Riot Games is gearing up for Patch 9.10, the one that is going to reshuffle the game in which players prepare for every match. Focusing on an exciting set of information about a new innovative Shield, and many tweaks to popular agents, strategies are going to be shaken up, and gameplay dynamics are going to truly raise the bar. Check it out!
Patch 9.10 Release Date
Something the players want to follow up is the timing of Valorant patches because any patch can provide a change that may actually influence their strategies and in-game styles. Following Patch 9.09, which will roll out on November 5, 2024, Patch 9.10 will be released on November 19, 2024. On that note, the next major patch in the cue is Patch 9.11, which should drop on December 10, 2024.
Major Changes in Patch 9.10
- Agent Updates
The most highlighted feature in Patch 9.10 will be the wave of updates to so many agents and most importantly, Phoenix and Gekko.
Phoenix
His Blaze ability will now penetrate walls, meaning he can make fire barriers and strategize on using them even if the enemy is behind cover.
Phoenix’s Hot Hands has transformed from a signature skill to a general ability, fundamentally changing how players utilize it in matches. Before, Hot Hands recharged after two kills, meaning it could be used more frequently in fights. With the upcoming update, it will no longer enjoy the recharge benefit.
Another aspect is the integration of Phoenix’s Curveball as a signature skill, which auto-recharges after two kills. That change alone would be a good enough justification for aggressive playstyle due to rewarding players who can work well with their opponents while using this ability.
Gekko
Gekko’s Thrash ultimate ability will be rebalanced, with the activation cost increasing by one point, and it will turn from seven to eight ultimate points.
Apart from this rebalance, Riot Games slightly hinted at the potential future changes of the other Gekko’s abilities: Dizzy and Wingman. This information is not explicitly disclosed, but anticipation suggests that the developers are working on increasing the general functionality and reliability of such abilities.
- New Armor Type
The introduction of the Regen Shield is likely to affect gameplay dramatically and also cause players to rethink their approach in casual and competitive matches.
The Regen Shield can be pretty useful in a long battle where the player has depleted health but still needs to stay in the battlefield. Regen Shield tops off at 75 HP total shielding and draws from a pool of only 50 points to regenerate. This implies that even though they may regain some or all of their lost armor, players will need to be strategic in how they engage into battle.
New Map Pool
Fresh off the presses, major changes concerning the competitive map pool are coming in Patch 9.10. In this respect, the maps currently being used in rotation include Abyss, Ascent, Bind, Haven, Sunset, Pearl, and Split. Contrary to that, the maps to be removed from rotation include Icebox and Lotus.
Conclusion
As Patch 9.10 drops into the battlefield on 19th November, Valorant hangs in the balance, ready to take off on an electrifying new journey. Get ready for the ride with full surprises! But to cut right through it, this patch is about setting the new benchmark not only for different styles of play for individual players but also setting a new way teams strategize together; that’s enough for you to start waiting!