Wolverine’s dominance didn’t last long in Season 3 of Marvel Rivals.
Only a few days into the new season, NetEase announced balance changes targeting Logan for solid reasons.
The meta was completely disrupted by his new Team-Up move with Phoenix. Players tapping into Phoenix’s fiery energy and Wolverine’s aggressive moves can outpace enemies by burning them and healing rapidly.
It didn’t take long for this combo to start wrecking Vanguards and frustrating players across every skill bracket.
What Made the Phoenix Team-Up So Overpowered?
The core skill is Primal Flame, which lets Wolverine inflict burn damage over time while healing himself as he attacks.
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+ 3This turned him into a nightmare for tank players. Heroes that once had a decent shot, such as Emma Frost, began facing difficulties, and players quickly took to forums and social media to voice frustrations over Wolverine’s high survivability.
Developers were quick to acknowledge the issue, even using some tongue-in-cheek phrasing by describing Wolverine and Phoenix’s combined strength as turning Vanguard battles into “mutiny,” not heroism.
Which of Wolverine’s Abilities Were Adjusted?
Patch notes released before the July 17 Summer Event confirmed Wolverine’s power would be nerfed, first being the cooldown for his Regenerative Healing Factor extended from 90 to 105 seconds, with the cooldown reduction from takedowns also slightly reduced.
click to enlarge+ 3The Berserk Claw Strike now does more base damage but less bonus damage from rage, which means less burst potential at full charge. The biggest tweak targets the lifesteal effect during Phoenix Warrior.
Previously, Wolverine could heal for a massive 33% of the damage dealt while the ability was active. It’s been reduced to 25%, which will limit his stamina in longer fights.
Phoenix wasn’t directly nerfed, but the change to her Team-Up with Logan might affect how often she gets picked. This balance update wasn’t the only thing NetEase had planned.
It came out at the same time as the Summer Special event, which adds new costumes, themed bundles, and a few bug fixes.
How Will This Affect the Meta?
Looking at Wolverine’s current usage rates, the nerf was clearly needed.
click to enlarge+ 3He ranked as the second most chosen Duelist in the game, with only Phoenix ahead of him, thanks to her boosted stats from being new.
Since his healing, burst damage, and synergy have been reduced, other Duelists have more room to excel, and Vanguards can fight back.
NetEase’s decision to nerf just before the event seems planned to stop a dominant hero from spoiling the experience.
We don’t yet know if this nerf will restore full balance. But at least for the moment, the devs are listening, and Wolverine’s claws won’t slice through everything without some checks.
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