Valorant Agent Abilities Are Too Strong Compared To Gun Play | AllValorant.gg

Is Valorant Becoming Too Ability-Heavy?

A heated debate has erupted in the Valorant competitive community, with pro players, developers, and fans discussing whether the game is shifting too far from its tactical shooter roots.

This conversation was sparked by Team Vitality’s captain, DSajoof (@DSajoof), who voiced his frustration over the increasing dominance of abilities and utility in Valorant, making gunplay feel less important. His post on X (formerly Twitter) resonated with many in the community, leading to a rare response from Riot’s balance team.

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What Did Sayf Say?

valorant promised gunfights will decide, but recently i just feel so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of util. during chamber meta atleast people got to aim and play traditional shooter, now GL seeing your screen some rounds

— Vitality Sayf (@DSajoof) March 10, 2025

In his viral post, DSajoof expressed his frustration about how utility has taken over the game, making gunfights feel secondary:

“Valorant promised gunfights will decide, but recently I just feel so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of util. During Chamber meta at least people got to aim and play traditional shooter, now GL seeing your screen some rounds.”

He argued that while the Chamber meta had its issues, it at least allowed for clean mechanical duels, whereas today’s meta is increasingly about spamming abilities rather than skill-based engagements.

This post quickly gained traction, drawing reactions from both pro players and casual fans, all debating whether Valorant has strayed too far from its original design philosophy.

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Riot Developer Responds – Balance Team Acknowledges the Issue

For what it's worth the balance team generally agrees with this take – we're investigating ways to make this better but we're too early to commit to any details or get into specifics unfortunately. https://t.co/0YXIRY26tv

— penguin (@penguinVALORANT) March 13, 2025

Surprisingly, Riot Games developer Penguin (@penguinVALORANT) responded to DSajoof’s concerns, admitting that the balance team agrees with the sentiment and that they are actively investigating ways to address the issue:

“For what it’s worth the balance team generally agrees with this take – we’re investigating ways to make this better but we’re too early to commit to any details or get into specifics unfortunately.”

This response confirmed that Riot is aware of the growing dissatisfaction with how utility dominates gameplay, but it also left the community wondering what changes might be coming and how long it will take for adjustments to be implemented.

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Community Reactions – Is Valorant Becoming a Hero Shooter?

The community had a lot to say, with players and analysts sharing their frustration over how abilities impact rounds. One of the most in-depth responses came from ShinyyVAL (@ShinyyVAL), who called for a return to Valorant’s tactical FPS identity:

🔺 Increase weapon spread while jumping & moving significantly
🔺 Reduce the impact of abilities – the game is turning into a hero shooter
🔺 Too many guaranteed kill abilities, forcing constant retakes
🔺 Waylay’s insane dash & recall combo is breaking movement balance
🔺 Ultimate abilities are too strong – reduce their frequency or nerf them

ShinyyVAL specifically criticized Tejo, pointing out that Riot spent multiple episodes nerfing abilities like Killjoy mollies, Viper Orb, and Brim Molly, only to introduce Tejo’s recharging missiles, which are even stronger.

Other community members echoed similar concerns, arguing that:
✔️ Abilities should complement gunplay, not replace it
✔️ Rounds are often decided by utility usage rather than aim or tactics
✔️ Certain agents, like Raze, Breach, and Waylay, force unavoidable engagements

However, some defended the current meta, stating that utility was always part of Valorant’s design and that players need to adapt.

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What Happens Next? Will Riot Make Changes?

With Riot’s balance team acknowledging the issue, there’s hope that changes will be made to scale back the dominance of abilities and refocus gameplay on gun skill.

Potential Changes Riot Could Explore:

✔️ Increase the cooldowns or cost of abilities
✔️ Reduce the frequency or strength of ultimates
✔️ Improve counterplay against heavy utility teams
✔️ Buff gunplay mechanics to give raw aim more value

While no specific updates have been announced yet, it’s clear that Riot is monitoring community feedback closely, and the next few patches could bring adjustments to balance utility and gunplay more effectively.

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Final Thoughts – Will Valorant Return to Its Tactical FPS Roots?

Valorant has always been a unique blend of tactical gunplay and hero-based abilities, but as more agents and stronger abilities get introduced, the balance between skill and utility has come into question.

With pros and casual players raising concerns, Riot will likely need to make adjustments soon to maintain the competitive integrity of the game.

For now, players will have to adapt, but the ongoing discussion could shape the future of Valorant’s balance philosophy.

For more Valorant esports news and game updates, visit AllValorant.gg.

Sources:

• DSajoof (@DSajoof) – Original post discussing Valorant’s utility problem.
• Penguin (@penguinVALORANT) – Riot developer’s response to the debate.

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