Valorant Update 9.00 Patch Notes Details Agent nerfs and important bug fixes

Valorant Episode 8 was a memorable chapter for the game. In Act 2, we got a new playable agent in Clove, and recently in Act 3, we were treated to a brand new map, Abyss. While episode 8 was unforgettable, we are now heading into episode 9, act 1. Here you will find the Valorant Update 9.00 Patch Notes detailing agent nerfs, bug fixes, and changes to Premier Mode.

For the first time ever, Riot Games’ multiplayer shooter is available on PS5 and Xbox consoles. It’s only available on console in limited beta format at the moment, but anyone capable of playing on console will experience Episode 9, Act 1 in conjunction with PC players. In addition to being playable on console, Riot announced the Episode 9 Act 1 Premier map schedule, which includes their deadliest map to date, Abyss.

Episode 9, Act 1 starts very soon depending on your region, and Riot has shared the full patch notes for Valorant update 9.00.

Valorant Update 9.00 Patch Notes for Episode 9 Act 1

Below are the Valorant Update 9.00 patch notes for Episode 9, Act 1:

Agent Updates:

All platforms:

• We’ve added new agent chat voice lines including: Phoenix, Harbor, Brimstone, Yoru, Raze, Iso, Sage, Neon, Gekko, Skye, Deadlock, Omen, Kayo, and Reyna.

PC:

ISO:

We’re happy that Iso is more comfortable entering at the front of his team, but we want to increase the thinking and context when Iso activates his Double Tap. This should make the counterplay of breaking his shield or denying Double Tap orbs more effective.

So we’re reducing the duration of his Double Tap buff while also removing the refresh that comes with securing two kills. Iso can now only extend the Double Tap by shooting orbs that appear while the buff is active.

• Press twice): Duration: 20s >>> 12s
  • Deleted Signature Reset

Console:

• Sova’s Owl Drone’s HP is now 100, up from 60.

Competitive Updates

PC:

• Added Abyss to the ranked card pool.

Console:

• Competitive mode comes to console with this patch! Queue up and see if you can climb the ranks and appear on the immortal leaderboards. Good luck on your first run to Radiant!
• Our competitive map pool will start with Abyss, Ascent, Bind, Haven, and Sunset, with new maps gradually added in future patches.

Game System Updates

Console:

• Added a new “Preset Controls” selection screen on first startup before loading into the tutorial
  • You can now choose between our VALORANT-specific controls preset or a more familiar TRADITIONAL console FPS preset as your starting control scheme.
  • You can easily change your preset and customize controls at any time once in-game via the Settings menu.
• Refined audio transitions between Focus and ADS to better reflect the objective state you are transitioning to.
• Reticle presets have been updated to reflect a better variety of usable reticles.
• Updated the Fighter Controls preset so that Crouch is a Hold action instead of a Toggle action.
• Added holistic aim sensitivity slider.
• Added the ability to enter precision mode in the control settings to adjust the sensitivity sliders in increments of 0.1.

Player Behavior Updates

PC:

• In addition to removing zero tolerance terms from text chat, people who repeatedly engage in this behavior will see increased penalties for their transgressions.

Premier Updates

PC:

• Welcome to the path of the Pro!
• Contender teams that earned promotion to Stage E8A3 are in the new Invite division, where completing the stage at a high enough rank will give you the opportunity to advance to a Challengers league.
• The Contender and Invite divisions play a little differently:
  • Strict rematch protection in weekly matches prevents you from facing the same team more than once in a stage.
  • If we are unable to find you a suitable match during the queuing window, you will receive a goodbye. Byes award a match win and 100 points.
  • Losses earn 0 points.
  • The playoff finals are best of 3 games.
  • There are additional restrictions regarding the roster of Contender and Invite Division teams.
• For full details on the new rules in Contender and Invite, check out our updated Everything You Need to Know About Premier article.

Social updates

PC:

• When adding a friend, you can now paste or enter a full Riot ID (including slogan) into the “Riot ID” field and the data will automatically be split between the “Riot ID” and “tagline” fields.

Console:

• We’ve updated the communications menu to make it easier to manage team and group voice on the fly.
• We added voice chat to the Settings page. You can now adapt the behavior of your microphone and your voice settings to your configuration.

Bug fixes

Agent:

• CONSOLE:
  • Fixed an issue with Jett’s Tailwind (diagonal dash) that reduced the length of the dash.

Competitive systems

• CONSOLE:
  • Fixed an issue in Team Deathmatch where you were incorrectly seeing DRAW as the final result in EOG screens.
  • Added specific dashboard screens for Team Deathmatch and Deathmatch

Gaming Systems:

• ALL PLATFORMS:
  • Fixed a particle issue when using ADS on Mystbloom Collection Level 3 and 4.
  • Fixed an issue when releasing Cypher’s Spycam that caused Cypher’s hands to stutter for spectators.
• CONSOLE:
  • Fixed an issue where Focus and ADS sounds were played during transitions.
  • Fixed Exit Game menu persisting while AFK is idling.
  • Fixed an animation bug with the Exit Game menu.

Plans:

• ABYSS:
  • Fixed several unintended boost positions.
  • Fixed bugs allowing players to go under the map.
  • A site cover should now appear correctly in the Omen and Astra smoke targeting world.
  • Fixed an Omen exploit allowing him to pass between spawn barriers.

Social:

• CONSOLE:
  • Fixed an issue where the friends list would sometimes display inaccurate platform information for friends

Known issues

General:

• CONSOLE:
  • When navigating Surrender’s menus, your controls may be locked for an entire round. For this reason, we have chosen to disable the Surrender and Remake menus until we can properly resolve the issue. Draw will remain functional.

First:

• PC:
  • When you change the step in the drop-down list on the leaderboards page, the content does not refresh. To see the precise ranking of past stages, change the stage, then change the division or zone and the content will be updated.
  • The rankings page sometimes doesn’t update and you may see fewer teams than expected. Click another tab in Premier Hub and then return to Leaderboard to resolve the issue.
  • If you are in Contender or Invite and receive a Bye in Weekly Matches, you will not see that match recorded in the Premier Match History tab. You will receive a victory and a First Score of 100 as expected, and this is correctly reflected in the leaderboard.

All Valorant Update 9.00 patch notes for Episode 9, Act 1 are provided via a press release.

For more on Valorant, check out our 18 tips for getting better at the game as well as our guide on how to appear offline if you don’t want some friends to know you’re playing. We also have guides on how to chat with the team, in full and privately, as well as how to add friends.