- Primary Subject: Valorant Patch 12.09 Changes
- Key Update: Valorant devs have detailed the changes patch 12.09 will implement on Neon and the shotguns.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 8, 2026
- Quick Answer: Neon is finally getting a nerf with patch 12.09 of Valorant, along with shotguns.
Several weeks after leakers stated that changes to Waylay and Neon were coming to Valorant, this is finally becoming a reality for the latter. The Duelist agent has been a controversial figure for a while because of how players are able to exploit her movement, especially in the pro scene.
After removing the character temporarily from the game due to a visual bug, Riot confirmed that nerfs to Neon are coming with patch 12.09.
In a new post on X, developers from the balance team shared more details on these nerfs, along with the upcoming shotgun changes. For starters, here are the four changes that will be implemented to the agent:
- Jumping with High Gear active no longer provides any speed bonus while Neon is airborne. Instead, Neon’s air speed while sprinting will match melee speed.
- Fuel will only regenerate with a kill when Neon's ultimate is active
- Fuel will still regenerate passively
- Improved VFX to more clearly communicate the direction and origin of her slide
On the other hand, these are the changes coming to shotguns:
- All shotguns are now less accurate when moving
- Run, walk, crouch-walk, and jump inaccuracy values have been standardized across all shotguns
- Crouching now provides a 15% accuracy multiplier for all shotguns
- Bucky: crouched accuracy modifier increased from 10 >>> 15%
- Judge/Shorty: crouched accuracy modifier decreased from 25 >>> 15%
- This was a slight multiplier buff for the Bucky while crouching (that was previously inconsistent relative to the other shotguns at a 10% additional accuracy modifier) but a larger nerf for the Judge and Shorty’s crouched states
The developers also shared the following chart showing the new values each shotgun will have after the patch:
Patch 12.09 is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, May 12, or Wednesday, May 13, depending on your region. For more information about the release timings and the full patch notes once they're available, make sure to visit this article.
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