Valorant Patch Notes 3.0 is finally here and with it, Riot is introducing one of the most significant changes to various game aspects such as agent abilities and weapon balance. With patch 3.0 almost every agent and weapon have received adjustments to make the game fairer and more skill-based.
The upcoming update also introduces the new agent KAY/O — a deadly robot capable of suppressing enemy abilities. In addition, this update will also initiate a major rank reset for all the players.
Here is a glimpse of the known upcoming changes in the Valorant Episode 3 Act 1 “Reflection.”
Valorant Patch 3.0 Agent Balance Changes
Patch 3.0 introduces major updates to every agent’s ability and cost adjustments. Almost every agent got nerfed, and each agent’s signature ability will now only provide one charge per round. Here is the complete list of upcoming changes:
Astra
- Astral Stars Cost: 200 Credits to 150 Credits
- Only one free star will be available
Breach
- Aftershock Cost: 100 Credits to 200 Credits
- Instead of one large explosion, now Aftershock will have three small explosions of 60 damage.
- Flashpoint Cost: 200 Credits to 250 Credits
- Flashpoint Charges: 3 Charges to 2 Charges
Brimstone
- Incendiary: 200 Credits to 250 Credits
Cypher
- You will require seven Ult points instead of six to acquire Neural Theft
KAY/O
- Frag Cost: 200 Credits
- Flash Cost: 250 Credits
- Zero Point: Free Signature Ability
- You will require seven Ult points to acquire NULL/cmd
Jett
- Cloudburst Cost: 100 Credits to 200 Credits
- Updraft Cost: 100 Credits to 150 Credits
- You will require seven Ult points instead of six to acquire Blade Storm
Omen
- Shrouded Step Cost: 100 Credits to 150 Credits
- Paranoia Cost: 400 Credits to 300 Credits
Phoenix
- Curveball Cost: 100 Credits to 150 Credits
Reyna
- Leer Cost: 200 Credits to 250 Credits
Raze
- Boombot Cost: 200 Credits to 400 Credits
- You will require eight Ult points instead of seven to acquire Showstopper
Sage
- Slow Orb Cost: 100 Credits to 200 Credits
- You will require eight Ult points instead of seven to acquire Resurrection
Skye
- Trailblazer Cost: 200 Credits to 250 Credits
- Guiding Light Cost: 100 Credits to 150 Credits
- Guiding Light Chargers: 3 Charges to 2 Charges
- Every 40s Guiding Light flashes will now regenerate
Sova
- Owl Drone Cost: 300 Credits to 400 Credits
- Shock Bolt Cost: 100 Credits to150 Credits
- You will require eight Ult points instead of seven to acquire Hunter’s Fury
Viper
- Snake Bites Cost: 100 Credits to 200 Credits
Yoru
- Blindside Cost: 200 Credits to 250 Credits
Weapon adjustments
Almost every weapon has received price adjustment with most getting a price reduction. In addition to price adjustment, each weapon type received a bullet tagging adjustment from 75% to 72.5% and weapon dead zone adjustment from 30% to 27.5%. These changes are in line with the Riot’s decision to nerf run and gun playstyle. Here is the complete list of the new weapon prices:
- Ares: 1600 Credits to 1550 Credits
- Bucky: 900 Credits to 850 Credits
- Bulldog: 2100 Credits to 2050 Credits
- Frenzy: 500 Credits to 450 Credits
- Guardian: 2400 Credits to 2250 Credits
- Judge: 1600 Credits to 1850 Credits
- Marshal: 1000 Credits to 950 Credits
- Operator: 5000 Credits to 4700 Credits
- Shorty: 200 Credits to 150 Credits
- Stinger: 1100 Credits to 950 Credits
Competitive Update
Along with Patch 3.0 Riot has brought major changes for Ranked Matchmaking. These changes are aimed to improve the competitive playlist and reduce old account holders feeling “stuck” in ranks.
Here’s the list of changes coming with the update:
- Reduced the possibility of feeling “hard stuck” on older accounts- now rank should properly reflect improvement in skills regardless of account age
- Improved Matchmaking accuracy across all ranks
- Individual performance will also be accounted for to improve matchmaking at Immortal+
- Close games to have a smaller effect on rank rating gains and losses
- Adjusted our Rank Rating curves
- Updated Rank distribution
- Placements raised to Diamond 1
Performance Update
Along with the balance changes patch 3.0 also introduces various performance fixes and bug fixes to the game. Now players with medium to high spec machines will see upto 6% performance improvement. Here’s the list of changes:
- Improved clipping plane calculations using multithreading
- Improved thread utilization across multiple cores for distributed tasks
- Optimized camera calculations
- Optimized ambient audio for each map
- General optimizations for all ability animations
