The world of VALORANT is dynamic, with Riot Games consistently introducing patches to ensure gameplay remains engaging, balanced, and competitive. The recent unveiling of Patch 7.04 has certainly made waves in the community. While some players have embraced these updates, others, including professionals, have expressed reservations. FNATIC’s Derke, in particular, has shared some candid thoughts on the patch. Let’s delve into the updates in detail and explore the professional perspective.
Patch 7.04 Highlights:
Emphasis on Game State Clarity: The primary goal of this patch is to enhance gameplay clarity, especially during intense moments. This is achieved by:
- Reducing the frequency of large area of effect ultimates.
- Decreasing the duration of utility active time.
- Reducing the HP of shootable utility.
Detailed Agent Changes:
- BREACH: Aftershock ticks reduced from 3 to 2 with damage increased from 60 to 80. Rolling Thunder ultimate points increased from 8 to 9.
- BRIMSTONE: Orbital Strike ultimate points increased from 7 to 8.
- FADE: Time to re-equip gun increased after using Prowler.
- GEKKO: Mosh Pit now does 10 damage per second before exploding. Wingman’s HP reduced from 100 to 80. Thrash explosion visuals improved for clarity.
- KILLJOY: Lockdown ultimate points increased from 8 to 9.
- OMEN: No movement velocity when casting Paranoia.
- SKYE: Guiding Light’s max duration while casting reduced from 2.5s to 2s. Trailblazer’s HP reduced from 100 to 80. Seekers’ ultimate points increased from 7 to 8, with health decreased from 150 to 120.
- SOVA: Recon Bolt’s total number of scans reduced from 3 to 2.
- VIPER: Viper’s Pit ultimate points increased from 8 to 9.
- ASTRA: Gravity Well’s startup time increased from 0.6s to 1.25s, with gravity time duration decreased from 2.75s to 2.0s. Nova Pulse’s startup time decreased from 1.25s to 1.0s. Cosmic Divide now completely blocks audio.
- JETT: Tailwind’s dash window decreased from 12s to 7.5s with activation windup increased from 0.75s to 1s. Cloudburst’s duration decreased from 4.5s to 2.5s. Updraft charges decreased from 2 to 1. Blade Storm’s ultimate points increased from 7 to 8.
Derke’s Take on Patch 7.04:
FNATIC’s Derke has been vocal about his concerns regarding the new patch:
- Drastic Changes: Derke humorously compares the agent balancing team to the VCT scheduling team, suggesting that both might be making too many changes simultaneously.
- Incremental Changes vs. Overhauls: He advocates for smaller, more incremental changes, fearing that massive adjustments might risk sidelining certain agents.
- Variety in Gameplay: Derke emphasizes the importance of variety in agent selection for gameplay. He feels the current changes might limit this diversity.
- Overlooking Agents: He points out that some agents, like Phoenix, seem to have been overlooked in the recent balance changes.
Conclusion:
Patch 7.04 is a testament to Riot’s commitment to refining VALORANT. While the intentions behind the patch are clear, its execution has garnered mixed reactions, especially from the pro community. As the patch rolls out and players adapt, it will be intriguing to see how these changes influence gameplay dynamics and strategies. The VALORANT community, as always, will be on its toes, ready to navigate this ever-evolving landscape.
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