If you've been playing Marvel Rivals since the Season 6 "Night at the Museum" update dropped in January, you know things have been... a bit chaotic. Deadpool is everywhere, the meta is shifting, and let’s be honest—some heroes feel just a little too "main character" right now.
But the real talk right now is centered on the Marvel Rivals patch notes Feb 21.
This mid-season update is basically the developers at NetEase coming in with a fire extinguisher. While the January 16 patch gave us the Merc with a Mouth and the weirdly fun "Whac-A-Jeff" event, Feb 21 is where the actual math of the game gets a serious reality check. If you’re wondering why your favorite Vanguard suddenly feels like they’re made of paper, or why Captain America is suddenly flying across the map like a star-spangled cruise missile, this is the reason.
The Captain America Problem (And Why He's Now Terrifying)
Everyone has a "Cap" story from the last month. You'd dive in, throw the shield, and then just sort of stand there getting punched in the face while waiting for the frisbee to come back. It was awkward.
The Feb 21 patch finally addresses the "frisbee downtime."
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Basically, Steve Rogers can now use melee attacks while his shield is mid-air or during the "Charged Aegis" team-up state. This sounds like a small tweak. It isn't. It means his Sentinel Strike combo stays active even when he’s technically "unarmed." But the real kicker? He can now shield himself with Living Legend while leaping.
Before this, jumping as Cap was a death sentence against a decent Hanzo—I mean, Hawkeye. Now, he’s a mobile tank that doesn't have to choose between movement and survival.
Speed is the New Meta
The projectile speed of his Vibranium Energy Saw got a massive bump. We're talking 60m/s up to 80m/s. If that shield ricochets? It ramps up to 150m/s. You're not dodging that. You're just not.
Nerfs Nobody Wants to Admit Were Necessary
Look, I love playing Magneto as much as anyone, but his Metallic Curtain was a bit much. The Feb 21 update increases the energy consumption from 50/s to 65/s. They also shaved the maximum duration down to 1.5 seconds.
It’s a "blink and you'll miss it" defense now. To compensate, NetEase gave his Magnetic Ball a damage buff—from 35 to 40. They want you to stop hiding and start hitting people.
Then there’s Doctor Strange. Our Sorcerer Supreme took a health hit, dropping from 650 to 600. It’s a trend we’re seeing across the board: less "standing there and soaking damage," more "use your abilities or die."
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- Groot: His wall placement range increased from 15m to 18m. Flora Colossus mains, rejoice.
- Venom: His Ultimate (Feast of the Abyss) cost dropped from 2800 to 2500. Expect more symbiote Goo on your screen.
- Black Widow: Magazine capacity for the Red Room Rifle went from 8 to 15. This is huge for players who actually have aim.
Why the Rank Reset Controversy Matters
If you were around in early February, the community was basically on fire. The devs originally planned a mid-season rank reset for Feb 21. The idea was to "refresh" the ladder after the balance changes.
The players hated it.
The backlash was so loud that NetEase actually listened. There is no rank reset in the Marvel Rivals patch notes Feb 21. Instead, they split Season 1 into S1.0 and S1.5. You keep your rank, but you get a fresh set of rewards to chase.
If you hit Gold in this new "1.5" window, you're looking at the Invisible Woman – Blood Shield or Human Torch – Blood Blaze costumes. It’s a clever way to keep people grinding without erasing the sweat they put into January.
The Strategy Behind the Strategists
The "Support" role (Strategists) got hit with the "Cost Increase" hammer.
- Loki: His Ultimate cost went from 3400 to 4000.
- Luna Snow: Her Symphony of Fate jumped from 4000 to 4500.
Basically, the devs realized that games were being decided entirely by which team could cycle through their "I Win" buttons faster. By making the ultimates harder to get, they’re forcing you to actually play the neutral game.
Adam Warlock is the exception here. He actually got a buff. His Quantum Magic damage is up to 60, and his Soul Bond healing jumped from 10/s to 15/s. He’s becoming the go-to pick for teams that want to survive a heavy dive.
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Performance and "The Small Stuff"
If you're on a high-end PC, check your settings. This patch introduced an experimental "High Polling Rate" optimization for 8K mice. Most people won't need it, but for the hardware snobs, it should fix those weird micro-stutters during high-action team fights.
Also, the game's install size shrank by about 15%. In 2026, when every game is 200GB, that’s actually a miracle.
What You Should Do Now
The meta has shifted toward high-speed aggression. If you're still playing the "slow and steady" Vanguard style from Season 5, you're going to get steamrolled by the new Captain America and the buffed Iron Man (Unibeam damage is now up to 140/s, by the way).
Stop holding onto Ultimates. Since they cost more now, you need to be building them constantly. Don't wait for the "perfect" 6-man wipe. Using a Loki or Luna ult to win a single key fight is often better than holding it for three minutes and losing the objective.
Abuse the new Cap melee. If you’re a Vanguard main, spend ten minutes in the training room. Learn the timing of meleeing while your shield is out. It changes his threat profile completely.
Aim for Gold. The Season 1.5 rewards are actually high-quality this time. Since there's no rank reset, you're likely already close. Push for those exclusive costumes before the season wraps in April.