The latest patch for Valorant went live a few days ago, and it looks like Yoru will finally be useful in competitive matches. The latest update also includes a new battle pass and adjustments to agents and maps.
Yoru is the star of the update
Riot Games released a trailer putting Yoru in the spotlight. In the video, we can see the buffs implemented in his character beginning in this update. Watch the trailer below:
According to Riot Games, Yoru is a Duelist who can infiltrate the enemies’ positions by using his stealth abilities. But that didn’t seem to be the case for Yoru when he was first released. Players noticed that his skill set was underwhelming at best. As a Duelist, they felt Yoru’s abilities weren’t effective at putting pressure on enemies.
In the latest patch notes for Episode 4, Act II, the adjustments to his skillset were explained in detail. Yoru’s Fakeout, Gatecrash, and Dimensional Drift abilities were buffed in the update. Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of Yoru in the competitive scene after this. Below are the details to Yoru’s buff from the latest blog post on Valorant’s website.
Fakeout
- Charges reduced from 2 >>> 1
- Decoy HP: 150
- Decoy is now a full running version of Yoru and can only be sent running forward
- Right -click to place a stationary marker for the decoy
- Reactivate similarly to footsteps to create the decoy that runs forward
- Upon taking damage from an enemy gun, the decoy winds up, turns towards the enemy that shot it, and explodes after a short delay.
- Enemies within the cone are flashed
Gatecrash
- Charges increased from 1 >>> 2
- Cost: 200 Credits
- Cooldown charge refresh removed, switched back to 2-kill reset
- Gatecrash can be faked by pressing F, while hovering over the beacon
- Fake teleport will play audio and portal visuals as if Yoru is attempting to teleport.
- Time it takes for teleport beacon has decreased 1.5 >>> 0.5 seconds
- Teleport beacon’s in-game audio while traveling reduced 22.5m>>>12.5m
- Teleport beacon’s speed has been increased 675 >>> 800
- Upon activating a fake teleport, the beacon creates a small decal on the floor for 30 seconds to indicate location of the fake teleport
Dimensional Drift
- Duration increased 8 >>> 10 seconds
- Yoru is not revealed to enemies
- Unequip delay time increased 0.6 >>> 1.2 seconds
- Yoru is now able to cast all utility out of his ultimate
- Yoru’s footsteps can now be heard within 15m of Yoru’s location
- Cast delay added upon casting Dimensional Drift, preventing the invulnerability frame on cast
Aside from Yoru, both Omen and Brimstone received buffs. But both Astra and Viper have been nerfed in this patch.
Omen (BUFFED)
- Dark Cover
- Cooldown decreased 40s >>> 30s
- Cost increased 100 >>> 150
- Projectile Speed increased 2800 >>> 6400
- Shrouded Step
- Cost decreased 150 >>> 100
- Pre teleport delay decreased 1s >>> 0.7s
- Paranoia
- Added forward spawn offset, so players adjacent to Omen are not hit
Brimstone (BUFFED)
- Sky Smoke
- Deploy time decreased 2 >>> 1 second
- Deploy radius increased 5000 >>> 5500
- Smoke height increased to match other Controllers
- Stim Beacon
- Now also applies a 15% speed boost in addition to RapidFire
Astra (NERFED)
- Stars
- Max Stars reduced 5 >>> 4
- Cooldown on retrieving a Star increased 14 >>> 25
- Astra can now pick up placed Stars during the Buy Phase to refund their charge immediately.
- Max distance of Star Placement increased 10000 >>> 30000 to allow her to place Stars across the furthest corners of maps.
- Gravity Well
- Cooldown Increased 25 >>> 45
- Gravity Well Size Decreased 525 >>> 475
- Gravity Well no longer affects anyone fully underneath the Gravity Well.
- Nova Pulse
- Cooldown Increased 25 >>> 45
- Nova Pulse no longer affects anyone fully underneath the Nova Pulse.
- Nebula
- Cooldown Increased 14 >>> 25
- Nebula cooldowns are now sequential instead of simultaneous
- Nebula size increased 410 >>> 475
- Astral Form
- While in Astral form, pings are no longer blocked by level geometry that Astra cannot see
- Astra’s targeting ring in Astral form is reduced to one ring that reflects the now unified size of all her utility
- Astra’s targeting ring no longer randomly disappears when aiming across some map locations
- Increased the speed of the overlay that covers Astra’s screen when transitioning in and out of Astral form
- Fixed an issue where Stars were placed slightly above the location Astra was targeting.
Viper (NERFED)
- Fuel
- Fuel drain increased 50% when Toxic Screen and Poison Cloud are both active.
- Viper’s fuel bar now turns red when she does not have enough fuel to activate her abilities.
- Toxic Screen
- Cooldown after deactivating increased 6 >>> 8
- Cooldown timer now starts when her smoke starts dissipating instead of when the deactivation telegraph plays.
- Deactivation delay decreased 1 >>> .8
- Toxic Screen now has yellow lights that indicate when it is on cooldown
- Removed delay on Toxic Screen disabling when Viper is suppressed.
- Added a unique VO line that plays when her smoke is disabled by suppress.
- Poison Cloud
- Cooldown after deactivating increased 6 >>> 8.
- Cooldown timer now starts when her smoke starts dissipating instead of when the deactivation telegraph plays.
- Deactivation delay decreased 1 >>> .8
- Poison Orb now has a yellow light to indicate when it is on cooldown.
- Removed delay on Poison Orb disabling when Viper is suppressed.
- Added a unique VO line that plays when her smoke is disabled by suppress.
- Snake Bite
- Duration decreased 6.5 >>> 5.5
Episode 4, Act II also includes map adjustments and a new battle pass
As is the case with new updates, there is a new battle pass for Episode 4. Riot also included a much-needed repair to the map Icebox. You can read more of the patch notes on Valorant’s official website.
What do you think about these adjustments? Will Yoru finally be a meta agent? Let us know in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times. Â
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