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
League of Legends
DPlus players haven’t been paid in a month as upcoming acquisition affects finances
Michael Hassall
Korean esports organization Dplus Kia has reportedly not paid players for multiple titles it competes in for a period of at least a month as it grapples with financial issues related to an upcoming acquisition. The news surfaced on July 16 that the organization was struggling to fulfill its commitments to pay players. Just a few hours later, DPlus released a statement admitting the issues, but insisting that players had ...
Valorant
VALORANT Patch 13.01: Iso, Yoru, Outlaw, and boosting punishments explained
Owen Harsono
Riot Games released a much-needed update on July 14, rolling out Patch 13.01. The main highlights of the update were buffs to Iso and Yoru, nerfs to the Outlaw weapon, and player behavior updates targeting rank manipulation and boosting. Here’s everything you need to know about Valorant Patch 13.01. Iso and Yoru have become relatively unpopular Duelists in the current meta, and we’re not seeing the best Valorant players picking ...
Valorant
100 Thieves win first international title at the Valorant Esports World Cup 2026
Owen Harsono
After years of heartbreak and disappointing results, North American squad 100 Thieves have finally secured themselves a big win at the Valorant Esports World Cup, taking down regional rivals NRG Esports in the grand final. With this victory, the team takes home $600,000 in prize money and 1,000 Club Championship Points. Despite entering the tournament as heavy underdogs, 100 Thieves went on a flawless group stage and playoff run to ...
Valorant
Valorant at the EWC 2026 preview, details, predictions, and more
Owen Harsono
We don’t get too many international Valorant tournaments in a year, but the Esports World Cup is certainly one of them. 16 of the top Valorant teams gather in Paris to compete for millions of dollars. If you’re looking to catch the action, here’s everything you need to know about Valorant at the 2026 Esports World Cup. The Esports World Cup is one of the biggest Valorant tournaments of the ...
Esports Betting
Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule
Hannan Mundia
The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has finally arrived, and here’s the complete schedule for the event to ensure you don’t miss anything. While it isn’t exactly the newest name in the esports scene, the EWC has quickly become a leading event for esports fans worldwide. It brings together professional players and fans from various games, combining them into one long event that everyone can enjoy. 2026’s Esports World Cup ...
Kick
Riot Games announces Kick partnership for LoL, Valorant, and TFT esports broadcasts
Khizar Mundia
League of Legends and Valorant developer and publisher Riot Games has announced a massive partnership with live streaming platform Kick. This partnership will bring official broadcasts and co-streaming support to more viewers. Kick isn’t new to the esports scene, and the platform has been pushing for official recognition for some time. The live streaming platform has hosted and supported many esports community broadcasts, notably for Counter-Strike and Valorant. Kick has ...
Valorant
Paper Rex vs Leviatan VCT Masters London Grand Final: betting predictions and picks
Owen Harsono
We’re down to the final two at VCT Master London 2026, with Paper Rex and Leviatan competing for the international title. Will Paper Rex win their second international event, or will the young squad of Leviatan pull off the upset? Here are our VCT Masters London Paper Rex vs Leviatan predictions. Tournament: VCT Masters London 2026 Stage: Grand Final Game: Valorant Format: Best-of-five Betting tip: Paper Rex have already beaten ...
