Hush nerf talk has started in Valorant after Riot Games hinted at changes during a Reddit Q&A. Agent designer RiotNickwu named her ultimate as the first ability the team would consider adjusting. Riot is still watching Hush while players get used to her kit. The studio also said bigger Sentinel changes are coming after Patch 13.10.
This article covers the Hush nerf hint, why Riot is waiting, the Sentinel balance plans, and other details from the Q&A, including agent-inspired skins.
Hush Nerf Hint
Riot Games hinted that Hush might receive a nerf. RiotNickwu, an agent designer, answered questions in a Reddit Q&A session. He pointed to her ultimate as the first ability he would look at.
Her ultimate is called Suspension. It sends out a steerable projectile that levitates players where it lands.
Riot has not confirmed a change or a date. Patch 13.10 made no balance changes to Hush in normal modes. It only fixed visual bugs for Suspension and her animations.
Why Riot Is Waiting on Hush
Developers continue to monitor Hush. They are giving players time to get used to her abilities before making changes.
Penguin, the head of the agent balance team, said Hush had a relatively high win rate at the start. Teams also picked her often during the initial qualifiers. Riot designed her as a Duelist that needs more mechanical skill than most agents.
Third-party trackers show a different picture in ranked play. Reports list her at a 48.3% win rate and a 17.0% pick rate in Platinum+ games on patch 13.09, as of November 9, 2026.
Valorant Sentinel Balance and Patch 13.10
Riot continues to work on Valorant Sentinel balance. In Patch 13.10, developers cut ability cooldowns after device destruction for Cypher, Killjoy, and Vyse. The cooldown drops from 60 to 45 seconds for Cypher’s Spycam, Killjoy’s Turret, and Vyse’s Arc Rose.
The patch also improved the accuracy of Sage’s healing.
Penguin said the team is preparing more than small tweaks and buffs. Riot plans larger Sentinel changes and will share details later.
Hush Abilities and Design Notes
The Q&A also covered how Riot built Hush. The team tested her remote weapon pickup as a signature ability. It later moved to her passive.
With that passive, Hush can pick up the Spike on the attacking side. She can also activate switches from a greater distance.
Riot also shared a design note about Tejo. The team first tested his Q ability with Clove, but it made the agent too self-sufficient. Riot then reworked the mechanic for Tejo.
Agent-Inspired Skins Under Consideration
Valorant’s game director, Joe Lee, said Riot is considering agent-inspired skin collections. A set could reflect an agent’s character and abilities in the weapon’s look and visual effects.
Riot has not announced any specific sets yet.
