In a swift response to the community's concerns, Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has announced plans to alleviate the pressure on Strategist players, 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, and promising quicker seasons with an ever-expanding roster of playable heroes. However, recent balance changes have shifted the power dynamics, leaving the Strategist class, which primarily serves as the game's Support pool, at a disadvantage against the dominant Vanguards and Duelists.
AnswerSee ResultsThe diminished effectiveness of the Support class has been a hot topic within the Marvel Rivals community since the launch of Season 2. With other roles gaining more battlefield presence, Strategist players have faced not only tough matches but also toxic behavior from teammates who often criticize them in text and voice chats. The situation escalated recently when hundreds of players took to social media to announce their intention to avoid the healer role until NetEase addressed the issue and improved the experience for Support players.
"We just want basic respect," stated one 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
Responding to the Support strike and the challenges faced by Strategist players, NetEase has outlined a plan to improve the situation. In a Dev Talk post on its website, the developer detailed a dual approach to ease the burden on the Support role and make its Competitive mode more rewarding.
NetEase plans to increase the "threat levels" of Strategists in an upcoming patch. This might involve buffing heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark, while simultaneously nerfing the survivability of Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot. Additionally, Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will see a reduction in its damage range. Specific details about which characters will be affected 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."
In the Competitive mode of Marvel Rivals, which has experienced altered stats since the start of Season 2, Duelists have enjoyed a performance advantage, while Vanguards and Strategists have been at a slight disadvantage. NetEase intends to revise the performance rating calculations to promote fairness among 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 latest playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to feature Ultron soon. As the community awaits the outcome of the upcoming balance changes and their impact on the Support strike, players can also look forward to potential new content, such as a collection of swimsuit skins hinted at in recent Marvel teases.
