Marvel Rivals Faces Ultimate Challenge: Addressing Key Issues for Long-Term Success

With the launch of Marvel Rivals Season One, significant balancing changes were introduced, targeting hero performance to create a more competitive environment. As part of these adjustments, notable heroes like Hawkeye and Hela faced necessary nerfs, while characters such as Storm and Wolverine enjoyed buffs to enhance their viability. Most adjustments were well-received, leading to a shift in the overall competitive meta. However, player feedback highlighted a broader concern: the enduring dominance of certain ultimate abilities.

As Season One progressed, players began to notice a troubling trend—strategist ultimates appeared overpowered. These abilities not only counter a vast number of alternatives but also tend to have excessively long durations and quick recharge times. This imbalance has resulted in drawn-out team fights that frustrate players, necessitating adjustments as we move into Season Two.

Defensive Ultimates Are Overly Dominant in Marvel Rivals

Disproportionate Impact on Ultimate Economy

Luna Snow's ultimate ability in Marvel Rivals

Cloak and Dagger's ability shown in Marvel Rivals

It is essential to acknowledge that not every strategist ultimate is equally overpowering. For example, Adam Warlock’s ability requires precise execution, and Rocket Raccoon’s ultimate lacks the game-changing impact of others. However, purely defensive ultimates, such as those belonging to Luna Snow, Mantis, Cloak and Dagger, and Invisible Woman, provide an excessive strategic advantage in Marvel Rivals.

The ultimate economy—a critical aspect of gameplay in Marvel Rivals—centers on the judicious use of these powerful abilities. Securing victories with minimal ultimates is crucial for long-term success. While employing all ultimates in a single fight may guarantee a win, it leaves teams vulnerable afterward. Herein lies the crux of the problem with defensive ultimates: they disrupt the ultimate economy excessively.

Compounding this issue is the fact that one effective counter to these defensive abilities, Moon Knight’s ultimate, is currently bugged, leading to unexpected damage output. Once this bug is resolved, options for counterplay will likely diminish even further.

For illustrative purposes, a single Luna Snow ultimate can negate multiple opposing ultimates. A common exchange sees a Luna ult traded for three enemy ultimates, which is not only routine but also exceedingly beneficial for the team employing it. Although strategist ultimates do have counterplay, it necessitates a highly coordinated team effort to unleash large amounts of burst damage quickly on the ulting strategist. The quick activation times of these defensive ultimates also contribute to their potency, enabling teams to stifle the enemy’s strategy.

Defensive Ultimates Induce Excessive Downtime in Marvel Rivals

A Draught of Action: 12 Seconds of Inactivity

Luna Snow's dynamic ultimate in a team fight

In addition to their overwhelming strength, these defensive ultimates also induce significant periods of inactivity during team skirmishes. For instance, Luna Snow’s ultimate lasts an astonishing 12 seconds. During this time, action comes to a near standstill as opposing teams have no choice but to retreat or hide, lacking the ability to counter effectively unless they can unleash a substantial burst of damage.

While Luna Snow stands as the primary offender, other defensive ultimates contribute to prolonged periods of inactivity as well. Cloak and Dagger, for instance, boasts the lowest ultimate charge requirement among strategist characters, yet its duration can extend around 20 seconds. Although slightly less impactful than Luna’s ability, Cloak and Dagger can still lead to lethargic team fights due to their frequent activation and duration, often resulting in matches that are less engaging.

Three Healer Compositions Are Becoming Monotonous

A Call for Nerfs Before a Stagnant Meta Emerges

Mantis, Luna Snow, and Loki featured in Marvel Rivals. — Image created by Katarina Cimbaljevic

It is important to clarify that defensive ultimates do have a rightful place within Marvel Rivals. Just as offensive ultimates show their own strengths and require clever counterplay, defensive counterparts also need balance. However, the duration and frequency of these defensive abilities currently skew towards the excessive. Beyond their capacity to counter ultimates and manipulate the ultimate economy, they slow down the pace of the game, creating intervals of inaction rather than tactical maneuvering.Marvel Rivals urgently requires adjustments to these ultimates to cultivate a more dynamic and engaging gameplay experience, which presently only emerges during the fleeting moments when these ultimates are recharging.

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