Marvel Rivals’ Season 5.5 just launched, bringing in a slew of new content to the game, including the latest X-Men to grace NetEase’s competitive hero-shooter: Rogue.
Rogue is the latest hero added to the Marvel Rivals roster. Just as everyone predicted, she is a Vanguard. Her primary kit involves tanking enemy damage and harassing Strategists in the backline. Her most important skill, ability absorption, makes her a standout pick for high-elo matches.
In essence, she is a really good addition to the roster. But she feels miscast in the role of a Vanguard. Her brawler moveset doesn’t work well in a game that thrives in constant action with constant pressure from damage and healing. Plus, without a persistent health buff, she’s a difficult hero to sustain during hectic teamfights.
As someone who mostly sticks to the Vanguard role with my Magneto pick, I won’t be using Rogue in competitive matches; otherwise, I get called a ‘thrower,’ and risk a loss as I haven’t learned her kit yet. Worse, the people who usually pick her act like they never touched a tank in their whole life.
In the first match of the season, I pick my usual selection of Vanguards like Doctor Strange. Everyone else picked their own, and it is business as usual. Then, someone decides to ‘try’ Rogue and refuses to listen to his own teammates. Naturally, the match was a bust as the Rogue player went from 4-13, barely securing any final hits and tanking damage.
This happens frequently in a hero shooter. A new hero arrives with unique abilities and gimmicks, and then everyone lines up to play them first. I get that anyone can play whatever they want, but using a new character in the middle of a ranked match feels too silly. This is pretty much the case in Marvel Rivals Season 5.5, making things frustrating, especially in ranks Diamond and above.
Rogue’s 5-star difficulty is there for a reason. That means her high skill floor makes her a difficult pick for players who are used to easier Vanguards like Emma Frost. She’s the only hero with that kind of difficulty, and it makes sense considering her moveset relies on reaction time and situational awareness. Much like the previously released Vanguard, Angela, Rogue needs to close the gap to her enemies so she can be very effective. Without a competent team and the right headspace, it can ruin matches.
Of course, this isn’t a NetEase or a Marvel Rivals issue. This is a problem for players who think they can wing everything. Rogue just came out, so players are still trying to figure out how she works. Much like Wolverine’s discovery in the early days of Rivals, we might see Rogue’s potential shine or fade away in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, as someone who’s teetering at Grandmaster ranks, start banning rogue Rogues in every lobby; otherwise, you are in for a bad time. If you feel like the ranked lobby still feels chaotic right now, Quick Play or the 18v18 game mode is always there.
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