To ensure the long-term growth of Valorant and keep players driving the game’s evolution, Riot has released the 11.08 gameplay update (originally previewed in 10.13). This patch brings extensive balance changes to agent abilities, weapons, and map design.
| Ability Changes Overview
As a tactical shooter, Valorant is built around deliberate decision-making and team strategy. Riot aims to reduce the frequency of ability usage, making each cast feel more impactful in determining the outcome of a round.
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| Global Ability Adjustments
Near Sight Normalization
Affected Abilities: Omen, Fade, Skye, Reyna
- Near-sight visible range increased from 5m → 7m.
Stun Duration Normalization
Affected Abilities: Breach, Gekko, Neon, Astra
- Stun duration standardized to 2.5s ( from 3.5s ).
Combat Stim / Buff Effects Unified
Affected Abilities: Brimstone, KAY/O, Reyna
Reload speed multiplier: 0.9x
Fire rate multiplier: 1.1x
Equip speed multiplier: 0.9x
Spread recovery: 1.1x
Full Combat Stim bonus effects:
1. Reload speed +10%
2. Fire rate +10%
3. Equip speed +10%
4. Recoil recovery +10%
| Initiator Adjustments
l Initiator signature abilities cooldowns increased: 40s → 60s.
Wide-area ultimates now have smaller coverage and shorter debuff duration.
Flash-based Initiators’ flashes are now stronger, with all flash durations unified to 2.25s.
Gekko
- Wingman HP: 80 → 60
- Thrash HP: 200 → 180
- Cooldown after retrieval: 10s → 20s
Breach
Aftershock (E):
- Wind-up shortened 1.2s → 1.1s
- Stun duration: 3.5s → 2.5s
- Cooldown: 40s → 60s
Flashpoint (Q):
- Blind duration 2.0s → 2.25s
Rolling Thunder (X):
- Width 23m → 18m,
- stun time 6s → 4s,
- cost 9 → 8 points
Fade
Prowler (C):
- Near-sight range 5m → 7m
Haunt (E):
- Duration 2.0s → 1.5s, cooldown 40s → 60s
Nightfall (X):
- Deafen mark 12s → 8s,
- width 24m → 20m,
- fixed 80 damage
Tejo
Precision Deployment (E):
- Cooldown 40s → 60s
Final Judgement (X):
- Reduced area of effect
KAY/O
Zero/Point (E):
- Cooldown 40s → 60s
FLASH/drive (Q):
- Right-click flash max blind 1.5s → 2.25s
NULL/cmd (X):
- Stim effect matches global adjustments.
| Sentinel Adjustments
Cypher’s Spycam, Vyse’s Flash, and Killjoy’s Turret now share a 60s cooldown rule after being destroyed.
Cypher
Trapwire (C):
- No longer concusses; now slows by 50% and applies a mark.
- Escaping the tripwire causes a 1s reveal and slow instead of a pullback.
Spycam (E):
- Cooldown 45s, visibility range slightly increased.
Vyse
Arc Flash (E):
- Can be destroyed during wind-up; no longer plays sound cue when enemies are blinded.
- Blind duration: 2.25s → 2.0s.
- Destroyed cooldown: 45s → 60s.
- Recall cooldown standardized to 20s.
Severance (Q):
- Trap wall triggers faster, more consistent on enemy contact.
Razorvine (C):
- HP 40 → 20.
Razor Garden (X):
- Startup: 3.4s → 4.4s,
- radius: 32.5m → 26m.
Killjoy
Turret (E):
- Cooldown: 45s → 60s,
- HP: 50 → 20.
- Reactivation time when leaving/re-entering range increased to 2s, slow effect stronger.
Sage
Barrier Orb (C):
- Cost: 400 → 300,
- deploy delay: 3.3s → 2s,
- HP: 800 → 600.
Deadlock
GravNet (E):
- Cooldown 40s → 60s.
Barrier Mesh (Q):
- Cost: 400 → 300,
- node HP: 570 → 480.
Chamber
Trademark (E):
- Cooldown: 45s → 60s.
| Controller Adjustments
Omen, Astra, and Viper all receive major cooldown and debuff duration changes. Smokes, pulls, and stuns are slower to recharge, emphasizing tactical timing.
Omen
Dark Cover (E):
- Cooldown: 30s → 40s.
Paranoia (Q):
- Travel speed: 16m/s → 20m/s,
- max range reduced: 32.5m → 25m,
- visible range increased: 5m → 7m.
Astra
Nebula / Dissipate (E):
- Cooldown: 25s → 35s.
Gravity Well (C):
- Fragile duration: 5s → 2.5s,
- cooldown: 45s → 60s.
Nova Pulse (Q):
- Stun duration: 3.5s → 2.5s,
- cooldown: 45s → 60s.
Viper
- Poison Cloud / Toxic Screen: Initial decay damage: 30 → 10 HP.
Brimstone
Stim Beacon (C):
- Now follows unified Combat Stim adjustments.
| Duelist Adjustments
Duelists like Neon, Yoru, and Iso have seen significant tuning to reduce over-aggression and standardize flash durations.
Neon
- Fully draining energy now takes: 12s→ 16s.
- Energy regeneration slowed: 20s → 60s.
Relay Bolt (Q):
- Stun duration standardized: 5s → 2.5s.
Yoru
Gatecrash (E):
- HP: 60 → 20;
- teleport and fake teleport now emit a sound cue from the starting point.
Fakeout (C):
-Duration: 3s → 2s.
Flash (Q):
-Duration: 1.75s → 1.5s; peripheral flash intensity reduced.
Dimensional Drift (X): Can no longer use clone or flash while ulted, but can teleport or trigger pre-set clone.
Waylay
Contingency (C):
- Slow duration: 4s → 3s.
Kill Contract (X):
- No longer spawns illusions;
- No self-knockback, reduced movement speed bonus 15% → 10%, but faster convergence.
- Width: 18m → 13.5m,
- cast time: 2s → 1s,
debuff duration: 7s → 6s.
Raze
- Blast Pack can now be affected by control effects while airborne.
Reyna
Leer (C):
- Visible range: 5m → 7m.
Empress (X):
- Combat Stim bonuses now match global buff rules.
Iso
Ult Range(X)
- Termination Ult Range: 48m → 36m.
| Weapon Adjustments
Rifle spray patterns and SMG recoil have been adjusted for more balanced control and consistent performance between Spectre and Stinger.
Rifles
To make tap firing and spraying more distinct choices, rifle spray control has been slightly reworked.
Bulldog, Phantom, and Vandal:
- Horizontal recoil switch time 0.37s → 0.6s.
- Horizontal switch probability 6% → 10%.
- Number of stable bullets (no horizontal switch):
- Bulldog: 4 → 6
- Phantom: 6 → 8
- Vandal: 4 → 6
SMGs
SMG balance has been tuned to narrow the gap between Spectre and Stinger.
Spectre:
- Total bullet spread 1.5 → 1.4
- Burst efficiency 2 → 3
- Horizontal switch time 0.18s → 0.28s
- Stable shots before switch: 4 → 5
Stinger:
- Total spread 1.5 → 1.4
- Full-auto recoil kicks in 6th bullet (was 7th).
- Vertical recoil curve now steeper while keeping total recoil the same.
| Map Adjustments
Riot wants fights to happen inside spike sites rather than defenders constantly retaking. Attacking teams will now face greater risk when planting and holding outside. New covers and layout changes on Abyss and Pearl support this direction.
Abyss
Pearl
| Conclusion
Valorant Patch 11.08 is not just another update — it's a major shift in gameplay balance. With dozens of agents nerfed and ability timings reworked, players must relearn round pacing and utility value. Expect less ability spam, more strategic positioning, and greater emphasis on aim skill.The update goes live within a day — so gear up, Agents.The battlefield is about to change completely
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