Valorant patch 5.01 notes: KAY/O, Phoenix & Yoru updates, Smurf Detection changes
Riot GamesValorant update 5.01’s patch notes are here, and the update brings plenty of changes to the game. Here’s all you need to know.
Valorant will see a plethora of new changes to its agents and gameplay as part of Valorant 5.01’s patch notes. This includes a Phoenix buff, KAY/O & Yoru balance, gameplay changes, bug fixes, and more.
This patch drops on July 12, 2022, and here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming changes in the game.
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Riot GamesValorant 5.01 patch notes
As we mentioned earlier, Valorant update 5.01 brings quite a few changes. This includes agent balancing of the likes of Phoenix, KAY/O, and Yoru along with an updated ‘smurf’ detection system.
Apart from that, certain bugs related to gameplay and agents have also been fixed, ensuring a seamless experience for the players.
Here’s a rundown of everything included with the Valorant 5.01 patch, as per Riot Games.
Agent Updates
Phoenix
We believe Phoenix’s Curveball is the cornerstone of his kit, and as we explored adjustment options it became clear that Curveball being more powerful unlocks his kit as a whole. So we wanted to assess Phoenix in a world where Curveball is more competitive with the rest of the ecosystem to get a sense for the impact of the changes. We view Phoenix as an aggressive entry Agent, so the additional Run It Back and Blaze changes are intended to support his proactive intentions when taking space or fights early on into rounds.
Curveball (Q)
- Flash Max duration increased 1.1s >>> 1.5s
- Flash Windup decreased .7s >>> .5s
Blaze (C)
- Phoenix will now equip his weapon earlier if he stops bending his wall
Run it Back (X)
- Phoenix will now spawn at the marker with the amount of shields he had when the ability was cast.
Yoru
We’ve noticed you Yoru players having a bit of friction achieving the dream of setting up a master plan while in ultimate. We’re hoping these changes will reduce a bit of that problem, rewarding you for using your flash during ultimate, while still preventing unhealthy play patterns that leave enemies without counterplay.
Dimensional Drift (X)
- Increased duration of ultimate 10s >>> 12s
- Reduced unequip time 1.2s >>> 0.8s
KAY/O
KAY/O hasn’t had much of a quality of life pass since we’ve last had some changes so we wanted to reduce some pain and help you access more parts of the kit that haven’t felt as accessible.
FRAG/ment (C)
- Zone diameter reduced 10m >>> 8m
- Damage now applies without needing line of sight
- We’ve noticed a lot of inconsistencies with how the FRAG/ment is communicating the actual damage zone on the ability. We wanted to be consistent with how the visuals were showing the damage zone, so we’ve removed the line of sight requirement to apply damage.
NULL/cmd (X)
- Now, only allies will hear the full channel audio of reviving KAY/O, while downed
- Enemies will only hear a short audio cue when the revive has started, matching a similar gameplay pattern to playing around ultimate orbs or tapping the bomb
Gameplay Systems changes in Valorant 5.01 patch notes
- New Smurf Detection functionality (North America)
- This addition to our smurf detection systems is designed to make sure that new players (that means all new accounts) are matched up with players of the correct skill level, much faster than before.
- We’re testing this change in North America first, to make sure everything is working correctly before a global rollout.
- Testing begins the week of July 11th, 2022
- Improved collision behavior when walking next to or behind another player.
- This should heavily reduce the amount of jitteriness experienced when moving close to your allies (rushing a site as a group or moving out of spawn should feel better!).
Game Modes
- Twin Hunters in Spike Rush will now damage destructible walls
Performance Updates
- Fixed an issue where having the Raw Input Buffer setting enabled caused scrolling in chat or friends list to go directly to the top or bottom
Bugs
Performance
- Fixed an issue where having the Raw Input Buffer setting enabled caused scrolling in chat or friends list to go directly to the top or bottom
Yoru
- Fixed a bug with Dimensional Drift where the invulnerability kicked in later than intended after it was cast.
Sova
- Fixed issue with Sova’s Shock Bolt not damaging enemy traps and other game objects (other than players)
Fade
- Fixed issue where Fade’s Haunt would sometimes reveal enemies that were on the other side of a thin wall
That’s everything included in Valorant update 5.01 patch notes. For more about the game, make sure to check some of our other Valorant content:
How to watch Valorant Champions 2022 | VCT 2022 Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen | All Valorant skin bundles | 5 players to watch at VCT Masters Copenhagen | How many people play Valorant in 2022
