Raze in VALORANT may be nerfed in an upcoming patch, says lead game designer
VALORANT’s agent Raze has been a source of frustration for players due to her powerful grenades and high damage. However, in a recent interview with IGN, VALORANT’s lead game designer Trevor Romleski addressed the agent’s place in the game’s meta and hinted at a possible nerf for Raze in an upcoming patch.
“[Balance is] something I’m less worried about, because we can make adjustments to find the right balance for Raze,” said Romleski. “Our goal is to ensure she’s not a must-pick in every composition, and we’re currently looking into opportunities to make adjustments to her abilities.”
Since Raze was released during the closed beta on April 7, she has sparked intense debate within the VALORANT community. Raze can wipe out an entire team with her grenades and ultimate ability, both of which have a wide area of effect and a short cast time.
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Romleski mentioned that Raze’s abilities should ideally be used for chip damage and area denial rather than getting easy kills. The grenades should be able to kill enemies who don’t avoid them, but players should have enough time to escape with proper visual and audio cues. This could potentially be achieved by adjusting the area of effect, delay, or sound of Raze’s grenades.
Overall, Romleski expressed the team’s appreciation for what Raze brings to the game but acknowledged the need for balance adjustments. This could involve making her grenades more noticeable or slower to explode, as well as increasing the casting time for her ultimate, which is her most controversial ability.
It is currently unknown when the next patch will be introduced in VALORANT or when the closed beta will end. However, the game’s official launch is scheduled for later this summer.