NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has announced measures to ease the burden on Strategists players following a community-wide Support strike initiated by fans just days ago. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful, introducing new characters, maps, and modes, alongside a promise of quicker seasons and more heroes. However, recent balance changes have shifted the dynamics, causing dissatisfaction among the Strategist class, which serves as the game's Support pool. The rise in power of Vanguards and Duelists has left Strategists struggling to keep up, leading to frustrating and even toxic gameplay experiences.
AnswerSee ResultsSince the launch of Season 2, the community has been vocal about the diminished effectiveness of the Support class. With other roles gaining more battlefield influence, Strategist players have faced not only challenging matches but also hostility from teammates, often being blamed for losses. The situation escalated last week when hundreds of players took to social media, vowing 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," 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
In response to the Support strike and the ongoing challenges faced by Strategist players, NetEase has outlined its plans in a Dev Talk post on its website. The approach to alleviate the pressure on Strategists involves a dual strategy: enhancing the Support role and adjusting the Competitive mode to be more rewarding. An upcoming patch will elevate the "threat levels" of Strategists, potentially buffing heroes like Invisible Woman and Jeff the Land Shark, while nerfing the survivability of Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot. Additionally, Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will see a decrease in damage range. Specific details about which characters will be affected are yet to be disclosed.
NetEase emphasized a cautious approach to these mid-season balance adjustments, aiming to enhance the experience for certain heroes without drastically altering the game's meta. "As we move into S2.5, with Ultron's arrival and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, we'll consider broader, more comprehensive balance changes," the developer stated.
In Competitive mode, Marvel Rivals has seen shifts in performance ratings since Season 2 began, with Duelists gaining an edge, while Vanguards and Strategists have faced slight disadvantages. To address this, NetEase plans to modify 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 noted. "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 a new Vanguard hero, and Season 2.5 is set to feature Ultron in the coming weeks. As the community awaits the impact of these balance changes on the Support strike, fans can also look forward to a potential new addition to the game: a collection of swimsuit skins, as hinted in a recent Marvel tease.
