While the Hiori Refresh was the headline feature of the latest Blue Lock Rivals update, the most impactful changes for every competitive player were buried in the patch notes: a massive list of character balance adjustments. These changes have completely reshaped the game’s competitive landscape, ending the reign of some titans and elevating new contenders.
This guide will break down the philosophy behind this huge patch and identify the biggest “Winners”—characters who rose in power—and the “Losers” who were brought down a peg, giving you a clear picture of the new meta.
The developers’ goal with this patch was clear: to increase character diversity by directly addressing power creep. For months, the meta has been dominated by a handful of S+ tier characters who were overwhelmingly powerful in almost every situation. This update introduces targeted nerfs to these titans while simultaneously providing significant buffs to a wide range of other viable characters, creating a healthier and more balanced game.
Several characters received game-changing improvements, making them significantly more powerful and viable in the new meta.
Winner #1: Yukimiya – The New King of Fluidity
Yukimiya is arguably the biggest winner of this patch. The changes to his kit are a masterclass in quality-of-life improvements:
- Lethal Touch & Freestyle: Both abilities had their stamina drain reduced, and crucially, the end lag was removed from Lethal Touch.
This means Yukimiya can now chain his dribbling abilities together more frequently and seamlessly, without the punishing pauses or stamina cost. He is now a far more fluid, consistent, and dangerous 1v1 dribbler, solidifying his place in the S-tier.
Winner #2: Aiku – The Unbreakable Fortress
Aiku was already a top-tier defender, but this patch has made him an absolute titan.
- Massive Range Buff: All of his moves are now effective across 3/4 of the field. This dramatically increases his area of influence, allowing him to shut down plays from almost anywhere.
- More Awakening Power: His Forced Defence now has 2 charges when in his awakened state.
These changes make Aiku the undisputed best pure defender in the game, capable of locking down huge portions of the field single-handedly.
Other Notable Buffs (The Risers)
- Nagi: Increased Dash distance and lower cooldowns on his abilities make him much more mobile and active on the field.
- Bachira: Increased stun duration on his Nutmeg and faster Steal activation make him an even more effective and disruptive dribbler.
- Reo: Received multiple small buffs to his Offensive Mode, increasing its shot power, speed, and reducing cooldowns, making his versatile stance-switching even more potent.
- Gagamaru: Buffs to his Diving Header and Scorpion kick give him more reliable scoring options.
To make room for others, the old kings of the meta had to be reigned in.
Loser #1: NEL Rin – Brought Back to Earth
NEL Rin was the definition of oppressive, and he received comprehensive nerfs to address this.
- Destroyer’s Domain: The ability’s range has been significantly reduced, and the steal mechanic is now delayed, giving opponents a brief window to pass the ball away.
- Shot Power: Multiple shots, including Destructive Shot, had their power nerfed.
Rin is still a very strong character, but he is no longer the do-it-all S+ tier monster who can score from anywhere while locking down half the field.
Kunigami & Kaiser: Forced into Niches
- Kunigami: His oppressive Body Block was nerfed, with reduced range and a shorter ragdoll duration on enemies. He is less disruptive up close.
- Kaiser: His long-range threat was curtailed. Kaiser Volley has a much smaller range, and Kaiser Impact now loses speed dramatically over distance, making him a close-to-mid-range specialist rather than a cross-field sniper.
A System-Wide Nerf: The Bee Freestyle Change
In a significant move, the developers also nerfed the S+ tier Flow, Bee Freestyle. The “Minus 1 Dribble” change directly reduces its utility. This is a crucial adjustment that targets a universal mechanic, encouraging players to explore other Flows and preventing a single option from being the default “best-in-slot” for every dribbler.
The New Meta Outlook: A More Balanced Field
This is the most balanced Blue Lock Rivals has been in a long time. The gap between the absolute top tier and the rest of the roster has shrunk considerably.
Characters like Yukimiya and Aiku are now top contenders in their respective roles. Fallen giants like NEL Rin are still strong but now have clear counterplay. Buffed characters like Nagi, Reo, and Bachira are more viable than ever, leading to greater variety in team compositions.
The focus has shifted slightly away from a few characters with overwhelming abilities towards a meta that rewards player skill and strategic counter-picking. Experimentation is highly encouraged, as old matchups have been completely upended.
