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Riot’s Next VALORANT Patch to Revamp Duelist Role with Raze Adjustments and Agent Enhancements

VALORANT is set to receive the highly anticipated 8.11 patch in early June, and players can expect some exciting changes to the game. One of the main focuses of this patch is to increase the diversity of the duelist role by balancing the agents in that category.

Changes to Raze

One notable change in the upcoming patch is the nerfs for Raze. This explosive agent has been dominating the duelist role, especially with her satchel ability. In response to her overpowered presence, the developers have decided to make some adjustments to bring her in line with other agents.

Promotional artwork for VALORANT agent Iso.
Iso remains the only agent not to be picked in VCT 2024. Image via Riot Games

Buffing Iso, Neon, and Reyna

Apart from the nerfs, the developers have also identified three duelist agents that require buffs in the upcoming patch. Iso and Neon, both underrated agents in the current meta, will receive changes that highlight their unique abilities. Isolation Protocol’s Shield Paradigm will be adjusted to make Iso more competitive, while Neon will see improvements to their Slide ability. Reyna, on the other hand, already known for her individual strength, will receive changes that aim to enhance her teamplay abilities while balancing her impact in solo ranked matches.

Expectations for Patch 8.11

The specific buffs and nerfs for each duelist agent have not been disclosed yet, but players can rest assured that these changes will be significant. The development team intends for these adjustments to be the last major alterations before VALORANT Champions 2024, which concludes in the final week of August. Additionally, the team is also working on some larger balance changes and mode updates that will be implemented after the Champions event.

Map Pool Changes

Alongside the agent updates, Patch 8.11 will feature long-awaited changes to the map pool. Players can look forward to experiencing new and refreshed battlegrounds, adding more variety and excitement to their matches.


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