VALORANT Agents Fade and Cypher to Receive Changes in PBE 5.10
This weekend, players in VALORANT’s Public Beta Environment (PBE) will have the opportunity to test the changes to two agents in the game’s roster, Fade and Cypher. According to VALORANT community lead Jeff Landa, the full change notes will be posted on the “ValorantPBE” subreddit later tonight at 6pm CT. These changes have been highly anticipated since reports in September indicated that Fade and Cypher were due for updates.
Sign Up for PBE Testing
Players can enroll in the PBE to test upcoming features, such as new agents and maps, before their official release. To participate, players must have a VALORANT account with no current bans or restrictions and must be active players in the North America region.
Pick Rate Disparity
Among most ranks, Fade ranks in the upper third of agents by pick rate, while Cypher ranks near the bottom, according to Blitz.gg. This trend is mirrored in the professional scene, where Fade had a 53 percent pick rate at VCT Champions 2022, second only to Chamber’s dominant 67 percent. In contrast, Cypher was chosen in only six percent of maps played, primarily on Breeze.
Changes for Cypher and Fade
The changes for Cypher are expected to be buffs to his abilities. Currently, Cypher’s Trapwires are easily destroyed, his Cyber Cage only blocks vision without providing strong defensive capabilities, and his information-gathering abilities are overshadowed by other initiators. The upcoming changes aim to address these shortcomings and make him a more competitive agent.
On the other hand, Fade, the most recent addition to the initiator group, will undergo rebalancing or potential nerfs. Fade’s abilities allow her to reveal and tether enemies, release a Prowler to track marked enemies, and unleash a powerful Nightfall ultimate. Riot has acknowledged that Fade has been “overperforming,” indicating the changes will likely aim to bring her in line with other agents.
Stay tuned for the full change notes and try out the updated Fade and Cypher agents this weekend in the VALORANT PBE.
VALORANT, agents, Fade, Cypher, PBE, pick rate, changes, initiators, sentinels, buffs, nerfs