Ping it: VALORANT Patch 9.03 makes comms easier with smoke minimap updates

Being a controller main in VALORANT ain’t easy, and having to use separate tactical maps for deploying abilities and pinging locations doesn’t make the experience any better. Thankfully, Patch 9.03 fixes the limitation for good.

The Aug. 13 patch refreshes the special tactical maps used by Brimstone, Omen, and Clove, so players can now use the ping feature and deploy abilities from the same place. Simply put, you no longer have to open the global minimap to ping locations or indicate situations like danger or support needed—you can just do it from your agent’s minimap.

An improvement specific to map-targeted mechanics, this QoL update affects only four abilities in VALORANT, including Brimstone’s Sky Smokes and Orbital Strike, Omen’s From The Shadows, and Clove’s Ruse. Needless to say, it simplifies the player experience significantly, especially for those who like using the ping feature over offering voice comms. Nobody asked for it, but it sure is a great change. 

Additionally, Patch 9.03 brings other welcome agent changes to improve player experience. These include changes to ground-spreading abilities like Viper’s Snakebite and Brimstone’s Incendiary to reduce inconsistency in how they deal damage. You should no longer receive damage from areas outside their molly’s visible range. 

Sage’s Barrier Orb has also received an excellent update. You can now see her wall placement preview on your minimap, making it easier to deploy instant gap-free walls. If she wasn’t a beginner-friendly agent before, she definitely is one now.

While these agent updates are the biggest highlights of VALORANT Patch 9.03, the update also brings many bug fixes and a couple of general updates. You can check out the full patch notes here.