In a recent development, Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has announced plans to address the concerns of Strategist players, just days after a community-wide Support strike was initiated by fans. The second season of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful, introducing new characters, maps, and modes, which have propelled the hero shooter forward. The team has committed to delivering faster seasons and an expanding roster of playable heroes. However, the balance changes implemented in Season 2 have shifted the dynamics, particularly impacting the Strategists, who serve as the game's Support class. These changes have resulted in Vanguards and Duelists gaining an edge, leaving Strategists feeling less effective and less appreciated in the game.
AnswerSee ResultsThe diminished effectiveness of the Support class has sparked extensive discussions within the Marvel Rivals community since the launch of Season 2. As other classes have gained more battlefield power, many Strategist players have reported experiencing not only challenging but also toxic gameplay environments. Teammates have been quick to criticize Strategists in text and voice chats, often attributing losses to their performance. This situation escalated to the point where hundreds of players took to social media, vowing to avoid playing the healer role until NetEase provided a plan to improve their experience.
"We just want basic respect," stated a Reddit user. "We’re not asking to be glorified or seen as the ‘hardest’ role - because I don’t think we are. We just want basic respect. It’s tiring to be called brain dead or worthless when your stats are solid and you’re playing your role the way it’s meant to be played."
I Need Healing
In response to the community's feedback and the ongoing Support strike, NetEase has announced a two-pronged approach to alleviate the pressures faced by Strategists. In a Dev Talk post on their website, the developer detailed plans to enhance the Support role through buffs while simultaneously making the Competitive mode more rewarding for all players.
NetEase plans to elevate the "threat levels" of Strategists in an upcoming patch. This might involve strengthening characters like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark, while reducing the survivability of Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot. Additionally, Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will see a reduced damage range. Specific details on which characters will undergo changes are yet to be disclosed.
"Since this is a mid-season balance adjustment, we aim to be cautious, keeping changes minimal to enhance the experience of certain heroes without drastically altering the overall meta," NetEase explained. "As we move into S2.5, with Ultron's arrival and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, we'll consider broader, more comprehensive balance changes."
The Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has also seen adjustments since Season 2's launch. Duelists have enjoyed a performance advantage, while Vanguards and Strategists have been slightly disadvantaged. To address this, NetEase plans to revise performance rating calculations to ensure a fairer experience across all heroes.
"Balancing the game and rank adjustments is a challenging endeavor, and we can't guarantee perfection 100% of the time," the Dev Talk adds. "However, we remain humble and attentive, striving to address issues promptly and enhance your experience. Stay tuned for official patch announcements for more updates. Thank you for your support and patience!"
Season 2 of Marvel Rivals introduced Emma Frost as its newest playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to include Ultron in the near future. As we await the impact of the upcoming balance changes on the Support strike, keep an eye out for a recent Marvel tease that could see a collection of swimsuit skins joining the game.
