VALORANT Patch 13.09: Meet Hush and See Every Buff and Nerf

VALORANT Patch 13.09 introduces Hush, a new Duelist agent, alongside balance changes to Clove and the Warden rifle. The update also introduces the terms Haste and Snapshot to standardize descriptions of abilities and in-game effects. Riot Games announced the changes following the conclusion of VALORANT Champions 2026.

Hush joins VALORANT with five abilities

Hush is the newest Duelist in VALORANT, with abilities designed to help her push into enemy-controlled areas. Her kit includes a dash toward a marked point, a blinding ability, a displacement effect and an ultimate that suspends agents in the air.

Her passive ability also lets her interact with certain objects from a greater distance.

Hush’s abilities include:

Telekinesis (Passive): Allows Hush to pick up weapons and the Spike, as well as interact with switches from an increased distance.
Displacement (E): Launches a device that can be guided after preparation. On detonation, it pulls players toward its center and concusses them when they hit a surface or another agent. The ability resets after every two kills.
Flashbulb (Q): Launches a device that can be steered before detonation, blinding players who are looking at it.
Flow (C): Creates an anchor and propels Hush toward it after a short delay. If she is airborne, she can briefly levitate before moving.
Suspension (Ultimate): Sends out a device that can be guided with the crosshair. Detonation suspends affected players in midair.

The ability to adjust the direction of certain effects before activation gives Hush additional options when entering bombsites or engaging multiple opponents.

Clove nerfs target two abilities

Riot Games has reduced Clove’s movement bonus and changed the reward granted to an opponent who eliminates the agent while her ultimate is active.

According to the developer, Clove’s movement speed bonus was higher than the values seen on comparable abilities. The update also changes the interaction associated with Not Dead Yet.

The changes are:

Pick-me-up: Movement speed bonus reduced from 15% to 10%.
Not Dead Yet: Eliminating Clove after she activates the ability now grants the opponent one ultimate point and one point toward their signature ability’s cooldown.

These adjustments affect Clove’s mobility and the way resources are earned during a round. Eliminating her while Not Dead Yet is active now also provides specific rewards to the opposing player.

Warden rifle gets recoil control improvements

The Warden rifle has also been adjusted in Patch 13.09. Riot Games has reduced its initial recoil and the spread error of subsequent shots to make the weapon easier to control.

The developer aims to improve the rifle’s versatility and handling, considering its price of 2,900 credits.

The adjustments include:

Initial recoil: Smoother weapon behavior during the opening shots.
Second shot: Spread error reduced from 0.25 to 0.20.
Third shot: Spread error reduced from 0.60 to 0.50.

The changes are intended to make consecutive shots more controllable. The practical impact will depend on the engagement distance and combat situation.

Riot introduces Haste and Snapshot terminology

Patch 13.09 also introduces two terms for describing ability effects. The change updates in-game descriptions and helps distinguish different types of buffs and penalties applied to agents.

Haste refers to an increase in movement speed. It differs from Combat Stim, which is associated with an increased rate of fire.

Snapshot describes a static silhouette reveal, such as the effect used by Cypher’s Neural Theft ultimate.

With this change, players will see the Haste terminology associated with abilities from Brimstone, Clove, Miks, Neon and Waylay, according to the interactions defined for those agents.

Patch 13.09 focuses on a new Duelist, agent balance changes and weapon adjustments. The updated terminology also provides more specific descriptions of effects during matches.

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