Marvel Rivals is kicking off a new event on May 2nd that rewards players with a free “Patch” Wolverine skin. The event features three sections of challenges. The first involves exploring parts of the map and claiming welcome gifts such as chrono tokens. The second requires completing in-game tasks to earn X coins, which can be redeemed for cosmetics, including an Emma Frost emote featuring Cerebro. The final phase includes a skin voting event themed around the Hellfire Gala, which upon completion will grant the free Wolverine cosmetic with a special MVP animation.

Strategist Class Receives Major Buffs

A number of strategist heroes are being improved in the April 30 patch:

  • Adam Warlock now benefits from a cooldown reduction mechanic. When landing critical hits using Quantum Magic, the Avatar of Life ability cooldown is reduced by 1 second. This change significantly increases Adam’s healing potential, especially in the hands of accurate players.

  • Cloak and Dagger have both received base damage increases. Cloak’s Dark Force Cloak now does 80 damage per second, up from 75. Dagger’s damage is up from 15 to 18, helping players who rely on dual-use healing and damage.

  • Luna Snow’s damage falloff at range has been improved. Her attacks now deal 75% damage at 40 meters, instead of 60%, which is especially impactful given her natural backline positioning.

  • Mantis’ primary fire damage has been increased from 50 to 55, enhancing her effectiveness in both healing and damage when paired with self-buffs and well-placed headshots.

Small Nerfs for Captain America, Spider-Man, and Groot

While most changes are buffs, a few targeted nerfs are included:

  • Captain America‘s base health has been reduced from 650 to 600, though this is counterbalanced by his team-up with Winter Soldier, which boosts his health to 700 and to 950 while using his ultimate.

  • The Captain America and Winter Soldier team-up has been enhanced to heal 50 HP for all nearby teammates upon leap activation. This makes the team-up more viable and gives Bookie a much-needed support role.

  • Groot sees a nerf to his Ironwood Wall, reducing its health from 700 to 600, while his own base health remains unchanged at 850.

  • Spider-Man‘s uppercut range has been reduced from 5 meters to 4 meters. Although it’s only a one-meter change, it tightens the hitbox for his combo, but is unlikely to dramatically change matchups.

Winter Soldier’s New Dual-Charge Ability

Winter Soldier (Bucky) receives a functional buff to his Tainted Voltage ability. It now supports two charge levels without affecting the cooldown. This allows players to stack up two charges, offering more flexibility during skirmishes. For instance, if one E shot misses, the second can be fired immediately, making his combos more consistent. This change synergizes well with the 12-second cooldown of his bionic hook, giving Bookie a stronger presence in fights.

The April 30 Marvel Rivals patch sets the stage for significant gameplay improvements ahead of the May 2 event. The free Wolverine skin adds visual flair, while balance changes make strategist heroes more competitive. Minor nerfs to Captain America, Groot, and Spider-Man aim to keep the meta stable, and buffs to Winter Soldier hint at a stronger support/offense hybrid role going forward.