Valorant patch 3.0 nerfs agent flashes, lowers weapons prices
Patch 3.00 will bring drastic changes to Valorant that will be felt across all levels of skill in the popular tactical shooter.
Valorant’s newest episode is finally here, and it rolls in with brand new agent Kay/O, heaps of changes to agent abilities, a modified competitive experience, and new weapon prices. The sizable update seems promising as it addresses long-standing issues with agent powers that have limited the impact of gunplay in Valorant.
Massive nerfs to Valorant agents in Patch 3.00
Breach has managed to disrupt ranked games at higher levels while still remaining underrated. His pick rate is low, but those players who main Breach often exploited his triple flash to the point of irrittaing other competitors. Skye also joined the flasher squad later on, becoming the ultimate “troll agent” in lower ranked queues. Patch 3.00 will take away one flash from both the agent, and the prices will see a boost of 50 creds.
Brimstone’s molotov will now be 50 creds more pricely, a move made out of consideration for the current post-plant meta. Cypher will become more viable as his ultimate points are decreasing to six from previous seven.
Astra’s stars will now take a 1.4 seconds to activate after the buy period, and the agent will also get a cooldown nerf to her stars so that enemies can better counter her potent abilities. With these nerfs, the prices of her stars will drop by 50 creds to better balance her powers.
Here are all the other ability changes coming in patch 3.0.
Skye
- Flash charges reduced 3 >>> 2
- Charges are now replenished on a 40-second cooldown
- Skye no longer needs to re-equip to trigger her flash
- Guiding Light’s projectile now goes around corners tighter when free flying and is more responsive to guiding
- Audio attenuation when cast reduced 3250 >>> 1250
- Cost of charges increased 100 >>> 250
Jett
- (Q) Cost increased 100 >>> 150
- (E) No longer breaks Cypher’s Trapwire
- (C) Cost increased 100 >>> 200
- (X) Ultimate points required increased 6 >>> 7
Killjoy
- (Q) Cooldown after pickup increased 7 >>> 20
- (E) Cooldown after pickup increased 10 >>> 20
Omen
- (Q) Cost decreased 400 >>> 300
- (E) Granted signature charges reduced 2 >>> 1
- (E) Omen now must buy his second smoke for 100
- (E) Cooldown time increased 35 >>> 40
- (C) Cost increased 100 >>> 150
Pheonix
- (Q) Cost increased 200 >>> 250
Raze
- (C) Cost increased 200 >>> 400
- (X) Ultimate points required increased 7 >>> 8
Reyna
- (C) Cost increased 200 >>> 250
Sage
- (Q) Cost increased 100 >>> 200
- (C) Cost increased 300 >>> 400
- (X) Ultimate points required increased 7 >>> 8
Sova
- (Q) Cost increased 100 >>> 150
- (E) Cooldown time increased 35 >>> 40
- (C) Cooldown time increased 35 >>> 40
- (X) Ultimate points required increased 7 >>> 8
Viper
- (C) Duration reduced 8 >>> 6.5
- Cost increased 100 >>> 200
Yoru
- (Q) Cost increased 200 >>> 250
- (E) Cooldown time increased 35 >>> 40
Tagging and deadzone changes hit in patch 3.00
Riot is modifying both tagging and deadzone with changes in Valorant patch 3.00. Tagging is the slowing effect that players feel when they are hit by bullets. This effect will decrease to 72.5% from the previous 75%, allowing players to move very slightly more easily while being shot.
The deadzone in Valorant refers to the movement speed at which player becomes inaccurate, meaning that moving quick enough to hit the deadzone will result in more errant shots. This will be toned down to 37%.
Walking inaccuracy for all rifles in the game will be changed to 2.0 from the previous 1.3, making it harder to accurately hit targets with rifles while on the move. This should nerf the “run and gun” tactic that many have complaind about in Valorant. Heavy guns, classic, SMGs, Frenzy, Ghost, Sheriff will also see some tweaks in walking and running inaccuracy to better the gunplay in Valorant and to give more of an edge to players aiming from a static position.
Price rate changes in Patch 3.0
FRENZY
- Price decreased 500 >>> 450
JUDGE
- Price increased 1600 >>> 1850
BULLDOG
- Price decreased 2100 >>> 2050
SHORTY
- Price decreased 200 >>> 150
STINGER
- Price decreased 1100 >>> 950
BUCKY
- Price decreased 900 >>> 850
MARSHAL
- Price decreased 1000 >>> 950
ARES
- Price decreased 1600 >>> 1550
OPERATOR
- Price decreased from 5000 >>> 470
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.
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