TL;DR
- Brimstone’s ultimate now creates a solid vision-blocking barrier affecting both teams
- New mechanics prevent utility passage and recon abilities requiring line of sight
- Strategic applications expand for post-plant scenarios and area denial tactics
- Radar functionality changes create new information warfare dynamics
- Agent viability improves significantly on tight-corridor maps like Bind
Riot Games is delivering substantial quality-of-life improvements to Valorant’s foundational controller agent, Brimstone, through comprehensive adjustments in the upcoming 4.03 update. The seasoned commander receives targeted enhancements that address long-standing community concerns about his competitive relevance.
Brimstone’s tactical toolkit has historically struggled to match the dynamic capabilities of newer controller agents. Following Astra’s introduction and Viper’s subsequent buffs, this veteran operator gradually faded from the professional meta. His outdated equipment interface and limited incendiary charges positioned him alongside Omen as one of the least-selected agents in ranked and professional play.
Valorant Patch 4.03 introduces transformative changes designed to reinvigorate Brimstone’s strategic value. Players who maintained confidence in his expansive smoke coverage and devastating ultimate ability will discover renewed potential. These systematic refinements aim to elevate his selection frequency across various competitive scenarios.
When developers initially hinted at potential improvements, the community proposed numerous creative suggestions. However, the implemented solution demonstrates Riot’s innovative approach to agent balancing, introducing unexpected mechanical changes that redefine his role.
Brimstone’s Ultimate Becomes a Solid Barrier
The latest update fundamentally reimagines Brimstone’s orbital strike, transforming it from a penetrable laser into an impenetrable concrete barrier that obstructs vision comprehensively. Previously, his ultimate functioned primarily as a high-damage area denial tool that enemies could bypass with careful utility usage. Opponents retained the ability to deploy abilities through the laser field, while Brimstone maintained limited enemy tracking through radar pings.
Riot’s official Patch 4.03 documentation confirms that the orbital strike now creates a complete gameplay visibility blockade during its activation period. This alteration revolutionizes how minimap intelligence functions during ultimate deployment. Brimstone loses the capability to detect enemy positions via radar when they remain outside the ultimate’s area of effect. This tactical trade-off accompanies a significant defensive enhancement: the vision barrier equally prevents adversaries from projecting utility through the protected zone.
During Brimstone’s ultimate activation sequence, he enters a vulnerable casting animation where enemy counterplay was previously effective. Opponents could previously launch reconnaissance darts, grenades, and other line-of-sight dependent abilities through the strike zone. The revised mechanics now block all abilities requiring visual contact, including flash bangs and Sova’s reconnaissance pulses. This forces enemies to either retreat completely or engage without their crucial utility support.
Is Brimstone a Good Controller?
In the current Episode 4 meta, Brimstone doesn’t rank as the premier controller choice, but these calculated adjustments should substantially increase his utilization rates. He maintains particular effectiveness on confined maps such as Bind, where his smoke deployments excel at sealing narrow entry points and creating choke point advantages.
Advanced Tactical Applications: The barrier functionality introduces sophisticated post-plant scenarios. Defenders cannot deploy recon through the ultimate to gather site information, while attackers gain protected defuse opportunities. This creates unprecedented strategic depth for coordinated team play.
Common Strategic Errors: Many players mistakenly deploy the ultimate too early in rounds, wasting its area denial potential. Optimal timing involves using it during execute phases or retake situations where the vision denial provides maximum tactical value.
Optimization Techniques: High-level Brimstone players should coordinate ultimate usage with teammate abilities. Combining the orbital strike with area denial tools like Viper’s pit or Killjoy’s lockdown creates nearly impenetrable zone control.
Mechanical Nuances: The ultimate now requires more precise placement since its barrier effect impacts both teams equally. Strategic positioning can block defender rotations while protecting planting attackers simultaneously.
Brimstone’s overhaul represents Riot’s commitment to refreshing older agents while maintaining gameplay balance. These changes position him as a more versatile controller with unique barrier mechanics that differentiate him from other smoke agents. Players should experiment with new ultimate placements to maximize its disruptive potential against organized team strategies.
The changes also create interesting synergies with other controllers. When learning agent selection strategies, our Class Guide provides comprehensive insights into team composition optimization.
Action Checklist
- Practice ultimate placement on Bind’s A and B sites to block common defender angles
- Coordinate orbital strike usage with teammate recon abilities for maximum information denial
- Master post-plant ultimate timing to create protected defuse scenarios
- Experiment with barrier placements to block both vision and utility passage simultaneously
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Brimstone finally gets a much-needed buff in Valorant Patch 4.03 Brimstone's ultimate transformation creates tactical barriers and strategic opportunities in Valorant Patch 4.03