Valorant Patch 12.09: agent & meta changes

Valorant Patch 12.09: agent & meta changes

TL;DR: Patch 12.09 (released May 12, 2026) brings 0 buffs, 7 nerfs and 0 reworks across the roster, according to valking.gg's patch breakdown. In the week after, the biggest win-rate mover was Miks (+0.1pp).

  • 0 buffs, 7 nerfs, 0 reworks, 0 new

· Source: valking.gg patch analysis and tier-list data.

What changed in Patch 12.09

  • NERFNeon: jumping with High Gear no longer gives air speed bonus
  • NERFNeon: fuel only regens on kill when ultimate is active
  • NERFBucky: pellet damage 0-8m: head 40->34, body 20->17, legs 17->14
  • NERFBucky: min spread 2.6->3.0; jump spread 1.25->4
  • NERFJudge: min spread 2.25->2.5; jump spread 2.25->4
  • NERFShorty: fire rate 3.33->3.0; jump spread 1.25->4
  • NERFAll Shotguns: move/jump accuracy reduced; rope spread massively increased
  • NEUTRALRanked: MMR changes testing in non-Competitive/Unrated/Swiftplay modes

Biggest movers after Patch 12.09

Agents whose Platinum+ win rate shifted the most in the week after this patch released, per valking.gg tier-list snapshots.

  • Miks+0.1pp · 49.0%
  • Waylay+0.1pp · 48.4%
  • Reyna+0.1pp · 50.0%
  • Skye-0.1pp · 51.0%
  • Tejo+0.1pp · 49.4%
  • Cypher-0.1pp · 51.0%
  • Sova+0pp · 50.9%
  • Jett+0pp · 50.3%

Read the full official patch notes on playvalorant.com