Riot Games has released the 8.01 patch notes for the new season, which includes nerfs to Skye, and players claim the developers may have gone a little too far.
The Valorant 8.01 patch notes were released on January 23, 2024, introducing a host of changes to the game as it starts another season of content. Riot Games made sweeping changes to Valorant and its Agents in this patch, like buffing ISO, changing Breeze, and nerfing Skye.
The developer explained that Skye’s nerf was due to her ubiquitous pick rate in matches and loaded kit at the top level of play.
“These changes are centered around pushing Skye to be more intentional with Guiding Light (E). They should create a clearer opportunity cost when taking Skye in comps while also maintaining her uniquely powerful combination of combat advantage and recon within the Initiator role,” the patch notes said.
After reading through the changes, Valorant players have claimed on social media that the nefs might be too much.
Riot Games nerfs Skye into the ground
The change that players are saying gutted the character was to her main ability – Guiding Light. It no longer regenerates charges during a round and automatically flashes at the end of its activation time.
“When multiple patches haven’t pushed Skye out of meta, you release the execution patch. RIP my girl,” wrote Valorant coach Roy ‘StrongLegs’ Ahad.
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when multiple patches haven’t pushed Skye out of meta, you release the execution patchRIP my girl https://t.co/7H9ilQFg2T
— ROY (@RealStrongLegs) January 23, 2024
Skye has a top-10 pick rate even in lower elos, as she can reliably play off her own utility. She now joins the ranks of Brimstone as one of the few Valorant agents who doesn’t have a rechargeable main ability.
“They killed her. They massacred my girl,” Valorant caster Doug ‘EsportsDoug’ Cortez said.
They killed her. They massacred my girl. https://t.co/OlffLvQLT8
— Doug (@EsportsDoug) January 23, 2024
The casual community agrees that Riot has nerfed the Agent, however, many are celebrating that she is finally no longer always going to be in their games.
“LETS GO, tired of seeing her every game. Maybe Kay/0 and Gekko can get in on the power vacuum now,” one Reddit user said.
Skye is also one of the easier Agents to master for lower-level players, given that she requires little lineup or flash setup know-how to be played well. Riot said it will be keeping an eye on the Agent and make more adjustments to her power if needed, so more updates could be on the horizon.
