Marvel Rivals Settings Guide: Peak PC & Steam Deck Performance

After weeks of tweaking an older desktop and a Steam Deck, I discovered just how much Marvel Rivals’ responsiveness hinges on your graphics settings. Instead of cranking everything to max or sticking with defaults, spending 10–15 minutes fine-tuning brings big gains in framerate, input lag, and clarity—no matter your rig.

Why Tuning Settings Matters (And How Long It Takes)

Competitive shooters reward stable FPS and low latency far more than fancy effects. Early on, I dropped dozens of rounds to stutters or distracting visual noise until I landed on my go-to preset. On PC, dialing in custom settings took under 15 minutes. On Steam Deck—with extra battery tests—it was closer to 30. After that, spot-checking after each patch takes under five minutes.

What You Need Before You Start

• Marvel Rivals updated to the latest patch.
• GPU drivers (Nvidia, AMD or Intel) and SteamOS (for Deck) up to date.
• Framerate monitor: GeForce Experience (ALT+R), Radeon Overlay (CTRL+SHIFT+O), CapFrameX or Nvidia FrameView.
• Mouse & keyboard (PC) or Deck controls.
• Optional: G-Sync/Freesync monitor for tear-free gameplay.

Step-by-Step: Best Marvel Rivals Settings for PC

1. Launch Marvel Rivals, press ESC → Options → Video.
2. Choose Graphics Quality: Custom and apply these values:
   • Global Illumination (GI): Lumen GI High Quality
     GI simulates indirect light bouncing for realistic scenes.
   • Reflection Quality: Screen Space Reflections (drop to Low if stutter appears)
   • Model, Post-Processing, Shadow, Texture, Effects, Foliage: Low
   • VSync: Off (reduces input lag; re-enable only if tearing is severe)
   • Nvidia Reflex: On
     Reflex syncs GPU/CPU to minimize the delay between your click and what you see.
   • Anti-Aliasing & Super Resolution: Off. If jagged edges bother you, enable FXAA.
   • Super Resolution Mode: Off. If you need extra FPS, set to Performance with sharpening at 80–100.
3. Apply settings and restart—some changes (GI, reflections) require a reboot to take effect.
4. Run a training match and monitor average FPS and 1% lows (indicate microstutter risk).
5. If you’re consistently above 100 FPS, bump Model or Texture to Medium, or re-enable low-level AA for sharper edges.

Performance Snapshot:
RTX 4070 @1440p: 140 FPS avg, 1% lows 90 FPS
GTX 1660 Ti @1080p: 120 FPS avg, 1% lows 70 FPS

DLSS & FSR Upscaling Explained

DLSS (Nvidia’s AI upscaler) and FSR (AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution) boost FPS by rendering at lower resolutions then upscaling. In Marvel Rivals, DLSS Balanced gave me +15–25 FPS at 1440p with minimal blur. Avoid Ultra Performance unless desperate—Quality or Balanced preserves target clarity.

Step-by-Step: Best Marvel Rivals Settings for Steam Deck

1. Launch via Steam Library and go to Options → Video.
2. Select Graphics Quality: Custom and use:
   • Global Illumination: Off
   • Reflection Quality: Off
   • Model Detail: Performance
   • Post-Processing, Shadow, Texture, Effects, Foliage: Low
   • VSync: Off
   • Anti-Aliasing & Super Resolution: AMD FSR Performance (Balanced if you want a bit more detail at –5–10 FPS)
   • Sharpening: 80
3. Cap your FPS at 40 for extra battery or 60 for top responsiveness.
4. Test in Quickplay (live matches are heavier than bots) to verify stability.

Steam Deck Performance & Battery

Expect 55–60 FPS in most battles; clustered ultimates can dip to the low 40s, which still feels smooth on the Deck’s screen. Battery lasts ~1h 40m at 60 FPS, nearly 2 h at 40 FPS.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Maxing Ultra settings—even if your GPU can handle it—adds input lag and clutter.
• Trusting presets without adjustments; start low and add only what you need.
• Ignoring driver and patch updates; settings may reset or performance may shift.
• Enabling Dynamic Resolution Scaling (Deck) can cause erratic frame swings.

Advanced Optimization & Troubleshooting

• Lower Reflections and GI first if FPS stutters—big impact on performance vs. visual drop.
• Toggle Nvidia Reflex to gauge input-lag benefits; keep it on unless unstable.
• If textures look muddy, Medium texture quality on 6 GB+ GPUs keeps clarity without killing FPS.
• For ultra-low-end PCs: drop to 900p or 720p, disable GI/Reflections, use Super Resolution Performance with sharpening at 100.
• Scale the UI in Accessibility on Deck if text feels too small.

Monitoring Your Performance

• Nvidia: ALT+R overlay
• AMD: CTRL+SHIFT+O overlay
• Deck: Steam Performance tab or Decky plugins
• Goal: Average FPS ≥ your refresh rate (60+), 1% lows ≥40 FPS (PC) or ≥30 FPS (Deck), and zero input-lag spikes in real matches.

TL;DR – Quick Recap

• PC: Custom Low, add GI/Reflections only if FPS >100
• Deck: All Low, FSR Performance, Sharpen 80, cap at 40/60 FPS
• VSync Off, Nvidia Reflex On
• Start from Low—boost one setting at a time
• Check FPS & 1% lows after every patch
• SSD recommended for faster load times

Fine-tuning Marvel Rivals isn’t about maxing every slider—it’s about cutting the fluff and focusing on what improves your aim and reaction. With these settings, you’ll spend less time wrestling with performance and more time landing that game-winning shot. Good luck out there!