Marvel Rivals Dev Plans to Enhance Strategist Experience After Support Player Strike

NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has announced plans to ease the burden on Strategists, just days after the community initiated a Support strike. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful, with new characters, maps, and modes enhancing the hero shooter's appeal. However, balance changes have shifted the dynamics, putting Strategists, who serve as the game's Support class, at a disadvantage compared to Vanguards and Duelists.

Since the launch of Season 2, the Marvel Rivals community has been vocal about the reduced effectiveness of the Support class. With other roles gaining more battlefield influence, Strategist players have faced not only challenging matches but also toxicity from teammates who blame them for losses. This frustration culminated in a community-wide strike, with players pledging to avoid the Support role until NetEase addressed their concerns.

"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

In response to the strike and the ongoing challenges, NetEase has outlined a plan to support the Strategist class. In a Dev Talk post on their website, NetEase detailed a two-pronged approach to alleviate the pressure on Supports. This includes enhancing the Support role and making Competitive mode more rewarding.

An upcoming patch will increase the "threat levels" of Strategists, potentially boosting heroes like Invisible Woman and Jeff the Land Shark, while reducing 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 on which characters will be affected are forthcoming.

"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."

Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has also seen changes since Season 2 began, with Duelists enjoying a performance rating advantage, while Vanguards and Strategists have been at a slight disadvantage. NetEase plans to adjust performance rating 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 added. "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 playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to feature Ultron. As the community awaits the impact of the upcoming balance changes, there's anticipation for a recent Marvel tease hinting at a collection of swimsuit skins potentially joining the game.