In the hit tabletop game Marvel Rivals, players have discovered amazing shortcuts using Doctor Strange’s new portal ability. This unique skill allows him to place two magical portals anywhere on the map between two locations during any match. We have seen this mechanic lead to fiery debates in the player community about whether it is game breaking or not. Players are already finding some pretty creative ways to exploit this ability. Developer NetEase needs to act quickly to avoid further blowback.
Doctor Strange’s portal making skill creates a doorway between two locations on the match map, providing tactical mobility benefits. Many players have taken to using these portals to trick enemies into walking off the map, effectively eliminating them from play. Furthermore, other players have bragged about their game-breaking tactics causing enemies to get stuck in their spawn thanks to some strategic portal maneuvers. This ongoing manipulation of game mechanics has them worried about equity and fair play.
Doctor Strange’s portals can actually clip through some walls allowing players to use the power in wild and unforeseen ways. Place a portal against a wall, and the portal can open up on the other side. This dramatic gameplay change opens up exhilarating new gameplay possibilities. Other players are beginning to develop entire strategies around maximizing this ability. They’re even mixing it up with others’, such as Jeff the Land Shark’s move set ultimate finisher. This combination compounds the risk of exploitation and makes workers all the more vulnerable.
With Doctor Strange’s portal ability becoming widely used amongst the player base, some players have even declared it to be “broken.” The ability to send enemies into portals as if they were being tossed into a prison adds to its controversial nature. These exploits affect the way matches play. They do so at the risk of introducing new negative impacts, including increasing the likelihood that players will get booted from games due to the unforeseen consequences their mechanics cause.
Players are just starting to find out ways to maximize Doctor Strange’s portal ability but already it’s becoming a breakout strategy. NetEase can’t afford to miss the boat on this quickly-burgeoning movement. The developer ought to release a patch, or at the very least change the underlying mechanics for the better. This will ensure gameplay remains fun and engaging for all players. As things sit, the community continues to fearfully await word from NetEase on this urgent matter.