I’ve performed Marvel Rivals virtually on daily basis since launch, and whereas I am removed from one of the best, most constant participant, I’ve hovered across the Grandmaster areas in aggressive, peaking at Celestial 2. At instances, making an attempt to take Rivals critically and play competitively has been an act of self-targeted psychic injury, largely as a result of the hero steadiness has traditionally been completely horrible.
With Season 3 virtually right here, lastly seeing Phoenix and the vampiric vampire hunter Blade be a part of the roster, I used to be flabbergasted once I noticed an inexpensive choice of buffs and nerfs within the Season 3 patch notes. Although Spider-Man’s buffs really feel just a little unwarranted, I might say the appropriate heroes are getting nerfed (sure, even my beloved Emma Frost), and weaker heroes are getting introduced up. One other of my favorite tanks, The Factor, is even getting a brand new capacity to swat flying heroes, giving Vanguard some much-needed anti-air capabilities.
All of this was instantly undone once I noticed the gameplay overview of Phoenix’s skills. She seems extremely enjoyable and highly effective in her personal proper, in a position to blast by way of grouped groups utilizing chain response explosions. Nevertheless, that is nothing in comparison with her team-up capacity, which provides my arch-nemesis—Wolverine—bonus injury on his Feral Leap capacity and lifesteal on his assaults for a brief length. In different phrases, Wolverine’s capacity to kidnap tank gamers and drop them behind enemy strains like a sheep surrounded by wolves, earlier than ripping them to shreds, is just going to get extra irritating.
It was already laborious sufficient to fulfill fellow tank mains keen to be bullied for the following 20 minutes.
Competent Wolverine gamers can already shortly get out and in of a battle, bringing the enemy tank (or another unfortunate sufferer) with them. Even when you do handle to “kill” him, chances are high it will simply set off his passive and let him scamper away scot-free. A part of this pest’s energy comes from the uncooked energy of healers in Marvel Rivals in comparison with, say, Overwatch, the place it is a lot tougher to virtually instantaneously flip somebody’s well being from important to full. However I do not suppose it is a scorching take to say that Wolverine is among the strongest heroes in Rivals merely on account of his distinctive package.
With the dominant flyer meta in Season 2, it was already laborious sufficient to fulfill fellow tank mains keen to be bullied for the following 20 minutes, each by enemy DPS dominating the sky and your individual group berating you. And I do not see this altering in Season 3, due to this team-up capacity.

After all, there are a number of counters to Wolverine, so I like to recommend getting caught in control ASAP when you’re not sure:
- Making a minefield as Peni Parker, particularly along with her team-up with Rocket
- Being a rock, The Factor cannot be disrupted by grabs as simply
- Try to fly away from Wolverine’s seize as Physician Unusual, and pray that he would not chase you down
- Choke slam and kick him right into a wall as Emma Frost, although this combo was nerfed in Season 2, and her survivability is being nerfed in Season 3
- Have a Moon Knight or Human Torch present some overlaying hearth
- Ban Wolverine in each single match, no exceptions
I’ve little doubt that Wolverine, who’s already a standard ban, can be banned in most Marvel Rivals ranked video games in Season 3, doubtlessly together with Phoenix, relying on her particular person energy. Plus, Season 3 (and each season going ahead) is just two months lengthy, so hopefully we can’t be coping with this powered-up pest for too lengthy. Both manner, I do know who I am banning.
Sincerely, a tank fundamental who simply desires to play Physician Unusual in peace.
