Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has responded swiftly to community feedback, unveiling plans to ease the burden on Strategists just days after fans initiated a community-wide Support strike. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful, introducing new characters, maps, and modes that have propelled the hero shooter forward. The team has committed to shorter seasons and a broader roster of playable heroes. However, recent balance adjustments have shifted the power dynamics, leaving Strategists, the game's Support class, struggling against the more dominant Vanguards and Duelists.
AnswerSee ResultsThe diminished effectiveness of the Support class has sparked widespread discussion within the Marvel Rivals community since the launch of Season 2. As other roles have gained strength, many Strategist players have reported not only challenging but also toxic gameplay experiences. Teammates have increasingly used text and voice chats to unfairly blame Strategists for losses. The situation escalated recently when hundreds of players took to social media, pledging to avoid the healer role until NetEase addressed their concerns and proposed solutions to improve the gameplay experience for Strategists.
"We just want basic respect." "We’re not asking to be glorified or seen as the ‘hardest’ role - because I don’t think we are," a Reddit user commented. "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 strike and the growing dissatisfaction among players, NetEase has announced plans to address the issue. In a Dev Talk post on their website, NetEase outlined a strategy to alleviate the pressure on the Strategist class. Their approach includes both buffing the Support role and making adjustments to the Competitive mode to make it more rewarding.
The team plans to increase the "threat levels" of Strategists in an upcoming patch, potentially enhancing heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark. At the same time, Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot may see nerfs to their survivability, while Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will experience a reduced damage range. The exact details of these character adjustments 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."
Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has seen slight shifts in performance statistics since the start of Season 2. Duelists have enjoyed a performance advantage, while Vanguards and Strategists have faced a slight disadvantage. To address this, NetEase intends to modify the performance rating calculations to promote fairness across all hero classes.
"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 the latest playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to bring Ultron into the game. As the community awaits the impact of the upcoming balance changes on the Support strike, players can stay updated on other exciting developments, such as a potential collection of swimsuit skins teased recently by Marvel.
