Seeing the Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update patch notes is one thing, but checking the changes side by side is a whole different beast. In this article, we’ll break down what’s shifting in Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 from buffs to nerfs and what it means for your gameplay heading into the new meta. These updates are based on the official patch notes released by NetEase Games.
Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update: Vanguard changes – Angela and Venom
Angela
The Vanguard hero Angela gains an increase to her bonus health when she uses Axes of Ichors after activating Divine Judgement. The bonus health per enemy hit rises from 30 to 40, and for allies from 15 to 20.
What this means: Angela becomes slightly more durable and better at supporting teammates via bonus health. The change is small but noticeable for prolonging skirmishes and securing kills.
Tip: Use Angela’s plunge into ground axes more aggressively in engagements now that the health payoff is higher.
Venom
Venom’s Ultimate, Feast of the Abyss, now applies a 30% healing reduction to enemies hit, lasting 4 seconds.
Why this matters: In high-tier play, Venom already excels, and this tweak makes him stronger at shutting down support or self-heal builds. The developers appear to be targeting triple support compositions with this change.
Strategy: Prioritize hitting key healers or supports with Venom’s ultimate to maximize value from the healing reduction.
Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update: Duelist changes – Blade, Hela, Human Torch, Iron Fist, Mister Fantastic, Phoenix, Psylocke
Blade
Blade gets multiple adjustments:
- Daywalker Dash secondary attack range increased from 4.5 m to 6.5 m.
- Duration of each slash speed attack gained during Bloodline Awakening raised from 0.7 s to 1 s.
- New effect: landing all four hits of Whirlwind Slash grants 1 slash speed stack.
Impact: Blade becomes more lethal and effective in dive or backline roles. The increased range and attack speed mean faster burst potential.
Advice: Play Blade more aggressively when diving enemy supports or squishies; you now hit harder and faster.
Hela
Hela receives a buff in this Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update. Her Astral Flock start-up cast time is reduced, and after casting she gains 25 bonus health.
Why this helps: The quicker escape allows Hela to reposition or evade dives more reliably; the bonus health is modest but useful in clutch moments.
Human Torch
Human Torch takes a nerf across multiple fronts:
- Fire Cluster hit damage per projectile reduced from 5.5 to 5.
- New 0.5 s delay before ammo begins to replenish after shots.
- Plasma Body movement speed lowered from 900 to 850 units per second.
Interpretation: The nerfs collectively reduce Torch’s mobility and damage output. You can’t rely on his previous speed and power; engagements need more caution.
Iron Fist
Iron Fist gets a nuanced change for Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update:
- Fixed damage of Yat Jee Chung Kuen lowered from 9 to 8.
- Percentage damage of the enemy’s max health per strike increased from 2.7% to 3.1%.
What this means: Against squishier foes the change may feel negligible, but against tanky targets Iron Fist becomes more effective.
Mister Fantastic
Mr. Fantastic gets a control improvement: whenever he successfully uses Distended Grip, the enemy now suffers a 1-second immobilize.
Why this matters: Mobile heroes used to dodge his grabs more easily; this extra second of lock-down helps punish them and create follow-up opportunities.
Phoenix
Phoenix faces major nerfs:
- Melee attacks no longer stack Sparks (which previously amplified her damage).
- Primary weapon ammo no longer replenishes during Dark Ascent (flight mode).
- Added 1 s cooldown to Dark Ascent.
Result: Phoenix drops from SS tier down to just good. Her previous burst and sustain are curbed.
Psylocke
In this Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update, Psylocke gets a buff:
- Self slow rate during Dance of the Butterfly (Ultimate) reduced from 30% to 15%.
- Each strike’s damage from the ultimate increased from 150 to 170.
Impact: Her follow-up potential and damage output both improve. She’s likely to be more consistent at finishing off escaping targets and feels smoother to maneuver.
Strategist/Support changes: Cloak & Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, Rocket Raccoon, Ultron
Cloak & Dagger
Their Ultimate Eternal Bond now costs more energy, increased from 4300 to 4500. This mild nerf affects ultimate timing.
Jeff the Land Shark
Jeff’s passive Oblivious Cuteness has its crit damage reduction lowered from 70% to 50%, making him slightly more vulnerable to enemy crits.
Rocket Raccoon
Rocket’s Ultimate C.Y.A. gets its Damage Boost increased from 25% to 40%, significantly improving his team support and offensive power.
Ultron
Ultron faces nerfs on the support front in the Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update:
- Healing amount from Imperative: Patch reduced from 35 to 30, and healing bonus to nearby allies reduced from 10 to 5.
- Energy cost of Ultimate Rage of Ultron increased from 3400 to 3700.
Interpretation: Ultron becomes less desirable as a pure support; his utility is scaled back, discouraging triple support team compositions.
Team-Up ability changes
Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update introduces new Team-Up synergies and modifies older ones:
- New: Bestial Hunt (Daredevil and The Punisher) – Daredevil gains +25 max health and +5% damage; Punisher unlocks a new ability.
- New: Deep Wrath (Hela and Namor) – Namor gains the Tidal Dirge ability.
- Adjusted: Arcane Order (Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch or Magik) cooldown increased from 15 s to 20 s, slow reduced from 60% to 40%.
- Adjusted: Gamma Charge (Hulk and Namor or Black Panther) – Namor loses Gamma Monstro ability.
- Removed: Ragnarok Rebirth (Hela and Thor) has been removed.
Meta overview
The Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update shifts away from triple support heavy teams by nerfing key supports like Ultron while buffing dive and burst heroes such as Blade and Psylocke. Phoenix’s dominance is curbed, allowing other heroes to thrive. New Team-Ups like Daredevil and Punisher or Hela and Namor could reshape ranked play. Expect mobility and sustain to define the new Season 4.5 meta.
FAQs Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 Updates
1. What is the main goal of the Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update?
The main goal is to rebalance heroes to reduce dominant triple support strategies and refresh the meta with new viable picks.
2. Which heroes received only buffs?
Psylocke and Blade are among the heroes that received buffs without notable drawbacks.
3. Are there any removed Team-Up abilities?
Yes, the Ragnarok Rebirth Team-Up between Hela and Thor has been completely removed.
4. Which heroes should new players avoid right now?
New players should be cautious with heavily nerfed heroes such as Phoenix and Ultron until they’re more comfortable with game balance.
5. When did Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 launch?
Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 update launched on October 10, 2025 at 09:00 UTC, introducing all of these hero and Team-Up changes.
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