VALORANT patch 4.01 introduces adjustments to Ares, which many players considered overpowered after receiving a substantial buff in patch 4.0.
Patch 4.0 introduced several weapon changes, including a significant nerf to Specter and a buff to Ares. These changes created a new meta where Ares became the standard buy in second round buys or feats of strength. While it was exciting to see the Ares in more matches, it was clear the weapon was in control.
The buff removed weapon rotation time and increased the rate of fire, allowing players to deal damage almost instantly. These changes quickly made Ares effective in almost any scenario, and it was not uncommon to see ten Ares in matches.
Riot introduced some new changes in patch 4.01 that should help balance the Ares without nerfing it to the ground. The pistol now costs 1600 credits and its pitch recoil is increased. Spread has also been adjusted, and spread and knockback reductions while crouched have been reduced from 40% to 25%.
The Ares will likely still be a popular weapon in certain situations, but these changes will hopefully help VALORANT leapfrog the notorious Ares meta. The latest patch also implements scrum updates, adds a mute wordlist, and resolves several minor bugs and issues.
Fans can find the full list of changes in the official VALORANTS patch notes
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