Marvel Rivals Strike FORCES Buffs – Strategist Class Saved? (Mid-Season 2 Update)

Marvel Rivals players WON! 🎉 After a massive strike, NetEase reveals HUGE Strategist buffs, matchmaking fixes & Mid-Season 2 updates. Is Loki meta now?

4/26/20252 min read

Marvel Rivals Player Strike Aftermath: Devs Promise Major Strategist Buffs & Mid-Season 2 Fixes** 🎮⚡

The **Marvel Rivals** community recently made headlines when **strategist-class players went on strike**, protesting **weak abilities and unfair matchmaking**. Now, developers **NetEase** have responded with **major buffs and gameplay adjustments**—just in time for **Mid-Season 2**!

This **exclusive breakdown** covers:

✅ **Why Marvel Rivals players organized a strike**

✅ **Confirmed buffs for underpowered Strategists**

✅ **Mid-Season 2 balance changes & new content**

✅ **How these updates will reshape the meta**

Let’s dive into the chaos! 💥

🔥 What Sparked the Marvel Rivals Player Strike?**

Marvel Rivals’ **Strategist class** (featuring heroes like **Loki, Doctor Strange, and Enchantress**) has long been considered **underpowered** compared to **Tanks and DPS**. Frustrations reached a boiling point when:

📉 **Win rates for Strategists dropped below 45%** (vs. 55%+ for other roles)

🎮 **High-skill players reported being "punished" for playing support**

💢 **Matchmaking frequently stacked teams with multiple Strategists**

In response, **top-ranked players organized a week-long boycott**, refusing to queue as Strategists. The protest **went viral**, forcing NetEase to address the issue.

🛠️ Confirmed Buffs & Fixes (Developer Response)**

After **emergency meetings with pro players**, NetEase announced **immediate changes**, including:

1. Strategist Ability Buffs (Patch 2.1.5)**

🔹 **Loki’s Illusions** now deal **15% more damage** and last **2 seconds longer**

🔹 **Doctor Strange’s Time Loop** cooldown reduced from **20s → 16s**

🔹 **Enchantress’s Charm** now **breaks enemy shields**

2. Matchmaking Improvements**

🔸 **Role-based balancing** ensures no team gets **3+ Strategists**

🔸 **Ranked mode now prioritizes balanced comps** (1 Tank, 2 DPS, 1 Strategist)

3. Mid-Season 2 Adjustments (Coming May 10)**

🔻 **New Strategist Hero: Scarlet Witch** (Reality-warping AoE abilities)

🔻 **"Clutch Mechanic"** – Strategists get **bonus Ultimate charge** when allies are low HP

🔻 **Item Shop rework** – More support-focused gear added

📊 How This Will Change the Meta**

Pro players predict **three major shifts**:

1️⃣ **Strategists will rise in pick rates** (Estimated **+25% usage** in ranked)

2️⃣ **Dive comps (e.g., Hulk + Spider-Man) will weaken**

3️⃣ **Scarlet Witch could become a must-ban**

**"This is the support revolution we needed,"** says **Twitch streamer TacticalStrange**.

🚀 What’s Next for Marvel Rivals?**

NetEase has also teased:

🔮 **Season 3 Hero: Professor X (Psychic Strategist)**

🎁 **Free skin for strike participants (Doctor Strange "Strike Leader" variant)**

⚖️ **Further Tank/DPS nerfs if dominance continues**

💬 Final Verdict: A Win for Players?

The **player strike worked**—NetEase listened, and **Marvel Rivals is better for it**. Will these changes **save the Strategist class**? **Drop your thoughts below!** 👇