NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has announced plans to alleviate the frustrations of Strategist players, just days after the community initiated a widespread Support strike. While Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful with new characters, maps, and modes propelling the hero shooter forward, balance changes have unfortunately shifted the power dynamics, leaving the Strategist class, which primarily serves as the game's Support pool, at a disadvantage compared to Vanguards and Duelists.
AnswerSee ResultsSince the launch of Season 2, the Marvel Rivals community has been vocal about the diminished effectiveness of the Support class. With other roles gaining significant power, Strategist players have faced not only tough but also toxic matches, where they often bear the brunt of their teammates' frustrations in text and voice chats. The situation escalated recently, with hundreds of players taking to social media to pledge a boycott of the healer role until NetEase addresses their concerns and improves the gameplay experience for Strategists.
"We just want basic respect," expressed 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 solid and we're playing our role correctly."
I Need Healing
In response to the strike and the ongoing challenges faced by Strategist players, NetEase has outlined a plan to ease the pressure on this class. In a Dev Talk post on their website, the developer detailed a two-pronged approach aimed at bolstering the Support role and enhancing the rewards in Competitive mode.
The upcoming patch will see an increase in "threat levels" for Strategists, potentially boosting heroes like Invisible Woman and 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 have its damage range reduced. The specifics of which characters will be affected are yet to be disclosed.
"As this is a mid-season balance adjustment, we aim to be cautious, keeping changes minimal to improve the experience of certain heroes without drastically shifting the overall meta," NetEase stated. "With the arrival of Ultron and new Team-Up Ability adjustments in S2.5, we'll consider more comprehensive balance changes."
In Competitive mode, which has seen altered performance stats since Season 2 began, Duelists have enjoyed an advantage in performance ratings, while Vanguards and Strategists have been at a slight disadvantage. To address this, NetEase plans to adjust the performance rating calculations to ensure a more equitable experience across all heroes.
"Balancing the game and making rank adjustments is a complex task, and we can't promise perfection every time," the Dev Talk post added. "However, we remain committed and responsive, working diligently to resolve issues quickly and enhance your gaming experience. Keep an eye out for official patch announcements for further updates. We appreciate your support and patience!"
Season 2 of Marvel Rivals introduced Emma Frost as a new playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to feature Ultron. As we await the impact of the upcoming balance changes on the Support strike, you can explore a recent Marvel tease that could see a collection of swimsuit skins added to the game.
