Riot Games released another patch note, Patch Note 10.01, the second of this year. Riot Games kept this update nice and short while introducing some significant changes to the ranked system that may forever change Valorant.
Patch 10.01 brings the newly announced feature Rank Shields to the Competitive Mode, some bug fixes regarding the new agent Tejo, and finally, a slight fix to Bind, where invisible collisions would sometimes obstruct an agent’s abilities in teleport.
Patch Note Highlights (credit from Riot Games)
The Introduction of Rank Shield
Rank Shield
A significant change is coming to competitive Valorant that might change the Rank System forever. This patch introduces a new system that helps players from demoting to lower ranks with the Rank Shield. Now, players in Tier 1 of any rank (e.g., Silver 1, Gold 1) except Radiant will be granted two shields when they hit 0 RR. With rank shield, players now have three chances before downgrading a rank, meaning when you lose a game at 0 RR, you consume a shield. Lose another, and the second shield is gone. Now, you will face demotion to the lower rank if you lose a third time.
These shields only apply in Tier 1, and winning at 0 RR will not replenish them. This change should provide more of a buffer against unfortunate losses and make that climb through the ranks less stressful.
When you log into Valorant, you will find more information about Rank Shield in the game client.
Bug Fixes
Agents:
Tejo
Valorant Agent: Tejo
Beyond the significant competitive update, a large portion of Patch 10.01 focuses on addressing various bugs associated with the newest agent. Here are some critical bug fixes that are coming to Tejo:
- Armageddon Blast Zone Tracking: Players who re-enter Tejo’s Armageddon blast zone after exiting will be correctly registered as Displaced in the Combat Report, providing accurate gameplay insights.
- Guided Salvo Pathing: No more rogue missiles! Guided Salvo projectiles will no longer get stuck in walls when Sage’s Barrier Orb blocks their path.
- Stealth Drone and Nearsight: An exploit allowing Tejo’s Stealth Drone to reveal enemy outlines while under the effects of Nearsight has been resolved. Now, Nearsight works as intended.
- Guided Salvo Smoke Trail: We’ve improved the visuals of Guided Salvo’s smoke trail to prevent it from clipping through thin walls and structures, ensuring a more immersive experience.
- Interaction with Slow Orb: Tejo’s Stealth Drone will no longer be slowed by Sage’s Slow Orb unless it’s inside the ability’s area of effect.
- Missile Damage Zone Visuals: Guided Salvo’s damage radius is now correctly displayed as a sphere instead of a cylinder, accurately representing its impact area.
- Artillery Missile Functionality: Casting Artillery Missile outside the playable map will no longer cause the ability to lose functionality or appear stuck. Tejo’s artillery is now as reliable as his aim.
- Elevation Warning Fix: Guided Salvo will display the correct warning indicator when damaging players at different elevations, ensuring fair play and awareness.
Maps
On the map front, a collision issue on Bind has been resolved. PC players will be happy to know that Premier mode issues such as inconsistent font sizes, lack of mode tooltips, and ineligibility warnings have been fixed.
As for console-specific fixes, a bug where the queue timer overlaps the Leaderboard page has been addressed.
Short But Impactful Changes
While Patch 10.01 was short, Riot Games is ensuring and continuing to innovate in Valorant with the new system Rank Shield, which will certainly help many players. Alongside the Rank Shield, they also introduced some nice changes to Tejo to make him more playable and less buggy for a smoother experience. One thing left is to launch Valorant and experience these changes yourself.
