Was there a silent Viper nerf in VALORANT Patch 8.05?

Viper has been a standout agent in VALORANT since her debut, maintaining high pick rates in tournaments over the years. However, a significant nerf in the past made her less dominant compared to her earlier days. Recently, with Patch 8.05, players on Twitter and Reddit have observed a subtle nerf to Viper. In this article, we will delve into the details of these nerfs and assess their potential impact on Viper’s popularity.

Which Abilities Have Been Affected by the Silent Viper Nerf in VALORANT Patch 8.05?

Playing ranked sometimes feels like sitting in a perpetual Viper ultimate (Image Credits: Riot Games)

Previously, Viper was revered for her ability to hold down a site effectively – almost like a sentinel. This was largely thanks to her toxic wall and orb that had a prolonged duration of over 20 seconds. However, in patch 7.05, Viper experienced the following nerfs:

• Reduced regeneration per second from 5% to 3.3%
• Increased time to regenerate to max fuel from 20s to 30s

These changes resulted in a decline in Viper’s pick rate across various VCT Leagues, including the VCT Champions. Recently, a Reddit user spotted a subtle nerf in Patch 8.05. Viper’s wall and toxic orb now only last 13 seconds each, down from the previous 15 seconds.

Moreover, when both abilities are activated simultaneously, their combined duration has been reduced from 10 seconds (previously) to 8 seconds following Patch 8.05. Despite these alterations, VALORANT has yet to issue an official statement regarding this ‘silent nerf’ affecting Viper.

The duration reduction for each ability stands at 2 seconds, which could potentially impact Viper’s pick rate in competitive play. While the effect might not be as noticeable in lower ranks, the introduction of Clove could lead to a notable decline in Viper’s usage in higher-tier leagues.