NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has unveiled plans to alleviate the pressure on Strategists 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, and promising faster seasons with an expanded roster of playable heroes. However, recent balance changes have shifted the power dynamics, particularly impacting the Strategist class, which serves as the game's Support pool. As Vanguards and Duelists have gained strength, Strategists are finding the game less enjoyable.
AnswerSee ResultsThe decline in the viability of the Support class has sparked significant discussion within the Marvel Rivals community since the launch of Season 2. With other roles gaining more battlefield influence, Strategist players have faced not only challenging matches but also toxic interactions, as teammates often blame them in text and voice chats. This tension reached a peak last week when hundreds of players took to social media to announce their boycott of the healer role, demanding that NetEase address the issue to make the game more enjoyable for all players.
"We just want basic respect," expressed 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
Whether the strike has influenced player behavior or if individuals are simply avoiding the challenging class, NetEase is committed to taking action. In a Dev Talk post released today, NetEase addressed the concerns surrounding the Strategist class. Their approach involves a two-pronged strategy: enhancing the Support role and making the Competitive mode more rewarding.
NetEase plans to increase the "threat levels" of Strategists in an upcoming patch. This may include buffs for heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark, while simultaneously nerfing the survivability of Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot. Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will also see a reduction in damage range. The specifics on which characters will undergo these adjustments have 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 stated. "As we move into S2.5, with Ultron's arrival and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, we'll consider broader, more comprehensive balance changes."
Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals' Competitive mode has experienced slight changes in performance stats since Season 2 began. Duelists have enjoyed an advantage in performance ratings, while Vanguards and Strategists have faced a slight disadvantage. To address this, NetEase intends to recalibrate performance rating calculations to promote 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 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, keep an eye out for a recent Marvel tease that could introduce a collection of swimsuit skins to the game.
