NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has swiftly responded to the community's concerns just days after fans initiated a widespread Support strike. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has largely been a success with the introduction of new characters, maps, and modes, propelling the hero shooter forward with promises of shorter seasons and an expanded roster of playable heroes. However, recent balance changes have shifted the dynamics, leaving the Strategist class, which primarily serves as the game's Support pool, feeling overpowered by Vanguards and Duelists.
AnswerSee ResultsSince the launch of Season 2 earlier this month, the diminished effectiveness of the Support class has sparked intense discussions within the Marvel Rivals community. With the enhanced power of other roles on the battlefield, many Strategists have faced not only challenging but also toxic gameplay experiences, often being blamed by teammates in text and voice chats for any setbacks. The frustration culminated last week when hundreds of players took to social media to announce their boycott of the healer role until NetEase addressed how to improve the experience.
"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 ongoing challenges faced by the Strategist class, NetEase has outlined its plans in a Dev Talk post on its official website. The approach to alleviate the pressure on Supports involves a dual strategy: enhancing the Support role and refining the rewards in Competitive mode.
NetEase plans to elevate the "threat levels" of Strategists in an upcoming patch, which might include buffs for heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark. Concurrently, Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot could see nerfs to their survivability, while Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will face a reduced damage range. While specific details on which characters will undergo changes are yet to be disclosed, NetEase emphasized a cautious approach to these mid-season adjustments.
"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."
Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has also experienced shifts in performance ratings since the start of Season 2. Duelists have enjoyed a notable advantage, while Vanguards and Strategists have faced a slight disadvantage. To address this, NetEase intends to recalibrate the performance rating calculations to ensure equitable treatment across all hero classes.
"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 its newest playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to include Ultron in the near future. As the community awaits the impact of the forthcoming balance changes, especially on the Support strike participants, you can explore a recent Marvel tease that could see a collection of swimsuit skins joining the game.
