Dev Reveals Plans to Enhance Strategist Experience in Marvel Rivals After Support Strike

NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has responded swiftly to the community's concerns just days after a widespread Support strike was initiated by fans. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been a hit with the introduction of new characters, maps, and modes, propelling the hero shooter forward with promises of faster seasons and an expanded roster of playable heroes. However, recent balance changes have shifted the power dynamics, putting the Strategists—Marvel Rivals' Support class—under considerable strain as Vanguards and Duelists dominate the battlefield.

The decline in the Support class's effectiveness has been a hot topic in the Marvel Rivals community since the launch of Season 2. With other classes gaining more battlefield prowess, many Strategist players have reported not only frustrating matches but also toxic interactions, with teammates often blaming them in text and voice chats. Tensions reached a peak this past week, prompting hundreds of players to declare on social media that they would avoid the healer role until NetEase addressed the issues.

"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 challenges faced by the Support class, NetEase has promised to take action. In a Dev Talk post on its website, the company outlined a dual approach to alleviate the pressure on Strategists. This includes buffing the Support role and making the Competitive mode more rewarding.

NetEase plans to elevate "threat levels" for Strategists in an upcoming patch, which might involve boosting heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark, while nerfing the survivability of Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot. Additionally, Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability will see a reduction in damage range. The exact details of these changes are 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, the Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has seen altered performance statistics since Season 2 began. Duelists have enjoyed an advantage in performance ratings, while Vanguards and Strategists have been at a slight disadvantage. NetEase intends to adjust the performance rating calculations to ensure fairness 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 feature Ultron. As we await the impact of the upcoming balance changes on the Support strike, keep an eye out for news on a potential addition of a collection of swimsuit skins to the game.