Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 killed triple support – but the new meta is much worse

Due to several massive balance changes in the Season 1.5 patch, it’d be no surprise to see the triple support meta leave. Unfortunately, the new meta has a good chance of being much worse.

Frustration at the state of Marvel Rivals’ previous meta was justified. Luna Snow’s ult lasts 12 seconds, stacked with Loki ult making it last another 12 seconds, combined with perhaps another support ult on top of all that can stop a fight for over 30 seconds. It’s an issue that had to be addressed.

So, the Season 1.5 patch nerfed support ults in various ways, either reducing their healing effects, increasing the ult charge requirement, or both. This sounds like a positive change that creates more opportunities for counterplay.

However, this patch is a big one, with it also increasing the power level of other heroes and creating new combos that counter supports heavily. All of these factors combined create a meta that may be healthier for high-level play, but also much much worse for casuals.

Marvel Rivals is heading for an incredibly oppressive meta

Hero shooters are notoriously hard to balance. The freedom that makes them so appealing also gives players ways to break the game that devs would have never thought of.

And, though there are already some distinct one-shot strats that sliced through support ults before, it’s open season now. Between Iron Fist getting tank shred, shield tanks getting nerfed, a new CC heavy brawl tank getting added, and most support ults getting nerfed, we’re heading straight for a chaotic meta.

Support ults being so strong acted as a balancing check. While it was disappointing to pop a DPS ult like Punisher’s or Star-Lord’s and have it immediately get countered by Luna Snow hitting a single key, it also gave support players a ton of agency over a match.

NetEase Games

Now, not only do support ults take forever to gain charge compared to before, Storm and Human Torch’s ult combo shreds through them. Even two support ults stacked will barely allow you to survive the fiery inferno, not including other damage on top of that.

And, considering how long support ults take to charge now, Storm and Torch can bait stacked support ults, charge their ults back up, and run it again before they get their charge back in most cases.

Additionally, Iron Man has been buffed. Storm’s nerfs are a slap on the wrist at best. Human Torch has a ton of great area denial tools with projectiles that are fast enough to excel at air-to-air combat.

So, what counters flying heroes? Hitscanners. And what counters hitscanners? Shield tanks (that got nerfed anyways) or divers that can pressure them. But those flying heroes also counter melee divers, creating a rock/paper/scissors dynamic.

However, one thing is certain: A ton of power has been taken out of support players’ hands.

Every player for themselves

The previous state of Marvel Rivals had a focus on team play, creating the right combo and grouping up to succeed. Teamwork was the best way to play. But now in Season 1.5, strength being taken away from heroes who benefit from grouping has a very good chance of creating a meta where raw skill reigns supreme.

If you’re against a Human Torch/Storm combo and don’t have a hitscanner that can keep them at bay, you just lose.

This is even more disappointing because, just as players were starting to figure out ways to stack damage boosts to counter support ults and one-shot teams, the devs came in and added a sledgehammer solution in Human Torch/Storm’s combo. Getting torn to shreds by a fire tornado with no interaction is not fun.

Depending on who you are and how you want to play Marvel Rivals, all of these changes may sound like a good thing. Having a game state where raw mechanics are rewarded more than before and individual players have more control over the game’s outcome may sound appealing to those who are more competitively oriented.

Creating a great environment for competitive players is a good judgment call, especially considering that esports orgs are starting to get involved. This patch may actually make the super high end of competitive better than it was before. Anyone Diamond and above is likely excited about what this patch will bring, myself included as long as the Human Torch/Storm combo is off the table.

However, it’s just as important for the Silver Luna main who’s still getting rolled by Iron Fist and eaten by Jeff to keep buying skins and playing the game. For casual players, this patch will be a lot less enjoyable.

It’s good that NetEase have addressed the heal meta head-on, but taking power away from support players in such a huge way may backfire.