Most Valorant players have disliked Icebox since the day it got out and after numerous complaints, Riot decided to try and fix the issues with patch 1.14. Instead of balancing its agents and weapons, Riot rather focused on some big changes on Icebox along with minor Sage changes.
These changes are more than welcome, but it will force players to learn how the map works all over again. Fewer heights, less tricky corners: both attackers and defenders will struggle to find their comfort zones in so many changes.
Sage
Barrier Orb
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Icebox
The goal of this update was to simplify bombsite A and to reduce some height off of the most vertical spots on the map.
- Reduced the height of the A Belt area and connected it via a ramp to the platform below
- This puts the upper A Belt area more in line with the rest of the verticality in the site
- Acquiring targets up top also requires less vertical movement of the crosshair
- Added a see-through gate here that can’t be passed from the ground level
- Pathing should hopefully be more predictable from attackers approaching the site and defenders retaking the site
- Sloped the wall (first image) and replaced the double stack of Radianite crates in the site with a smaller object (second image)
- This should allow attackers to approach the site more safely, and a quicker retake of the site for defenders
- Reduced the height of the yellow container.
- This allows the top of the container to be fully cleared from several angles as well as reduces the amount of crosshair displacement required when aiming at targets on top of the container
View the full patch note here
Players might be disappointed since Riot did not listen to its community about fixing guns’ moving patterns or some of the most OP agents, but these changes on Icebox seem refreshing. The map might go up a little in the players’ opinion!
Let’s hope now that Riot will listen to us gamers and streamers, and will fix some of the most problematic game’s issues, such as guns’ moving sprays, Killjoy’s NUMEROUS bug abuses, shotgun’s firepower, and much more…
Even though the game’s been much appreciated since it came out -even we love it!- Riot’s still struggling to balance everything and make the experience entirely satisfying.
Anyway, don’t hesitate to give us feedback on how you’re feeling after these Icebox changes.
Good luck and have fun gamers!
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