Valorant players think new agent Gekko needs a nerf

Fariha Bhatti Published 08/03/2023

Valorant agent 22 Gekko has officially been unveiled, and streamers are enjoying him. But the community thinks he’s breaking the game. 

Valorant agent 22 Gekko hasn’t even officially arrived and he’s already causing a debate. Clips of Gekko pulling off ridiculous stunts are going viral, and players are theorizing all scenarios where his Wingman could basically kill Valorant. Counterarguments to Gekko being too OP are many, but most think he needs a nerf. 

Gekko rolls into Valorant with a molotov, a flash, and an assistant stunner. His Thrash ability gathers intel and detains enemies. Overall, his toolkit sounds mediocre but Riot has added small bonus features to each ability that make him too powerful. 

Is Gekko too OP? 

Players are currently upset that Gekko is basically immune to Valorant’s post-plant meta. Currently, if Viper throws her molotov, an agent would instantly back off in fear of dying. For this reason, players often lose their 1V1s. But, with Gekko, defenders will have the opportunity to let Wingman take the damage, run-down Viper’s Molotov, and defuse half the Spike.

This mechanic is game-changing as it allows players to win 1V1 without putting much at stake. Besides that, players are generally not happy with Wingman’s range. The tiny penguin can be released from afar and somehow still reach the site and plant the Spike, which puts a team without Gekko at a heavy disadvantage. 

Some have even shared a bug where Gekko would wrap the entire site and strategically plant the Spike at Icebox’s rafters. 

His Moshpit is also getting a lot of flak for having a large AoE. Players are sharing clips of killing multiple enemies using just the Molotov. Currently, no other agent in Valorant has an incendiary that can cause instant death. 

All in all, the Valorant community is convinced that Gekko isn’t balanced. Especially his Wingman. It remains to be seen if Riot would consider the feedback and roll out a Gekko nerf prior to the official release. 

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

VCT Masters London Final Swiss Stage Predictions: Who Makes the Playoffs? Owen Harsono There are only two playoff spots remaining at VCT Masters London, and the final day of the Swiss Stage will decide which teams claim them. Every match today is a must-win, with elimination on the line for all four teams involved. Here are our VCT Masters London Swiss Stage predictions for the final day. NRG will take on FUT Esports in a do-or-die match. We have a very experienced team ...

Valorant

Which teams will make it to the VCT Masters London playoffs? Owen Harsono The first round of the VCT Masters London Swiss Stage has come to a close, and we have a pretty good idea of which teams are looking good – and which ones aren’t. Let’s take a look at the frontrunners who will likely survive the first stage with flying colors. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally able to see the EMEA superteam play in their first international ...

Esports Betting

VALORANT Masters London 2026: Teams, format, prize pool and odds Owen Harsono After a long wait, international Valorant action is back. Twelve of the best teams across four major regions have booked their spots at the upcoming VALORANT Masters London 2026 tournament, and we’re in for a treat. Here’s everything you need to know about the event. Masters London is the second international VALORANT tournament of the year, following Masters Santiago in February and March. We have several new rookies making their ...

Valorant

NRG vs 100 Thieves betting predictions and best picks: VCT Americas Stage 1 Owen Harsono NRG will take on 100 Thieves in the lower bracket of VCT Americas Stage 1, with the winner booking the final spot at Valorant Masters London 2026. There’s a lot on the line, as this series will determine how the next few months look for both teams. Here is our NRG vs 100 Thieves VCT Americas Stage 1 predictions. Tournament: VCT Americas Stage 1 Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best-of-three ...

Esports Betting

EWC officially heads to Paris for 2026 as early reports confirmed Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris, France from July later this year as per an new announcement by the EWC organizers, the Esports Foundation. Revealed in a post on their official social media, and an accompanying release and blog post, the announcement confirmed earlier speculation that the event would move location due to the “regional situation” around Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here’s the info: The Esports World ...

Valorant

Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE betting preview, odds, and best picks: VCT Pacific Stage 1 grand final predictions Owen Harsono FULL SENSE will take on Paper Rex for the VCT Pacific crown, as the two teams clash in the Pacific Stage 1 grand finals. The former made a clean run through the upper bracket, while the latter has been ramping up through the lower bracket. Here are our Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE VCT Pacific predictions. Tournament: VCT Pacific Stage 1 Stage: Grand Final Game: Valorant Format: Best of 5 ...

Valorant

Valorant’s TenZ joins T1 as a content creator Hannan Mundia After a long career with Sentinels, the former professional Valorant player TenZ joined T1 as a content creator. Riot Games’ FPS title Valorant has given rise to multiple names. However, few have earned the recognition and respect that Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo has. While he has retired from his career as a professional Valorant player, he continues to create content on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. While he’s most ...