VALORANT’s First Update Since Release Nerfs Sage

RIOT Games have updated VALORANT to version 1.01. In the first update since the game’s release, the developers nerfed Sage, adjusted Spike Rush and improved overall performance.

In the only balance change of the update, RIOT have halved the range of Sage’s ability Barrier Orb from 20 to 10 meters. The developers commented that the previous range allowed the agent to easily take control of new areas, while her role – Sentinel – is about excelling in defending territory. They also mentioned that this change does not mean that the developers are going to nerf all healers in the game.

The game’s more casual game mode – Spike Rush – has received thee new orb types. One of them – Health Orb – grants health regeneration to all teammates. The other one – Deception Orb – reduces the opponents’ vision and makes them to hear fake footsteps and gunfire. The final new orb is called Golden Gun, which grants capturing player a gun that one-shots enemies and has a perfect accuracy. The gun allows moving at a knife speed and has one bullet in chamber and two backup rounds, with each kill providing additional round. Each game in Spike Rush will now have 5 orbs – there will always be one Full Ultimate Orb, while the rest of them will be randomly selected.

The update should also increase performance on high-end PCs, particularly during combat. Lower spec machines may also benefit from the changes. To get more information on the update, head over to the official website.

VALORANT was launched last week with a new agent Reyna and a new game mode Spike Rush.