Marvel Games and NetEase Games have revealed all the details for Season 4 of Marvel Rivals, titled “Heart of the Dragon”. The new season of the acclaimed PVP superhero team shooter will begin this September 12, bringing with it a new heroine, major balance changes, a new map, and multiple content updates that promise to revamp the gaming experience.
The game’s fourth season will be available on PS4 from the very day of its release, allowing more players to join the action in the Marvel Multiverse.
The Legend of K’un-Lun and the Arrival of Angela
The plot of this season takes us to the ancient east, where the Capital Cities of Heaven, led by the mythical K’un-Lun, can no longer hide in their pocket dimensions. The convergence of the “Heart of Heaven” has caught the attention of Doctor Doom, who seeks to take advantage of the immortal dragon, Shou-Lao, being frozen in time.
This new narrative connects with mysteries from previous seasons, such as that of the baby Iron Fist, whose existence draws her sister, the former Asgardian assassin, Angela, into the conflict. As a new Vanguard-type heroine, Angela is a formidable warrior who uses “Icors”, a liquid metal, to mold an arsenal of weapons. She can charge into combat with a sharp spear, defend herself with a sturdy shield, and unleash her power with dual axes to protect her allies and crush her enemies.
Along with her, a new map for the Convergence mode called “K’un-Lun: Heart of Heaven” is introduced, which will be available starting September 25.
Power Readjustment: The Big Balance Changes
In the “Dev Vision Vol. 09” video, the developers explained their philosophy for this season’s adjustments. Based on extensive “combat data” collection and the performance of professional players from the IGNITE circuit, the team has focused on “specific balance changes” to fix both the weakest heroes and those who have dominated the meta for too long.
The Big Winners of Season 4
For this update, the developers sought to boost characters that were on the lower end of the power spectrum or that, despite having a high play rate, were not entirely effective. The heroes receiving buffs, either directly or through adjustments to their Team-Ups, are:
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Thor
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Peni Parker
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Doctor Strange
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Moon Knight
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Scarlet Witch
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Ultron
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Jeff The Land Shark
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Invisible Woman
From this list, Thor and Doctor Strange benefit doubly thanks to the new team ability adjustments, which will give them a much more significant presence on the battlefield.
The Most Anticipated Nerfs
Following the same logic of data analysis and community feedback, several heroes who have been at the top will see their power reduced. The goal is to diversify strategies and make more characters in the roster viable. The heroes who will receive nerfs in Season 4 are:
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Magik
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Psylocke
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Black Panther
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Luna Snow
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Loki
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Emma Frost
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Captain America
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Squirrel Girl
It is interesting to note that four of the eight nerfed characters are “dive” (fast assault) types. According to statistics, compositions of this style were dominating matches in mid and high ranks, so these adjustments seek to balance the pace of the game. Although full details were not provided, it was confirmed that Psylocke’s burst damage, Black Panther’s survivability, Luna Snow’s ultimate ability duration, and Loki’s damage and healing will be reduced.
Synergies in Battle: Team-Ups News
Team abilities, one of the key mechanics of Marvel Rivals, will also receive a major update.
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New Team-Up: Divine Armory [Thor, Angela] Thor finally leaves his old synergy with Hela to join his sister, Angela. With this ability, the God of Thunder will be able to throw a Thunder Spear and teleport to it, dealing area damage and recovering his “Thorforce” resource.
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Removed Team-Up: Dimensional Shortcut [Black Panther, Magik] Two of the most popular “dive” heroes lose their combined ability. This means that Black Panther will no longer be able to travel back in time to a previous position, and Magik will lose her damage bonus. Both characters will be integrated into other existing Team-Ups.
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Adjusted Team-Up: Arcane Order [Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Magik] Magik joins the Arcane Order. Her new contribution is a chain that can link two enemies, slowing them down. The effect intensifies the further they move away from each other, which will be a very useful tool to control enemy Supports.
Beyond the Battlefield: Other Updates
Season 4 will also include a series of quality-of-life improvements and new game modes. The Arcade Mode will be revamped with a unified hub from where players can access permanent modes such as Clone Clash and Giant Brain.
Two new modes will be added: Free-for-All, where there will be no restrictions on duplicate heroes per team, and Conquest (Annihilation), where players accumulate points for eliminations. To make character selection easier, a Favorites Bar will be implemented, allowing players to pin their most used heroes for quick access.
Finally, the costume trial program for college students will continue with a new batch of 10 outfits and MVP animations available to those who verify their institutional email address.
