Riot Games has announced in a Dev Update about the future of Valorant that the game’s most powerful Sentinel and Defense Agent is set to undergo “some changes.”
With Valorant Champions 2024 concluded, Riot is implementing significant adjustments to Valorant that won’t affect professional play. In a September 20 update, the developers indicated that players “should expect changes”to four agents in patch 9.10: Phoenix, Sage, Gekko, and Cypher.
Phoenix and Sage are slated for a buff due to their underwhelming performance in the current meta, while the popularity of Cypher and Gekko in both pro and ranked matches suggests they may need a nerf.
Cypher is currently among the top agents in the game, benefiting from his formidable tripwires that can be deployed in hard-to-detect locations within the current map rotation.
A few updates on what you can expect for the rest of the year. pic.twitter.com/HUbAkQJEGS
— VALORANT (@VALORANT) September 20, 2024
In addition to hinting at direct nerfs to his utility, the developers also announced changes to the map Sunset in patch 9.08. They specifically mentioned the removal of one of Cypher’s overly powerful trip spots, aiming to mitigate his impact in matches.
Over the past year, Cypher has transformed from one of the least effective agents to one of the most dominant, as Riot has consistently nerfed other Sentinel agents. Unlike his peers in the class, Cypher’s abilities remain functional regardless of his proximity.
While Riot has not disclosed many specific alterations, it would be logical to align Cypher with his peers by introducing proximity requirements for his abilities or nerfing his tripwires.
Patch 9.08 is scheduled to go live on Valorant servers on October 22, 2024, with patch 9.10 expected on November 19, 2024. With both updates some time away, players who use Cypher should capitalize on their games while he retains his overpowering status.
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