Marvel Rivals Dev Plans to Enhance Strategist Experience Post Support Players' Strike

NetEase Games, the developer behind Marvel Rivals, has announced measures to address the concerns of Strategist players just days after a community-wide Support strike was initiated by fans. Season 2 of Marvel Rivals has seen the introduction of new characters, maps, and modes, propelling the hero shooter forward with promises of faster seasons and an expanding roster of playable heroes. However, recent balance changes have shifted the power dynamics, leaving the Strategist class, which primarily serves as the game's Support pool, feeling underpowered compared to Vanguards and Duelists.

The community has been vocal about the diminished role of the Support class since the launch of Season 2 earlier this month. As other classes gained more battlefield influence, many Strategist players have faced not only challenging but also toxic gameplay experiences. Teammates have taken to text and voice chats to unfairly blame Strategists for losses, pushing the community to a tipping point. This week, hundreds of players took to social media to announce a strike, refusing to play the healer role until NetEase addresses the issue and improves the experience for Support players.

"We just want basic respect," expressed one Reddit user. "We're not asking to be seen as the 'hardest' role - because I don't think we are. We just want basic respect. It's exhausting to be called brain dead or worthless when your stats are solid and you're playing your role correctly."

I Need Healing

In response to the strike and the challenges faced by Strategist players, NetEase has outlined a plan to ease the pressure. In a Dev Talk post on their website, NetEase detailed a two-pronged approach that involves buffing the Support role and enhancing the rewards in Competitive mode.

The upcoming patch will see an increase in "threat levels" for Strategists, potentially boosting heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark. Meanwhile, nerfs to the survivability of Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot are planned, along with a reduction in the damage range of Spider-Man's Amazing Combo ability. NetEase is taking a cautious approach with these mid-season adjustments, aiming to enhance specific hero experiences without significantly altering the game's meta. "As we move into S2.5 with Ultron's arrival and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, we'll consider broader, more comprehensive balance changes," NetEase stated.

Since the launch of Season 2, Competitive mode in Marvel Rivals has seen slight alterations in performance stats, with Duelists gaining an edge in performance ratings while Vanguards and Strategists lag behind. To address this, NetEase plans 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 post noted. "However, we remain committed to addressing issues promptly and enhancing 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 latest Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to bring Ultron into the fray. As the community waits to see if the upcoming balance changes will satisfy those involved in the Support strike, players can look forward to a potential new addition of swimsuit skins to the game, as hinted in a recent Marvel tease.