Valorant Patch 10.09: Tejo Finally Gets the Nerf Hammer!

The wait is over, folks! Valorant's latest update has dropped, and it's tackling some of the community's biggest pain points. Patch 10.09 is here with the long-awaited Tejo nerfs we've all been begging for, plus some tweaks to Breach and a handful of quality-of-life improvements. Ready to see if your favorite agent survived the update? Let's break it down!

Tejo's Rocket Party Is Over

Since bursting onto the scene in early 2025, Tejo has been absolutely dominating matches at all skill levels. Remember when his Guided Salvo rockets could take out Killjoy's Lockdown like it was made of paper? Yeah, those days are finally behind us.

The community hasn't been shy about voicing frustrations, and while Riot dipped their toes in with a minor adjustment earlier, this patch brings the real changes we've been waiting for. As someone who's been on both ends of those devastating rockets, I can't say I'm sad to see them toned down!

Riot acknowledged what we've all been thinking – Tejo's kit was creating some seriously unfair advantages, letting players swing rounds with minimal risk. The biggest game-changer? Those pesky Guided Salvo rockets no longer automatically recharge like Skye's flashes. Think twice before firing those babies off now!

• Guided Salvo Changes: Now costs 150 credits with just one free charge per round. Each rocket burns a charge, and the targeting range has shrunk from 55 to 45 meters. Spray and pray is officially off the menu.
• Stealth Drone: Price bumped from 300 to 400 credits. That intel just got more expensive.
• Special Delivery: Actually got cheaper! Down from 300 to 200 credits. At least there's one bright spot for Tejo mains.
• Armageddon Ultimate: Now requires 9 ultimate points instead of 8. Better start fragging out if you want to rain down destruction.

These changes don't completely gut Tejo (thankfully), but they do force players to think strategically about when to use those rockets. No more mindlessly spamming them every round – each one counts now!

Breach Mains, You've Been Put on Notice

Think Breach escaped this patch unscathed? Think again! His Fault Line stun received what might seem like a tiny adjustment, but any experienced player knows those milliseconds matter. The detonation delay has increased from 1 second to 1.2 seconds.

Sure, 0.2 seconds doesn't sound like much, but in a game where reflexes make all the difference, it's huge. This gives defenders that crucial extra moment to reposition or counter, potentially making the difference between getting stunned in the open or finding cover just in time.

Swiftplay Gets Faster and Gifting Gets Friendlier

Not all the changes in 10.09 are nerfs! Swiftplay mode just got more... well, playful. The ultimate point economy has been adjusted to better match current ultimate costs. Been frustrated by never getting to use your ult in Swiftplay? This should help!

And for all you generous souls out there, the daily gifting limit has doubled from 5 to 10 gifts. Perfect timing with that new charity bundle dropping! Now you can spread twice the love to your friends (or suck up to your carry, we don't judge).

Bugs: Fixed Some, Still Squashing Others

What's a patch without bug fixes? 10.09 tackles various cosmetic issues and agent glitches, but a couple of notable problems are still hanging around.

Heads up if you're sensitive to bright visuals – there's a known issue with the Bolt skinline causing some seriously excessive glow effects. This could be problematic for photosensitive players and might even give an unfair advantage (or disadvantage) in competitive play. Riot's on it, but we'll need to wait until Patch 10.11 for a fix.

Also, that weird interaction between Omen's Dark Cover and nearsight effects? That's sticking around until Patch 10.10. Omen mains, you've been warned!

Mary Who? The Agent That Never Was

Been following all those "Mary" agent leaks and theories? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but Riot has officially confirmed that Mary won't be joining the Valorant roster – at least not anytime soon. While the internet detectives among us might be disappointed, it's refreshing to see Riot addressing the rumors head-on instead of letting speculation run wild.

Bottom Line: Balance is Back on the Menu

All in all, Patch 10.09 feels like a solid step toward a more balanced Valorant experience. The Tejo nerfs were absolutely necessary (and honestly, might still not be enough for some players), while the Breach adjustment adds a touch more fairness to his disruptive kit.

Will these changes shake up the meta? Absolutely. Will Tejo mains be salty? You bet. But that's the beauty of a living game – it evolves, adapts, and hopefully becomes more fun and fair for everyone.

What do you think about the changes? Has Tejo been nerfed into oblivion, or will he still be a force to be reckoned with? Jump into some matches, test the waters, and let the new meta begin!