NetEase Games is easing off on its planned nerfs for Phoenix in Marvel Rivals after a wave of negative feedback from the community. The studio says it still believes Phoenix is too strong, but admits its recent tuning pass hit harder than intended—and that future adjustments will roll out more carefully.
### Why Phoenix Became a Balance Flashpoint
Phoenix has quickly become one of the most discussed picks in Marvel Rivals, with players pointing to her overall impact in fights and how reliably she can swing engagements. While competitive communities often expect frequent balance changes in hero shooters, the latest tweaks appear to have crossed a line for a portion of the player base, who argued the character felt overly constrained compared to other top-tier choices.
### NetEase Plans a More Gradual Approach
In response, NetEase says the goal now is to reduce Phoenix’s power in smaller, more measured steps rather than dramatic cuts that can destabilize the meta overnight. That’s a familiar lesson in the genre: when a hero is both popular and powerful, heavy-handed nerfs can frustrate mains and make matchmaking feel inconsistent, especially if counters and team compositions haven’t had time to evolve.
The studio hasn’t positioned this as a full reversal. Phoenix is still on the balance team’s radar, and more changes are expected—just delivered in a way that preserves her identity and keeps her enjoyable to play.
### What It Means for Players and the Meta
For Marvel Rivals players, this is a sign NetEase is actively watching sentiment and is willing to course-correct quickly, which can help build trust as the game grows. The bigger picture is that hero shooters live or die by their balance cadence: move too slowly and dominant picks choke variety; move too aggressively and players feel like their time investment is being punished. A slower, iterative approach could lead to a healthier Season 3 meta—assuming NetEase also elevates weaker heroes rather than only trimming the top.
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