Valorant has fared incredibly well since undergoing an official launch earlier in June. Even during its closed-beta phase, the game became the talk of the town. Such is the appeal of the seamless gameplay and unique character designs on offer.

With millions across the world hoping on to Valorant every day, the devs are nurturing their creation with frequent updates. Today, June 23, Riot Games announced the 1.02 patch update for its 5v5 tactical shooter, introducing a plethora of changes.

Perhaps the biggest revelation is the much-anticipated re-emergence of Competitive mode. A new feature provides an option for early surrender. Although Ranked play returns with this patch, it will go live later.

The update has adjusted the slowing effect players encounter when hit by bullets, known as tagging. This tweak will increase the chances of escaping while under fire. Additionally, numerous map locations have also received changes to provide players with more clearing angles for certain spots.

Other than that, there are plenty of adjustments for Agents, weapons, and game modes, among others. We will list out all the significant changes coming to Valorant. For a detailed breakdown of Riot Games’ motive behind the changes, you can read the full patch notes for update 1.02.

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Agent updates in Valorant 1.02 patch

Viper is the recipient of the most significant improvements. Jett, Reyna, and Cypher also received some minor tweaks.

VIPER

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• Toxic Screen now burns through walls, placing emitters at all valid locations (e.g., the ground) over its length.
• Snake Bite, taking damage will make a player fragile for a short time. Fragile is a debuff that increases damage taken.

Note: the total damage is unchanged (the damage is lowered, but fragile increases it – it all evens out)

• Poison Orb activation cooldown increased: .5s >>> 6s

JETT

• Blade Storm now refreshes when used to kill Phoenix during Run It Back.

REYNA

• Soul Orbs are now spawned when Reyna kills Phoenix during Run It Back.

CYPHER

• Fixed an issue where Spycamblocked Spike defusal.
• Fixed an issue where players could place a Cyber Cage on a Trapwire.
• Added prevention for Spycamgoing through teleporter doors on Bind when placed on the frame from the outside.

SMOKE TUNING

•  Adjusted tuning around screen effects when exiting and entering smokes.
•  Decreased blind “falloff” value.
• Decreased nearsighted intensity.

Weapon updates

Bucky (right-click)

• Crouch-walking accuracy: 3.45 >>> 4.1
• Walk accuracy: 6.4 >>> 4.4
•  Run Accuracy: 3.5 >>> 6.4

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Valorant patch 1.02 adds Competitive mode

Competitive mode was first introduced during the closed-beta phase. However, the ranked mode didn’t make the cut with the official launch of Valorant. The developers mainly focused on making it more stable and gave new players the courtesy of getting the hang of the dynamic gameplay. With all that accomplished now, ranked play will be made available once again, during this patch.

Some changes have been incorporated since the closed-beta variant. The developers have updated rank iconography and picked a new name for the topmost rank, Radiant. Earlier, it was called Valorant, the same name as the game. Apart from that, the Competitive mode will have expanded skill disparity range for playing with friends in rank placements.

Map updates

The patch has adjusted numerous locations across several maps. These changes bring a more straightforward approach to clearing/securing angles.

Haven

• Garage Doors
• Entrance to C Long on Attacker Side
• Cover in A Lobby restructured to open up the space which allows for additional sight lines and traversal options
• C Link
• A Link
• The Entrance to A Sewer and the bottom of A Sewer

Ascent

• Defender spawn entrance
• Attacker side of A Main (Including a self-boost to gain an additional angle to peek A Main as an attacker)
• Garden entrance

Bind

• A Bath entrance
• B Teleporter Exit and B Window entrance

Split

• Defender Spawn

Collision and Nav Mesh (playable terrain) improvements were also made.

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Battlepass adjustments

• Added Battlepass text button in the nav to make it easier to find.
• Added small progress bar below text that shows progress for current level of the pass.
• Hovering Battlepass in the nav shows a “peek” flyout of upcoming pass rewards.
• Clicking either goes to a new Battlepass section.

Quality of life improvements in Valorant

Patch 1.02 has added an option for Early Surrender. It will enable players to opt-out of a match before its completion if they don’t want to continue playing. Here are the necessary procedures:

• You can call an early surrender vote by typing: “/ff” “forfeit” “concede” or “surrender”.
• An early surrender vote requires all present players on the surrendering team to vote ‘yes’ to pass.
• You can vote via “/yes” or “/no” along with the settings F5 and F6 (defaults).
• Each team can only call a vote once per half.
•  Early surrender votes cannot be called before reaching round 8.
• Once a vote is called the vote option will be queued to vote on for the next round, or if you call the vote early enough in the buy phase you can vote immediately.
• The winning team gets round win credit for every round necessary to bring them up to the victory condition (13 rounds). The surrendering team will get loss credit for every round necessary to bring them up to 13 rounds.
• Added a setting that to allow players to permanently mute text from enemy players.

Update to Tagging

Tagging is the slowdown effect players experience when hit by enemy fire. Update 1.02 has reduced the effect of tagging on movement speed:

• Tagging Movement Speed Reduction (Standard) 80% >> 70%
• Tagging Movement Speed Reduction (Wall Penetration) 35% >> 25%
• Increased the time it takes to reach desired slow amount when tagged by 100%

Mode updates in Valorant

Spike Rush

Spike Rush has a new type of orb known as the Tracer Orb.

• Team-wide buff that grants 2x wall penetration and reveals enemies for .75s when they are hit
• Duration: Entire round

Speed Boost changed to Combat Stim.

• Movement speed and durations unchanged.
• Reload time decreased by 30%
• Weapon draw time decreased by 30%
• Spread recovery time decreased by 30%
• Rate of Fire increased by 30%
• Jump force increased by 25%

Plague Orb now shares a pool with Paranoia Orb.

• Only one of these will be chosen per game.
• Only one Plague Orb can spawn per round.
• Health reduction decreased from 90 to 50.

Deception Orb now shares a pool with Plague Orb.

• Only one of these will be chosen per game.
• Only one Deception Orb can spawn per round.
• Duration decreased from 10s to 8s (now matches Plague Orb).
• Tunnel vision decreased by 20% (meaning you see more on your screen).

Practice Mode

• Reyna: Killing practice bots now properly spawns Soul Orbs.
• Jett: Killing practice bots now properly refreshes Blade Storm.

Changes to Contracts & Agents section

• Moved Agents section out from under Collection to make it easier to find and to provide a home for contract progress in the nav.
• Added small progress bar below text that shows progress for current level of the active contract.
• Hovering Agents in the nav shows a “peek” of upcoming contract rewards.
• Clicking Agents goes to the Agents section, and clicking the contract flyout navigates to Agents and opens the associated contract details.
• Removed secondary navigation from Collection view since Agents no longer lives there and the navigation is no longer needed.

Along with all the categories of changes mentioned above, Valorant patch 1.02 implemented several HUD & UI improvements, performance adjustments, as well as numerous bug fixes. You can read them in the full patch notes by clicking here.