Indeed, this update for Season 2 proved to be the big-ticket announcement for Marvel Rivals, what with the frenzy that surrounded the new Yggroot skin for Groot-a cosmic tree-of-life makeover, so to speak. The skin, which was released on May 30, turns the cute little Guardian of the Galaxy into the living embodiment of Yggdrasil, the mythological Norse world tree. A few are excited, but it’s the minority who are deeply concerned about the very issues of the game.
Conversely, let’s focus on the good. The Yggroot skin is super fresh! The branches of Groot twist in detailed patterns and glow with unknown energies. As per the official tweet, he’s “reconnecting the fragmented Ten Realms,” which really is an epic scenario, surely worthy of a Thor comic. And seriously, who wouldn’t want to party with a walking, talking cosmic tree? Its design draws heavily on Norse mythology, and honestly, it is a welcome fresh take on a character who usually just mutters “I am Groot” and starts smashing.
Now, this is where we get messy. Audience opinions on the Marvel Rivals announcement vary widely. Some players like @mtzslivegaming have already pulled out their wallets, ready to snatch this skin and display it with pride in-game. Others, like @Real_ST4RBOY, joke about collecting Groot skins the way one collects Infinity Stones, seriously, though never bring him out for ranked matches. And then, there is @heavenblitzer, who is already campaigning for mythic skins for the rest of the cast—perhaps Punisher as Hel? Or Hulk as Jörmungandr? The possibilities are endless…
Most were less than ecstatic about it. Many responses condemned matchmaking. @Mansilla2000000 didn’t hold back, calling it “godawful,” begging to get rid of EOMM (engagement-optimized matchmaking, supposedly a system that walks the thin line between worthy and wrongful manipulation of matches to keep players hooked). In came @RyanCarratt1, the second one pining for ranked losses caused by teammates who threw games, complaining: “why are they not compensated for those other players’ acts of bad faith??!” And @fuckNetease? Well, the username is good enough proof; it’s a complaint.
The balancing drama came after this. @NotARealUser69 called out the absurdity of releasing a shiny new skin for Groot straight after nerfing him into the ground. What a joke, they wrote, a sentiment that lies here and there among the community quite frequently. @Super_X64 piled on for worse by railing against the stupid logic of resurrecting old battle passes that the devs once called “unattainable relics.” Oof indeed.
But not all responses were screaming complaints. @GayWinter33 joked that Groot was “bringing gay rights to all Nine Realms,” while @loveandjusticee demanded skins for Sue Storm (fair enough). And @HipDiscoveryTTV just wanted to know if people actually bought the skin—because, honestly, cosmetics are the bread and butter of every free-to-play game.
And what is everyone’s judgment? Yggroot stands out among the rare costumes for Marvel Rivals skin seekers who either love Groot or simply appreciate the Norse aesthetics. Still, if the devs want to keep people happy, then the inherent matchmaking and balancing problems that have been striking the skins at every turn must first be reckoned with. Otherwise, the unending complaints from the skin community won’t abate, even for these coolest shining beauties.
Season 2 dropped May 30th. Are you logging in to grab the Yggroot look, or have you remained busy fighting the other problems of the game? Either way, Marvel Rivals is far from slowing itself down—for better or worse.
