Valorant Patch 4.04 Notes Reveal Major Controller Buffs/Nerfs, Yoru Rework, & Icebox Changes

2 years 1 month ago

After a relatively quiet period of updates since the launch of Episode 4, Valorant’s latest update, Patch 4.04, is a doozy. Today’s patch notes reveal a buff for Brimstone and Omen, while Astra and Viper have been nerfed, which should bring more balance to the game’s pool of controller Agents. Elsewhere, the much-anticipated Yoru rework is finally here, and Icebox, a map that has been loathed for sometime for its one-dimensional design, has undergone a big overhaul.

Here is the full list of patch notes:

Agent Changes

General

● Improved the system used to place abilities at targeted ground locations. This update should make it easier to find valid placement locations in tight spaces. These are the abilities affected:

  • Omen’s Shrouded Step
  • Viper’s pit
  • Chamber’s Trademark and Rendez-vous
  • Every Killjoy ability
  • Yoru’s Gatecrash
  • Sage’s Barrier Orb

Omen

Dark Cover

  • Cooldown decreased 40s >>> 30s
  • Cost increased 100 >>> 150
  • Projectile Speed increased 2800 >>> 6400

Shrouded Step

  • Cost decreased 150 >>> 100
  • Pre teleport delay decreased 1s >>> 0.7s

Paranoia

  • Added forward spawn offset, so players adjacent to Omen are not hit

Brimstone

Sky Smoke

  • Deploy time decreased 2 >>> 1 second
  • Deploy radius increased 5000 >>> 5500
  • Smoke height increased to match other Controllers
  • Stim Beacon Now also applies a 15% speed boost in addition to RapidFire.

Astra

Stars

  • Max Stars reduced 5 >>> 4
  • Cooldown on retrieving a Star increased 14 >>> 25
  • Astra can now pick up placed Stars during the Buy Phase to refund their charge immediately
  • Max distance of Star Placement increased 10000 >>> 30000 to allow her to place Stars across the furthest corners of maps.

Gravity Well

  • Cooldown Increased 25 >>> 45
  • Gravity Well Size Decreased 525 >>> 475
  • Gravity Well no longer affects anyone fully underneath the Gravity Well.

Nova Pulse

  • Cooldown Increased 25 >>> 45
  • Nova Pulse no longer affects anyone fully underneath the Nova Pulse.

Nebula

  • Cooldown Increased 14 >>> 25
  • Nebula cooldowns are now sequential instead of simultaneous
  • Nebula size increased 410 >>> 475

Astral Form

  • While in Astral form, pings are no longer blocked by level geometry that Astra cannot see
  • Astra’s targeting ring in Astral form is reduced to one ring that reflects the now unified size of all her utility
  • Astra’s targeting ring no longer randomly disappears when aiming across some map locations
  • Increased the speed of the overlay that covers Astra’s screen when transitioning in and out of Astral form
  • Fixed an issue where Stars were placed slightly above the location Astra was targeting.

Viper

Fuel

  • Fuel drain increased 50% when Toxic Screen and Poison Cloud are both active.
  • Viper’s fuel bar now turns red when she does not have enough fuel to activate her abilities.

Toxic Screen

  • Cooldown after deactivating increased 6 >>> 8
  • Cooldown timer now starts when her smoke starts dissipating instead of when the deactivation telegraph plays.
  • Deactivation delay decreased 1 >>> .8
  • Toxic Screen now has yellow lights that indicate when it is on cooldown
  • Removed delay on Toxic Screen disabling when Viper is suppressed.
  • Added a unique VO line that plays when her smoke is disabled by suppress.

Poison Cloud

  • Cooldown after deactivating increased 6 >>> 8.
  • Cooldown timer now starts when her smoke starts dissipating instead of when the deactivation telegraph plays.
  • Deactivation delay decreased 1 >>> .8
  • Poison Orb now has a yellow light to indicate when it is on cooldown.
  • Removed delay on Poison Orb disabling when Viper is suppressed.
  • Added a unique VO line that plays when her smoke is disbaled by suppress.

Snake Bite

  • Duration decreased 6.5 >>> 5.5

Yoru

Fakeout

  • Charges reduced from 2 >>> 1
  • Decoy HP: 150
  • Decoy is now a full running version of Yoru and can only be sent running forward
  • Right -click to place a stationary marker for the decoy
  • Reactivate similarly to footsteps to create the decoy that runs forward
  • Upon taking damage from an enemy gun, the decoy winds up, turns towards the enemy mthat shot it, and explodes after a short delay.
  • Enemies within the cone are flashed

Gatecrash

  • Charges increased from 1 >>> 2
  • Cost: 200 Credits
  • Cooldown charge refresh removed, switched back to 2-kill reset
  • Gatecrash can be faked by pressing F, while hovering over the beacon
  • Fake teleport will play audio and portal visuals as if Yoru is attempting to teleport.
  • Time it takes for teleport beacon has decreased 1.5 >>> 0.5 seconds
  • Teleport beacon’s in-game audio while traveling reduced 22.5m>>>12.5m
  • Teleport beacon’s speed has been increased 675 >>> 800
  • Upon activating a fake teleport, the beacon creates a small decal on the floor for 30 seconds to indicate location of the fake teleport

Dimensional Drift

  • Duration increased 8 >>> 10 seconds
  • Yoru is not revealed to enemies
  • Unequip delay time increased 0.6 >>> 1.2 seconds
  • Yoru is now able to cast all utility out of his ultimate
  • Yoru’s footsteps can now be heard within 15m of Yoru’s location
  • Cast delay added upon casting Dimensional Drift, preventing the invulnerability frame on cast

Map Updates

Ascent

● B orb can now be taken from the lower box (previously, you had to double jump up to the box to get it)

Author
Alex Gibson

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