Duelists, this notorious symbiote has been found to outshine other Vanguards significantly as the top choice.

It’s clear why; he delivers powerful punches, has the ability to reinforce himself during combat for better chances of survival, and can escape danger if things become too intense. He possesses the power to drastically alter the course of a match, and I’ve had to switch to Venom numerous times to rescue my team from certain defeat.

Adjusting his abilities excessively might render them pointless, but reducing his initial health slightly could balance things out. Although his large health pool makes him a great choice for newcomers, at the moment, he’s a tad overpowering in causing destruction, or “carnage.

Iron Fist

Amongst the renowned figures in Marvel Rivals, it’s surprising that the martial arts expert, Iron Fist, has turned out to be one of the most overpowered characters. Since the game’s launch, players have been clamoring for a balance adjustment due to his strength.

A Duelist who excels at closing in on enemies and getting up close and personal is generally frustrating to face off against, but Iron First takes it to an entirely new dimension. He packs a punch that rivals a heavy-duty truck, has the ability to self-heal nearly nonstop, and what’s more surprising, he can move faster than Iron Man when linking abilities together.

When considering improvements for balance, it’s crucial to focus on enhancing his mobility and healing abilities. A modest decrease in the range of his melee attacks and a reduction of the Chi Absorption Passive health bonus per kill from 50 to 25 would make him powerful while still having noticeable vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

Moon Knight

Many top-tier Duelists have notable drawbacks, such as limited mobility or reach. However, Moon Knight stands out by performing exceptionally well across almost all aspects that matter for a character dishing out damage.

His main attack is incredibly destructive across all distances, and its ability to ricochet onto several opponents without losing power enables him to obliterate entire teams quickly if they’re not working together. Moreover, his Ancient Ankh allows him to strike targets from behind cover, and he can either grapple or glide off for healing when necessary.

This equipment fits him perfectly, aligning well with his personality, so it doesn’t require drastic changes. A modest decrease in damage when reflecting attacks off enemies or Ankhs, and a slight overall reduction in damage output could be sufficient adjustments.

The Punisher

The Punisher serves as an ideal choice for beginners, similar to Soldier 76 in Overwatch. He embodies this role exceptionally well. Among all characters, his equipment is the most quickly grasped due to his formidable assault rifle and shotgun. However, there’s a fine balance as he can be a bit too straightforward to master.

Among all his powerful skills, it’s the Culling Turret that causes the most destruction. This ability creates a large, fortified turret that swiftly annihilates enemies, similar to Bastion in his Assault mode but without a time limit and an ammunition capacity of 200 rounds.

In appropriate instances and configurations, the Culling Turret can be incredibly overpowering and possesses only a handful of vulnerabilities. Fortunately, rectifying this issue is relatively simple – grant it unlimited ammunition, but enforce a tight time limit and extend the cool-down period.

Over the next few weeks, there will likely be numerous adjustments to maintain balance in Marvel Rivals, and this will become more pronounced with the arrival of Season 1. Therefore, it’s possible that you might see several or even all characters receiving reductions in power, also known as nerfs.

2024-12-11 16:48