NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has announced plans to address the concerns of Strategist players, just days after the community initiated a Support strike. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful with new characters, maps, and modes, pushing the game forward with promises of faster seasons and more heroes. However, recent balance changes have shifted the power dynamics, leaving Strategists, who primarily serve as the game's Support class, feeling overshadowed by Vanguards and Duelists.
AnswerSee ResultsThe diminished effectiveness of the Support class has sparked intense discussions within the Marvel Rivals community since the launch of Season 2. As other classes gain more battlefield prowess, Strategist players have faced not only challenging but also toxic matches, with teammates often blaming them in chat for losses. This frustration culminated in a community strike, with hundreds of players vowing to avoid the healer role until NetEase addressed their grievances.
"We just want basic respect," one Reddit user commented. "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 strike and the broader community concerns, NetEase has outlined a two-pronged approach in a Dev Talk post to alleviate the pressure on Strategists. They plan to enhance the Support role through buffs while also making Competitive mode more rewarding. Upcoming patches will increase the "threat levels" of Strategists, potentially boosting heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark, while simultaneously nerfing the survivability of Vanguards like Captain America and Groot. Additionally, Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will see a reduced damage range.
"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 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 disadvantage. NetEase plans to adjust these 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 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 newest playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to include Ultron in the near future. As the community awaits the impact of these balance changes on the Support strike, you can also look forward to a recent Marvel tease that could see a collection of swimsuit skins joining the game.
