Complete Overview of Weapon Adjustments in VALORANT Patch 11.08

Weapons have long been a fundamental aspect of VALORANT, with abilities serving a supportive role in securing victories. However, as players have honed their skills, weapon dynamics have taken a backseat. With the arrival of Patch 11.08, Riot Games aims to shift the focus back to firearms.

This patch is part of the «gunplay first» initiative where adjustments to VALORANT’s weaponry will enhance shooting mechanics and reward skillful play. Below are the updates to expect in the upcoming Patch 11.08.

Weapon Updates in VALORANT Patch 11.08

Launching with Act Six on October 15, Patch 11.08 will introduce various adjustments to rifles and SMGs, designed to enhance the overall combat experience. The goal of these modifications is to ensure that each weapon’s unique strengths and weaknesses are acknowledged, making them viable options depending on different scenarios and economic states during rounds.

Significant weapon updates are on the way. Image from Riot Games

Before delving into the specifics, let’s first discuss Yaw Switch and Protected Bullets, the primary components targeted for improvement in this update.

Understanding Yaw Switch

In VALORANT, players may have experienced unexpected shifts in their aim when spraying, known as Yaw Switch, caused by horizontal recoil. This can complicate the ability to anticipate and manage the recoil pattern, and Patch 11.08 seeks to enhance this aspect. Yaw Switch operates on three key elements:

Yaw Switch time: This setting dictates the speed at which the horizontal recoil direction shifts from left to right (or vice versa). A longer Yaw Switch time means players have more time to stabilize their aim.
Percentage chance of Yaw Switch: This reflects the likelihood of Yaw Switch occurring; a lower percentage indicates better recoil control.
Protected Bullet count: This refers to the number of shots that can be fired before Yaw Switch is triggered, indicating how many rounds can be sprayed reliably.

Patch 11.08 enhances the Yaw Switch time for several weapons while balancing it with the percentage chance. The intention is to allow players to choose varied shooting styles–like tapping, spraying, and bursting–rather than favoring a single approach. Until now, tap shooting has been the most accurate method, but Riot wants to encourage flexibility across different styles according to the situation at hand.

Now, here are the specific changes you can expect after Patch 11.08 is implemented.

Rifle Changes in VALORANT Patch 11.08 (PC Only)

The Vandal and other rifles are set for adjustments. Image from Riot Games

Bulldog

Yaw switch time extended from 0.37 to 0.6 seconds, enhancing recovery time before switching occurs.
Yaw Switch occurrence chance increased from 6% to 10% to balance the extended switch time.

Vandal

Yaw switch time extended from 0.37 to 0.6 seconds.
Yaw Switch occurrence chance increased from 6% to 10%.
Protected bullet count increased from 6 to 8, letting players spray up to 8 rounds without recoil issues.

Phantom

Yaw switch time extended from 0.37 to 0.6 seconds.
Yaw Switch occurrence chance increased from 6% to 10%.
Protected bullet count raised from 4 to 6.

SMG Changes in VALORANT Patch 11.08 (PC Only)

The Spectre has received improvements. Image from Riot Games

Patch 11.08 aims to showcase the Spectre’s advantages over the Stinger in specific contexts. The Spectre benefits from improved horizontal recoil control, better tap efficiency, and reduced spread. While the Stinger’s spread has been improved, its vertical recoil curve is now more aggressive.

Spectre

Overall spread reduced from 1.5 to 1.4.
Tap efficiency boosted from 2 to 3.
Yaw switch time increased from 0.18 to 0.28 seconds.
Protected bullet count raised from 4 to 5.

Stinger (Full Auto mode)

Overall spread reduced from 1.5 to 1.4 seconds.
Total spread now accumulates more quickly, from 7 to 6 bullets.
Vertical recoil curve is more pronounced, although total recoil remains unchanged.

Console-Only Weapon Updates in VALORANT Patch 11.08

The console version of VALORANT will experience slightly different weapon updates due to platform specifications. The changes will be less extensive compared to the PC version.

Here’s what console players can anticipate on Xbox and PlayStation:

Spectre