Valorant Patch 9.08 All Changes (Gekko Nerf, Yoru Buff) and Rework Sunset

Patch 9.08 for Valorant is now live, bringing significant changes to agents' abilities, maps, and game mechanics. This update features a nerf to Gekko's abilities, a buff for Yoru, and some new tweaks to maps and game modes. Let's take a closer look at the key changes in this patch and how they might impact gameplay in the near future.

Also, after reviewing the patch, you can check out our selection of the best skins for the Vandal and Phantom, as well as the top Knives in VALORANT.

Gekko Nerf: Reduced Ability Duration and Increased Pickup Time

One of the most notable changes in Patch 9.08 affects Gekko, who has become a central figure in recent matches. Several of his abilities have been adjusted to decrease the effectiveness of his orbs and their usage in-game.

• Ability Orb Duration: Gekko’s ability orbs now remain on the ground for a shorter period, reducing the window for players to pick them up and reuse them.
• Increased Pickup Time: The time required to pick up the orbs has increased from 1 second to 1.5 seconds, making it harder to recover them during combat.
• Dizzy Duration Reduced: Dizzy has also been nerfed, with its duration shortened from 1.5 seconds to 1 second, limiting its impact during fights.
• New Dizzy Features: As compensation, Dizzy now temporarily blinds the minimap of affected players. Additionally, Dizzy’s targeting algorithm has been updated to improve reliability in-game.

These changes make Gekko’s abilities less versatile, requiring players to plan their usage more carefully.

Wingman Buff: Increased Stun Angle

Gekko’s companion, Wingman, receives a minor buff in this patch. The stun angle has been increased from 45° to 65°, allowing it to hit a wider area and potentially disorient more enemies. This improvement enhances crowd control, making Wingman even more useful in intense situations like spike planting or defusal.

Additionally, new visual effects have been added when Wingman plants the spike, making it easier to track its actions during crucial moments.

Thrash Nerf: Increased Ultimate Cost

Another major change involves Gekko’s ultimate ability, Thrash. The ultimate now requires 8 points to activate, up from 7, making it harder to charge quickly. This reduces the frequency of Thrash's use in games, potentially forcing teams to rethink their strategies in critical moments.

Yoru Buff: Improved Clone

Yoru is another agent receiving changes in Patch 9.08. His clone, which plays a key role in his deception tactics, now shows all status effects. Previously, certain effects like blinds and debuffs were not visible on the clone, making it difficult to use effectively. Now, the clone will accurately display all impacts, making Yoru’s trickery more effective.

Minor Buffs for Jett and Skye

Though not as significant as the changes to Gekko and Yoru, both Jett and Skye have received slight buffs. In Patch 9.08, Jett’s dash and Skye’s dog can now pass through the window on the Ascent map without losing speed. This change will allow players to execute strategic maneuvers more smoothly on this popular map.

Map Changes: Icebox and Lotus Removed, Split and Pearl Returned | Sunset Reworked

The map pool is being altered once again in Patch 9.08. Split and Pearl are returning to competitive rotation, while Icebox and Lotus are being removed.

Additionally, the recently added map, Sunset, has undergone further changes. The focus has been on B Main, which has been reworked significantly to balance the strength of attackers and defenders. It remains to be seen how these changes will affect player preference and win rates on this controversial map.

New Map for Team Deathmatch Mode: Glitch

For fans of the fast-paced Team Deathmatch mode, Patch 9.08 introduces a new map called Glitch. This map is designed specifically for TDM and offers unique areas for chaotic combat. Glitch is expected to become a favorite for players who enjoy quick and intense battles outside the traditional spike-planting modes.

Weapon Skin Updates: Reduced Distracting Scopes

Another small but important change affects weapon skins, particularly sniper rifles. Several sniper skins have received updates to their scopes, making them less distracting. This quality-of-life improvement will allow players to focus more on their shots and less on visual elements of the scope.

Conclusion

Patch 9.08 for Valorant brings numerous changes that will significantly impact gameplay. Gekko’s nerf, particularly the reduction in his ability duration and the increased pickup time, is a major adjustment, especially since Gekko has become a common pick at higher ranks. This could potentially lead to Fade making a comeback in the meta as an alternative to Gekko. Yoru’s buff, specifically the improvements to his clone, makes him a more effective trickster on the battlefield. The map rotation changes have been highly anticipated by players, and it will be interesting to see how Pearl and Split affect the meta in Valorant. The addition of a new map for Team Deathmatch mode offers players fresh terrain to explore. As always, it will be exciting to watch how these changes play out in professional matches and for regular players alike.