Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Release Date : Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 is now live, bringing Blade, ranked play improvements, and major hero balancing changes. After a brief maintenance period, servers are back online, and players can dive into the new content.
🔹 Season 3.5 Start Time & Downtime
The update rolled out globally on August 8, 2025, following a 2-3 hour maintenance window:
- US (East Coast): 7 AM ET
- US (West Coast): 4 AM PT
- UK: 12 PM BST
- Europe (Central): 1 PM CEST
- Japan: 8 PM JST
- Australia (Sydney): 9 PM AEST
Servers are now live, allowing players to experience Blade’s debut, ranked adjustments, and hero tweaks.
🆕 Blade Joins Marvel Rivals: Abilities & Gameplay
The vampire-hunting Daywalker is now playable as a high-mobility Duelist with:
✔ Flaming Katana – Devastating melee combos
✔ Shotgun Blast – Mid-range damage option
✔ Shadow Dash – Quick repositioning
✔ Ultimate: Dracula’s Sword – Massive AoE damage (even hits airborne enemies)
✔ Team Synergy – Works with Moon Knight & Cloak & Dagger for stealth plays
Early Impressions: Blade feels fast and lethal, with strong flanking potential. Expect him to shake up the meta!
⚖ Hero Balancing Changes (Buffs & Nerfs)
NetEase has adjusted several heroes to improve competitive fairness:
🔺 Buffed Heroes
- Star-Lord – Improved aerial mobility
- Iron Fist – Faster chi regeneration
- Spider-Man – Web-swing cooldown reduced
- Doctor Strange – Stronger shield durability
- Thor – Hammer throw hitbox expanded
🔻 Nerfed Heroes
- Black Panther – Kinetic Daggers damage reduced
- Wolverine – Healing factor slightly weakened
- Magneto – Metal projectile speed decreased
- Mantis – Sleep Dart duration shortened
(Full patch notes available on the Marvel Rivals blog.)
🏆 Ranked Mode Updates
Competitive play has received major adjustments:
📜 New Ranked Rewards
- Emerald Blade Skin (Gold Tier)
- Exclusive Frames (Diamond, Grandmaster, Top 500)
- Crests for High-Tier Players
🔀 Matchmaking Changes
- Bronze/Silver/Gold: Any team size (except 5-stacks)
- Platinum/Diamond/Grandmaster: Max 3-player teams
- Celestial & Above: Max 2-player teams
🔄 Surrender & Disconnect Rules
- Early Surrender: If a player disconnects in the first round, teams can vote to surrender (needs majority approval).
- Invalid Matches: Disconnects during loading/hero select void the match (compensation given).
🌐 Human Rights Perspective: Fair Play & Accessibility
As Marvel Rivals evolves, key ethical considerations include:
✅ Inclusive Design – Are new heroes and maps accessible to players with disabilities?
✅ Anti-Toxicity Measures – Does the reporting system effectively combat harassment?
✅ Fair Monetization – Are battle pass rewards obtainable without excessive grinding?
NetEase has yet to address regional server stability—a concern for players in developing nations with inconsistent internet access.
🎮 Final Verdict: Is Season 3.5 Worth It?
Yes! Blade’s arrival and ranked refinements make this a must-play update. Expect:
🔥 Fresh Meta Shifts – Blade could dominate ranked queues
⚡ Smoother Competitive Play – Fairer matchmaking & disconnect rules
🎭 More Events Coming – Check the Season 3.5 Roadmap for future content