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When Marvel Rivals first launched back in December 2024, it felt like something fresh. Both casual and competitive players were experimenting with wild team comps, testing out random heroes, and trying to figure out what worked best. That early chaos gave the game a real buzz.

Marvel rivals boring

Image Credit: NetEase Games

Fast forward to now, with the IGNITE Mid-Season Finals wrapped up, and things feel a whole lot different. The top picks from Season 0 are still dominating, a big chunk of the hero roster never makes it into pro play, and matches are starting to feel a bit too predictable.

Support Ults Decide Everything

Since the beginning, Support Ultimates have been running the show. Heroes like Luna Snow, Invisible Woman, Cloak and Dagger, and Loki all bring those infamous “immortality circle” Ults that can single-handedly swing a teamfight.

Luna Snow Marvel Rivals cover

Image Credit: NetEase Games

It’s so strong that the only real way to counter them is with other Ultimates designed to blow them up, like Magneto or Phoenix. The problem is that in pro play, matches usually come down to just a couple of teamfights. At IGNITE, those fights often followed the same boring script:

  • Team A pops a Support Ult.
  • Team B responds with theirs.
  • Team A uses another.
  • Team B answers back.

Nobody dies during the process, and once one team runs out of Ults, the other just steamrolls through with their last heal. By the time the first Support Ultimate goes off, you pretty much know which team is about to win.

The Same Heroes Over And Over Again

If you’ve been watching Marvel Rivals tournaments since Season 0, you’ll notice something, the same heroes keep showing up. Magneto, Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Hela, Psylocke, Luna Snow, and Loki have been mainstays for months. Despite multiple patches, they’re still the safe picks, and it’s rare to see a pro team without them.

Meanwhile, plenty of heroes like Peni Parker, Scarlet Witch, Rocket Raccoon, and Black Widow just aren’t viable. They’ve struggled since the start, and balance changes haven’t been enough to lift them into competitive relevance. The end result? Pro play looks the same season after season.

At IGNITE, most teams still relied on Magneto and Emma Frost as tanks, with Strange’s portal to zip across the map. The only times things looked different were when Magneto or Emma got banned, or when a standout player, like ENVY’s Window pulling out Groot, made it work.

And then there are Duelists like Human Torch and Phoenix. If they slip through bans and land in the hands of a skilled player, the game is basically decided on the spot. One player carrying an entire match might sound exciting, but when it keeps happening, it starts to feel unbalanced.

One-Sided Results

That imbalance showed up in the Mid-Season Finals. Almost every series ended 3-0 or 3-1. Even the Grand Finals felt one-sided after the first fight, which kills the hype really quickly. The lack of variety and surprise in drafts means that viewers aren’t getting the kind of jaw-dropping moments esports thrives on.

To be fair, there were still some highlights, like Jeff finally getting picked in the Grand Finals and actually pulling some value, even if only briefly. Those underdog moments are exactly what the scene needs more of.

Where Esports Stands Now

From a numbers perspective, Marvel Rivals esports isn’t struggling. Viewership is solid, prize pools are attractive, and the marketing push is strong. But when you peel back the surface, it’s the sameness of every tournament that’s holding it back.

The removal of the old Guardians “Res comp” shows that the developers are at least listening, but the fact that so many heroes are still ignored while a handful dominate is a worrying trend.

If we keep seeing the same bans and locks, Human Torch, Luna Snow, Loki, every tournament, the scene risks losing its edge. Marvel Rivals has a massive roster that should give us variety, creativity, and those “wow” plays. Instead, balance issues are locking the game into a stale cycle.

Until more meaningful changes happen, Marvel Rivals esports will keep running into the same problem: predictable, repetitive matches that just don’t hit as hard as they used to.