Season 3 of Marvel Rivals is fast approaching, bringing a bunch of new content, including a new playable character, Phoenix, and a battle pass themed around Symbiotes and the Phoenix Force. However, with the ever-growing roster of heroes in Rivals, fans have started voicing concerns about the game having too many Duelists.
These concerns surfaced after the Season 3 trailer revealed the two new heroes joining the game: Phoenix and Blade. While Jean Grey’s Phoenix is set to arrive in just a few hours, Blade is scheduled to launch this August as part of Season 3.5. But fans are already worried. If Blade ends up as another Duelist, the game may have too many damage-focused heroes.
Rivals currently has a mismatch in role distribution: 20 Duelists, 10 Vanguards, and 7 Strategists. This gap makes Duelists a more appealing choice, especially compared to the relatively limited pool of meta-defining Strategists and Vanguards. As a result, players with lower mechanical skill levels often gravitate toward the role they find most fun. Duelists are easier to pick up since they mostly involve simply pointing and shooting at enemies.
This isn’t unique to Rivals. Overwatch 2, for instance, has 19 Damage heroes, 13 Tanks, and 11 Supports. In most hero shooters, newer players tend to favor Damage characters. They’re easier to understand and more straightforward to play compared to heroes who focus on healing or protecting teammates.
Players have also pointed out why this imbalance exists. It’s generally easier to design a Damage hero than a Tank or Strategist. Balancing a DPS character mostly revolves around creating a kit that deals damage. On the other hand, Tanks and Strategists need well-rounded toolkits that not only help their team but also ensure they remain viable in combat. That takes more time and careful design.
It’s a classic design dilemma that’s been around for years. If Marvel Rivals suddenly shifted to making only Strategists and Vanguards, it would likely create balance issues down the line.
That said, Marvel Rivals has more heroes coming every month. Whether this release schedule is sustainable or not, NetEase seems confident in its ability to tap into Marvel’s 80-year history to bring compelling characters to life. While fans may be frustrated with the current lack of Vanguards and Strategists, there’s still room for the game to grow and improve in future seasons.
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