Valorant update 2.06 patch notes: Yoru & Viper buffs, Bucky nerfs
Viper and Yoru fans everywhere will be rejoicing, as Valorant Patch 2.06 is here and, with it, a whole host of buffs to the game’s least-popular Agents. Here’s everything you need to know.
It’s hardly a secret that Valorant’s two most underused Agents are Yoru and Viper. Both have failed to really make an impact both in the professional and casual sphere for numerous different reasons.
However, with Valorant patch 2.06, players who main both Agents are in luck. Riot have made good on their promisesto buff the Japanese Duelist and crazed American scientist,hopefully bringing them into the meta.
Additionally, theBuckyhas received some nerfs after having become one of Future Earth’s most pesky weapons. Check out the full patch notes fromRiotbelow.
Valorant Patch 2.06: Full Patch Notes
AGENT UPDATES
In the wake of Masters we’re introducing some bigger updates to our Agents, with Viper first in line. We looked at a lot of possible changes for her, but ultimately landed on changes that pushed what makes Viper’s play pattern unique and still resonate with her theme. When compared to other Controllers, we want Viper to make big, committed decisions that truly alter the map and how both sides plan around her influence. She should claim ground with force and dare opponents to challenge her. The updates to Toxin should also project more threat on enemies who consider pushing her smoke and will hopefully add a significant bite to her marque Toxic Screen. Paired with a couple other buffs and some new tools for learning and practicing lineups, we’re excited to see if Viper can deliver on the deadly impact she promises while solidifying her spot on our roster.
Toxin (passive)
Poison Cloud (Q)
Toxic Screen (E)
Snakebite (C)
Yoru carries a fantasy that you’ve been excited to see through, but we believe a few restrictions have made it harder to access. Although Yoru is a unique duelist on the roster, both in pace and in playstyle, we think he should still be a strong contender for good compositions and want to ensure the value he offers to his team is more consistent throughout a match.
Blindside (Q)
Dimensional Drift (X)
Nanoswarm (C)
WEAPON UPDATES
We want to focus the Bucky more on it’s actual primary firing mode (left click) and make that the strength you try to optimize when choosing a bucky vs its alternate firing mode (right-click). The right click should be more of a tool you can use when you can’t get into that effective left-click range, or you just need some reliable chip damage. The spreads are reduced on both to increase reliability and smooth the damage curve. The alt-fire’s significant reduction in pellet count is a trade off to being able to extend the range as much as it does for a shotgun.
MODES UPDATES
ESCALATION
We’ve taken a pass on a couple abilities to add depth to their gameplay and create some more dynamic combat situations, as well as added some spicy loadout variations to the mix.
COMPETITIVE UPDATES
QUALITY OF LIFE
What direction did those Raze footsteps come from? Is she moving from in front or behind you? With HRTF on and a pair of headphones, you’ll be able to better pinpoint other players based on certain sounds.
HRTF processing relies on a profile that contains measurements such as head size and ear shape, among other things. This implementation uses a profile based on a single set of measurements, and may not feel natural at first to all listeners depending on how closely the profile matches their own measurements. We encourage users to give HRTF a few tries as it may take some getting used to. Focused ear training outside a high pressure game environment may pay off in better ability to interpret the HRTF processing. We suggest a custom game or training for this! Watch our video demo below.
Competitive
