The wait is over. Patch 13.09 has officially landed in Valorant, bringing a fresh face to the roster and some much-needed love for the game’s newest rifle. After her reveal at the Valorant Champions grand final in Shanghai, the telekinetic Duelist Hush is finally playable, ready to shake up the current meta with her unique space-control kit.
Hush, hailing from Guangdong, China, joins the game as the ninth Duelist. Her mechanics are unlike anything we have seen, focusing on displacement and verticality. With her ultimate, Suspension, capable of lifting enemies into the air, she is clearly designed to punish static defensive setups. Whether she becomes a staple in professional play remains to be seen, but her ability to manipulate the battlefield makes her an instant threat in ranked queues.
Warden Buffs and Meta Shifts
It isn’t just about the new agent. The Warden rifle, which debuted in Patch 13.06, has received a significant tuning pass. Many players felt the weapon was too situational for its 2,900 credit price tag, often losing out to the reliability of the Vandal or Phantom. Riot has addressed this by smoothing out the recoil for the first four shots and reducing the spread on follow-up fire. These changes aim to make the Warden feel more consistent and rewarding for players willing to master its 2x scope.
Meanwhile, Clove mains are looking at a tougher climb. The controller has been hit with a nerf to their Pick-Me-Up movement speed bonus, dropping from 15% to 10%. Additionally, killing Clove after they activate Not Dead Yet now grants the opponent an ultimate point and a signature ability refresh, adding more risk to their aggressive playstyle.
Beyond these headline changes, the update introduces a new categorization for buff abilities—splitting them into "Haste" and "Snapshot" keywords—to clean up in-game tooltips. As the meta settles, keep an eye on MyEsports predictions to see how these adjustments impact the win rates of your favorite agents in upcoming matches.