The VALORANT 9.06 patch has arrived, and while it may not include the headline changes to agents, ranks, or maps expected in patch 9.08, it still brings some noteworthy updates, especially to player behavior and communications.
Although there are no drastic gameplay adjustments, this patch focuses on improving the overall player experience, especially around communication abuse penalties and the introduction of a blocking feature.
Key Changes in VALORANT 9.06
1. Agent Ability Updates:
- Certain agent abilities like Phoenix’s Blaze and Neon’s Fast Lane will now break the glass window on Ascent if the cast point hits the window directly. However, the walls themselves won’t interact with it.
- Harbor’s High Tide will no longer break the window.
- Abilities like Chamber’s Trademark, Cypher’s Trapwire, and Killjoy’s Lockdown will also no longer break windows when placed too close.
2. Communication Abuse Penalties:
- Riot Games is introducing stricter penalties for communication abuse. Players engaging in repeated toxic behavior will now face increased penalties, following a manual behavior evaluation. This is aimed at creating a more positive in-game experience for everyone.
3. New Blocking Feature:
- A significant social update allows players to block communication with others. Once blocked, players will no longer see or hear any messages, voice communications, or receive friend/party invites from the blocked individual.
Complete VALORANT 9.06 Patch Notes
Agent Updates:
- Phoenix, Neon, and Harbor’s abilities interacting with the Ascent window has been tweaked for better gameplay balance.
- Brimstone’s Orbital Strike and Vyse’s Steel Garden audio cues have been updated, giving players a directional indicator of the attack’s origin.
Gameplay System Updates:
- Voting systems no longer consider AFK players for draw votes.
Map Updates:
- Improvements to the placement of Vyse’s Arc Rose and Cypher’s Trapwire on crates in Haven.
Player Behavior:
- Stricter comms abuse penalties to punish toxic behavior and improve the player communication environment.
- Players can now block others entirely, cutting off all forms of communication from them.
Social Updates:
- The voice chat system has been improved for better reconnection after unexpected disconnects.
Weapon Updates:
- Players can now see Weapon Skin names when switching weapons, helping you know what skin you’re using in-game.
Bug Fixes:
- Numerous fixes to agents like Deadlock, Cypher, Gekko, Breach, Sova, and others to address gameplay issues.
- Fixes for Vyse’s Razorvine and Shear to ensure smooth gameplay and prevent visual or collision glitches.
PC-Specific Updates:
- New player tips have been added for new accounts, which can be toggled in settings.
Console-Specific Updates:
- Final legacy map Fracture has been added to Unrated and Swift Play queues for console players, completing the current map catalog for console mode.
Conclusion
The VALORANT 9.06 patch primarily addresses communication issues, introducing new penalties and blocking options to improve the player experience. While there aren’t massive gameplay changes, this update focuses on making the community healthier and fixing bugs to ensure smoother gameplay across both PC and consoles.