The Valorant 9.03 update is here, and it has brought with it a number of interesting changes to the game that we’ve already covered yesterday.
While the update didn’t seemingly introduce any major buffs and nerfs to any of the Valorant Agents, taking a closer look at the patch notes reveal a major nerf to two of the best Controllers in the game.
The patch notes for the Valorant 9.03 update read, “We’re making improvements to abilities that spread along the ground like Brimstone’s Incendiary and Viper’s Snakebite.” Furthermore, the devs mention that moving forward, “these abilities should spread more consistently and only apply damage in places that are consistent with the visuals.”
This change may seem like a QoL update at first, but seems to have some serious impact in certain in-game scenarios.
Valorant 9.03 Update: Brimstone & Viper Nerfs Explained
The impact of this change is evident on most maps when mollying one side of a door or wall. Previously, Viper and Brimstone could molly one side, and the flames (or poison) would automatically spread to the other, making it challenging to hold certain angles without the risk of getting mollied out. However, following the update, the mollies no longer spread to the other side.
A user on X highlighted the Ascent door as an example when discussing this nerf. Previously, they could throw a molly on one side of the closing doors on Ascent, and it would still spread to the other side. However, with the latest update, this is no longer possible, making it a clear nerf.
While it’s unlikely that this change will impact the pick rates of Brimstone and Viper in competitive lobbies, the full extent of the nerf still remains to be seen.
