We're slowly coming to the end of Episode 3, and we have to admit – after these 3 Acts, the game isn't like it was before. Riot has managed to keep the game fresh and keep the community entertained, and it all seems they will keep raising the bar in these matters.
The next Valorant Episode named "Disruption" is just around the corner, and Riot has already revealed what it has in store for the start of 2022. Game developers have no easy task; they really spoiled their community this year, and we all want more. Furthermore, the competition does not sleep, and other games are also constantly developing. So, what are Riot's plans to keep the community on their toes and get closer to making Valorant the top FPS game out there? Here's everything we currently know about Valorant Episode 4 Act 1.
Episode 4 Act 1 Menu pic.twitter.com/dMAKY2Y7MS
— EarlyGame (@earlygamegg) January 7, 2022
- Will Valorant stay popular in 2022? See our prediction: How Many Active Players Does Valorant Have?
Episode 4, Act 1: New Agent
The biggest highlight of Episode 4 Act 1 is of course the release of the new Agent named Neon. The Eighteenth Agent in Valorant will be a Duelist, and her skills will focus on movement and its acceleration; basically a Jett 2.0. Now that we think about it, having two Jetts in a comp could be dangerous on some maps, and it seems that we will have quite a meta shake-up if that's going to be the case. She will be the Agent with the most speed potential, so better prepare your slow orbs and traps.
Learn more about Neon: Valorant Agent 18, Neon: Abilities, Leaks, Release Date & More
Episode 4, Act 1: Yoru Rework
So, Yoru had his fans but was never a meta pick in competitive. Why? Well, mainly because his abilities didn't really add anything to the game, and having him in the comp gave virtually no advantage - that's going to change. So far, Riot hasn't shared all the plans for the Yoru rework, and we only know about the changes to two skills. The first is a rework to "Fakeout" (his C ability), where instead of false steps, Yoru will create a copy of himself that, when shot down, explodes and damages all enemies near it.
Another change is the Gatecrash rework (his E ability), which not only makes the teleport less visible and audible to enemies, but will move 20% faster. To top it off, from now on, Yoru will be able to release a fake teleport, which adds room for some mind games.
It's kind of like we get one more Agent, and we love it! Moreover, you can expect even more of these types of reworks in the coming year, as Riot promised to increase the frequency of balance changes.
Y’all should be seeing updates to various Agents across the board throughout the first six months of the year, additionally we will be focusing more on addressing emergent balance issues faster than we did in 2021.~ John Goscicki, Valorant Character Producer (source)'
We wouldn't expect the Yoru rework to come into play right away with Episode 4 Act 1, but it's on the way, and it may just come with one of the patches between Acts.
Episode 4, Act 1: Breeze Map Changes
Episode 4 won't bring a new map, but it does bring big changes to Breeze, arguably the largest map in Valorant. These are only 3 changes to both Spike Sites and may not be anything big, but they still take away some good angles, especially for snipers.
Breeze Changes (A & B Sites) | #VALORANT pic.twitter.com/Afv63aEnY2
— Mike - Valorant Leaks & Info (@ValorLeaks) January 6, 2022
Episode 4, Act 1: All Rewards
Episode 4 Act 1 Battle Pass Rewards pic.twitter.com/MRGdTrFjUH
— EarlyGame (@earlygamegg) January 7, 2022
Valorant Episode 4 Act 1 Battle Pass will contain:
- 14 weapons in 3 different skin lines
- 9 Gun Buddies
- 12 Player Cards
- 3 Titles
- 15 sprays
- 130 Radianite Points
- Get all these rewards faster: 3 Tips On How To Level Up a Valorant Battle Pass Faster
Valorant Episode 4, Act 1: Competitive & Balance Changes
We currently know nothing about any Agent balance changes; however, when it comes to weapons, we have some buffs:
- Right Click Melee Hitbox has been increased by 1.5x. Left-click is now larger than right-click and has a longer range.
- Fire rate in Ares has been increased from 10 to 13.
- Guardian ADS Shooting Speed is now the same speed as Non-ADS Shooting Speed.
And as for the competitive mode, we expect countless significant changes to the system, but for now, Riot only announced that starting with Episode 4 Act 1 you'll have to reach level 20 to access ranked play (previously, you had to win 10 unrated games). Getting level 20 requires quite some time, and that can scare off potential cheaters and smurfs, which is why we like this solution.
Episode 4, Act 1: Release Date & Cost
Valorant Episode 4 Act 1 will come out on January 12, 2022. However, we cannot assure you that all the features we discuss in this article will come out on that date; we all remember how Riot delayed Chamber's release because they didn't feel it was balanced enough. The Valorant Episode 4 Act 1 Battle Pass will cost 1000 Valorant Points, and there is no indication that this will change.