In the latest Valorant patch notes 8.08, Riot Games has delivered an update that many tactical shooter fans may find underwhelming—a snooze fest. While bringing the usual changes, tweaks, and bug fixes, the developers have set their sights on two of the game’s most powerful agents: Cypher and Viper.
Viper’s Reign of Toxicity Nerfed
Brace yourself, Viper mains. The evil chemist has been subjected to a series of nerfs meant to limit her battlefield power. Viper’s control and stalling power had become too overwhelming for Riot Games to rebalance her kit, the patch notes say. Here are the key adjustments:
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- Reduced maximum duration of individual smoke sources (Toxic Screen and Poison Cloud) from 15 seconds to 12 seconds
- Increased minimum fuel requirement to activate smokes from 20% to 30%
- Decreased the cooldown for reactivating smokes after placing them, from 8 seconds to 5 seconds
- Poison Cloud can now only be retrieved during the Buy Phase, preventing mid-round repositioning
- Snake Bite ability reduced to a single charge from two charges
- Snake Bite price increased from 200 to 300 credits
- Snake Bite duration extended from 5.5 seconds to 6.5 seconds
Cypher’s Sneaky Tactics Exposed
Cypher, the master of surveillance, has also found himself on the receiving end of Riot’s balancing efforts. While his recent updates in 7.09 solidified his spot among the Sentinel roster, the developers felt that his stalling power had become too potent, warranting a few key changes:
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- Trapwire re-arm time extended from 1 second to 2 seconds
- Trapwire slow duration reduced from 2 seconds to 1.25 seconds
- Enemies now hear audio cues when actively watched by Cypher’s Spycam, preventing undetected surveillance
Premier Mode Updates and Bug Fixes
Aside from the agent adjustments, the 8.08 update also brings some exciting changes to Valorant’s Premier mode, as well as a slew of bug fixes and quality of life improvements:
Premier Mode Enhancements
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- New “Invite” division was introduced in Episode 9 Act 1 for top-performing teams
- Promotion opportunities for teams meeting division requirements in the next stage
- Premier Score playoff qualification threshold lowered to 600 for all divisions
Bug Fixes and Quality of Life Improvements
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- Resolved line-of-sight issues with certain abilities near raising/lowering walls
- Fixed AI-controlled abilities detecting players through Harbor’s High Tide
- Corrected icon display issues with Clove’s Ruse ability
- Addressed footstep audio bugs when aiming down sights and moving while slowed
- Removed map exploit on Split allowing players to stand on A Site sign
- Ensured practice matches properly lock in divisions for Premier mode
Final Thoughts
With the Valorant patch notes 8.08 update, Riot Games has once again demonstrated its commitment to maintaining a balanced and engaging experience for players of all skill levels. While Viper and Cypher mains may need to adapt their playstyles to accommodate the nerfs, these changes are designed to promote a more diverse and dynamic meta, encouraging players to explore new strategies and agent combinations.
So, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the world of Valorant, get ready to embrace the changes and continue honing your skills in this ever-evolving tactical masterpiece.
