Marvel Rivals Players: Ultron Feels Underpowered

Players of Marvel Rivals are voicing concerns that Ultron might be underpowered. Continue reading to explore the community's perspective on Ultron and the ongoing debate surrounding the balance updates for Jeff and Thor.

Pre-Launch Worries for Marvel Rivals Season 2.5

Ultron Could Require Buffs

Marvel Rivals is approaching its Season 2.5 launch, which will introduce the new playable Strategist, Ultron. However, fans have observed that this formidable mechanical menace appears too weak and may need immediate strengthening upon release.

On Reddit, user mrdunklestein shared their thoughts on May 25, based on Marvel Rivals' early access stream for Ultron. During this stream, several content creators got an early chance to test the upcoming Strategist. According to mrdunklestein, Ultron possesses long-range, high-damage attacks with minimal falloff, solid mobility, and provides substantial healing with his ultimate ability.

Unfortunately, they noted that Ultron's drones offer minimal healing that barely exceeds the damage dealt by practice bots. They also pointed out his poor shield capabilities and that the damage from his Ultimate is weaker than a single arrow from Hawkeye. For reference, Hawkeye's normal shot inflicts between 8 and 80 damage, depending on charge time.

It's crucial to remember that these observations stem solely from the early access stream, and the actual numbers might differ when Ultron officially debuts. Additionally, fans have noticed a potential pattern with flying heroes, who often launch in a "weak" state before receiving subsequent buffs.

In a separate Reddit post, user RuinedViego16 claimed that similar situations occurred with heroes like Storm and Human Torch. These flying characters received significant improvements after their release, leading fans to suggest that NetEase intentionally follows this approach due to the challenge of balancing their mobility and flight.

For instance, Storm was initially considered one of the weakest duelists early in the game. After several patches that primarily buffed her main attack, Wind Blade, she became a consistent pick in competitive play. Currently, she holds the second-highest win rate for PC competitive matches according to Marvel Rivals' data.

It's too early to confirm if these concerns about Ultron are valid. Fans will need to wait for the launch of Season 2.5, just a few days away at the time of writing, to test him themselves.

Community Displeased with Jeff and Thor Adjustments, NetEase Reacts

Approximately a week ago, Marvel Rivals unveiled the balance changes scheduled for Season 2.5. Among these, nerfs to Jeff the Land Shark and Thor were included, much to the disappointment of many players.

In a May 23 Reddit post, user DynamoDen_ questioned NetEase's reasoning behind the changes to Jeff and Thor. Other fans echoed this sentiment, arguing that neither hero required nerfs, as there were no prior complaints about their performance.

The specific nerfs for Thor involve removing his Hammer Throw from the shared ability and universal cooldown system, significantly reducing its damage, and lowering his survivability by decreasing the shield value gained from Thorforce consumption.

Meanwhile, Jeff underwent what amounts to a full rework, with all of his abilities receiving functional changes. Many perceive these adjustments as making him less effective. Given that Jeff already had one of the lowest win rates in the game, fans are confused about the rationale behind these changes.

Following community backlash, NetEase addressed the concerns on Twitter (X) on May 23. They posted, "We've noticed the enthusiastic discussions around Thor and Jeff following the balance update for S2.5. To provide more clarity on our design intentions and showcase their new abilities and performance in the upcoming season, we've prepared the following video."

The video demonstrated the impact of the mentioned changes in实战. They also offered a detailed explanation to clarify the adjustments. For Thor, the changes aim to allow him to remain in his Awakened Rune state longer, enabling him to deal significant damage. For Jeff, his Joyful Splash ability now damages enemies, granting him the capacity to heal allies and harm opponents simultaneously.

It remains uncertain whether these clarifications will ease the community's distress over the initially announced changes. With the update just days away, fans will have to wait and see the final outcome.

Petition to Revert Jeff's Changes Gains Momentum

The proposed changes for Jeff have profoundly impacted the community, especially considering his status as a fan-favorite since the game's launch. Many fear that the balance update and rework for the beloved land shark will severely undermine his viability and enjoyment.

In response, fans started a petition on Change.org urging the developers to revert the changes and "leave him be". The petition description states, "Jeff currently has the LOWEST WINRATE in the game (42%). Nerfing him into the GROUND and turning him into just another BORING HEALBOT is the WORST THING THAT CAN BE DONE. Jeff's current state, although a bit tough, is still REALLY REALLY FUN."

At the time of writing, the petition has garnered 3,296 signatures and continues to grow steadily. Jeff mains hope that if the developers aren't planning buffs, the best course of action is to leave his kit unchanged.

The planned updates from NetEase have certainly stirred controversy within the community. These issues might be resolved by the time Season 2.5 arrives, but nothing is certain until players experience the update firsthand on May 30.

Marvel Rivals is playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest news and updates on Marvel Rivals, be sure to read our related article below!