Marvel Rivals dev brings crucial nerfs players begged for

Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 has arrived with hero balancing tweaks, new Team-Up powers, and a surprise new patch that further shifts the meta. Ultron was included as a new Strategist hero with the update, which also included a new Arakko map and six new Team-Ups, including fan favorites Jeff-Nado (Storm and Jeff the Land Shark) and Rocket Network (Peni Parker and Rocket Raccoon).

Jeff’s kit now prioritizes constant healing over mobility, while Thor’s Awakened state has been buffed for balance. Buffs to Moon Knight and Star-Lord aim to increase their competitive viability. However, the Jeff and Storm Team-Up has sparked outrage, with players complaining about the team’s overpowering synergy, which allows Storm to dominate matches with crowd control and Jeff to heal. But the latest June 19 patch addresses this issue and nerfs it even further, which fans have praised.

Latest Marvel Rivals patch nerfs Jeff and Storm’s team-up after fan outrage

The June 19 patch for Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 included targeted nerfs to Storm’s Omega Hurricane ultimate and the Jeff-Nado Team-Up, in response to player outrage over their dominance. The Jeff-Nado synergy, which combines Storm’s tornado with Jeff the Land Shark’s devouring ultimate, has become a meta-defining power since its May 30 debut, overwhelming opponents with crowd control and damage.

The patch raised Storm’s ultimate energy cost from 3100 to 3400, limiting its frequency, and lengthened Jeff-Nado’s devour duration from 1.2s to 1.5s, making it less severe for trapped enemies. These improvements, revealed in patch notes, are intended to balance the combo without sacrificing its flair.

Players have mainly praised the change for restoring competitive balance and keeping the Team-Up’s unique flavor. The nerfs enable counterplay, like faster escapes from Jeff-Nado’s clutches, and limit Storm’s ability to chain ultimates, providing opponents breathing room. Players also recommend buffs for underperforming players, such as Moon Knight, which help to vary the metagame. While some feel Storm deserved survivability buffs instead, the opinion is mostly positive, with fans calling the patch “a step towards fairness.”