Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Patch Notes (August 2025) Blade Hero

Updated by Ankit Babal
August 6, 2025
Gaming

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 is slashing its way into the game on August 8, 2025, at 9:00 AM UTC, bringing the highly anticipated vampire hunter Blade as a new Duelist hero, major team-up ability changes, and the brand-new Resource Rumble game mode. After analyzing all the official patch notes and testing the changes myself, I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide covering everything you need to know about the massive mid-season update that’s about to shake up the meta.

Quick Overview: What’s New in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5?

Feature	Details
Release Date	August 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM UTC
Server Downtime	3-4 hours starting at 5:00 AM UTC
New Hero	Blade (Duelist)
New Game Mode	Resource Rumble (August 22)
New Map	Klyntar: Throne of Knull
Team-Up Changes	2 new, 4 updated, 2 removed
Limited Event	Queen’s Codex with free The Thing skin
Major Updates	Competitive matchmaking limits, anti-toxicity features

Blade Arrives: The Daywalker Joins Marvel Rivals

Blade is on his feet and itching to join the fight in Marvel Rivals! He’s a Duelist with an impressive kit and an overpowered ultimate ability that can slice through enemies. The half-vampire, half-human warrior brings a unique playstyle that combines close-range shotgun pressure with devastating sword combos.

Blade’s Abilities Breakdown

Based on the official information and early gameplay previews, here’s what makes Blade a formidable addition to the Marvel Rivals tier list:

Hunting Shotgun: Brings “pressure force” in close range and can reduce enemy healing at just the right moment.
Ravenous Ancestral Sword: “Awaken the Dhampir bloodline” and slice through every last enemy.
Sword of Dracula (Ultimate): Draw the legendary blade, dash through foes, and leave a “deadly trail” in your wake.

Blade joins the Lunar Force team-up alongside Cloak & Dagger and Moon Knight, gaining the ability to create a dome that enables self-healing and renders him invisible to enemies for a short time.

Major Hero Balance Changes

The Season 3.5 update brings significant balance adjustments that will reshape the competitive meta. The big winners of the 3.5 update are undoubtedly tanks, most of which are seeing some nice upgrades to their kits.

Vanguard (Tank) Buffs

Doctor Strange ????

Increase Daggers of Denak projectile charges from 8 to 10.
Reduce Cloak of Levitation cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.

Groot ????

Increase Vine Strike range from 20m to 22m.
Increase Flora Colossus effect range radius from 20m to 24m.

Thor ????

Gain one Thorforce upon exiting the Awakening Rune awakened state.
New Lightning Realm effect that causes enemies leaving its boundary to be grounded for two seconds, restricting aerial abilities.

Magneto ????

Reduce Metal Bulwark and Iron Bulwark shield value from 300 to 250.

Duelist Changes

Iron Fist ????

Increase Jeet Kune Do’s fifth strike damage from 50 to 55.
Increase Yat Jee Chung Kuen percentage damage of the enemy’s max health per strike from 2.1% to 2.7%.
Adjust Harmony recovery bonus health decay start time from one second to two seconds.
Increase K’un-Lun Kick’s first strike damage from 30 to 35.

Spider-Man ????

Increase the damage per second of Spectacular Spin (ultimate ability) from 150 to 170.

Black Panther ????

Increase Spirit Rend cooldown from 8 seconds to 10 seconds.

Wolverine ????

Increase the energy cost of Last Stand (ultimate ability) from 2800 to 3400.
The lifesteal gained from the Primal Flame: Phoenix Warrior team-up ability no longer contributes to Wolverine’s ultimate ability energy.

Star-Lord ????

Gain 25 bonus health when using Stellar Shift, which lasts for three seconds before decaying to 0 over one second.

Strategist (Support) Adjustments

Adam Warlock ????

Reduce the energy cost of Karmic Revival (ultimate ability) from 5000 to 4700.
New effect for Karmic Revival causes revived allies to gain bonus health equal to 70% of their maximum health, which lasts for five seconds before decaying to 0 over two seconds.
New effect for Cosmic Cluster causes each hit to now reduce Avatar Life Stream charge times by 0.3s.

Cloak & Dagger ????

Increase the energy cost of Eternal Bond (ultimate ability) from 4000 to 4300.

Mantis ????????

Increase healing by 10% with the new team-up anchor effect.
Increase Soul Resurgence (ultimate ability) excess healing to bonus health conversion rate from 0.7 to 1.
Reduce Healing Flower’s healing over time effect from 12.5 per second to 10 per second.
Reduce Life Energy Blast projectile charges from 20 to 15.

Revolutionary Team-Up Changes

Season 3.5 brings the most significant team-up overhaul since launch, with major implications for team composition strategies.

New Team-Ups Added

Duality Dance (Adam Warlock + Luna Snow)

Luna Snow can borrow Adam Warlock’s cosmic power to attach herself to nearby enemies, turning damage against them into healing for her.

Vibrant Vitality (Mantis + Loki + Groot)

Mantis now grants Life Energy to Loki and Groot, allowing Loki’s lamps to boost nearby allies’ stats, and Groot’s walls to heal nearby allies.

Updated Team-Ups

Chilling Assault: Now includes Iron Fist alongside Luna Snow and Hawkeye
Rocket Network: Star-Lord joins Rocket Raccoon and Peni Parker
Lunar Force: Blade added to Cloak & Dagger and Moon Knight
Ever-Burning Bond: Reduced the backflip distance after activation from 12m to 7m, allowing for more reliable follow-ups with moves like Amazing Combo.

Removed Team-Ups

Guardian Revival (Adam Warlock, Mantis, Star-Lord)
Atlas Bond (Iron Fist, Luna Snow)

Resource Rumble: New Game Mode Coming August 22

A brand-new game mode called Resource Rumble is arriving alongside the Throne of Knull map. This mode will be available first in Quick Match starting August 22, 2025, where the devs will collect feedback before rolling it out to competitive play.

While specific details about Resource Rumble remain under wraps, the mode promises to offer a fresh competitive experience that diverges from the traditional Domination and Payload formats. The accompanying Throne of Knull map ties directly into Season 3’s symbiote storyline.

Queen’s Codex Event: Free The Thing Skin

The Queen is coming! Battle to earn XP and level up to earn rewards, including the The Thing – Symbiote Thing costume absolutely FREE!

The Queen’s Codex event launches alongside Season 3.5, offering both free and premium rewards:

Free Rewards

The Thing – Symbiote Thing costume
Various sprays and emotes
XP boosters

Premium Codex

Hela – Queen in Black costume
Dynamic spray
Additional exclusive cosmetics

Plus, once you unlock Premium, you gain permanent access to the event until all rewards are claimed. No time limit!

Competitive Mode Overhaul: Team Size Restrictions

One of the most controversial changes in Season 3.5 affects competitive team queuing:

New Team Size Limits

Players in Bronze, Silver, and Gold can queue for Competitive in any team size except 5-player teams.
Players in Platinum, Diamond, and Grandmaster can queue for Competitive in teams of up to 3 players.
Players in Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All can queue for Competitive in teams of up to 2 players.

This change aims to create more balanced matchmaking at higher ranks but has received mixed reactions from the community, particularly those who enjoy playing with larger friend groups.

Enhanced Anti-Toxicity Features (March 2026)

Marvel Rivals is taking a stronger stance against toxic behavior with several new systems:

Voice Chat Monitoring

Starting July 24, all in-game voice chat will be automatically screened, with human review for any flagged behavior.

Custom Chat Filters

Players can now set up their own defenses against words they’d rather not see in chat. If a message contains a muted word, it will be filtered out.

Faction Chat Tab

A new faction-specific chat tab helps teams communicate more effectively while reducing cross-team toxicity.

Disconnect and AFK Penalty Updates

The penalty system has been completely overhauled to address the persistent issue of players leaving matches:

Invalid Match Conditions

If a player disconnects during:

Loading screen
Ban/pick phase
Hero select
First 70 seconds of a match

The match becomes invalid, and only the disconnected player receives penalties.

Escalating Penalties

Offense	Competitive Ban	T1 Penalty	T2 Penalty
1st	15 minutes	25 points	30 points
2nd	1 hour	30 points	35 points
3rd	3 hours	35 points	40 points
4th	8 hours	40 points	45 points
5th+	20 hours	40 points	45 points

Compensation for Teammates

Players who remain in matches after teammate disconnections receive ranked point compensation based on their current rank:

Bronze/Silver/Gold: 12 points
Platinum/Diamond/Grandmaster: 8 points
Celestial/Eternity/One Above All: 4 points

Rank Rewards Update

New exclusive rewards await players who climb the competitive ladder:

Gold: Blade – Emerald Blade costume
Diamond: Exclusive nameplate frame
Platinum: Unique nameplate frame
Grandmaster+: Fresh Crests of Honor

Technical Improvements

PC Performance Optimization

PC Shader Compilation Rework: The mandatory shader compilation wait on first launch has been removed. Instead, essential global shaders will now preload in the background after installation/update.

Console Fixes

Fixed global keybind issues affecting hero abilities
Improved performance test recommendations
Enhanced UI animation scaling based on graphics settings

Bug Fixes and Quality of Life Updates

Hero-Specific Fixes

Jumping the Gun: Polished up a minor bug where Emma Frost, Iron Fist, Phoenix, and Wolverine were out-leaping the competition with slightly higher jump heights.
Iron Fist’s Silent Sanctuary: Resolved an issue where Lin Lie’s Harmony Recovery would sometimes end without playing its ending sound effect.
Venom & Spider-Man Slinging in Style: Spidey and The Symbiote can now set separate keybinds for simple and manual swinging.
Panther & Wolverine’s Sneaky Sounds: Enhanced the audio cues for enemy Black Panther and Wolverine when they’re sneaking up for a surprise attack.

Map Improvements

Fixed numerous terrain issues causing characters to get stuck or clip through geometry across all maps.

Store Updates and Cosmetics

New Bundles (Available August 8)

Blade – Polarity Edge Bundle
Blade – Emoji Bundle
Blade Dynamic Mood Bundle

Twitch Drops

This round’s drops include the Mantis – Will of Galacta costume along with related bundle content.

Drop Period: August 8 at 12:00 AM UTC to September 5 at 9:00 AM UTC

Tournament and Esports Updates

Latency Equalization Technology

We’re introducing latency equalization technology to the S3 Marvel Rivals Championship. When a server or geographic location causes significant ping differences between factions, the system will auto-balance latency for fairer matches.

This technology can now be enabled in custom tournament rooms, allowing hosts to set specific thresholds for competitive integrity.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for the Meta

The Season 3.5 update fundamentally shifts Marvel Rivals’ competitive landscape in several key ways:

Tank Resurgence: With substantial buffs to Doctor Strange, Groot, and Thor, expect to see more varied tank compositions replacing the double-DPS meta.
Anti-Heal Meta: Blade’s healing reduction abilities combined with the Iron Fist nerfs suggest a shift away from sustain-heavy compositions.
Team-Up Diversity: The removal of Guardian Revival and Atlas Bond forces players to explore new synergies, particularly with the powerful new Vibrant Vitality combo.
Aerial Counter-Play: Thor’s new grounding effect and Blade’s mobility options provide more tools to counter the dominant flying heroes like Storm and Iron Man.

For detailed strategies on adapting to these changes, check out our updated Marvel Rivals Season 3 guide.

2026 Pro Tips for Season 3.5 Success

Master Blade Early: As with any new hero release, early adopters who master Blade’s kit will have a significant advantage in ranked play.
Experiment with New Team-Ups: The Vibrant Vitality combo of Mantis, Loki, and Groot could become the new meta-defining synergy.
Adapt Your Tank Play: With Doctor Strange and Groot buffs, aggressive tank positioning becomes more viable than ever.
Practice Anti-Air: With Thor’s grounding mechanic and continued aerial dominance, mastering anti-air strategies is crucial.
Use Voice Sparingly: With automated voice monitoring, stick to essential callouts to avoid false-positive penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 release?

Season 3.5 launches on August 8, 2025, at 9:00 AM UTC. Server maintenance begins at 5:00 AM UTC and typically lasts 3-4 hours.

Is Blade free to play?

Yes, like all Marvel Rivals heroes, Blade is completely free to play from the moment Season 3.5 launches.

What happened to 6-stack competitive teams?

NetEase implemented team size restrictions based on rank. Players above Platinum can only queue in groups of 3 or fewer, while Celestial+ ranks are limited to duos.

When does the Resource Rumble mode launch?

Resource Rumble and the Throne of Knull map arrive on August 22, 2025, initially in Quick Match only.

Are the removed team-ups gone forever?

Based on developer patterns, removed team-ups may return in future seasons with adjustments or be replaced by new synergies.

How do I get the free The Thing skin?

Progress through the Queen’s Codex event starting August 8. The skin is available on the free track – no premium purchase required.

Will Season 2 Battle Pass progress carry over?

If you already own the Season 2 Battle Pass, you can continue earning rewards after Season 3.5 launches. However, you cannot purchase it after the season ends.

Conclusion

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 represents one of the most substantial mid-season updates the game has seen, fundamentally altering team compositions, competitive integrity, and the overall meta. Between Blade’s arrival, massive tank buffs, revolutionary team-up changes, and the upcoming Resource Rumble mode, there’s never been a better time to dive back into Marvel Rivals.

The controversial competitive queue restrictions and enhanced anti-toxicity measures show NetEase’s commitment to improving the ranked experience, even if it means making unpopular decisions. As we head into the second half of Season 3, expect the meta to evolve rapidly as players discover new synergies and master Blade’s unique kit.

Whether you’re a casual player excited about the free The Thing skin or a competitive grinder adapting to the new team size limits, Season 3.5 offers something for everyone. The only question is: are you ready to embrace the darkness with Blade, or will you stick to your current main?

For more Marvel Rivals content, tier lists, and strategy guides, be sure to bookmark our Marvel Rivals hub and check back regularly for updates as the meta continues to evolve!