To enhance the gameplay experience and increase the popularity of characters like Storm and Black Widow, who were previously underplayed, NetEase Games made significant adjustments to the balance of Marvel Rivals' heroes as Season 1 kicked off in January. These updates have had a profound impact on the game's dynamics.

Storm, in particular, has undergone substantial enhancements, leading to a dramatic surge in both her popularity and effectiveness. According to Rivals Meta, Storm now holds the top position in win rate, marking a significant leap from her previous standing on the hero selection list. In competitive mode, her win percentage has soared to over 56%, and her pick rate has climbed to 16%. This is a remarkable turnaround from a time when her pick rate was barely above 1%. She now outranks heroes such as Adam Warlock, Jeff, Spider-Man, Hela, Hulk, Magic, and Iron Man, among others.

Despite Storm's rise, the most popular character pairing of the first season continues to be Cloak and Dagger. However, their win percentage has dipped below 49%. On the other hand, Black Widow remains the least sought-after and least successful character in the game, indicating that her adjustments have yet to resonate with the player base.

With hundreds of thousands of players engaging with Marvel Rivals, including its competitive mode, the game is experiencing notable growth. Achieving the Grandmaster title is an exclusive feat, attained by only 0.1% of all players, despite the existence of the Celestial rank. Reaching such heights is no small task, but one player has achieved something truly extraordinary during the first season. This player reached Grandmaster without taking any damage in the 108 games they played, focusing solely on healing teammates while playing as Rocket Raccoon. They managed to restore over 2.9 million health points across those matches and recorded nearly 3,500 assists, all while avoiding knockouts.