Valorant v1.08 patch notes: Better match queues, Raze nerf, Guardian buff, and more

Valorant's latest patch brings with it a host of promised changes and a few that weren't expected, we bring down patch v1.08 before it goes live on servers.

(Picture: Riot Games)

The patch was delayed by 24 hours and is being rolled out across the various regions starting today, with the Americas set to get it at 9 am PT on Wednesday, 16th September.

We need a little more time. We'll be delaying tomorrow's patch by 24 hours to add a few finishing touches. You can expect patches to begin rolling out, starting with the Americas, at 9 AM PT on Wednesday, September 16.

— VALORANT (@PlayVALORANT) September 15, 2020

The patch fixes the issue of feeling like you are playing the same map over and over, as well as introducing changes to Raze and the Guardian rifle.

Interestingly in the patch notes, the Lead Agent Designer, Max "Orcane" Grossman stated that they are looking at nerfing the Operator, which is an about-face from the team after they claimed as recently as 28th August, that it wasn't "too OP".

Raze nerf

(Picture: Riot Games)

Raze has had a look at once before, but her true strength has only recently been revealed with her Blast Packs becoming an absolute nuisance whether she is using them to fly through the air or as 0-fuze grenades.

Riot has heard player's concerns though, and while keeping her ability to use the packs to blast into areas quickly, they have reduced the damage radius and also added an arming time of 0.5s once it lands. 

Players will also be able to shoot the Pack before it detonates. Raze can also no longer dish out team damage with it so griefers have lost one tool in their arsenal.

Guardian buff

(Picture: Riot Games)

The Guardian, subject of a previous buff, has been given another, with its price reduced and fire rate increased.

Valorant v1.08 patch notes

Agent Updates

Raze

Raze’s Blast Pack has been dishing out damage without giving enemies much counterplay. This change should help make it very clear when Blast Pack’s damage poses a threat while maintaining the utility aspects of the Blast Pack that players have begun to master. The blast pack now does not ‘fizzle’ when shot and will still do damage, meaning it should still be approached carefully if in lethal range.

Weapon Updates

Guardian buff

• Price reduced from 2500 >>> 2400
• Improved Rate of fire from 4.75 >>> 5.25 RPS (rounds per second)
• Improved weapon recovery from .35 after 3 bullets to .2925 after 3 bullets
  • We don’t think the Guardian can (or should) compete directly with the Phantom or Vandal but we’d like it to have a place where players can feel good opting into the gun at the new price, is a competitive purchase in certain economic circumstances or map scenarios, and isn’t as punishing when an enemy gets close!

Map Rotation Changes

It’s happening! The possible pool of maps you can get placed on is now ‘pseudo-random’ rather than pure random. What that means is if you just played, say, Haven, the matchmaker will deprioritize that map in your next game.

• Matchmaking queue for all modes has been updated to measure all your recently played maps, throughout all modes, so that for any given queue you:
  • Have a better chance of playing on a map you haven’t played recently
  • Are much less likely to play on the same map several games in a row

Quality of Life

• Observers will now see a timer rather than their screen being obscured when observing a player who is blinded
  • Full screen blind for observers can be turned back on in the options, for all you masochists
• Minimap performance improvements
• The social panel will now pause sorting while you’re hovering or interacting with it
• Updated verbiage in the All Ranks modal in the Career page to be more consistent with Competitive overtime rules

Bug Fixes

• Prime Classic VFX fixed
  • There was a bug in which upgrade Prime levels (2–4) were not playing the correct tracers, sound fx, and other VFX
• Fixed a bug where the End of Game screen would display a “Still processing” message, and then wouldn’t show that match in your Career tab
• Fixed a bug where “High Skill Disparity” would display in Custom Game Lobbies