In Valorant Patch 9.08, Riot Games is bringing some significant updates that will impact both the competitive meta and casual gameplay. Key changes include adjustments to Gekko’s abilities, updates to Yoru’s fake-out mechanics, and a brand new Team Deathmatch map called Glitch. Alongside these, we’ll also see modifications to the map rotation and important changes to Sunset, a map that has been at the center of some player concerns.

This article will break down the highlights of Patch 9.08, covering everything from agent changes to new map features, ensuring you are prepared for the new competitive landscape.

Gekko’s Abilities Get a Rebalance in Patch 9.08

One of the main focal points of Patch 9.08 is Gekko, an agent whose utility-heavy gameplay has been adjusted to address balance concerns. According to Riot, Gekko’s gameplay has had little downside, with players easily reclaiming his utility and getting overwhelming value from his abilities.

Gekko’s Globules Receive Key Nerfs

Gekko’s globules, which allow him to reclaim utility like Wingman and Dizzy, have been tweaked. The time these globules remain on the ground has been reduced from 20 seconds to 15 seconds, giving players less time to retrieve them. Additionally, the reclaim time has increased from 1 second to 1.5 seconds. This change will make it harder for Gekko players to refresh their utility as quickly and will allow opponents more opportunities for counterplay.

While this tweak won’t drastically alter Gekko’s playstyle, it will make retrieving globules more challenging and introduce more risk when attempting to reclaim them.

Dizzy and Wingman Adjustments

Dizzy, Gekko’s flash-like ability, has also received changes. Its active time has been reduced from 1.5 seconds to 1 second, and the targeting algorithm has been updated to be more reliable. Additionally, when Dizzy flashes an enemy, it will now also blind their mini-map, adding more disruption to the enemy team.

Wingman, another key part of Gekko’s kit, has also had its cone concuss angle increased from 45 degrees to 65 degrees, making it more reliable when stunning opponents. Players often found Wingman’s concuss to be inconsistent, but this wider angle should make it more effective in live gameplay.

Thrash’s Ultimate Cost Increased

Lastly, Gekko’s Thrash ultimate has seen an increase in cost from 7 to 8 points, meaning players will need to work harder to use this powerful ability as often as they used to. Given how frequently Thrash can be used in a round, this adjustment is aimed at making the ultimate less accessible while maintaining its impact.

Yoru’s Fake-Out Improved to Fool More Players

In Patch 9.08, Yoru’s Fake-Out ability is getting improvements to how it interacts with other abilities. This is more of a quality-of-life change, ensuring that Yoru’s decoy can fool more enemies by behaving like a real agent when interacting with specific abilities.

Now, Gekko’s Dizzy, Sova’s Recon Arrow, and other revealing abilities will properly interact with Yoru’s Fake-Out, adding more realism to the decoy. In addition, voice lines will now play when the Fake-Out is revealed, making it even harder for enemies to determine whether it’s Yoru or his clone. Another amusing addition is that Cypher’s Neural Theft will also show Yoru’s decoy, further adding to the confusion.

These changes might not seem significant at first glance, but for Yoru mains, they add more depth to outplaying opponents and setting up mind games.

Sunset Map Gets Major Adjustments

The map Sunset has been a point of contention in the community, mainly due to how certain areas were used to abuse post-plant scenarios. Riot has addressed this by making major changes to the layout and cover options on the map.

Post-Plant Spam on B Site Addressed

One of the most frustrating aspects of playing on Sunset’s B Site was the post-plant spam through the box on B Main. In response, Riot has removed this box and replaced it with two new ones, making it harder for players to rely on spamming through walls during post-plants. This change should encourage attackers to play more on-site rather than falling back to B Main to spam the spike.

More Cover and Angles on Site

In addition to changing the B Main area, the B Site itself has received more cover options, allowing players to hide in multiple locations. This should make it harder for defenders to retake the site and give attackers more chances to hold their ground after planting the spike.

Other parts of the map have also been adjusted, including mid, where a new box has been added to give defenders more cover when contesting mid control.

New TDM Map Glitch Released

Alongside these changes, Patch 9.08 introduces a new Team Deathmatch map called Glitch. This map draws inspiration from a mix of Sunset and Haven, offering players a new environment to test their combat skills in TDM mode.

The design of Glitch is heavily influenced by previous maps, featuring cold, industrial tones and multi-level combat areas. Given the lukewarm reception to previous TDM maps, fans are hoping Glitch provides a more balanced and enjoyable experience.

FAQs About Valorant Patch 9.08

What are the key changes to Gekko in Patch 9.08?
Gekko’s globules now stay on the ground for 15 seconds instead of 20, and the reclaim time has increased from 1 second to 1.5 seconds. Additionally, Dizzy’s active time has been reduced, and Wingman’s stun cone has been widened.

How has Yoru’s Fake-Out been improved in Patch 9.08?
Yoru’s Fake-Out now interacts more realistically with other abilities like Gekko’s Dizzy and Cypher’s Neural Theft, making it harder for enemies to distinguish between Yoru and his decoy.

What are the Sunset map changes in Patch 9.08?
Sunset has seen adjustments to B Site, removing the B Main box to reduce post-plant spam and adding more cover on the site. Mid has also been updated with additional cover for defenders.

The changes introduced in Valorant Patch 9.08 are likely to have a considerable impact on the game’s meta, especially for agents like Gekko and Yoru. With updates to both utility and map design, players will need to adjust their strategies to stay competitive.

For more detailed breakdowns of upcoming patches, head over to Riot’s Patch Notes.