VALORANT Patch 13.00 Notes: Agent Buffs, Summit & Retake

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VALORANT Patch 13.00 launches V26 Act 4 with one of the largest collections of gameplay changes this season. The update introduces the new Summit map, adds the limited-time Retake mode, buffs five Sentinels, reduces several Initiator cooldowns, improves the Bandit sidearm, and adjusts Competitive matchmaking.

Riot published the official VALORANT Patch 13.00 notes on June 23, 2026. Regional rollout times may differ because patches normally arrive alongside scheduled server maintenance.

This guide covers every major Patch 13.00 change and explains how the update may affect Agents, ranked matches, team compositions, and the developing meta.

VALORANT Patch 13.00 Changes at a Glance

Category	Main Changes
Agent balance	Buffs for Cypher, Killjoy, Veto, Sage, and Deadlock
Initiators	Signature cooldowns reduced for Sova, Fade, Skye, Breach, and KAY/O
New map	Summit joins Competitive immediately
Map rotation	Summit and Sunset enter; Fracture and Pearl leave
New mode	Retake adds fast 3v3 post-plant matches
Weapon update	Bandit receives recovery and recoil improvements
Competitive	RR calculations and PC matchmaking adjusted
Client feature	New Inbox for selected notifications

The largest competitive changes are the Sentinel buffs, shorter Initiator cooldowns, and Summit’s immediate addition to the ranked map pool. Riot’s stated balance goal is to make Sentinels more effective against repeated low-information site rushes while returning some late-round agency to Initiators.

All Agent Buffs in VALORANT Patch 13.00

Five Sentinel Agents received direct improvements in Patch 13.00. Riot wants these Agents to punish attackers who repeatedly commit to sites without first gathering information or controlling the map.

Agent	Ability	Patch 13.00 Change	Expected Impact
Cypher	Trapwire	Windup reduced from 0.9s to 0.7s	Less reaction time for trapped enemies
Killjoy	Turret	Fire rate increased by 50%	More pressure and faster information
Killjoy	Nanoswarm	Duration increased from 4s to 5s	Stronger plant denial and delay
Killjoy	Alarmbot	Movement speed increased by 50%	More reliable activation
Veto	Interceptor	Reclaim cooldown reduced from 30s to 20s	Faster utility repositioning
Veto	Crosscut	Usable area increased from 24m to 30m	Greater placement flexibility
Veto	Crosscut	Arming time reduced from 1.5s to 0.75s	Faster setup after deployment
Sage	Healing Orb	Self-heal-over-time increased from 50 to 100	Better personal survivability
Deadlock	GravNet	Cooldown reduced from 60s to 50s	More potential uses in long rounds

All numerical changes above come directly from Riot’s official Patch 13.00 notes.

Cypher Buff: Faster Trapwire Activation

Cypher’s Trapwire now completes its windup in 0.7 seconds instead of 0.9 seconds.

Although the difference is only 0.2 seconds, it gives fast-moving enemies less time to escape or destroy the wire after activation. This should make Cypher more dependable against rapid entries from Agents such as Jett, Neon, and Raze.

The change also improves the value of wires placed at unavoidable choke points. Attackers may need to use reconnaissance, drones, or damaging utility before entering instead of simply running through Cypher’s setup.

Killjoy Buffs: Turret, Nanoswarm, and Alarmbot Improved

Killjoy is arguably the biggest direct winner of Patch 13.00 because three parts of her kit were strengthened.

Her Turret fires 50% faster, allowing it to apply pressure more quickly while confirming enemy positions. The Turret is still primarily an information tool, but ignoring it during an execute should now be more punishing.

Nanoswarm lasts five seconds instead of four. That extra second improves Spike plant denial, defensive delay, and post-plant control. Alarmbot also moves 50% faster, making combinations with Nanoswarm or teammate utility more consistent.

These changes should strengthen Killjoy on maps with narrow site entrances and predictable plant locations, although professional and high-ranked match data will be needed before calling her the best Sentinel in the patch.

Veto Buffs: More Flexible Utility Placement

Veto’s Interceptor reclaim cooldown has fallen from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. This allows players to reposition the ability more frequently as the round develops.

Crosscut receives two improvements. Its usable area increases from 24 metres to 30 metres, while its arming time after placement is cut from 1.5 seconds to 0.75 seconds.

Together, these changes make Veto’s utility easier to deploy reactively. Players should have more freedom to adapt when attackers change direction or when a defensive rotation becomes necessary.

Sage Buff: Self-Heal Returns to 100 HP

Sage’s Healing Orb can now restore up to 100 HP to herself over time, increased from 50 HP.

This does not guarantee that Sage immediately returns to the top of the meta. Her overall value still depends on Barrier Orb positions, map structure, team composition, and the opportunity cost of selecting her over another Sentinel.

However, the buff makes Sage more self-sufficient after taking early damage. On Summit, her wall and Slow Orbs may also benefit from the map’s narrow routes and focus on controlling access points.

Deadlock Buff: Shorter GravNet Cooldown

Deadlock’s GravNet cooldown has been reduced from 60 seconds to 50 seconds.

The shorter cooldown makes a second use more realistic during extended rounds. Deadlock can deploy GravNet to slow an early push and potentially have it available again for a late execute, retake, or post-plant situation.

GravNet also becomes more valuable when combined with Paint Shells, Shock Bolts, Snake Bite, Aftershock, or other abilities that punish enemies with restricted movement.

Initiator Cooldown Buffs

Sova, Fade, Skye, Breach, and KAY/O all receive the same adjustment: their signature ability cooldowns are reduced from 60 seconds to 50 seconds.

Gekko’s cooldown after reclaiming one of his buddies is separately reduced from 20 seconds to 15 seconds.

Agents Affected

The signature cooldown change applies to:

Sova’s Recon Bolt
Fade’s Haunt
Skye’s Guiding Light
Breach’s Fault Line
KAY/O’s ZERO/POINT

A ten-second reduction is significant in slow rounds. Initiators can use an ability during the early default and have a better chance of receiving another charge during the final execute or retake.

This could increase the value of information-heavy team compositions. Double-Initiator lineups may become more attractive because they can challenge the stronger Sentinel utility introduced in the same patch.

Gekko’s Reclaim Buff

After Gekko retrieves one of his creatures, the recharge time is now 15 seconds instead of 20.

The change rewards players who recover utility safely and plan around repeated uses. Wingman, Dizzy, and Thrash remain vulnerable when deployed carelessly, but successful recovery now provides value more quickly.

Gekko may be particularly useful in structured rounds where teams repeatedly pressure a site before committing.

Omen Shrouded Step Audio Change

Patch 13.00 updates the enemy-facing audio for Omen’s Shrouded Step.

Riot explained that obvious teleports could occasionally go unnoticed during chaotic rounds because enemies were unable to distinguish the audio. The new sound treatment is intended to make nearby casts clearer without changing the ability’s range or basic function.

This is best described as a gameplay-clarity adjustment rather than a full Omen nerf. Close-range teleports may become easier to identify, but creative plays can still succeed when their sound is masked by gunfire, ultimates, or other abilities.

New Summit Map Explained

Summit is a new 5v5 Spike map set inside a Radiant training academy in the mountains of China. It uses a traditional three-lane, two-site structure, but introduces droppable walls that can reshape routes during the round.

Players can review Riot’s current map collection on the official VALORANT maps page.

What Makes Summit Different?

Summit’s defining mechanic is its set of droppable walls. Activating these walls changes sightlines and rotation paths, adding an irreversible strategic decision to each round.

Teams can use the walls to:

Block a rotation after taking a site.
Separate defenders during a retake.
Restrict an attacking split.
Protect post-plant positions.
Funnel enemies into utility.
Create misleading pressure before rotating.

Because the walls alter available routes, players must communicate before activating them. Closing the wrong path may isolate a teammate or remove the safest post-plant position.

Summit Launch and Map-Pool Changes

Map or Feature	Patch 13.00 Status
Summit	Added to Competitive and Deathmatch
Sunset	Added to Competitive and Deathmatch
Fracture	Removed from Competitive and Deathmatch
Pearl	Removed from Competitive and Deathmatch
Summit RR protection	Losses reduced by 50% for the first two weeks
Summit wins	Award 100% of normal RR
Summit-only queue	Available for seven days using Swiftplay rules

Summit entered Competitive immediately when Patch 13.00 launched. During its first two weeks, ranked losses on Summit remove only 50% of the normal RR, while victories still award full RR. Riot also introduced a temporary Summit-only Swiftplay queue for players learning the map.

Early Summit Strategy Tips

Because Summit is new, its long-term attacker-versus-defender balance is not yet established. Early gameplay suggests that players should focus on:

Tracking whether each droppable wall is still available.
Contesting Mid without wasting every piece of utility.
Clearing elevated and vertical positions before committing.
Planning plant positions around remaining rotation paths.
Avoiding wall activations without teammate confirmation.

Agent tier lists for Summit should be treated as early-meta recommendations until more Competitive and professional data becomes available.

New Retake Mode in Patch 13.00

Retake is a limited-time 3v3 mode focused entirely on post-plant situations. The Spike is already planted at the beginning of each round, with one team defending and the other attempting to retake and defuse.

Retake Feature	How It Works
Team size	3v3
Objective	Defend the planted Spike or retake and defuse
Side rotation	Teams swap sides every round
Match victory	First team to five rounds
Economy	No standard economy
Loadouts	Choose randomized weapon, armour, and ability cards
Launch maps	Ascent, Bind, Haven, Summit, and Sunset
Site selection	One randomly selected site per match

Rounds end through team elimination, a successful defuse, or Spike detonation. The Spike auto-plants several seconds into each round at one of several curated positions. Loadout options become stronger as the match progresses.

Is Retake Good for Practice?

Retake is useful for practising:

Post-plant positioning.
Defuse timing.
Utility coordination.
Trading teammates.
Clearing common defensive angles.
Playing around the Spike timer.
Short-handed clutch decisions.

It does not replace standard Competitive practice because it removes early-round defaults, economy management, site-entry preparation, and normal Spike planting decisions.

However, it provides a concentrated way to rehearse the final phase of a round without playing a complete match.

Bandit Buffs in Patch 13.00

The Bandit receives three mechanical improvements:

Recovery reduced from 0.45 to 0.40.
Tap efficiency increased from three to four.
Maximum pitch recoil reduced from four to three.

Riot wants the Bandit to feel more reliable outside pistol rounds while preserving its identity as a precision weapon positioned between the Ghost and Sheriff.

Is the Bandit Better Now?

The lower recovery time and recoil make repeated taps more consistent. Players with disciplined aim should find it easier to reset between shots and maintain accuracy during light-buy rounds.

The buff does not automatically make the Bandit better than the Ghost or Sheriff in every situation. Weapon choice still depends on:

Available credits.
Expected engagement distance.
Armour purchases.
First-shot accuracy.
Whether the player values firing speed or higher damage.

The Bandit should now be a more credible choice beyond the opening pistol round, especially for players who prefer controlled tapping.

Ranked Rating and Matchmaking Changes

Riot adjusted RR calculations so players who consistently win should feel less stuck during their climb. The developer specifically requested feedback from Immortal and higher-ranked players, but no universal increase in RR gains was announced.

On PC, Riot also changed matchmaking so the average rank of each team should remain within one sub-tier more consistently. For example, a team with a Gold 2 average should face another team whose average is also inside Gold more frequently.

Players should not expect every individual in a lobby to have the same rank. The change concerns each team’s average rank rather than enforcing identical visible ranks across all ten players.

For a broader explanation of progression, Riot provides an official guide to how Rank Rating is calculated.

New VALORANT Inbox Feature

Patch 13.00 introduces the first version of Inbox, a central location for selected non-urgent client notifications.

At launch, Inbox supports:

Gifting status updates.
Premier promotion messages.
Premier playoff qualification notifications.
RR refund notices.
Reporter feedback.
Act introduction summaries.

Players can see whether a message is new or already read and delete individual items. Riot says additional notification types may be added later.

Duplicate RR Refund Notification Issue

Riot lists a known issue where certain players may receive both an Inbox notification and a separate modal popup for the same RR refund.

Receiving two notifications does not mean the player has received the refund twice.

Agent Voice-Line and Audio Updates

Patch 13.00 also reduces audio clutter and standardizes ability voice-over behaviour across the Agent roster.

The patch adds:

Summit-specific interactions between Sage and Viper.
New conversations between Miks and Gekko.
New conversations between Jett and Phoenix.

Riot also removed selected lines from numerous Agents when those lines no longer met its current standards for Agent behaviour or gameplay clarity.

Major Bug Fixes

Patch 13.00 fixes several general, Agent, visual, and audio issues.

Notable fixes include:

Two different voice lines playing after a player wins both the round and the match.
Spectator commendation audio becoming directional.
Incorrect Signature and Ultimate HUD colours after side swaps or overtime.
Harbor’s Reckoning debuff lasting after its visual effect disappeared.
Killjoy’s Nanoswarm cast line failing to play.
Multiple Viper’s Pit issues involving Abyss, barriers, replays, and map-specific visual artifacts.

Biggest Winners of VALORANT Patch 13.00

Killjoy

Killjoy receives three direct improvements, giving her the strongest collection of numerical buffs in this patch. Her ability to gather information, delay a plant, and defend a planted Spike should all become more reliable.

Information-Based Compositions

The Initiator cooldown reductions encourage teams to use reconnaissance or disruption earlier in the round without completely sacrificing late-round utility.

This creates a natural counterbalance to the Sentinel buffs: defensive utility becomes stronger, but attackers can gather information more frequently.

Slow Default Strategies

Teams that spend time pressuring several lanes may benefit from the shorter cooldowns. A Recon Bolt or Guiding Light used early can potentially return before the final site hit.

Players Who Learn Summit Early

Summit enters ranked immediately, and its launch event reduces RR losses for a limited period. Players who understand its walls, rotation routes, and site geometry may gain an early advantage over opponents relying only on mechanical aim.

How Patch 13.00 Could Change the Meta

Patch 13.00 appears to push VALORANT toward more deliberate information gathering and map control.

Stronger Sentinel utility makes unplanned five-player rushes more dangerous. Shorter Initiator cooldowns give attackers additional tools for identifying those setups. Summit adds another strategic layer by allowing teams to change rotation routes during a round.

The likely early trends include:

More Sentinel utility during site holds.
Increased value for reconnaissance and suppression.
Greater interest in double-Initiator compositions.
Slower defaults before committing to an execute.
More emphasis on post-plant route control.
Fewer successful attacks based only on speed and surprise.

These are early strategic projections rather than confirmed professional-meta conclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did VALORANT Patch 13.00 release?

Riot published Patch 13.00 on June 23, 2026, alongside the beginning of V26 Act 4. Regional server rollout times can vary.

Which Agents were buffed in Patch 13.00?

Cypher, Killjoy, Veto, Sage, and Deadlock received direct Sentinel buffs. Sova, Fade, Skye, Breach, KAY/O, and Gekko also received cooldown reductions.

Did Omen receive a nerf?

Omen’s Shrouded Step received an enemy-audio clarity change. Its range and core teleport function were not directly changed.

What is the new map in VALORANT Patch 13.00?

Summit is the new map. It is a three-lane, two-site map set in a Radiant training academy in the mountains of China.

Is Summit available in Competitive?

Yes. Summit entered Competitive immediately. RR losses on Summit are reduced by 50% during its first two weeks, while wins provide full RR.

Which maps entered and left the map pool?

Summit and Sunset entered Competitive and Deathmatch. Fracture and Pearl were removed from both queues.

What is Retake mode?

Retake is a limited-time 3v3 mode where the Spike is pre-planted. One team holds the site while the other attempts to retake and defuse.

Was the Bandit buffed?

Yes. Its recovery time, tap efficiency, and maximum pitch recoil were improved.

Did Patch 13.00 change ranked matchmaking?

Yes. Riot adjusted RR calculations, while PC matchmaking now aims to keep each team’s average rank within one sub-tier more consistently.

Final Verdict

VALORANT Patch 13.00 is a substantial Act-opening update.

Summit and Retake provide new playable content, while the Sentinel and Initiator changes may directly influence Agent selection and round pacing. The Bandit becomes more reliable, Competitive matchmaking receives targeted adjustments, and Inbox improves access to important client notifications.

The patch’s central design direction is clear: teams should be rewarded for collecting information, respecting defensive utility, and adapting their strategy throughout the round.

Killjoy is an early candidate for the biggest Agent winner, but Summit may ultimately have the greatest long-term impact. Its droppable walls introduce new decisions for rotations, site executes, retakes, and post-plant positions that players will continue developing throughout V26 Act 4.