Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games is responding to player concerns about the struggling Strategist class, following community backlash that escalated into an unofficial support strike.
Season 2's otherwise successful launch brought new heroes and content to Marvel Rivals, but unexpected balancing issues have left Strategist players feeling undervalued. As Vanguard and Duelist characters dominate matches, Support mains report increased frustration—both from difficult gameplay and toxic teammate interactions.
VoteView Community TrendsThe Strategist dilemma reached critical mass last week when hundreds of players organized across social media, vowing to avoid Support roles until developer intervention. One passionate Reddit post captured the sentiment: "We're not demanding special treatment—just fair recognition for doing our job well under increasingly tough conditions."NetEase's two-part solution, outlined in their latest developer blog, focuses on mid-season hero adjustments and Competitive Mode refinements. The planned changes include:
• Strategic buffs for struggling Supports like Invisible Woman
• Tuning down overpowered Vanguards (Captain America, Groot)
• Reducing Spider-Man's combo damage effectiveness
• Rebalanced Competitive scoring to fairly represent all roles
"These mid-season tweaks aim to improve specific pain points without overhauling the meta," NetEase clarified, promising more comprehensive changes for Season 2.5 alongside Ultron's arrival.
The developers acknowledged Competitive Mode's current bias toward Duelists, admitting, "Perfect balance remains challenging, but we're committed to continuous improvements." Their transparency about the complex balancing act has been welcomed by players awaiting concrete changes.
With Emma Frost recently joining as a new Vanguard and Ultron coming soon, Marvel Rivals continues expanding its roster. While the community awaits these balancing fixes, speculation grows about potential summer cosmetic additions, including rumored beach-themed outfits that recently surfaced in Marvel promotions.
