3 Big Winners in Patch 4.5: Marvel Rivals New Meta Guide
Patch 4.5 made Hela, Venom, and Rocket Raccoon top picks in Marvel Rivals. Here is what changed for each hero and how to leverage the new meta in ranked play.
By:
John Langan
Top Winners of Patch 4.5
Patch 4.5 landed a focused balance sweep that shifted Marvel Rivals' competitive landscape. Three heroes came out of it meaningfully stronger — each worth adding to your main lineup before the season stabilises.
Hela: The Soaring Support
Hela emerges as a top contender thanks to improvements to Astral Flock. Her flight activation now starts faster, and she gains 25 Bonus Health after casting — making her harder to punish when opponents attempt to dive. The new Namor team-up grants him the Tidal Dirge ability, giving Hela a formidable anti-heal pairing in the lineup. With Phoenix being nerfed this patch, Hela's value in Season 4.5 has genuinely risen.
Venom: The Ultimate Predator
Venom's ultimate now inflicts a 30% healing reduction for 4 seconds on every enemy hit. Previously a strong pick against triple-support compositions, he has become a transformative backline threat — capable of pressuring supports through their defensive cooldowns and eliminating durable targets. In competitive play, Venom rewards coordinated dive timings more than ever.
Rocket: The Amplified Artillery
Rocket's C.Y.A. ultimate now grants a 40% damage boost, up from 25%. That increase turns Rocket from a supplemental cooldown into an ultimate-erasing ability when timed with allied fire, overcoming his primary weakness of being vulnerable during enemy support ultimates.
Patch 4.5 Winners at a Glance
A quick-reference summary of what changed for each hero this patch:
- Hela: Faster Astral Flock cast, +25 Bonus Health on cast, Tidal Dirge team-up with Namor.
- Venom: 30% healing reduction on ultimate, lasting 4 seconds.
- Rocket: C.Y.A. damage boost raised from 25% to 40%.
Each of these heroes now fills a distinct role in shaping match outcomes. The Hela–Namor pairing in particular is worth building around for players willing to coordinate picks.
| Hero | Key Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Hela | Faster Astral Flock, +25 Bonus Health on cast | Higher survivability; anti-heal synergy with Namor |
| Venom | 30% healing reduction on ultimate | Stronger threat against backline supports and tanks |
| Rocket | 40% C.Y.A. damage boost (up from 25%) | Neutralises defensive ultimates when timed well |
With these buffs active, all three are consistent picks across the Season 4.5 ranked ladder.