Marvel Rivals, developed by NetEase in collaboration with Marvel Games, has emerged as a popular free-to-play hero shooter since its launch, often drawing comparisons to Overwatch 2 due to their shared team-based mechanics and fast-paced action. As of 2025, with Season 4 just kicking off on September 12, players are diving into new content while grappling with persistent issues, particularly in the Strategist role. These support-focused characters, meant to heal and strategize, face criticism for repetitive design, overshadowing their innovative potential. Yet, amid the flaws, there are sparks of brilliance that hint at what could make Marvel Rivals stand out. Players find themselves asking: Why do Strategists feel so formulaic compared to Overwatch 2's dynamic supports? And what changes could NetEase implement to elevate the gameplay? These questions linger as the community navigates the latest updates, creating a narrative that's as evolving as the game itself.
When examining Marvel Rivals, one can't ignore its core strengths in updates and accessibility. With new heroes dropping monthly and high-quality free event skins, it offers a steady stream of fresh content that keeps players engaged—something Overwatch 2 struggles to match in cadence. However, the gameplay depth often falls short, especially in the Strategist category. Here, the similarities between the two games become stark: Overwatch 2 boasts smoother mechanics and character perks that add layers of strategy, while Marvel Rivals relies on its 'Dynamic Hero Synergy' system, allowing combinations like Cloak and Dagger to coordinate attacks. But this synergy isn't enough to mask the repetitive nature of Strategist Ultimates. Many of these abilities function identically, providing large-area healing without much variation. For instance, heroes such as Mantis, Luna Snow, Cloak and Dagger, and Invisible Woman all trigger Ultimates that essentially flood the battlefield with health restoration. Rocket Raccoon's device offers healing and a damage boost to nearby allies, blurring the line into the same predictable pattern. Even Jeff the Land Shark, once a standout with his unique eating mechanic, saw his Ultimate simplified in Season 4 to leave a healing pool, stripping away much of its distinctiveness. This homogenization leaves players feeling like they're stuck in a loop, performing the same actions repeatedly. People also ask: How do Strategist Ultimates differ across heroes, and why did recent updates make them more uniform? These inquiries highlight the lack of diversity that fans hope NetEase will address in future patches.
The problems extend beyond Ultimate abilities to the core gameplay of Strategists. In Overwatch 2, support heroes like Ana or Baptiste wield game-changing powers—think sleep darts or immortality fields—that encourage aggressive plays and clutch moments. Yet in Marvel Rivals, Strategists often devolve into 'heal-botting,' where their primary value comes from pumping out heals rather than engaging in combat. Healing is so potent that unless a player is flanking with Loki or sniping with Adam Warlock, there's little incentive to fight offensively. This results in characters feeling interchangeable; despite unique kits, Cloak and Dagger and Invisible Woman end up playing similarly, spending most matches focused on ally sustain rather than strategic eliminations. The destructible environments, a key feature that allows reshaping battlefields for tactical advantages, aren't fully leveraged by Strategists due to this heal-centric design. Players wonder: What makes Overwatch's supports more versatile, and could Marvel Rivals adopt similar mechanics? This gap in skill expression is palpable, as fans miss the thrill of turning tides with well-timed abilities.
Despite these criticisms, there are commendable aspects that shouldn't be overlooked. Conceptually, Marvel Rivals introduces innovative ideas that even Overwatch hasn't explored. Cloak and Dagger, as a dual-character unit, offer a fresh dynamic with their combined powers, while Loki's deception-focused kit encourages mind games and subterfuge. Jeff the Land Shark's ability to dive underground and deploy healing bubbles adds a layer of strategy that, if expanded, could redefine the role. These elements showcase NetEase's creativity, yet they're underappreciated because the overall gameplay feels too rigid. Season 4's launch brought new heroes and modes, as leaked earlier, but it didn't fully resolve the Strategist issues, leaving players hopeful for more impactful changes. People also ask: How do new Season 4 features like the Battle Pass affect Strategist balance, and what can fans expect in future updates? These questions underscore the potential for improvement.
Looking ahead, solutions could involve a complete overhaul of damage and healing numbers, giving Strategists the freedom to pursue kills without sacrificing team support. In Overwatch 2, healing prolongs fights but rarely decides them alone, allowing supports like Kiriko to seek eliminations aggressively. If NetEase doesn't adjust these numbers, they could at least diversify Ultimates and enhance base abilities to foster more engaging playstyles. The community's feedback is clear: Fixes are feasible and necessary. With Marvel Rivals expanding into comics and other media, as seen in its cross-narrative approach, there's an opportunity to integrate richer storytelling into gameplay. Will Season 5 or beyond bring the changes players crave? Only time will tell if NetEase listens, potentially closing the gap with Overwatch 2 and reclaiming Marvel Rivals' spot as a top contender in the hero shooter genre.
