Ultron Joins the Fight, and Marvel Rivals Just Got Spicier
Marvel Rivals Update Drops Ultron, New Map and More
Alright nerds, strap in. Marvel Rivals just dropped a fat stack of updates during the Hellfire Gala, and if you thought the game was chaotic before, well…now it’s a full-blown multiverse mosh pit.
We’ve got a new Strategist hero (Ultron, aka metallic megalomaniac daddy), a new map straight out of X-Men hell, a pile of balance tweaks that’ll make your main feel either godlike or garbage, and some new events and team-ups that’ll either make you scream in joy or throw your mouse across the room.
Let’s break it all down.
The Age of Ultron: Murder-Bot with a Game Plan
You know that one guy in every group project who takes over everything, does it better than everyone else, and still complains no one helped? That’s Ultron, except instead of PowerPoint slides, he’s packing lasers and a God complex.
Encephalo-Ray (LMB)
Ultron’s bread-and-butter. A high-intensity energy beam that burns through enemies like they just bad-mouthed Skynet. Aim, zap, and watch squishier heroes melt like popsicles on a hot server rack.
Dynamic Flight (Shift)
Not just a mobility tool – it’s an attitude. Ultron dashes in your movement direction and enters an Accelerated state, giving him a temporary speed boost. Basically, he flies faster than your team’s ability to flame each other in voice chat.
Imperative: Patch (E)
Your support mains are gonna love/hate this. Ultron commands a massive healing drone to babysit an ally of your choice. Anyone near the drone gets topped off, but your chosen golden child gets the most love. Great for pocketing a carry, or just flexing how generous a murder-bot can be.
Imperative: Firewall (RMB)
This is the “let’s not die” button. Ultron drops more drones like Oprah handing out cars – “you get bonus health, you get bonus health!” It centers on both Ultron and whoever has Imperative: Patch, which means holding points becomes a lot less sweaty when Ultron’s in the room.
Rage of Ultron (Ultimate)
It’s raining death and healing – hallelujah. Ultron summons a legion of drones to blast out Encephalo-Rays in every direction. Enemies get torched, allies get healed, and Ultron gets to feel like the techno-dictator he always wanted to be. Use this when team fights start turning into meat grinders and you want to flip the script.
Team-Up Shakeups: New Combos, Who Dis?
Marvel Rivals keeps pushing the “co-op chaos” fantasy, and this patch delivers some absolutely cracked new Team-Up abilities. Let’s run through the highlights:
Ultron + Iron Man: “Stark Protocol.” Two egos, one killzone. Beams and shields combine for a tactical death sandwich.
Venom + Jeff: “Symbiote Shenanigans.” Yes, that Jeff. Symbiote hijinks with a side of adorable monstrosity.
Punisher + Black Widow: “Microchip” Piercing bullet ballet. Think John Wick meets a spy movie, with extra carnage.
Storm + Jeff: Jeff-nado lol. I don’t know what multiverse this is from, but I want more of it. Too bad it sucks.
A few older Team-Ups got yeeted out to make room, but no one’s crying over those unless they mained Squirrel Girl or something.
New Map: Welcome to Arakko, Hope You Brought Earplugs
What do you get when you mash mutant lore with heavy metal aesthetics and sprinkle in a touch of villain hubris? The new map, Arakko – home base for Team Bad Decisions, aka X-Tron and his band of mutant misfits.
The map’s design leans into verticality and aggressive choke points, forcing players to rethink mobility and positioning. There’s plenty of environmental storytelling, some slick lighting effects, and yes, plenty of spots for Ultron to hover around like a smug cyber-ghost.
If your team doesn’t learn the layout fast, prepare to be spawn-camped into therapy.
Balance Changes: Buffs, Nerfs, and Hot Takes
Look – there’s 20 balance changes this patch and I don’t think you want me to post them all so here’s a link to all of them instead (if you want to dive into all that fun). Here are some of the most noteworthy tweaks:
Jeff got a big rework. His primary beam now damages enemies but heals less, his bubbles have fewer charges and only heal over time, and his dive is no longer infinite. More below.
Image: Jeff Rework Patch Notes | Marvel Rivals
Iron Man got nerfed pretty hard. Sorry, Tony fans. Repulsor Blast damage got clipped and his Armor Overdrive is halved – he’s still strong, just not “delete a squad” strong.
Human Torch couldn’t escape the nerf hammer either. This patch will see Human Torch’s damage and survivability reduced.
Punisher actually got some buffs *scratches head* – I don’t think he was necessarily weak, but ok. Punisher will see a boost to his damage and a mobility buff for his Ultimate.
Events & Rewards: Grinding Never Looked So Good
Two major event banners hit with this patch:
Combat Chest: Do missions, open chests, feel that dopamine hit. Basic stuff, but it works.
Cerebro Database II: Unlockable lore, XP, and a few shiny cosmetics if you’re the kind of player who reads emails from Charles Xavier.
There’s also a continuation of the Season 2 Battle Pass, including a new Gold Tier 3 Ultron skin that makes him look like he’s about to drop a synthwave album. On top of that, there are skins up for grabs for Storm, Mr. Fantastic, Magneto, and Hawkeye’s Binary Arrow getup – for when you want your archery to feel a little more cosmic.
Solo Mode Incoming: Ultron’s Tactical Flex
Coming soon (June 6), we’ve got Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol – a single-player mode focused on tactical hero customization. That’s right – something for the introverts, try-hards, or people who got flamed too hard in matchmaking and need a break.
Video: New Marvel Rivals Game Mode! Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol | GGLounge
You’ll also get achievement challenges built around Ultron, which should help ease your way into mastering the big tin can.
Skynet Wishes It Had This Much Drip
Marvel Rivals continues to evolve, and this update’s a serious power play. Ultron brings brains and brutality, Arakko adds a fresh dose of mayhem, and the new team-ups are pure fan-service madness. Sure, the balance changes might piss off a few mains, but let’s be honest – if you weren’t getting nerfed, were you even relevant?
Whether you’re here to sweat in ranked or meme with Jeff, this patch has something for everyone – especially if you like chaos, lasers, and a hint of evil monologuing.
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