Meta in Valorant is constantly evolving, and the credit goes to Riot, who regularly makes adjustments to the agents, maps, and weapons. These changes usually give every agent their time to shine at the top of the meta. However, for a long while, Phoenix had been left in the shadows. That is, until patch 9.10, where Riot made significant changes to his kit, making him viable once again.
However, once in a while, a few agents slip under Riot’s sharp eye and become completely overpowered. This was the case with the introduction of the Chamber. Ever since he joined the agent pool, he became a nightmare for every player, with even top-tier teams building around him. It seems Riot has learned from that experience and has avoided making Phoenix as broken as Chamber once was.
Recent Buffs to Phoenix in Valorant: A Welcome Upgrade
Phoenix has always had a unique role in Valorant. He is, for the most part, a self-sufficient duelist capable of self-healing, initiating aggressive plays with his flashes, and can even work with team play with lineups for Hot Hands (his molly). Despite being the jack of all trades, he was king of none, making him not viable in most comps.
However, the introduction of Patch 9.10 has made significant changes to his abilities, making his playstyle feel smoother and more impactful than it has been in a while. The most notable change to his kit is to the Curve Ball (flash). It is now his signature ability and refreshes after getting 2 kills in a round.
Another amazing change is to his Blaze (Flame Wall), which can now be cast through walls, just like how Harbor’s Walls can be cast. Additionally, now Phoenix applies a Heal over time whenever he touches his flames. This gives him a more aggressive playstyle and removes the need to wait for those extra healing ticks.
Due to all the changes, Phoenix has become a more well-rounded duelist. Whether it’s his self-health, blocking enemies’ vision with his flame wall (through walls), or creating pressure with his flashes, his kit is now more integrated, allowing him to play more dynamic and team-oriented roles without sacrificing his solo power.
Phoenix’s Buffs Are Real But Not the Stuff of Nightmare
Phoenix, with his buffs in Patch 9.10, is a much more balanced duelist than he was in the past. He now has the utility to effectively engage enemies, take control of a site, and even support his team in ways that weren’t possible before. However, even at his peak, he is still not comparable to the terror that was Chamber.
In his prime state, Chamber could control long-range engagements with ease and had almost unmatched mobility. With his Trademark (trip), he was able to keep track of one part of the map while holding the other. Compared to that, Phoenix’s utility is much more situational and requires coordination with teammates and strategic play to maximize his potential.
As the meta evolves, it is clear that there are always certain scenarios where Riot has unexpectedly created a nightmarish monster like Chamber or the recent Neon (with her slide to the victory). However, more often than not, the meta remains stable and focuses on the player’s ability to shoot and their coordination with teammates.
In the end, the buffs to Phoenix are not only a welcome change but also a necessary one, as he was one of the few duelist agents not getting picked. While it is clear that the changes don’t make him the dominant force, that might just be for the best.
Do you like the changes to various agents (particularly Sage) in the recent patch? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
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