Marvel Rivals Dev Announces 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 players just days after a community-wide Support strike was initiated by fans. While Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has been largely successful with new characters, maps, and modes pushing the hero shooter forward, the balance changes have inadvertently shifted power dynamics, leaving Strategists feeling underserved compared to Vanguards and Duelists.

Since the launch of Season 2, the community has been vocal about the decreased viability of the Support class, leading to frustration and toxic interactions in matches. Players have reported being unfairly blamed for losses, prompting a significant number of Strategists to initiate a strike on social media, demanding improvements from NetEase.

"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 Strategist players, NetEase has outlined a strategy to address these concerns in a Dev Talk post on their website. The developer's approach is two-fold: enhancing the Support role and adjusting the Competitive mode to make it more rewarding.

NetEase plans to elevate the "threat levels" of Strategists in an upcoming patch, which may include buffs for heroes like Invisible Woman and Jeff the Land Shark. Simultaneously, nerfs to the survivability of Vanguards like Captain America and Groot, along with a decrease in the damage range of Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability, are on the horizon. Specific details about which characters will be affected 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 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."

In the Competitive mode of Marvel Rivals, performance stats have shifted since Season 2 began, with Duelists gaining an edge while Vanguards and Strategists face a slight disadvantage. NetEase intends to adjust the 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 newest playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to include Ultron in the near future. As the community awaits the impact of the upcoming balance changes, particularly those participating in the Support strike, fans can look forward to potential new content, including a teased collection of swimsuit skins that might join the game.