VALORANT Patch 9.11: Neon Nerfs, Buffs, and Araxys 2.0 Bundle

The final VALORANT Patch 9.11 update for this year has been officially released, and it brings some exciting yet controversial changes. From significant adjustments to agent abilities to the unveiling of the new Araxys 2.0 Bundle, here’s everything you need to know.

Neon Nerfs: Major Adjustments to Her Kit

One of the standout updates in Patch 9.11 is the nerfs to Neon, which may impact her aggressive playstyle significantly. Here’s a breakdown of the changes:

Slides Reduced: Neon’s slides are now reduced from two to one per charge.
Accuracy Change: Sliding will now offer crouching accuracy instead of full accuracy, decreasing her ability to secure kills while moving.
Ultimate Adjustments:
- Points Increased: The cost of her ultimate has been raised from 7 to 8 points.
- Duration Reduced: The duration of her ultimate has been halved from 20 seconds to 10 seconds.

Buffs to Viper: More Lethal Utility

Viper received some much-needed buffs to enhance her utility in gameplay:

Razor Vine Damage: Increased from 6 to 10 damage per tick, making it more threatening to enemies caught in her zone.
Improved Flash Timing: Her flash can now be activated faster after placement, increasing its versatility and effectiveness.

New Ping System: Strategic Changes to Minimap Pings

The ping system has undergone updates aimed at improving team coordination:

Minimap Ping Changes: Minimap pings are now separate from general (normal) pings, allowing for more specific communication.
Ping Restrictions Through Smokes: Pings can no longer pass through smokes, limiting the ability to spam pings on the spike during post-plant scenarios.

Miscellaneous Changes and Bug Fixes

Some smaller updates and fixes include:

Team Deathmatch Update: The Stage 1 Classic Shield has been replaced with a Regen Shield instead of light armor, offering better survivability.
Bug Fixes: Various minor bugs across the game have been addressed to improve overall stability and performance.

Araxys 2.0 Bundle: A Premium Skin Collection

The highly anticipated Araxys 2.0 Bundle is set to release this week, either on Thursday or Friday, depending on your region. The bundle, priced around 8700 VP, includes:

Phantom
Outlaw
Guardian
Sheriff
Konami-Styled Melee: This melee weapon features upgraded animations, adding a touch of luxury to the collection.

Is the Araxys 2.0 Bundle Worth It?

We’ve taken a look into all the new weapon skins added in patch 9.11, and have reviewed them one by one. If you’re interested in taking a look about what we thought, check them out here!

While the melee weapon’s animations stand out, it remains to be seen if Riot will increase its price due to these enhancements.

Frequently Asked Questions About VALORANT Patch 9.11

What are the major changes to Neon in Patch 9.11?

Neon’s slides have been reduced from two to one, and sliding now grants crouching accuracy instead of full accuracy. Her ultimate cost has increased from 7 to 8 points, and its duration is halved from 20 seconds to 10 seconds.

What buffs did Viper receive in Patch 9.11?

Viper’s Razor Vine damage was increased from 6 to 10 per tick, and her flash ability now activates faster after being placed.

How has the ping system changed in VALORANT Patch 9.11?

Minimap pings are now separate from normal pings, and normal pings can no longer pass through smokes, making it harder to spam the spike during post-plant scenarios.