Key Highlights
- New TDM map Drift added featuring isolated lanes.
- Gekko receives buffs for reclaiming abilities.
- Skye’s Trailblazer concuss revised with nerfs.
- Fixes for scoring issues and pre-round spawning.
- Closes out successful 2023 content year for Valorant.
Valorant 7.12 Patch Notes
| Category | Agent Updates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| GEKKO | Reclaim for Dizzy (E), Wingman (Q), and Thrash (X) | Reduce reclaim channel time from 2s to 1s |
| Dizzy (E) | Pre-fire targeting delay decreased from 0.5s to 0.35s | |
| Missile speed increased from 7000 to 10000 | ||
| SKYE | Trailblazer (Q) | Camera movement is disabled during the leap. |
| When Trailblazer is destroyed during the leap, no longer causes a concuss explosion. | ||
| Trailblazer plays the destruction voice line when destroyed during the leap. | ||
| Trailblazer explosion now concusses allies as well as enemies. | ||
| MAP UPDATES | Drift | Joins the roster of Team Deathmatch maps. Features long-range mid, isolated side lanes, and exciting ways to swap lanes. |
| PERFORMANCE UPDATES | Raw Input Buffer | Beta tag removed. Default value changed from off to on. Existing setting values will not be impacted. |
| PLAYER BEHAVIOR UPDATES | Implemented Party Invite Codes for generating invite codes to join the same party. | |
| BUG FIXES (Agent) | Fixed a bug where kills would not be awarded while controlling an ability for Sova, Gekko, and Cypher. | |
| When KAY/O is downed during NULL-CMD (X), the red portrait now shows for everyone in the game. | ||
| BUG FIXES (Player Behavior) | Fixed an issue where, in rare cases, someone would spawn in the next round after being detected AFK, preventing the pistol round bonus for their teammates. | |
| BUG FIXES (Premier) | Fixed an issue in Overtime Voting where the “Waiting for Opponents” message appears behind the voting team. |
The final Valorant update of 2023 arrives as version 7.12, delivering a new Team Deathmatch map alongside impactful Agent tuning. The patch shakes up the abilities of both controller Gekko and initiator Skye heading into the new year.
Players can also check out special isolated sightlines on fresh battleground Drift as a parting gift for dedicated fans.
Gekko Gets Buffed
Gekko receives two key buffs targeted at amplifying his unique mechanic of reclaiming deployed sentinels for repositioning. The channel time to pull equipment back now only takes 1 second instead of 2 across the board. This facilitates more versatile rotations in fast-paced matches. Additionally, Gekko’s concussive Dizzy turret activates and fires at threats faster once placed for increased reliability.
Contrasting these controller improvements, popular initiator Skye faces adjustments walking back some power in her disruptive Trailblazer camera tool. The camera now locks forward when leaping for the wolf drone’s burst move, forcing more deliberate aim rather than spinning across the map.
Enemies who destroy the camera mid-flight also avoid its concussion effect as a reward for properly timing counter play. And the disorient blast now impacts allies as well, mandating coordinated timing amongst Skye’s own team.
Beyond the hero tweaks, Episode 7’s final patch solves some nagging scoring bugs that failed to award ability kills correctly. Spawn timing errors before pistol rounds also get eliminated to ensure proper match flow and prevent unfair bonuses.
Information on the New Drift Map
The new map features a variety of locations including open fields, narrow corridors, and rooftops. This allows players to utilise different strategies and weapons. There are also environmental hazards that players can use to their advantage which will be a welcomed addition.
- The small size forces close-quarters combat, ideal for shotguns, SMGs, and knives
- The map is designed to be fast-paced and action-packed
- Inspired by the Japanese island of Okinawa, it features different biomes like beaches, jungles, and mountains
- It has a vibrant, futuristic aesthetic full of colour
Overall, DRIFT adds variety and emphasises close-quarters combat to the Valorant experience. Its pace and design will appeal to players of all skill levels. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer showcasing the new location at the beginning of this article.
Closing Out a Momentous Year
Patch 7.12 caps off 12 months filled with exciting events, fan requested features and for the most part well received Agents like Harbor and Neon. Controversial additions like mirror using villain Iso stirred debate amongst players, but Riot games committed to frequent balances in response to feedback.
Events like VALORANT GO kept players engaged outside matches with collectors cards and. creative team focused city-based storytelling. Competitive received overhauls crafting structured paths to ascend tier ranks towards coveted Radiant status. Range and queue quality of life player behaviour solutions provided quality solutions.
Looking to 2024, the developers Riot enthusiastically suggest more meta shifting Agent releases on the horizon alongside the first Season spanning episode format unifying competitive content drops rather than disjointed Acts. If they maintain deeply engaging new mechanics and satisfying supplementary activities, the FPS should continue maturing into a multifaceted titan across personality packed gameplay and esports spectacle.
For now, valiant duellists can keep enjoying holiday festivities while mastering 7.12’s champion changes and slick Thailand inspired arena. All signs point towards another tremendous year awaiting around the corner filled with gunplay surprises yet to be unveiled.
Source – PlayValorant.com
About The Author
Stephen is the proud owner of a popular gaming news website GLN, where he provides the latest updates on everything gaming-related. With a passion for video games that dates back to his childhood, Stephen is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with fellow gamers around the world.