Developer NetEase Games has announced plans to address player concerns around the Marvel Rivals Strategist role, just days after the community launched a collective Support strike.
While Season 2 of the hero shooter has been largely well-received thanks to new heroes, maps, and modes alongside promises of faster updates, recent balance adjustments have created new challenges. Players who favor the Strategist class—Marvel Rivals’ primary Support role—are finding the game less enjoyable as Vanguards and Duelists have gained considerable power.
Since Season 2 launched earlier this month, the weakened state of Support heroes has sparked widespread discussion. With other roles dominating matches, many Strategist players report not only difficult games but also rising toxicity, as teammates increasingly blame them for losses. Tensions peaked last week when hundreds of players took to social media, pledging to avoid the Support role until NetEase committed to improving their gameplay experience.
"All we're asking for is basic respect."
“We don’t need to be seen as the most skilled role—I don’t believe we are,” one Reddit user noted. “We just want to be treated fairly. It’s exhausting to be called useless or incompetent when you’re posting strong stats and fulfilling your role correctly.”
Support Under Pressure
Whether due to the strike or a natural shift away from a challenging role, NetEase is taking steps to respond. In a recent Dev Talk, the studio acknowledged player feedback regarding the Strategist class and unveiled a two-part plan: strengthening Support heroes while also improving rewards in Competitive mode.
The development team confirmed that Strategist "threat levels" will be increased in an upcoming patch. This could mean buffs for heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark, alongside nerfs to the survivability of Vanguards such as Captain America and Groot. Spider-Man’s Amazing Combo ability will also see a reduction in damage range. Specific character adjustments have not yet been detailed.
“Because this is a mid-season update, we’re proceeding carefully—making small changes to improve certain heroes without shaking up the meta too much,” NetEase stated. “Looking ahead to Season 2.5, with Ultron’s introduction and Team-Up Ability tweaks, we’ll evaluate more wide-reaching balance updates.”
Competitive mode has also seen rating disparities since Season 2 began, with Duelists often gaining an edge in performance ratings while Vanguards and Strategists lag behind. NetEase plans to recalibrate these calculations to ensure all roles are judged fairly.
“Balancing the game and ranking system is a complex process, and we can’t promise everything will be perfect immediately,” the Dev Talk continued. “That said, we’re listening closely and working to resolve issues as quickly as possible. Keep an eye out for official patch notes for the latest updates. We appreciate your ongoing support and patience.”
Marvel Rivals Season 2 added Emma Frost as a new Vanguard hero, with Ultron scheduled to arrive in Season 2.5. While the community waits to see if these balance changes ease frustrations, fans can also look forward to potential swimsuit-themed skins that recently appeared in a Marvel teaser.
