Valorant update 4.0 (Image: RIOT GAMES)
Valorant fans can download a brand new update on PC platforms.
Valorant update 4.0 adds a brand new character named Neon, as well as a new Battle Pass and skinline. You can read all about the new additions at this link.
Needless to say, the update also makes big changes to some of the game’s weapons, including the Spectre, Ares and Guardian.
The Spectre, for example, has been tweaked to reduce effectiveness during long range encounters.
Elsewhere, the firing rate of the Ares has been increased, while the spin up has been removed.
The Bulldog, meanwhile, is more appealing thanks to its increased versatility. Changes include increased hip fire rate and faster recovery speed.
Needless to say, Riot Games has made various map improvements, specifically on Bind and Breeze.
Finally, accounts that have yet to play in Ranked are now required to reach account level 20 in order to play competitively.
That’s unless you’ve already competed in a competitive game prior to levelling up. The full patch notes can be seen below.
AGENT UPDATES
• Neon goes live!
WEAPON UPDATES
MELEE
• The melee’s been too tricky to aim with, making it tough to rely on. So we’ve updated both left and right click melee attacks for more reliable Agent-whacking action.
• Right click hitboxes are now 1.5x larger. Left click hitboxes are now larger than a right click and have a slightly longer range too.
• Targets closer to the center of your knife attacks will get hit first, so you still have precision if you need it.
• Bonus: Knifing walls now have instant feedback when slicing up walls (predicted on the client side)
SPECTRE
• The Spectre’s versatility makes us happy, but it was over-performing in long range engagements and was too powerful even within its intended close range and mobile scenarios.
• By making the accuracy error come in a bit earlier and switching yaws more often, we hope it will make it more difficult to get kills when spraying over a long range.
• Likewise, the close range sprays will require more control to be effective.
• Firing error occurs at earlier bullet stages
• For example, instead of errors occurring at bullets 4, 7, 10 (in terms of firing order) they will instead happen at bullets 3, 6, 8
• Increased pitch and yaw (vertical and horizontal) recoil multipliers when running/jumping/on ascender from 1.25 >>> 1.5
• Protected bullet count from yaw (horizontal) switching while spraying, decreased 8 >>> 5 bullets
• Lowering time to switch yaw from .24 >>> .18 seconds
• While spraying, the time you have until you could switch yaws (horizontal movement) again is lower, meaning it can happen more often
ARES
• Alongside changes to the Spectre, we hope to improve the feel and power of the Ares and take it out of the shadow of other weapons in its price tier.
• Removed spin up
• Firing rate increased from 10 >>> 13
GUARDIAN
• The Guardian didn’t need the fire rate penalty compared to its fully-automatic counterparts, so we’re removing it.
• Adding another bullet before it starts to get unstable should make the weapon feel much more proficient at tapping shots, and improve its overall effectiveness in a fight.
• Removed firing rate penalty on ADS (Aiming Down Sight)
• Added an extra bullet before it enters a recovery curve
BULLDOG
• We’re giving the Bulldog some love to help make it feel like a better buy in those situations when you might need a cheaper but versatile rifle option.
• Hip fire rate increased 9.5 >>> 10
• Recovery on burst fire improved from .4 >>> .35
• Inaccuracy is accrued any time the weapon is re-fired prior to a complete duration of a weapon’s respective Gun Recovery Time. Lower recovery time should improve burst fire efficiency.
MAP UPDATES
BIND
• The double stack of cover at short A has been changed to remove a very powerful one-way smoke location that made the area a little too difficult for Attackers to approach.
• Sentinels will still be able to clog the space, but the new layout should open a few options for attackers pushing in.
• There’s also a small, new bench for a mix up when taking that first peek.
BREEZE
• Increased the width of the A Main choke and removed 50/50s (where you must choose one of two locations an opponent may be located)
• This should give defenders more options when playing around A Main. It also removes the 50/50 when both entering or exiting the cave, allowing you to be more methodical when pushing.
• Added a stack of two crates in cave
• This provides some cover for attackers pushing the cave while also giving defenders more options for contesting the space.
• Adjusted cover on the back of A Site and extended the pool to the far wall
• The cover changes should give defenders both a safe place to fall back to and more cover on retakes. Extending the pool should make playing in this space more comfortable.
• Plant site extension is also to match the new shape of the pool.
• Adjusted curved wall in mid
• This change simplifies the space and removes the extra pocket.
• Added cover to the pillar on B Site, blocked off the back site with a new wall, and added a stack of crates to B Wall
• The new cover on the pillar allows for new pre and post plant opportunities.
• The adjusted back site breaks the head peek to B Main while also giving players new cover to work with. This new cover should be useful when falling back and retaking.
• The new stack of crates limits some angles from B Main, gives you new options when holding or retaking, and should break up some awkward fights that can occur on thin walls.
• Door on A can no longer be reactivated until it is finished opening or closing
COMPETITIVE
• Starting with Patch 4.0, accounts that have yet to play in Ranked are required to reach account level 20 level before they are able to enter the Competitive queue
• For those that have not yet reached account level 20, but have already played in Competitive queue, you will still be able to play in ranked.
BUGS
Game Systems
• Fixed an issue where the Signature Kill Counter was not updating visually
• Esports Features
• Coaches should no longer experience the issue where swapping targets with number keys and + mouse clicks occasionally fails.