Riot Games has released the latest update for VALORANT, Patch 10.09, which introduces significant changes aimed at balancing gameplay, with a particular focus on reining in the power of the Colombian Initiator, Tejo. Alongside these adjustments, a minor tweak to Breach’s stun ability has also been included, signaling Riot’s ongoing efforts to refine the meta and address community feedback. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the changes in this patch, which went live on May 13, 2025.
Tejo Nerfs Take Center Stage
Since his introduction in January 2025, Tejo has dominated both casual and competitive VALORANT scenes, with his rocket-based abilities, particularly the Guided Salvo, proving overwhelming for opponents. Community outcry, echoed by professional players and casual fans alike, has highlighted how Tejo’s ability to spam rockets from safe distances limited counterplay and created unbalanced scenarios. Riot Games has responded with a comprehensive set of nerfs to bring Tejo more in line with other Initiators like Sova and KAY/O.
The most significant changes affect Tejo’s Guided Salvo, his signature ability:
Charge Mechanics: Previously, Tejo started rounds with two rocket charges that recharged every 40 seconds. Now, he begins with one free rocket charge, with the option to purchase a second for 150 credits. The recharge mechanic has been entirely removed, meaning rockets are a finite resource per round.
Range Reduction: The Guided Salvo’s range has been reduced from 55 meters to 45 meters, forcing Tejo players to position themselves closer to the action and increasing their vulnerability.
Strategic Impact: These changes aim to make rocket usage more deliberate, encouraging players to think critically about when to deploy them—whether for site takes or post-plant scenarios—rather than spamming them freely.
Additionally, Tejo’s other abilities have seen cost adjustments to reflect their tactical value:
Stealth Drone: The price has increased from 300 to 400 credits, aligning it with Sova’s Owl Drone and making it a more significant investment, particularly in pistol and eco rounds.
Special Delivery: This stun ability’s cost has been reduced from 300 to 200 credits, offering a slight buffer for Tejo players to maintain utility in lighter buy rounds.
Armageddon Ultimate: The ultimate now requires 9 points to unlock, up from 8, placing it among VALORANT’s more situational or high-impact ultimates, such as those of Phoenix or Yoru.
Riot’s stated goal is to preserve Tejo’s identity as an Initiator while ensuring his abilities don’t overshadow the game’s core tactical gunplay. “Since Tejo’s release, we’ve watched players master the use of his rockets, and over time we’ve seen enemies feel that their options of counterplays are limited,” Riot explained in their patch notes. The changes have sparked mixed reactions, with pros like Tyson “TenZ” Ngo praising the adjustments for promoting strategic play, while others, including some fans on X, argue the nerfs may render Tejo situational at best, potentially dropping his pick rate in favor of agents like Sova or Breach
Breach Receives a Minor Tweak
While Tejo’s nerfs dominate the spotlight, Patch 10.09 also includes a small adjustment to Breach’s Fault Line stun ability. The patch notes indicate a “minor tweak” to improve consistency, though specific details remain sparse. Early reports suggest the change addresses edge cases where the stun’s area of effect felt inconsistent, particularly in complex map geometry. This tweak is likely to have a subtle impact, benefiting Breach players in niche scenarios without significantly altering his role in the meta.
Community and Competitive Implications
The VALORANT community has been vocal about Tejo’s dominance, with his 22.66% pick rate in Gold and above ranks and high presence in professional play, such as VCT Americas Stage 1, underscoring his influence. The nerfs are expected to shift the meta, potentially reviving interest in other Initiators and Sentinels like Killjoy, whose Lockdown ultimate was previously vulnerable to Tejo’s rockets. Posts on social media reflect a mix of relief and concern, with some users humorously lamenting that Tejo has been “taken out back,” while others predict a return to Sova-heavy compositions.
Competitively, the timing of Patch 10.09 is notable, as it coincides with preparations for VALORANT Masters Toronto. The changes may disrupt team strategies, particularly for regions like EMEA, where Tejo has been a staple. Fnatic’s Jake “Boaster” Howlett tweeted that Tejo may only remain viable on maps like Split post-nerf, suggesting a significant recalibration for professional play.'
VALORANT Gifting System Enhancements
Patch 10.09 builds on the gifting feature introduced in VALORANT Patch 10.08, which allowed players to send select Featured Store bundles and items to friends. Key gifting updates include:
General Updates
Gifting
Due to popular demand, we are increasing the limit of gifts you can send to your friends from 5 to 10 gifts per day starting May 15. This change is going live when our Give Back // V25 Collection hits the Featured Store—so every gift from this bundle you send to a friend is also a gift to charity.Riot’s move aligns with trends in competitive shooters, where features like weekly missions or gifting boost player retention.
Patch 10.09 is a targeted update, focusing on balance rather than introducing new content. However, Riot has hinted at broader changes on the horizon, including efforts to address “ability overload” in the meta, with more significant adjustments planned after VCT 2025 - Valorant Champions. The long-awaited replay system, confirmed for a September 2025 launch, also looms as a major quality-of-life improvement, promising to enhance both casual and competitive experiences.
For now, VALORANT players will need to adapt to a less rocket-heavy battlefield. Tejo mains face a steeper learning curve, while opponents can breathe a sigh of relief as counterplay becomes more viable. As the community tests these changes, the debate over whether Riot struck the right balance—or went too far—will undoubtedly continue.
For the full patch notes, visit the official VALORANT website.
