STROOPWAFFEL sat down with Mad Lil G — widely considered the number one Iron Fist player in North America (and maybe the world) — to talk about the current state of Marvel Rivals, from matchmaking frustrations to role balance and hero design. What started as a lighthearted jab at the game turned into a frank, detailed discussion about where Rivals shines, where it’s slipping, and what needs to change.

Matchmaking: the biggest problem

Both Stroopwaffel and Mad Lil G agree: matchmaking is the sore spot.

EOMM concerns: Many players believe Engagement Optimized Matchmaking is manipulating results. Mad Lil G says:

“I shouldn’t have 12 losses in a row and eight SVPs… it can’t just be coincidence.”

High‑elo oddities:

  • In GM or Celestial, players are sometimes matched with much lower‑ranked players.
  • Boosted accounts or questionable skill placements are common.
  • Smurfs and alt accounts from top 500 players can ruin games, especially when they don’t care about throwing on an alt.

Quick play feels like ranked: Casual modes are just as sweaty, making it hard for new players to learn heroes without getting stomped.

Suggestions for fixing matchmaking

  • Skill‑based matchmaking (SBMM): While SBMM can be divisive, Mad Lil G believes some form of it is needed to reduce stomps.
  • Role‑queue debate:
    • Against full role queue: both dislike the rigid limitations from games like Overwatch.
    • Possible solutions:
      • Limit certain comps (e.g., max two supports).
      • Introduce healing penalties for triple‑support teams instead of hard locks.

Hero pool imbalance

One major issue: too many DPS heroes, not enough variety in tanks and supports.

DPS overload: 20+ damage heroes versus far fewer tanks/supports.
Result: DPS instalock is constant; queues are long for DPS and instant for tanks/supports.
Solution: Add more tanks and supports — but make them fun and mechanically engaging, not just “easy but boring.”

Design feedback: make tanks and supports interesting

Mad Lil G’s take:

“I want more mechanical supports — hard to use, but great if mastered… the skill expression for supports is bad right now.”

Current problems:

  • Many tanks are melee‑only brawlers with short range.
  • Few tanks can pressure flyers — Penny is one of the only ranged tanks, and even she isn’t great against them.
  • Supports often rely only on aim (e.g., Luna Snow, Adam, Mantis) without unique mechanics.

Desired changes:

  • Add ranged tanks to counter the growing number of flyers.
  • Design more mechanically complex supports (parries, utility, advanced positioning tools).
  • Create tanks and supports that feel rewarding to master.

Range issues on certain heroes

Example: Emma Frost

  • Beam range feels too short, forcing her into dangerous melee‑adjacent distances.
  • A small range buff could open up her play without making her oppressive.

Bots aren’t the answer for practice

Both agree bots can teach basic mechanics but won’t prepare you for real matches:

  • Bot behavior is scripted and predictable.
  • They make mistakes no real player would (e.g., Iron Fist parrying to engage).
  • Practicing versus bots doesn’t simulate live‑game chaos.

Final takeaways

What needs to change:

  1. Fix matchmaking — address smurfing, alt abuse, and poor rank distribution in high elo.
  2. Broaden hero variety — add more tanks and supports, especially with ranged options and mechanical depth.
  3. Balance role design — make supports/tanks fun and rewarding, not just simple to play.
  4. Limit stale comps — explore soft limits or penalties for triple support instead of removing role flexibility entirely.

Despite frustrations, both still see Marvel Rivals as a fantastic hero shooter at its core:

“The matchmaking is the biggest thing… but if they lock in and make better heroes, this game has a long‑term future.”

For the full unfiltered conversation — including laughs, strong opinions, and more Iron Fist insights — you can watch STROOPWAFFEL’s video here.

Common questions

Q: Is Marvel Rivals dying?
A: No — player numbers are healthy across platforms, but matchmaking quality is the sticking point.

Q: Should new players try it now?
A: Yes, but expect sweaty quick play and a steep learning curve in ranked without a dedicated practice mode.

Q: Will role queue fix the game?
A: Probably not in full — limiting stale comps and improving hero variety may be better solutions.

Q: What’s the number one request from high‑elo players?
A: Better matchmaking and more engaging tanks/supports.