Marvel Rivals Dev Promises Buffs to Strategist Experience After Support Player Strike

NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has responded swiftly to the community's concerns about the Strategist class, just days after fans initiated a Support strike. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has seen a flurry of exciting updates, with new characters, maps, and modes enhancing the hero shooter experience. However, the balance changes have shifted the power dynamics, particularly affecting the Strategist class, which serves as the game's Support pool. Players in this role have found themselves overpowered by Vanguards and Duelists, leading to less enjoyable and often toxic gameplay experiences.

The frustration within the Marvel Rivals community has been palpable since the launch of Season 2. Strategists have reported not only a surge in challenging matches but also an increase in toxic behavior from teammates. The situation escalated last week when numerous players took to social media to announce their refusal to play the healer role until NetEase addressed the issues. One Reddit user captured the sentiment, stating, "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 Support strike and the community's feedback, NetEase has outlined a plan to alleviate the pressure on Strategists. In a recent Dev Talk post on their website, the team detailed a two-pronged approach: enhancing the Support role and making Competitive mode more rewarding for all players. An upcoming patch will see the "threat levels" of Strategists like Invisible Woman and Jeff the Land Shark increased, while Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot will face nerfs to their survivability. Additionally, Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will have its damage range reduced.

"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. They also teased broader balance changes for Season 2.5, which will introduce Ultron and new Team-Up Ability adjustments.

Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has also been under scrutiny since Season 2 began, with Duelists enjoying a performance rating advantage over Vanguards and Strategists. NetEase plans to recalibrate the performance rating calculations to ensure a more balanced experience for 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 post acknowledges. "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 brought the addition of Emma Frost as a new playable Vanguard hero, and Season 2.5 is set to introduce Ultron. As the community awaits the upcoming balance changes, there's also buzz about a potential new collection of swimsuit skins hinted at in a recent Marvel tease.