VALORANT Patch 10.09: Tejo nerfs, Gift buffs, and more

Riot Games has dropped Patch 10.09 for VALORANT, and it’s one of the more impactful updates in recent memory. From long-requested agent adjustments to improvements in gifting and Swiftplay mode, the patch touches nearly every corner of the game. Here's a breakdown of what’s new and what it means for your next match.

Tejo Takes a Hit

After weeks of dominating ranked and pro play, Tejo finally receives a nerf that looks to bring his impact back to a more balanced state. Riot acknowledged that the agent’s rockets from Guided Salvo were enabling him to swing rounds too easily with minimal risk.

Guided Salvo Adjustments

The devs are keeping the ability strong for space-clearing, but are increasing the commitment needed to make it effective.

• Cooldown removed
• Cost: 150 credits per rocket
• One free charge each round
• Map Targeting Range reduced from 55m to 45m

This means Tejo mains will need to think twice before launching rockets mindlessly, requiring more skill and precision.

Utility Economy Rebalanced

• Stealth Drone also sees a price hike from 300 to 400 credits, making it one of the more expensive recon tools in the game.
• Special Delivery is now cheaper at 200 credits.
• His ultimate, Armageddon, has been bumped from 8 to 9 ult points, putting it on par with other high-impact ults like Brimstone’s Orbital Strike.

Small Breach Nerf

Breach receives a subtle tweak to make his stuns feel more fair. The time it takes for Fault Line to detonate has been increased from 1 to 1.2 seconds, giving players more opportunity to escape or counterplay if they’re near the edge of the ability's range.

Swiftplay Mode Adjustments

One of the biggest pain points in Swiftplay has been how hard it is to earn ultimates in such a short game. Patch 10.09 addresses that by increasing starting ultimate points for high-cost ultimates.

• Breach’s Rolling Thunder: 2 → 3
• Killjoy’s Lockdown: 2 → 3
• Viper’s Pit: 2 → 3

These adjustments should give players a better chance to activate their ultimates during a Swiftplay half and make high-cost ults more viable.

More Gifting Possibilities

In a feel-good quality-of-life update, Riot is increasing the gifting limit from 5 to 10 gifts per day, starting May 15. This change coincides with the arrival of the Give Back // V25 Collection, the latest charity-driven bundle. Now you can send more cosmetics to your friends - and support a cause while you're at it.

Bug Fixes and Visual Tweaks

A handful of bugs were addressed in this patch, particularly around cosmetics:

• A fix to Kill Banners for skins like Oni and Evori Dreamwings now ensures they appear at normal size after the first kill.
• A previously patched bug in the Bolt skinline - which caused overly bright glowing effects - has been reverted, as testing showed no significant risk to photosensitive players. Riot is keeping it in as a fun little Easter egg.

Known Issues Still in the Game

Despite the slew of fixes, a few problems are still on Riot’s radar:

• A new issue with Bolt skins causes them to glow too brightly, potentially affecting gameplay and posing a risk to photosensitive players. This will be addressed in Patch 10.11.
• A strange bug with Omen’s Dark Cover allows dead allies to see through Viper’s Pit or similar nearsight effects. This is expected to be resolved in Patch 10.10.

Final Thoughts

Patch 10.09 tackles Tejo’s dominance and shifts VALORANT toward a more tactical meta with greater emphasis on decision-making. These updates reflect Riot’s ongoing response to community feedback, offering improvements for both competitive and casual players. Plus, expect fewer of Tejo’s game-changing rockets flying your way.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games