What is the strategist strike in Marvel Rivals?

In a hero shooter like Marvel Rivals ^[1], it’s only natural that every single role is important in a team. Whether it be the duelist, vanguard, or even strategist, a team will find it very difficult to win if at least one of every role isn’t filled. This is exactly why so many players have been confused about the drop in strategists in ranked modes.

Today, we’re here to go through everything players need to know about the strategist strike in Marvel Rivals. This includes highlighting the whole thing’s start, which was thanks to a streamer named Necros, as well as other underlying issues that forced NetEase to address the problem in a blog.

So, if you want to learn about the Marvel Rivals strategist strike, keep reading because that’s exactly what we’re going for.

Why is the Marvel Rivals strategist strike happening?

Before anything, it’s crucial to highlight why exactly the strategist strike is happening in Marvel Rivals. Like other controversies and strikes, the strategist strike didn’t happen for just one reason. Therefore, we’ll break down all the reasons one at a time to ensure you know how it came to be.

Necros and his shenanigans 

Everything began when a popular streamer by the name of Necros insulted strategists in Marvel Rivals by calling them terms like “moron” and “idiots.” As expected, this didn’t go well with those who actually play these heroes, even if Necros is a fairly generic streamer who doesn’t have nearly as much following as the better-known streamers like XQC and Pokimane.

Following Necros's comments, some strategist players reported experiencing increased hostility in-game, with others echoing the streamer's sentiments. In protest, many support mains initiated a strike by refusing to select strategist heroes during matches. A notable Reddit post titled “The ‘support strike’ and Necros’ comments – why this actually matters” highlighted the impact of such remarks and stated that streamers and other influential figures had a responsibility to watch what they say.

Strategists don’t have it easy

The Necros comments may have lit the fire, but other things attributed to the strategist strike. The game's current meta in Season 2 has seen a dominance of mobile Vanguard and Duelist heroes, making it challenging for Strategists to perform effectively. 

Playing as a healer in a fast-paced game like Marvel Rivals is already hard enough. However, with so many duelists and vanguards having enough mobility to easily get in the backlines to take down healers and other squishy heroes, it gets even harder to win. There’s also the fact that most duelists and vanguards are too focused on trying to take down the enemy’s heroes that they don’t even try to help their strategists.

Do strategists get less Elo?

In Marvel Rivals, strategist players have raised concerns about the game's Elo system potentially disadvantaging their role. Despite contributing significantly to team success through healing and support, strategists often receive lower Elo gains compared to teammates playing damage-dealing roles.

Moreover, the issue extends to Elo losses, where strategists may experience greater point deductions after defeats, even when fulfilling their role effectively. This imbalance not only affects individual rankings but also discourages players from selecting support roles, potentially leading to team composition challenges.

What did NetEase do about the strategist strike?

Recognizing these concerns, developer NetEase addressed the matter in their Dev Talk Vol. 13 blog. They acknowledged the heightened pressure on Strategists and announced plans to buff their damage abilities in an upcoming patch expected in May.

In their Dev Talk Vol.13, NetEase acknowledged the increased pressure Strategist players face, particularly in Season 2, and outlined plans to optimize the performance rating system to ensure fairness across all hero roles. The upcoming patch is also set to introduce Ultron as a new Strategist character, further expanding the support roster.

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FAQs

How did the developers respond to the strategist strike?

In response to the community's concerns, the developers released a mid-season patch aimed at addressing the issues raised. This update included buffs to certain strategist characters, enhancing their damage output to better align with the game's fast-paced combat rhythm. Additionally, adjustments were made to the competitive performance rating system to more fairly assess hero performance across different ranks. These changes were part of a broader effort to ensure equitable gameplay and acknowledge the vital role of strategists in team compositions.

What impact did the strategist strike have on the game's community and balance?

The strategist strike brought significant attention to the challenges faced by support players, fostering a broader conversation about role balance and recognition within the game. It underscored the necessity of support roles in achieving team success and led to tangible changes in game mechanics and hero balancing. The movement also encouraged players and developers alike to reevaluate the dynamics of team roles, promoting a more inclusive and balanced gaming environment.

References

1. [1] "Official Marvel Rivals website". www.marvelrivals.com. Retrieved May 02, 2025