VALORANT Patch 4.01 delivers precise adjustments to the Ares, responding to widespread player concerns that it became overpowered following its major buff in Patch 4.0.
Patch 4.0 featured key weapon shifts, including a nerf to the Spectre and a buff to the Ares. This propelled the Ares into the spotlight as the go-to choice for second-round buys and eco rounds. While invigorating to witness its rise, the weapon's dominance demanded recalibration.
The Patch 4.0 buff eliminated recovery time and boosted the rate of fire, enabling rapid, high-damage output in nearly every engagement. Matches often featured multiple Ares, underscoring its versatility.
Riot's Patch 4.01 strikes a smart balance: the Ares now costs 1600 credits, pitch recoil is increased, spread has been refined, and crouch reductions for spread and knockback drop from 40% to 25%.
The Ares remains a strong option in select scenarios, but these changes should curb its meta monopoly. Additional updates include scrim improvements, a new mute wordlist, and fixes for various bugs.
Fans can review the complete changes in the official VALORANT patch notes.
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