Source: Official Patch Notes 11.08 (playvalorant.com)
Riot’s ‘VALAPALOOZA’ patch refocuses the game on a healthier dialogue between gunplay and abilities. Expect standardized debuffs, reduced uptime on some signature tools, trimmed ult sizes, and targeted map tweaks that push more on‑site fights.
All Platforms – General Notes
• End‑of‑year balance pass to reinforce round‑to‑round counterplay and strategic adaptation.
• Several abilities standardized (Nearsight, Concuss, Stim effects) to build consistent muscle memory.
• Some large ultimates reduced in size or duration.
Debuff & Stim Standardization (Highlights)
• Nearsight radius unified to ~7m across abilities (e.g., Fade Prowler, Omen Paranoia, Reyna Leer, Skye Seeker).
• Concuss duration generally reduced to ~2.5s (Breach, Gekko, Neon, Astra).
• Stims (Brim/KAY‑O/Reyna Empress) set to consistent values for reload, fire rate, draw, and recovery modifiers.
Agent Updates – Notable Changes
• **Initiators:** Longer cooldowns on signature info tools (Breach Fault Line, Sova Recon, KAY/O knife, Fade Haunt), but stronger flashes to keep entries viable. Some ults trimmed (e.g., Rolling Thunder width, Nightfall effects).
• **Duelists:** Light tuning Neon battery/duration rebalanced; Reyna Leer HP down and Empress aligned to new stim standards; Yoru utility weakened (Gatecrash health down; flash durations normalized; fewer casts during ult).
• **Controllers:** Astra cooldowns up and Fragile/Concuss durations down; Omen smoke CD up but Paranoia speed up (shorter range); Viper initial Decay hit reduced; Brim Stim aligned to standards.
• **Sentinels:** Goal is easier counterplay and sharper identities. Vyse flash/trap counterplay improved and health on deployables reduced; Cypher Spycam is louder/clearer to enemies and Trapwire lethal flow toned; Killjoy Alarmbot HP down and slight reactivation changes; Deadlock and Sage utility cost/health tweaks.
