Marvel Rivals players are voicing concerns that Ultron might be underwhelming in the upcoming season. This article explores community feedback on Ultron's balance and the heated debate surrounding recent adjustments to Jeff and Thor.
Pre-Launch Worries for Marvel Rivals Season 2.5
Ultron Potentially Requires Buffs
As Marvel Rivals prepares for Season 2.5, introducing the new Strategist Ultron, some fans worry the formidable robot might launch in a weakened state requiring immediate buffs.
Reddit user mrdunklestein analyzed Ultron's performance during early access streams on May 25, noting the character possesses strong long-range attacks with damage persistence, excellent mobility, and a powerful healing ultimate.
However, concerns emerged regarding Ultron's drones providing minimal healing that barely surpasses practice bot damage. Players also reported weak shielding capabilities and an ultimate attack that deals less damage than Hawkeye's standard arrows (which deal 8-80 damage depending on charge time).
These observations come from pre-release gameplay, and final balance may differ. Some players speculate this reflects a pattern where flying characters initially launch weaker before receiving buffs, as seen with Storm and Human Torch.
Reddit user RuinedViego16 noted that Storm evolved from being one of the weakest duelists to holding the second-highest PC competitive win rate after receiving focused buffs to her Wind Blade attack. The community awaits Ultron's official release to assess his true performance.
Community Backlash Over Jeff and Thor Adjustments
Recent Season 2.5 patch notes revealing nerfs to Jeff the Land Shark and Thor sparked significant community outrage, with many players questioning these changes for characters that weren't considered overpowered.
Thor's Hammer Throw was removed from shared abilities and universal cooldowns while receiving damage reductions, coupled with decreased shield effectiveness from Thorforce. Jeff underwent a complete ability overhaul that many fear will diminish his viability.
Responding to feedback, NetEase released a May 23 Twitter update explaining their design philosophy through an explanatory video. The changes aim to extend Thor's Awakened Rune state duration and transform Jeff's Joyful Splash into a dual-purpose ability that both heals allies and damages opponents.
Growing Petition to Reverse Jeff Changes
The community launched a Change.org petition to preserve Jeff's current kit, amassing over 3,200 signatures. Players argue that despite his 42% win rate (the game's lowest), Jeff remains uniquely enjoyable in his current state and shouldn't become "another boring healbot."
With Season 2.5 launching May 30 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, the Marvel Rivals community awaits to see how these controversies will ultimately resolve in the live game.
