Following the conclusion of the Marvel Rivals Ignite Mid Season Finals the game’s first LAN international esports event fans online have voiced growing concern about the current state of the Marvel Rivals meta.
From unbalanced heroes to class disparities, critics argue the game’s balance is suboptimal for both casual and professional play.
A Hero Pool Problem
As of now, Marvel Rivals features 41 heroes, including the recent addition of Blade. Notably, 22 of them are Duellists, making up more than half the roster. By comparison, there are only nine Strategists in the game.
The community has long criticized this disparity, pointing out how role imbalance makes Duellists a more dominant choice. This imbalance becomes more apparent in esports bans — where four heroes can be banned and two locked per match. For Strategists, this means over a third of available heroes can be removed, while Duellists still retain 18 viable options.
In a Reddit post, one user noted: “Teams will hard ban either supports or tanks… it’s really easy to force the enemy onto a non-optimal comp.”
Desperation Picks and Duellist Dominance
During the Ignite Mid Season Finals, fans saw unconventional characters like Jeff the Landshark make surprising appearances after top healers such as Luna Snow and Loki were banned. While Jeff’s pick drew excitement, analysts noted it was more out of necessity than innovation.
Even when Duellists like Phoenix and Wolverine were banned, other strong picks like Human Torch dominated matches — showcasing the depth of Duellist options in the current meta.
Expert Opinions on Balance
In a video, Flats a Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 content creator explained:
“The way you can tell if the meta is healthy is, does the entire round come down to a 1v1 between the same character? If yes, that character is broken and the meta is unhealthy.”
Content creator Siarhei ‘Bogur’ Alekau echoed these sentiments:
“Marvel Rivals should release more supports and tanks. Right now, Duellists outnumber them combined — no wonder everyone wants to play DPS.”
What Can Be Done?
Players and pros alike have suggested:
- Adding more Strategists and Vanguards to diversify team compositions.
- Increasing the number of bans to counterbalance the expanding roster.
- Introducing bans to all casual ranks for a fairer experience.
With NetEase releasing a new hero every month, casual fans will enjoy fresh content — but the rapid pace risks destabilizing balance further.
The Bigger Picture
Perfect balance may be impossible, but the Ignite Mid Season Finals in Guangzhou, China has clearly spotlighted systemic meta issues. If addressed, Marvel Rivals could see healthier competition and a better viewing experience across all levels of play.
