Riot confirms Phoenix buffs are coming to Valorant
After months of player complaints, Riot Games has finally confirmed massive Phoenix buffs are coming in the future.
It’s no secret that Riot Games plays a crucial role in shaping up Valorant’s cut-throat meta. The ever-evolving game takes a new form each time a new agent enters the roster. Players must be able to adapt to the changes and switch their playstyle to stay successful in new acts.
But, these meta tweaks also heavily impact the pick rate of each agent, and Phoenix seems to be slacking.
Players have long been complaining about Phoenix’s kit, which is not suitable for the current Valorant meta and gameplay style. Riot has given some hope to Phoenix mains by confirming that the buffs are on the cards.
Is Phoenix getting buffed in Valorant?
During a recent Reddit AMA session, Valorant developer “MEMEME” confirmed that Phoenix is in line to get his kit mended, but it won’t be soon.
WIN.gg previously highlighted
why Phoenix must be buffed to work in the current meta. The agent is a jack of all trades but is barely decent at even one task. He lacks a niche, something crucial to being a successful agent in Valorant.
Naturally, his pick rate fell off, making him the worst duelist in Valorant Episode 4. Phoenix has a pick rate of 1.2% in Valorant, which is remarkably low for a duelist. The other five duelists in Valorant have a map they excel at, but players refrain from picking Phoenix on any location.
Fortunately, Riot has noticed, responding to a player that he’s up for buffs.
“Upfront, yes, we are working on Phoenix, but it is too early for us to talk about details of what it may entail. Unfortunately, we do not have a solid ETA on that, and we want to take the time to find the right long-term place for Phoenix,”
the developer said.
While Phoenix is undoubtedly going to the workshop, he won’t be buffed anytime soon. Players may have to wait an act or two before they can run the fiery duelist in a new form. It’s unknown what changes the developer may make but players want his ultimate to be stronger, considering it’s pretty similar to the basic abilities of other agents.
Whatever the case, Phoenix mains are happy that their favorite agent is finally getting some attention. The duelist may finally become the fiery Radiant he was expected to be.
Fariha Bhatti
About Fariha Bhatti
Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.
View full profile
Read Also
Valorant
MIBR vs Leviatán Esports Match Preview & Predictions – Saturday 8 August
Owen Harsono
Two of the top VCT Americas squads are set to clash in Stage 2, as the star-studded roster of MIBR will take on the reigning international champions LEVIATAN in a Best of 3 series. Here are our MIBR vs LEVIATAN VCT Americas Stage 2 predictions. If you’re planning to make a trade on this match, be sure to use our Kalshi promo code WINGGPREMAR for up to $500 in bonus ...
Valorant
Kalshi Promo Code for T1 vs DRX – VCT Pacific Stage 2: Get Up to $500 Bonus with “WINGGPREMAR”
Owen Harsono
This Saturday at VCT Pacific Stage 2 will see a highly anticipated South Korean derby between flagship squads T1 and KIWOOM DRX, with both teams desperately needing this win if they want to top their group. We have looked at the prediction market Kalshi app to try and make sense of what could happen — if you're planning to trade for yourself then be sure to use our Kalshi promo ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
Valorant
Top 10 Best Valorant Players to Have Never Won an International Event
Owen Harsono
We’ve seen countless talented Valorant players, but the reality is that not everyone can win an international trophy. Some are world-class players who have cracked aim and insane utility usage, but are still missing that one big win in their careers. Below, we take a look at the top 10 Valorant players who have never won a VCT Masters or Champions title. Cryocells has been one of North America’s best ...
Valorant
These Are The Top 5 Most Broken Valorant Agents on Release
Owen Harsono
Riot Games releases new Valorant agents from time to time, and let’s just say some of them were completely broken when they were first released. Of course, Riot quickly took measures and balanced them accordingly, but it was hilarious how insanely strong some of them were when they were first released. Below, we’ll take a look at the top five most broken Valorant agents upon their launch. Coming in fifth ...
News
Opinion: Is Esports Tracing the Same Evolutionary Path As Traditional Sports?
Cecilia Ciocchetti
What happens when an industry compresses centuries of sporting evolution into less than a decade or two? Communities become global audiences overnight, rivalries spread through social media within minutes, and tournaments turn into entertainment products faster than ever before. And so what took traditional sports centuries to build has taken esports a fraction of that. From local communities to sold out arenas, and from informal matches to Olympic-style events, the ...
Valorant
OBS Game Capture isn’t working on Valorant and League of Legends? Here’s why and how to fix it
Khizar Mundia
Several reports suggest that OBS Game Capture is broken, with Valorant and League of Legends streamers only being able to broadcast a black screen. OBS has responded to the issue, confirming that it exists and also provided a way to fix it. Valorant and League of Legends are two of Riot Games’ most popular titles, and they are being streamed on streaming platforms by creators regularly. On July 21, 2026, ...
