
Replication mode arrives in patch 2.09 and it’s basically a horror version of Valorant.Â
Patch 2.09 is upon us, bringing significant updates to the game. Heavily buffed Viper gets balancing touches to her kit, new game mode enters Valorant, and Breeze gets tweaked in the latest patch update.Â
Viper spent almost a year being the least played agent in Valorant, as other controllers overshadowed her toxic kit. After numerous random buffs to bring her into play, the developer finally hit the mark with a massive boost to her poison decay in patch 2.05. However, players weren’t happy.Â
New patch 2.09 will likely put an end to “Viper meta,” reducing the decay from 50 to 30. Enemies crossing Viper’s smoke will be inflicted with a temporary loss of 30 health.Â
“(Before the buff) enemies tended to disregard and simply push through the smoke, but with instant decay at 50, we’ve seen it swing too far in the other direction—where her possible victims avoid it at all cost,” Jeff Landa, Valorant’s comms associate, explained.Â
The Viper meta had transformed the ranked Valorant games where entering a site became impossible if the defender’s had a Viper on the roster. The reusable smokes would block off a large entrance for the whole round, with little counterplay for attackers.Â
The developers have been teasing creative game forms for quite a while now. Patch 2.09 brings a whole new mode dubbed Replication for casual Valorant players. Replication trailers knocked a nightmare mode where dozens of Cypher trips blocked a narrow Breeze alley, tigers running in all directions, and Breech flashes washed the screen.Â
It turns out, the new model is all about “replicating agents.” In Replication mode, all players on the same team play the same agent, for example five Sages against five Jetts. Agent selection is decided in pre-match voting. So get ready for tons of flashes, cameras, and fire. The developer has added a flash guard that will ensure that you can safely enjoy Pheonix flashes without damaging your sight.Â
Here’s how Replication works:Â
Replication is a limited game mode that is available for two weeks starting today, ending on May 25.Â
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.