Marvel Rivals Season 3 isn't just about flashy new characters like Jean Grey and Blade—it's quietly revolutionizing tank gameplay with a single game-changing tweak to The Thing. NetEase's latest update grants Ben Grimm's rocky powerhouse an Embattled Leap ability, letting him rocket toward airborne foes for aerial knockouts. This mechanic solves the eternal tank dilemma of helplessly watching flying enemies dominate the battlefield. As Symbiote skins dazzle and UI improvements streamline play, this subtle adjustment hints at a seismic shift in hero shooter dynamics that's making Overwatch 2 mains green with envy.
✨ The Thing's Aerial Domination
Marvel Rivals' Vanguard role receives its most impactful upgrade yet with The Thing's rework. His new Embattled Leap allows direct targeting of flying heroes, culminating in a devastating punch that:
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Delivers a brief stun effect mid-air 🌪️
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Forces vertical combatants into vulnerable positions
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Creates immediate team-follow opportunities
This isn't just a band-aid fix—it's the first step in NetEase's promised overhaul of ranged Vanguard capabilities. Whether future seasons bring more reworks like this or entirely new sky-countering tanks remains uncertain, but the implications are clear: Tanks deserve agency against aerial threats.
💢 Overwatch 2's Flying Frustrations
While Marvel Rivals innovates, Overwatch 2 tanks still struggle desperately against airborne foes. Current countermeasures feel like half-hearted compromises:
Hero | Anti-Air Ability | Critical Flaw |
---|---|---|
Winston | Charged Tesla Shot | Pathetic damage output |
Ramattra | Ravenous Vortex | Extremely difficult to land |
Orisa | Javelin Throw | Useless at high altitudes |
Sigma | Hyperspheres | Inconsistent elimination potential |
Mauga | Miniguns | Severe accuracy issues |
Even mobile tanks like D.Va and Doomfist require abandoning frontline duties for risky, often unsuccessful chases. The core issue? Tanks must beg DPS teammates to handle flyers—a demoralizing experience when Supports like Illari already have self-defense tools.
❓ People Also Ask
- What makes The Thing's rework so significant?
It's the first dedicated tank ability allowing reliable aerial target locking and stuns—fundamentally changing sky-match dynamics.
- Which OW2 tanks counter Pharah-Mercy best?
D.Va provides temporary relief but leaves teams exposed, while Sigma requires pixel-perfect accuracy against pocketed flyers.
- Will Blizzard implement similar mechanics?
Community pressure mounts for true anti-air tanks, possibly through new heroes or major reworks to existing ones.
- How do these changes impact team strategy?
Tanks gain initiator roles against aerial comps, reducing over-reliance on hitscan DPS for air control.
🔭 The Future of Tank Warfare
NetEase's bold move exposes hero shooters' long-ignored imbalance: why should tanks feel powerless against 30% of the roster? Imagine OW2 introducing a railgun-wielding tank or boosting Winston's charged shot to lethal levels. Perhaps Sigma's spheres could scale damage with distance, rewarding precision against distant targets. The solution could even be as simple as a hitscan assault rifle tank. Whatever form it takes, one truth emerges: empowering tanks against vertical threats isn't just quality-of-life—it's essential for role satisfaction.
🌟 Final Thought: As Marvel Rivals proves tanks can thrillingly engage all combat dimensions, will Overwatch 2 evolve beyond its aerial blindspots or risk fading into obsolescence?
The above analysis is based on reports from TrueAchievements, a leading platform for Xbox achievement tracking and player community insights. TrueAchievements frequently discusses how new hero abilities and balance changes, such as Marvel Rivals' Embattled Leap for The Thing, can dramatically alter achievement strategies and team compositions, especially when countering airborne threats in competitive play.