Valorant is experimenting to get rid of smurfs in patch 5.01

Steven Rondina Published 12/07/2022

Valorant patch 5.01 has brought a number of balance changes to agents alongside a new experimental detection system meant to deal with smurfs.

Balancing is difficult in any game, and that applies to both the game itself and its matchmaking engine. Some agents are overly powerful or even weaker than they should be, and some players end up competing against opponents that are way better or way worse than they are. Riot Games is taking steps to deal with both sides of these issues in Valorant patch 5.01.

A number of changes were made to Phoenix, Yoru, and Kay/O. The tweaks largely reflect a series of experimental changes that were made on the PBE.

Phoenix got improved across the board with a longer duration on Curveball, quicker draw when he stops bending his Blaze wall, and the ability to keep his shield after using Run it Back. Yoru’s Dimensional Drift now lasts 12 seconds instead of 10 and the unequip time was reduced by 33%.

Kay/O received a mixed bag but will likely be stronger on the whole, with FRAG/ment’s AOE being reduced but its effectiveness ignoring obstructions while NULL/cmd no longer being heard by enemies.

Valorant patch 5.01 bringing new smurf countermeasures

While the balance changes aren’t surprising, there are some interesting new additions with this patch. First and foremost being new countermeasures meant to deal with smurfs.

“This addition to our smurf detection systems is designed to make sure that new players, that means all new accounts, are matched up with players of the correct skill level, much faster than before,” Riot said.

It’s uncertain whether that means players will be able to climb the ranks more quickly as they pick up wins, or something else entirely. Regardless, these new changes will first be implemented in North America. If the experiment there is successful, it will be rolled out in other regions in a future update.

Also included in the patch is “improved collision behavior” surrounding other players in order to deal with the bumping and shoving that accompanies every B-rush. There are also some bug fixes for specific agents and an issue with scrolling in the friends list and chat.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

View full profile

Read Also

Valorant

Vitality vs LOUD: Best predictions and picks for VCT Champions 2026 Owen Harsono Our recommended VCT Champions 2026 match to watch for September 30 has to be the clash between Team Vitality and LOUD for a spot in the playoffs. This is the first time the two orgs are set to face off, and both are going to give it their all. Here are our VCT Champions 2026 Team Vitality vs LOUD predictions. Tournament: VCT Champions 2026 Stage: Group Stage Game: Valorant Format: ...

Valorant

100 Thieves vs T1: Best predictions for VCT Champions 2026 Owen Harsono Two massive esports organizations are set to clash in VCT Champions 2026, as 100 Thieves will take on T1 in the Group A opening match. One of these teams is widely considered the current favorite to win the entire tournament, so here are out 100 Thieves vs T1 predictions. Tournament: VCT Champions 2026 Stage: Group Stage Game: Valorant Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: 100 Thieves are currently considered the ...

Valorant

Global Esports vs Team Vitality: Best predictions for VCT Champions 2026 Owen Harsono The Valorant action doesn’t stop, as we’re getting a spicy matchup between Global Esports and Team Vitality in the group stage. This is the first time these lineups are going to play against each other, so it’ll be exciting to see which one comes out on top. Here are our VCT Champions 2026 Global Esports vs Team Vitality predictions. Tournament: VCT Champions 2026 Stage: Group Stage Game: Valorant Format: Best ...

Valorant

Complexity Gaming shuts down after 23 years – Here’s what we know Khizar Mundia Esports organization Complexity Gaming is ending its 23-year run, as its founder announces its shutdown. Complexity is an organization that has been around since the early days of esports. The organization had rosters in multiple games, including Counter-Strike and Valorant. Despite this, Complexity’s CS roster was the most famous, as it won several major events. This is why it was a surprise for fans to hear that Complexity is shutting ...

Valorant

NRG vs Nongshim RedForce: Best picks for VCT Champions 2026 Owen Harsono Two tournament favorites face off in the first round of the VCT Champions 2026 group stage, as NRG will take on Nongshim RedForce in their opening match. There is no room for slow starts at this event, making it an incredibly important match for both teams. Here are our NRG vs Nongshim RedForce predictions. Tournament: VCT Champions 2026 Stage: Group Stage Game: Valorant Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: These ...

Valorant

Who Will Win VCT Champions 2026? These Are The Top Four Candidates Owen Harsono VCT Champions 2026 is the biggest Valorant tournament of the year. 16 of the best teams in the world will gather in Shanghai, but only one can fly back home with the title. With so many good teams at the event, it’s pretty hard to pinpoint which one is going to win, but Kalshi traders think they have a good idea of what will happen at the tournament, which ends ...

Valorant

VCT Champions 2026 Power Ranking [Best Valorant Teams Ranked] Owen Harsono The biggest Valorant tournament of the year is right around the corner, as VCT Champions 2026 in Shanghai kicks off on September 24. If you’re looking to follow and bet on this esports event, let’s make sure you know which teams to look out for. Here are our VCT Champions 2026 power rankings. These rankings are based on recent results and international experience. Favorites can always fall victim to upsets, ...