With Marvel Rivals Season 4.5 fast approaching, fans continue debating whether characters truly need constant reworks or drastic changes. These discussions heat up with every new balance adjustment, like the recently announced Ultron nerfs, while several other characters are constantly having their archetype changed.
Marvel Rivals divides its roster into three roles: Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist—the classic tank, DPS, and support. But as the game evolves, those lines blur. Since launch, subcategories like divers and tank killers have shaped specific identities. Black Panther and Psylocke dive into fights headfirst, while Wolverine stands out as the go-to tank buster.
Then there’s Mister Fantastic. He doesn’t deliver heavy burst damage like a Duelist, yet he’s extra durable, but isn’t a Vanguard. He might fall under anti-dive, but not as well as others, such as Winter Soldier. Iron Fist, once a terror for backline supports, now shifts toward a tank-killer archetype.
Ultron, originally designed as a DPS-focused support, now struggles to find his place. After major healing reductions, he only performs well in triple support comps. So what are these characters supposed to be?
The Ever-Evolving Marvel Rivals Meta
As Marvel Rivals continues to evolve, more characters undergo significant changes to align with the current meta. But is that actually helping? Jeff, once a DPS-style healer like Ultron, now features a reworked ultimate packed with healing mechanics and a kit that offers significantly less DPS. Rocket’s ultimate, which once focused solely on damage boosting, has been shifted as more healing ultimates have become far more popular. Now in Season 4.5, his ultimate damage boost scaling is returning to what it once was, on top of having the new shield functionality.
These changes raise questions: Does NetEase still have a clear vision for each character? Supports keep morphing into pure “heal bots,” while new DPS heroes launch undercooked or simply replace older designs.
Fans already compare Iron Fist and Daredevil, saying they feel nearly identical. Iron Fist now serves as a tank killer, while Daredevil steps into his former archetype. Hela once ruled long-range burst play, but Phoenix now occupies that same space and offers even more AOE potential.
Looking Ahead
NetEase continues to release content rapidly, introducing two new heroes every season—but some fans worry that future characters will feel repetitive, offering slightly upgraded versions of existing kits.
That’s not universally true. Heroes like Black Panther, Hulk, and Moon Knight remain unique in both design and play style. Plus, NetEase can pull from Marvel’s massive universe, or even invent original heroes exclusively for the game.
With such an enormous character pool, some overlap feels inevitable. But players can’t help but wonder: will that overlap eventually hurt the game’s identity?
What do you think? Do some heroes already feel too similar, or does the roster still keep things fresh? Be sure to let us know and keep an eye on our latest news for more Marvel Rivals.