Everyone thought the mid-season update would just be a tiny numbers tweak to keep us busy until Season 4. Honestly? We were way off. The Marvel Rivals patch notes season 3.5 actually flipped the script on the meta, especially for the folks who play Vanguard.
If you've been getting wrecked by dive comps lately, there’s a reason for it. NetEase didn't just drop a new hero; they basically rebuilt how team-ups work for some of the most popular characters in the game.
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The Daywalker has arrived
Blade is finally here. He’s a Duelist, obviously, but he doesn't play like the others. Most people are trying to use him as a pure flanker, but that's a mistake. He’s actually a "sustain-breaker."
His whole kit revolves around the Bloodline Awakening state. When he's in that mode, he gets a massive 65% lifesteal. That was actually buffed from 60% right after the initial 3.5 launch because players were struggling to stay alive. The cool thing is he’s the first character with a dedicated anti-heal mechanic. His Daywalker Dash (when using the Ancestral Sword) now applies an 8% healing reduction per strike. If you land all four hits? That’s 32% less healing for that poor enemy Strategist for three seconds.
Basically, if you see a Rocket Raccoon or a Luna Snow trying to out-heal your damage, Blade is the answer. Just don't forget to use your pistols for the mid-range poke before diving in. The shotgun is great, but the damage drop-off is real.
Vanguard buffs that actually matter
For a long time, playing Doctor Strange felt like a chore. You’d put up a shield, it would break, and then you’d just... stand there. Well, the 3.5 notes gave him some much-needed love.
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The Daggers of Denak now have 10 charges instead of 8. It sounds small, right? It's not. Those two extra shots are often the difference between finishing off a fleeing Spider-Man and letting him zip away. Plus, his Cloak of Levitation cooldown is down to 12 seconds from 15. You have way more mobility now.
And then there's Thor. The God of Thunder has been "mid" for a while, but they added a grounded effect to his Lightning Realm. Now, if an enemy leaves the boundary, they’re grounded for two seconds. This is a massive middle finger to Iron Man and Falcon players who think they can just fly away from a fight.
Why your favorite Team-Up might be gone
This is the part that caught everyone off guard. NetEase is starting to "sunset" certain Team-Up abilities. It's a bold move.
The Guardian Revival (Adam Warlock, Mantis, and Star-Lord) is officially dead. Mantis no longer gets "Nature’s Soul," and Star-Lord lost "Leader’s Soul." To compensate, Star-Lord got a new ability called Astral Jump through a team-up with Rocket Raccoon. It basically lets him teleport. If you’re getting Tracer vibes from Overwatch, you’re not alone.
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They also killed off the Atlas Bond between Iron Fist and Luna Snow. Iron Fist was the "anchor" for that, but now he’s gone solo. To make up for it, they buffed his raw damage. His fifth strike on the Jeet Kune Do combo went from 50 to 55 damage. It’s a lot more punchy, but you lose that frozen chi synergy.
The Klyntar update and Resource Rumble
Midway through the season, specifically on August 22, we got the Klyntar: Throne of Knull map. It’s dark, moody, and honestly a bit creepy. But the real star is the Resource Rumble mode.
It’s a bit different from your standard escort or control maps. You’re fighting over specific nodes that drop resources, and it forces a lot of "skirmish" style fights rather than one big 6v6 brawl in a choke point. If you haven't tried it yet, go for high-mobility heroes. Static comps get eaten alive here.
Hidden changes you probably missed
- Custom Muted Words: You can finally filter out specific words in chat. This is a godsend for anyone tired of the "GG EZ" spam.
- Ranked Queue Changes: If you’re in Bronze, Silver, or Gold, you can now queue with any team size except for a full 5-stack. If you’re Platinum or higher, you’re limited to a 3-stack. Celestial and above? You’re solo or duo only. This makes the high-end ladder way fairer.
- Spider-Man "Stickiness": Peter's ultimate, Spectacular Spin, got a damage buff from 150 to 170 per second. Also, the backflip distance on his Human Torch team-up was reduced from 12m to 7m. This means he stays closer to the target, making it way easier to follow up with a combo.
What should you do now?
If you want to actually climb after these Marvel Rivals patch notes season 3.5 changes, stop playing like it’s Season 2. The game is much faster now.
- Main Blade for a week. Seriously. Learn the anti-heal timing. It’s the most powerful tool in the game right now against double-Strategist comps.
- Abuse the Thor buffs. If the enemy team has a pesky flier, pick Thor. The grounded mechanic is a total game-changer.
- Check your Team-Ups. Before the match starts, look at the icons. A lot of the old reliable combos are gone, and you don't want to realize that mid-fight.
The meta is shifting toward aggressive, sustain-heavy brawls. If you aren't playing heroes that can either self-heal or shut down enemy healing, you’re going to have a rough time in the Throne of Knull.