Valorant: what’s new in update 5.07? Flash character changes

Riot Games' Valorant patch 5.07 brought significant changes to several flash-based Agents, impacting how players use utility and approach engagements. Here's a breakdown of the key changes:

Skye:

Skye received the most substantial rework of the flash Agents. These changes aim to make her flashes more reliable and impactful:

• Guiding Light (E) Duration: Increased from 1 second to a much more generous 2.25 seconds. This allows for more complex setups and longer-lasting blinds.
• Indestructible Guiding Light: Skye's hawk is no longer destructible. This makes her flashes significantly more consistent and removes a key counterplay.
• Unequip Delay: Increased from 0.75 seconds to 0.85 seconds. This slight increase balances the other buffs, making Skye players more vulnerable after flashing.
• Visual and Audio Updates: New VFX, UI, and sounds were added to better communicate the changes and gameplay intent of Guiding Light.

Kay/O:

Kay/O's flashbangs were adjusted to differentiate the use cases of his underhand and overhand throws:

• Underhand (Right-Click) Flash Duration: Reduced from 2 seconds to 1.25 seconds. This makes the close-range, quick flash less potent.
• Overhand (Left-Click) Flash Duration: Increased from 2 seconds to 2.25 seconds. This enhances the long-range flash, making it more effective for initiating pushes.
• Unequip Delay: Increased from 0.6 seconds to 0.85 seconds for both flash types. This makes Kay/O more vulnerable after flashing, similar to the change for Skye.

Reyna:

Reyna's Leer (C) received several adjustments to make it a more viable and less risky ability:

• Nearsight Wind-up: Reduced from 0.6 seconds to 0.4 seconds. This makes the nearsight effect apply faster, reducing the window for enemies to react.
• Leer Range Restriction Removed: Reyna can now throw Leer at any distance, making it more versatile.
• Unequip Delay: Reduced from 0.7 seconds to 0.5 seconds. This allows Reyna to react faster after using Leer.
• Duration: Decreased from 2.6 seconds to 2 seconds. This balances the other buffs by slightly shortening the nearsight effect.

Yoru:

Yoru's Blindside (Q) received a small but significant buff:

• Blindside Duration: Increased from 1.5 seconds to 1.75 seconds. This provides a slightly longer window of opportunity for Yoru and his team to capitalize on the blind.
• Hologram Size Reduction: Reduced the size of the hologram that appears when dead bodies are turned off. This is a minor quality-of-life change.

These changes in patch 5.07 significantly impacted the balance of flash-based Agents in Valorant. Skye's rework made her a more consistent and powerful initiator, while the adjustments to Kay/O, Reyna, and Yoru aimed to refine their roles and viability. Players are now adapting their strategies to account for these changes, leading to a dynamic shift in the meta.