Supports are the biggest losers in the Marvel Rivals season 1.5 patch, which goes live on Feb. 21. Popular picks, like Cloak and Dagger and Luna Snow, are getting their most powerful abilities toned down to let tanks and damage dealers have a little more fun. And if that wasn’t enough, the worst heroes for a support player to fight off will be even stronger than they already are.
Strategists have ruled over the last month of Marvel Rivals, especially at high levels of play. Invisible Woman, Luna Snow, Cloak and Dagger, and Rocket Raccoon had particularly high win rates during the first half of season 1, according to a recently updated list on the official site. It’s not abnormal to see a team run three Strategists at once simply for the near-invulnerability they can provide with their ultimates.
That strategy will likely become less common when the patch hits later this week. Cloak and Dagger, Luna Snow, and Invisible Woman will have to wait longer for their ultimates to come online, opening the door for other heroes to make a fight-winning play. The streaks of healing left behind by Cloak and Dagger’s ultimate won’t be able to stack anymore either, which could dethrone them as the single best pick in the game right now.
The support Ls continue with big buffs to their worst enemies, including Iron Fist, Magik, Iron Man, and Captain America.
On paper, Iron Fist looks like he’s getting a nerf with damage reductions to his punches, but he’s actually shifting away from an assassin-type Duelist to a brawler, like Wolverine. His slightly reworked jabs will now deal more damage the more health his enemies have, and he’ll heal himself more than before, which will make him effective at stomping tanks. Iron Fist players may no longer be on the hunt to take out support players, but once they get the tank down, you know where they’re headed next.
Backlines won’t be safe from Magik when she gets to go demon mode more often. Iron Man is getting a deadlier energy beam. And Captain America will have faster shield throws and increased ultimate uptime. Even the Thing and Human Torch will be setting their sights on support players. The Thing can launch himself straight into a fight, and Johnny Storm gets to hover in the air and light the map on fire. There really won’t be anywhere to hide.
Marvel Rivals players were begging for ways to prevent support players from extending a match with the sheer amount of healing they can pump out, and it looks like they got what they wanted. All the heroes who can jump into a fight and push people around are significantly stronger than before, which is going to make keeping your team alive as a support player a real pain — and that’s only if you can stay alive long enough.
