Marvel Rivals Dev Plans Buffs for Strategist Experience Post-Support Player Strike

NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has unveiled plans to ease the burden on Strategists just days after a community-led Support strike was initiated by fans. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful, introducing new characters, maps, and modes, and accelerating the pace of seasons with the promise of more heroes to come. However, recent balance changes have shifted the power dynamics, leaving Strategists, who serve as the game's Support class, feeling overshadowed by Vanguards and Duelists.

Since the launch of Season 2, the diminished effectiveness of the Support class has sparked heated discussions within the Marvel Rivals community. With other classes gaining more battlefield dominance, many Strategist players have endured not only challenging but also toxic gameplay experiences, often facing blame from teammates in text and voice chats. The tension culminated in a strike this past week, with hundreds of players vowing to avoid the healer role until NetEase addressed their concerns.

"We just want basic respect," expressed one Reddit user. "We're not asking to be seen as the toughest role - because we 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 fulfilling our role as intended."

I Need Healing

In response to the strike and the shift away from the challenging Strategist class, NetEase has announced plans to take action. In a Dev Talk post on its website, the developer outlined a two-pronged approach to alleviate the pressure on Strategists: enhancing the Support role and making Competitive mode more rewarding.

The upcoming patch will see an increase in "threat levels" for Strategists, potentially boosting heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark, while Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot may see nerfs to their survivability. Additionally, Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will face a reduction in damage range. NetEase has not yet disclosed the specific heroes affected by these changes.

"As we are making mid-season balance adjustments, we intend to be cautious and keep changes minimal to improve the experience of certain heroes without significantly disrupting the overall meta," NetEase stated. "As we progress into S2.5 with the introduction of Ultron and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, we will consider more comprehensive balance changes."

Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has also undergone slight adjustments since Season 2 began. Duelists have enjoyed an edge in performance ratings, whereas Vanguards and Strategists have been at a slight disadvantage. To address this, NetEase plans to revise the performance rating calculations to promote fairness across all hero classes.

"Balancing the game and making rank adjustments is a complex task, and we can't promise perfection every time," the Dev Talk noted. "However, we remain committed to listening and responding promptly to improve your gaming experience. Keep an eye out for official patch announcements for more details. We appreciate your support and patience!"

Season 2 of Marvel Rivals introduced Emma Frost as the latest Vanguard hero, with Ultron slated to join the fray in Season 2.5. As the community awaits the impact of the forthcoming balance adjustments on the Support strike, keep an eye out for news about a potential new collection of swimsuit skins teased by Marvel, which could add a splash of fun to the game.