The Marvel Rivals Season 3 patch notes introduce sweeping changes to several characters, ability reworks, team-up bonuses, and new mechanics aimed at reshaping the current meta. Key heroes like Emma Frost, The Thing, Iron Man, and Wolverine receive significant attention, while new pairings like Phoenix and Wolverine or Spider-Man and Human Torch bring fresh dynamics to team play.
Emma Frost, The Thing, and Venom Changes in Season 3
Season 3 kicks off with rebalancing across all hero classes, starting with the Vanguards. Emma Frost sees a damage nerf to her Telepathic Pulse at higher energy levels. The output drops from 120 to 110 per second at 99 energy, and from 150 to 140 per second at 100 energy. Additionally, her Diamond Form damage reduction decreases from 30% to 25%. To compensate slightly, her ultimate energy cost has been reduced.
The Thing receives a substantial upgrade through his Battle Blitz ability. This lets him leap 20 meters toward enemies while gaining a 25% damage reduction. When activated, it automatically triggers Stone Haymaker, now enhanced to knock down flying targets—marking a clear answer to the airborne meta.
Venom receives a simple yet impactful buff. His Cellular Corrosion now slows enemies by 25%, up from 15%, making his dives more punishing and coordinated assaults more effective.
Human Torch, Iron Man, and Spider-Man Adjustments (Marvel Rivals Season 3 News)
Human Torch joins Spider-Man in a new team-up that grants him a 5% damage increase. To maintain balance, the developers tuned down some of his ability numbers.
. Fire Cluster projectiles now deal 5.5 damage (down from 6), Supernova’s shockwave damage drops from 80 to 75, and Fire Tornado ticks at 110 per second instead of 120. Despite these reductions, the team-up boost results in only a marginal net decrease.
Iron Man is nerfed again. The first two hits of Repulsor Blast in Armor Overdrive now deal 35 and 45 damage (down from 40 and 50, respectively). On top of that, his ultimate energy cost rises significantly—from 2,800 to 3,400—reducing its availability in matches.
Spider-Man’s loss of his team-up with Squirrel Girl translates to a 10% overall damage reduction. Small increases to Get Over Here Kick (50 to 55) and Amazing Combo Uppercut (55 to 60) essentially cancel out the damage loss on paper, but his Spider Tracers and melee combo effectiveness take a visible hit.
Strategist and Support Hero Reworks
Several support and strategist heroes also received major reworks, particularly Mantis and Invisible Woman. Mantis’s Healing Flower now heals an additional 2.5% of an ally’s maximum health per second, while its base healing drops from 20 to 12.5 per second. This favors high-HP allies like Groot, Venom, and Emma Frost, turning Mantis into a powerful Vanguard support pick.
Invisible Woman’s healing and damage values were shifted—Primary Fire now heals and damages for 45 on the way out and 35 on return (formerly 40 both ways). This makes her healing more consistent when used offensively.
Scarlet Witch’s Ultimate sees a slow effect reduction (35% to 25%), but a major damage bump (750 to 850), enabling one-shot eliminations on lower-health characters like Groot. Loki’s ultimate energy cost increases slightly, from 4,000 to 4,300.
Wolverine, Phoenix, and New Team-Up Bonuses
Wolverine now benefits from the Phoenix Warrior passive when teamed up with Phoenix. Each Feral Leap grants life steal and ignites enemies nearby. The update increases Feral Leap’s cooldown from 12 to 15 seconds but also boosts its duration from 4 to 5 seconds. This pairing gives Phoenix a 10% damage boost, though players have yet to see how it influences the meta.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man gains Inferno Blast when paired with Human Torch, allowing him to fire a new tracer that causes explosive damage and lets him combo into normal Spider Tracer attacks.
Other new or adjusted team-ups include:
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Squirrel Girl and Iron Man: Grants Squirrel Girl a lock-on missile.
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Hela and Venom: Launching orbs now emit venom tendrils that slow enemies.
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Venom and Jeff: Team-up duration increased from 3 to 5 seconds; bonus HP now 100.
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Star-Lord, Mantis, and Adam Warlock: Team-up cooldown increased from 120 to 135 seconds.
Ultron, Punisher, and Others Receive Targeted Tweaks (Marvel Rivals Season 3 Nerws)
Ultron’s Dynamic Flight duration is shortened from 8 to 6 seconds, and his Firewall bonus health sees a minor reduction. Punisher’s Turret and Spellfield damage drop from 12 to 10 per projectile, and his ultimate cost increases from 3,400 to 3,700.
Winter Soldier receives a positive tweak—his damage fall-off at 40 meters improves from 60% to 70%, enhancing his long-range output.
