VALORANT patch 3.0 was maybe one of the most important patches in the game’s short history. Almost every agent in the game received major updates and changes, especially to the cost of their weapons and their running accuracy. We wanted to go give you a rundown of some of the biggest changes in the game.
Agent Updates
The following changes affects all agents:
Signature abilities now only provide a minimum of one charge per round instead of accumulating a charge every round.
Charges gained from cooldowns are now always temporary.
Visibility returns faster during the fadeout period of all flashes.
Astra
The changes made to Astra have changed her ability to apply map-wide pressure. She now has more counterplay on barrier drop and longer and clearer cooldown windows after Astra uses or recalls her Stars.
Breach
They have removed his third flash charge in an attempt to spread impact across his kit. Some abilities are getting shorter cast commitments and the speed of his Flashpoint projectile is being slowed to give Breach a chance to re-equip his weapon and work off his tools.
Brimstone
His Incendiary cost has increased from 200 to 250.
Cypher
The Ultimate points cost for Neural Theft have decreased from 7 to 6.
Jett
They have reversed the Jett/Cypher trapwire interaction in response to the community’s ability to better deal with Cypher’s traps.
Killjoy
The cooldown after pickup for Alarmbot has risen from 7 seconds to 20 seconds.
The cooldown after pickup for the turret has risen from 10 seconds to 20 seconds.
Omen
His Shrouded Step cost has increased from 100 to 150.
His Paranoia cost has decreased from 400 to 300.
Dark Cover has seen some significant changes, the cooldown time has increased by 5 seconds, the signature charges granted has been dropped to 1 and Omen now must buy his second smoke for 100.
Phoenix
His Curveball cost has increased from 200 to 250.
Raze
Her in-game model has been updated.
The cost of Boombot has been bumped to 400.
The Ultimate points required for Showstopper has increased to 8.
Reyna
Her Leer cost has increased from 200 to 250.
Sage
Her Slow Orb cost has increased from 100 to 200.
Her Barrier Orb cost has increased from 300 to 400.
The number of Ultimate points required for Resurrection has increased to 8.
Skye
Skye is losing her third flash charge but regaining charges on a cooldown for her signature. She no longer needs to put her gun down to activate Guiding Light. Guiding Light has also received some quality of life improvements when guiding the projectile or letting it fly free.
Sova
His Shock Dart cost has increased from 100 to 150.
The cooldown for Recon Bolt has risen from 35 seconds to 40 seconds.
His Owl Drone cost has increased from 300 to 400.
The number of Ultimate points required for Hunter’s Fury has increased to 8.
Viper
Outer edges of Viper’s acid patch form faster to ensure it is lethal if an enemy sits in the entire duration. They have increased the cost of Snake Bite to reduce its power and popularity.
Yoru
His Blindside cost has increased from 200 to 250.
The cooldown for Gatecrash has risen from 35 seconds to 40 seconds.
Weapon Updates
All Weapons
Bullet tagging changed from 75% slow to 72.5% slow.
“Tagging” is the slowing effect you feel when hit by bullets.
Weapon Deadzones changed from 30% to 27.5%
“Deadzone” in VALORANT refers to the movement speed a player becomes inaccurate.
All Rifles
Walking inaccuracy changed from 1.3 to 2.0
Running unchanged at 5.0
All Heavies
Walking Inaccuracy changed from .5 to 2.4
Running unchanged at 6.0
All SMGS
Walking inaccuracy changed from .3 to 1.0
Running inaccuracy changed from 2.0 to 2.5
Classic
Walking inaccuracy changed from .25 to .84
Running inaccuracy changed from 1.5 to 2.1
Frenzy
Price decreased 500 to 450
Walking inaccuracy changed from .25 to .8
Running inaccuracy changed from 1.0 to 2.0
Ghost
Walking inaccuracy changed from .25 to .92
Running Inaccuracy changed from 1.85 to 2.3
Sheriff
Walking inaccuracy changed from .25 to 1.2
Running inaccuracy changed from 2.0 to 3.0
Judge
Price increased 1600 to 1850
Damage falloff at 10m changed from 13 per pellet to 10 per pellet.
Damage falloff at 15m changed from 10 per pellet to 7 per pellet.
Bulldog
Hip-fire (full auto mode) firing rate increased from 9.15 RPS to 9.5 RPS
Price decreased 2100 to 2050
Shorty
Price decreased 200 to 150
Stinger
Price decreased 1100 to 950
Bucky
Price decreased 900 to 850
Marshal
Price decreased 1000 to 950
Ares
Price decreased 1600 to 1550
Operator
Price decreased from 5000 to 4700
Guardian
Price decreased 2400 to 2250
Comment from the designers
Max Grossman and Sal Garozzo, Co-Lead Designers of VALORANT, issued a statement about the major changes in the recent slate of patches:
“When we think of VALORANT, we consider every map, weapon, and character to be a part of an ever-changing sandbox where you can use your skill and creativity to overcome any challenge you face. We believe VALORANT is at its best when you face a wide variety of unique challenges and are forced to make hard choices about tools and strategies, you’ll use to overcome them. To that end, we have taken a pass at the entire economy of the game, changing weapon and ability prices so they better suit their impact on a match and allow players to create more dynamic, varied loadouts, and strategies.
Game-spanning changes like these can be painful as we are asking you all to relearn many things that you’re now comfortable with. There will be times when you are forced to make harder choices about what you bring into battle each round or forced to engage with an opponent differently—but just know that your enemies are facing the same challenges.”