Valorant: New skin series and balancing: This brings Episode 8 Act III

Since its release in 2020, the shooter Valorant has been a fixture on the international online scene. Of course, for long-term financing, elements such as a battle pass and regular new skin sets should not be missing. Now the development studio Riot Games is delivering Episode 8 Act III.

If you're a keen player of Valorant, you've probably already noticed that the current Battle Pass for Episode 8 Act II ends in a few hours. But Riot Games is of course not sleeping, because Episode 8 Act III: Resistance is already in the starting blocks and brings with it some fresh content and skins.

The most exciting thing for most of you might be the new Mystblüte skin series. This is based on the Japanese cherry blossom sakura. The colorful designs for the weapons Phantom, Sheriff, Operator, Judge and the knife in kunai form are available. With the latter you can look forward to a unique inspect animation, and the finisher also makes an ethereal garden appear.

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Kerwin Atienza, Art Lead at Riot Games, elaborates on the ideas behind the designs: “As with any skin series, we need to maintain competitive integrity while pushing the limits of the experience. Blooming the flowers during gear animation was a challenge because We have a very strict gameplay time frame for the animation and sound. The first variations of the bloom animation looked great, but took too long, making it unclear to the player when the weapon was ready to use. Ultimately, we got the balance right between optics and gameplay, what players can experience when the skin series is released.”

Of course, Episode 8 Act III for Valorant also brings with it a new Battle Pass. This brings numerous rewards for completing levels, including banners While it's hot, On the knife's edge, A charming scoundrel. Plus, the sprays are there Maybe next time, Shaky Wingman, Go Team, Go! and the gun buddies Tactical Kappa, Epilogue: Mini-Mecha and Sleepy Bruno. The offer is rounded off by the skins comet for the Ghost, Vandal and the knife in the form of a sword and the Tacti series-Guardian.

Happening to Episode 8 Act III, Patch 8.08 for Valorant is also in the starting blocks. Among other things, he gives Chamber new voice lines and changes some of the skills of Viper and Cyphe. The official patch notes are as follows:

Cypher

• The update to Cypher's Trap Wire (C) gives enemies more time to counter after it is triggered, while reducing the slow duration gives prisoners a slightly better chance of using movement to avoid death.
  • Trap wire (C)
    • Recharge time increased: 1 sec >>> 2 sec.
    • Trap wire slowdown reduced: 2 sec >>> 1.25 sec

• We've seen that it's common to hide Cypher's “spy camera” (E) in the game room and constantly watch the enemies without them noticing. We've added an audio telegraph for enemies being watched to give a signal to those moving quietly that they're being watched.

  • Spy camera (E)
    • Enemies will now hear an audio loop when actively being observed by Cypher with Spy Camera (E).

viper

• Reducing the total smoke time and reducing the cooldown on reactivation are intended to reduce the overall waiting time and make you better manage your fuel. Increasing the minimum amount of fuel she requires to activate her smoke increases the window of opportunity for enemies to attack her when her fuel runs out.

• Since Poison Cloud (Q) is only available in the buy phase, you'll need to think more carefully about where you use the ability each turn and sharpen its high-influence identity in a very dedicated area.

• If Contamination (C) is reduced to a single charge, Viper will no longer be able to use the ability as often to fill the gaps while her smoke is out, and the importance of fuel management increases. The extended duration ensures that a single charge of Contamination (C) is lethal to all enemies caught in the acid for the entire duration.

We posted this on social media, but we'd like to reiterate that we accidentally made some numeric changes to Viper's fuel in 7.09. For full visibility, you will see three numbers in some of the changes listed below: the first number was before 7.09, the second was after 7.09, and the last is the 8.08 update.

• Toxin Screen (E) and Poison Cloud (Q)
  • Maximum running time for each individual smoke source reduced: 15 seconds >>> 13.5 seconds >>> 12 seconds.
  • Increase in minimum fuel requirement to activate smoke: 20% >>> 30%
  • Smoke reactivation cooldown reduced after unequipping: 8 seconds >>> 5.5 seconds >>> 5 seconds.
• Poison Cloud (Q)
  • Can now only be canceled during the purchase phase.
• Contamination (C)
  • Charges reduced: 2 >>> 1
  • Price increased: 200 >>> 300
  • Duration increased: 5.5 seconds >>> 6.5 seconds.