Season 4 of Marvel Rivals is just around the corner, bringing a wave of thrilling updates that should have players hyped. A brand-new K'un-Lun map drops alongside two fresh heroes: Angela, the high-flying Vanguard, arrives at launch, while Dizang (aka Daredevil) joins mid-season. Cosmetic lovers aren't left out either, with summer-themed skins, a free wasteland Ultron outfit, and a futuristic Emma Frost look coming soon. But amidst all this chaos, there’s a glaring void—Strategist mains are once again left in the dust, not just this season but potentially for a long while. 😔
Vanguard players might finally get their moment. Angela’s aggressive, high-mobility kit could tempt Duelist mains to dabble in tanking, potentially boosting that role’s popularity. But Strategists? Zip. Zero. Nada. For the second season straight, support heroes get no love. This drought hits extra hard after the infamous 'support strike' controversy, where healers protested unbalanced matchmaking and poor role representation. Right now, playing support feels like being stuck in a time loop—same old heroes, same old struggles.
So why the neglect? Marvel Rivals' Creative Director, Guangguang, recently spilled the tea in an interview. NetEase knows Strategists (and Vanguards) are severely outnumbered by Duelists, but fixing it? That’s a slow burn. Seasons are planned months in advance, with storylines and hero picks locked in early. Translation: Don’t expect back-to-back Strategist seasons anytime soon.
It’s frustrating, especially when games like Overwatch already showed us how bad role imbalance can get. But designing supports isn’t easy. While Duelists can be flashy damage dealers and Vanguards soak up hits, Strategists need unique utility—healing, buffing, crowd control. Marvel Rivals already has classics covered: single-target healers (Cloak), area buffers (Dagger), and shielders. Breaking new ground takes time.
Leaked heroes hint at future possibilities, but most lean toward damage or tank roles:
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Deadpool 🗡️ (Duelist)
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Captain Marvel 💥 (Vanguard)
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Rogue ❌ (Duelist)
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Cyclops 🔥 (Duelist/Vanguard)
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Gambit 🃏 (Duelist)
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Nightcrawler 😈 (Duelist)
Still, a few could shake up support:
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Professor X: Mental boosts for allies 🧠
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Forge: Tech-based healing + map devices ⚙️
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Jubilee: Fireworks turned healing tools 🎇
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Armor: Empower/protect single allies 💪
Season 5 needs to deliver a Strategist—it’s been way too long. After that, alternating seasons with supports would help balance the roster. NetEase knows players crave fewer Duelists, but with pre-planned content stretching into 2026, patience is key. The silver lining? Dev transparency means hope isn’t lost. Maybe future seasons will guarantee at least one non-Duelist hero per update.
So here’s the big question: If you could design a game-changing Strategist for Marvel Rivals, what wild ability would you give them? 🌟