Marvel Rivals launched its eighth season, titled Sins of Alchemax, on March 15, introducing Devil Dinosaur as the latest Vanguard hero [1]. Marvel Rivals creative director Guanguang said, "As a Vanguard, Devil Dinosaur brings raw, primal power to the roster, always ready to tear the opposition to shreds..." [1]. Devil Dinosaur features a forcefield shield, bleeding effects, and an ultimate ability that transforms him into an unstoppable behemoth charging through enemies [1].
A key highlight of the update is Devil Dinosaur's Team-Up move called Primal Punishment, which allows The Punisher to ride him during combat [1]. The season also added a new Doom Match map, Alchemax Headquarters, along with new accessories and optimizations to PC storage [1].
Season 8 brought notable changes to character balance. Several Strategist characters were nerfed: Loki’s damage and ultimate cost increased, with the ultimate rising from 4300 to 4500, and Mantis and Invisible Woman also saw damage and ultimate cost reductions [2]. Rocket Raccoon and White Fox received buffs to their healing and damage output to boost their effectiveness [2].
Additional changes include nerfs to Deadpool and survivability buffs for Emma Frost. The Thing’s base health was increased from 700 to 750, improving his durability [2]. The Duelist class gained boosts for Iron Fist, Moon Knight, Spider-Man, and Squirrel Girl. Iron Fist’s Kick strike damage rose from 35 to 40, Moon Knight’s Moonlight Hook cooldown fell from 15 seconds to 12 seconds, and Spider-Man’s ultimate damage went from 13.6 to 15 [2].
The update marks a significant effort to balance gameplay by strengthening some heroes while weakening others. Players can expect to experience the new features and character adjustments immediately following the season launch.
