Riot Games has surprised Valorant fans with a sneak peek of the upcoming balance changes heading to the game in patch 9.11, scheduled for release on December 10. This update will introduce significant nerfs for Neon, adjustments to ping mechanics in smoke, and a quality of life enhancement for Vyse.
Developers hinted at these changes earlier, confirming a planned nerf for Neon. Dan ‘Penguin’ Hardison stated on X (formerly Twitter), “We agree that Neon is too strong as well. We’re working on some adjustments to balance out the parts that feel overpowered while maintaining her grounded movement combat fantasy.” With the latest announcements, the details are now clearer, thanks to an informative video shared via Instagram.
Neon Nerfs in the 9.11 Update
The key changes aimed at balancing Neon include:
- Reduction of sliding effectiveness: Neon will now only have one slide charge. Previously, the dual slides enabled more aggressive combat maneuvers and enhanced escape options.
- Modified accuracy during slides: Players will notice that Neon’s accuracy will now resemble that of walking while crouched, rather than the previously heightened accuracy while sliding.
- Tighter Ultimate timing: To make gameplay more strategic, the timing of her Ultimate ability will be more constricted, requiring players to have a clear plan for its use.
- Increased Ultimate cost: The cost of Neon’s Ultimate will rise to 8 points, reflecting the increased balance in her overall power.
As Hardison remarked in the video, “These adjustments help ensure that players engage with Neon’s abilities more thoughtfully.”
Overhaul of Smoke Ping Mechanics
Another noteworthy alteration involves the interactions between smoke and pings. In the forthcoming update, smoke will behave as a solid wall against pings, preventing them from passing through. This is a significant shift from the current state, where players could exploit smoke for tactical advantages, essentially “smoking themselves off” while still being able to ping enemy positions.
After the update, pings placed via the map will no longer appear in the game world, and they will emit a different sound to enhance audio clarity during gameplay.
Enhancements to Vyse
As for Vyse, the developers have announced a “quality of life pass,” with a specific focus on improving his Razorvine ability. Although specific adjustments were not revealed, the devs emphasized that they are attempting to ensure Vyse’s unique skills resonate better within the game dynamics.
As the patch notes are expected to be released soon, fans should stay tuned for additional details. For the latest updates, follow our coverage on Valorant and keep an eye on X.
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