To enhance the gameplay experience and increase the appeal of lesser-played characters like Storm and Black Widow, NetEase Games implemented substantial balance adjustments to the heroes of Marvel Rivals as Season 1 commenced in January. These changes have significantly impacted the game's dynamics.

Storm, in particular, has seen remarkable improvements, skyrocketing her popularity and effectiveness. According to Rivals Meta, she now holds the top spot in win rate, a dramatic rise from her earlier standings on the hero selection list. In competitive mode, Storm boasts a win percentage of over 56%, with her pick rate climbing to 16%. Previously, she barely registered a 1% pick rate, but now she outshines heroes like Adam Warlock, Jeff, Spider-Man, Hela, Hulk, Magic, Iron Man, and many more.

Despite these shifts, the most popular character duo of the first season remains Cloak and Dagger. However, their win percentage has dipped below 49%. On the other end of the spectrum, Black Widow continues to be the least sought-after and least successful character in the game.

With hundreds of thousands of players engaging with Marvel Rivals, including its competitive mode, the game is currently experiencing notable growth. Achieving the Grandmaster title is a prestigious feat, attained by only 0.1% of players, even though the Celestial rank is also a high achievement.

Reaching such elite levels is challenging, yet one player has accomplished something extraordinary. In the first season, this player reached Grandmaster without taking any damage across 108 games, playing as Rocket Raccoon. Their focus was solely on healing teammates, amassing over 2.9 million health points restored and nearly 3,500 assists while avoiding any knockouts.