Valorant Patch 7.12: New TDM Map Drift

Riot is Releasing a New Team Deathmatch Map in Valorant Patch 7.12

Welcome to Valorant’s last patch of the year, patch 7.12, boosting the festive season with a few surprises and tweaks to keep things interesting. Let’s take a look at the highlights of the final patch of 2023.

New TDM Map: Drift

Picture this: You, your fellow agents, and the brand-new map—Drift. It’s specially tailored for Team Deathmatch (TDM) mode, offering diverse fighting ranges and an abundance of angles to master. Drift is the ideal battleground for warming up those trigger fingers before diving into the intensity of competitive or Premier matches. With long-range midsections, isolated side lanes, and exciting ways to swap lanes, Drift promises an engaging TDM experience. So, get your team ready for a Christmas party like no other on Drift!

Agent Buffs and Nerfs

Gekko's Got a Boost

Our boy Gekko is getting some love in this update. The patch notes reveal a Gekko buff, focusing on his ability to reclaim his poke… hum, his buddies. Now, he can do it faster, ensuring he’ll be more reactive. Additionally, improvements to Dizzy (E) are here to increase Gekko's confidence when using the ability. The reclaim channel time has been reduced from 2s to 1s, giving Gekko players more flexibility.

Skye Takes a Hit

On the flip side, Skye is facing a bit of a nerf, specifically to her Trailblazer (Q). The camera now gets locked during the leap, forcing Skye players to be more deliberate in choosing between extra distance and clearing multiple angles. Destroying Trailblazer mid-leap won't cause a concuss explosion anymore, but when the explosion does happen successfully, it can concuss both allies and enemies. These changes aim to make Skye players think twice and strategize when using Trailblazer.

Performance Tweaks

Patch 7.12 includes some under-the-hood tweaks to boost your overall Valorant experience. The raw input buffer, previously in beta, has now shed its beta tag. The default value has changed from off to on, ensuring a smoother input experience. Existing setting values won't be impacted, so you can continue playing with your preferred settings.

Player Behavior Updates

The holiday season is all about the festive spirit, so the update introduces Party Invite Codes. Now, party leaders can generate invite codes for others to join the same party in-game. It's a simple and effective feature that will streamline the party-inviting process.

Bug Fixes

The update also addresses a slew of bug fixes, ranging from agent-specific issues to player behavior quirks. Notable fixes include resolving the bug where kills wouldn't be awarded while controlling certain abilities, like Sova's Shock Dart (Q) while controlling Owl Drone (C).

So, there you have it—everything you need to know about the Valorant 7.12 patch. It's a fitting update to end the year, paving the way for the excitement and surprises that Episode 8 is sure to bring in the coming year. Until then, dive into Drift, adapt to the agent changes, and keep those crosshairs steady!

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