VALORANT Patch 13.05 Sets Up Pick’Ems and September 22 Agent Gear Changes
The patch will also introduce penalties for detected stream-sniping and instalock tools, alongside agent fixes and a new PC Range bot setting.
Riot’s plan for VALORANT Patch 13.05 focuses on behavior changes, Pick’Ems for Champions Shanghai, and a warning about the Agent Gear system’s upcoming redesign. The update is mostly aimed at bug fixes, with more changes planned for Patch 13.06. Riot detailed the package in its official Patch 13.05 notes.
Pick’Ems will become available on September 10 through the in-client feature and the web. Players will predict which teams advance at Champions Shanghai, earning points for correct predictions and extra points for exact placements. Participation will also grant rewards, but picks must be submitted before the Group Stage begins on September 24.
Riot is also introducing penalties when it detects stream-sniping or instalock tools. The first punishment can be a temporary game ban, while repeated use can lead to a permanent ban.
Agent Gear is the biggest progression change on the schedule. When Patch 13.06 arrives on September 22, players will keep gear they already earned and will still use Kingdom Credits to unlock future items. Each piece of gear will then be tied directly to playtime with its associated Agent, so players who want the current unlocks may want to finish those tracks before the change.
Sound Sprays will only be audible to nearby players, and PC users will gain more control over bot spawns in the Range. The rest of the update addresses bugs affecting agents, visual effects, combat reporting, smoke interactions, and performance.
VALORANT Patch Notes 13.05
The notes below cover the all-platform changes first, including the audio adjustment, Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems, player behavior penalties, Agent Gear plans, and agent fixes. The PC section then adds the new Range bot setting and a purchase-menu fix.
ALL PLATFORMS
COSMETICS UPDATES
- Sound Sprays
- Based on your feedback, we’ve adjusted the sound attenuation for all sound sprays so you’ll only be able to hear the sounds if you’re nearby to ensure teams can communicate effectively. This will be a standard for all future audio sprays.
ESPORTS FEATURES
- Pick’Ems have returned for Champions Shanghai! Starting on September 10, you will have access to the Group Stage in-client and on the web. Predict the advancing teams for points, earning extra points for correctly guessing the exact placement. You’ll also earn rewards just for participating. Get your picks in before Groups kickoff on September 24th!
PLAYER BEHAVIOR UPDATES
- We’ve started rolling out penalties if we detect usage of stream sniping and instalock tools. Players found using these tools will be subject to temporary game bans that will escalate to permanent with repeated usage.
PROGRESSION UPDATES
- Agent Gear
- Heads up, gamers! With the release of Patch 13.06 on September 22, we’ll be revamping the Agent Gear system and the way you unlock items on that progression track. You will still keep the gear you’ve already earned, and you’ll continue to use Kingdom Credits to unlock future gear. But after Patch 13.06, each piece of gear will be tied directly to how much you play the associated Agent. So if you’re currently grinding for Agent Gear on any Agents you don’t usually play, now’s your chance to lock in and get those unlocks.
BUG FIXES
- Agent
- General
- Fixed an issue where Agent Ultimate voiceover could continue playing from an enemy’s perspective after the Agent casting the Ultimate was killed.
- Fixed an issue where the Combat Report incorrectly displayed “Enemies Blinded” for certain abilities that don’t apply Blind.
- Fixed an issue where smokes would block flashes after dissipating.
- We’ve better timed the dissipation for the smokes on Astra, Brimstone, Clove, Miks, and Omen to fix an issue where their smokes could continue blocking flashes and other line-of-sight-dependent abilities while the smoke was dissipating.
- Chamber
- Fixed an issue that could cause performance drops the first time Chamber equipped, aimed, or fired Headhunter during a round.
- Cypher
- Fixed an issue where Cypher’s Trapwire debuff could persist indefinitely on a new target if the initial target was killed just before the Trapwire triggered.
- Fixed an issue where Cypher’s Cyber Cage could incorrectly block flashes, detection, and other line-of-sight-dependent abilities.
- Deadlock
- Fixed an issue where casting Deadlock’s GravNet could briefly display unintended VFX on screen.
- Fade
- Fixed an issue where Fade’s Seize would not display its danger indicator to enemies in certain locations on Lotus.
- KAY/O
- Fixed an issue where KAY/O’s NULL/cmd could cause client-side framerate drops with each pulse.
- Omen
- Fixed an issue where Omen’s Dark Cover could obscure a player’s vision after the smoke has dissipated.
- Sage
- Fixed an issue where Sage’s Healing Orb ability tooltips could be missing from the HUD when equipping the ability.
- Waylay
- Fixed an issue where vision-blocking abilities could prevent Waylay’s Saturate from applying Hinder to players within its area of effect.
- Fixed an issue where Waylay’s Refract could cause snapshots of dynamic map objects to remain visible after the ability ended.
- Fixed an issue where Waylay’s Saturate could apply Hinder to Agents while they were intangible.
- General
PC ONLY
GENERAL UPDATES
- Default Bot Count in Range Practice Mode
- An option for 10, 5, or 1 bot to spawn has been added in the Range practice mode.
- The default number of bots spawned is now 5.
- You can adjust this number in the Range settings.
- Fixed an issue where the close button was not functional after purchasing VALORANT Points.
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Valorant
Developed by Riot Games
Valorant is a character-based 5v5 tactical shooter set on the global stage. Outwit, outplay, and outshine your competition with tactical abilities, precise gunplay, and adaptive teamwork.
- Genre Shooter, Tactical
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
- Perspective First person
- Modes Multiplayer
- Release June 2, 2020
- Publisher Riot Games
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Age Rating
