Marvel Rivals has an absurd number of characters to choose from, with 39 heroes and villains to try out and “git gud” with, though you’ll find that your options are significantly diminished if you’re either a tank or support player. At the time of writing, there are a total of nine Strategists and ten Vanguards in the game compared to the 21 Duelists when Phoenix drops in just a few days.
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Marvel Rivals Adding A Character Every Six Weeks Is Ridiculous
Can this really be sustainable?
It’s typical for hero shooters to have a wider selection of DPS characters, with the most likely reasons being that they’re easier to balance and that it’s the most popular role. Everyone wants their time in the spotlight, and being a DPS means that you’re more likely to pop off than you are on someone like Invisible Woman. However, a lot of tank and support players are getting annoyed about their lack of options.
It’s been a prevailing feeling for a little while, even though we recently got a new tank and healer in Emma Frost and Ultron. Before today, there were hopes that Blade (the second Season 3 character being added) would be a tank, as Phoenix is already confirmed to be a DPS character, and the idea of having a season in which two DPS characters are added didn’t sit right with a lot of people.
Marvel Rivals Fans Are Upset Blade Is A DPS Character
Unfortunately, a new Marvel Rivals leak has dashed those hopes. First shared by Twitter user RivalsInfo, a video of Blade gameplay has made its way onto social media, pretty much confirming that he’ll be a chunky DPS character rather than a tank. In the video we can see him dealing pretty high damage to another Blade, while his HP is also sat at 300, which is the higher end for a DPS.
RivalsInfo admits that elements of the video are subject to change, but it’s difficult to see NetEase changing something as fundamental as a character’s role before launch.
With Blade now a confirmed DPS, all of those hoping that he’d be a tank are now taking to social media to voice their complaints. For example, a Reddit user called KingGio21 says that they “don’t want to see another DPS for the next two seasons”, complaining that the balance between all three roles is “ridiculous”.
Similarly, a user called Akanhann is worried that adding two DPS characters in quick succession will saturate the “already overcrowded DPS role”, meaning we’ll see even fewer tanks and support players, while one user even says they’re going to “stop playing” until they get more tanks to play as. To make matters worse, Season 4 and Season 5 are also rumored to be adding at least one DPS character too, so the problem isn’t going to be fixed any time soon.
The only shining light at the end of the tunnel for tank and support players is that heroes will be dropping more frequently now, meaning at least the wait for another hero in their role is shorter. It’s not much, but NetEase clearly wants to cater to the DPS crowd, so it’s something we’re probably going to have to put up with for the foreseeable future.
Marvel Rivals
Released
December 6, 2024
ESRB
T For Teen // Violence
Developer(s)
NetEase Games
Publisher(s)
NetEase Games
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
