NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has recently announced plans to address the concerns of Strategists players just days after a community-wide Support strike was initiated by fans. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful, introducing new characters, maps, and modes, alongside promises of faster seasons and an expanded roster of playable heroes. However, the balance adjustments made in this season have led to new challenges, particularly for the Strategist class, which serves as the game's Support pool. The increased power of Vanguards and Duelists has left Strategists feeling less effective and enjoying the game less.
AnswerSee ResultsSince the launch of Season 2, the diminished role of the Support class has sparked significant discussion within the Marvel Rivals community. With other classes gaining more battlefield dominance, Strategist players have faced not only tough matches but also toxic interactions, with teammates often blaming them in text and voice chats. This tension culminated in a strike this past week, where hundreds of players took to social media to announce they would avoid playing as healers until NetEase addressed how it plans to improve the experience for Support players.
"We just want basic respect," stated one Reddit user. "We're not asking to be seen as the 'hardest' role - because I don’t think we are. We just want basic respect. It’s exhausting to be labeled as brain dead or worthless when our stats are good and we're playing our role correctly."
I Need Healing
In response to the strike and the general discontent among Support players, NetEase has outlined its strategy to alleviate the pressure on Strategists. In a Dev Talk post on their website, NetEase proposed a two-fold approach: enhancing the Support role and making Competitive mode more rewarding for Strategists.
The developer plans to increase the "threat levels" of Strategists in an upcoming patch, which may include buffs for heroes like Invisible Woman and Jeff the Land Shark. Conversely, Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot will see nerfs to their survivability, and Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will have its damage range reduced. NetEase aims to keep these mid-season adjustments minimal to fine-tune the experience without drastically shifting the meta. "As we move into S2.5 with Ultron's introduction and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, we'll consider broader, more comprehensive balance changes," NetEase stated.
Meanwhile, the Competitive mode of Marvel Rivals has experienced slight changes in performance ratings since Season 2 began. Duelists have enjoyed an advantage, while Vanguards and Strategists have been at a slight disadvantage. To address this, NetEase plans to adjust the performance rating calculations to ensure fairness 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 post added. "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 feature Ultron in the near future. As the community awaits the impact of the forthcoming balance changes on the Support strike, players can also look forward to potential new content, including a teased collection of swimsuit skins that may join the game.
