TL;DR
- Raze’s Showstopper ultimate failed to damage Cloud9 meL due to a visibility check bug in tight spaces
- Valorant uses simplified circle-based explosion mechanics rather than realistic physics simulations
- The bug occurs when explosions slip into environmental objects, failing collision detection
- Riot identified two potential fixes: collision setting adjustments or visibility logic improvements
- Understanding these mechanics helps optimize positioning against all explosive abilities
Professional Valorant player Melanie “meL” Capone from Cloud9 White recently experienced one of the game’s most perplexing technical issues during a competitive stream. The incident involved Raze’s ultimate ability, Showstopper, which unexpectedly failed to deliver any damage despite being deployed at close range.
During a critical round where meL successfully clutched the situation, an opposing Raze activated her rocket launcher moments before elimination. Contrary to expectations, the explosive projectile detonated without harming meL, creating a scenario that defied normal game mechanics.
can anyone explain this ???? pic.twitter.com/St1AooxOS5
— C9 meL (@mel_anji) February 10, 2021
The professional player shared the puzzling clip on social media, prompting an immediate and detailed technical response from Riot Games developer Riot Nu.
Yes! It’s a bug, and we can fix it.
Games are built on approximations of the real world for performance reasons. VALORANT doesn’t simulate the physics of a real explosion. This bug is a case where our approximation falls short. (1/9) https://t.co/4NGRMMRtEn
— Riot Nu (@RiotNu) February 11, 2021
How does Raze’s Ultimate work in Valorant?
Riot developer Nu provided unprecedented insight into Valorant’s underlying explosion mechanics, revealing how the game balances realism with performance requirements. Unlike realistic physics simulations, Valorant employs optimized computational models.
The system utilizes concentric damage circles where players must position themselves within specific zones to receive maximum impact. The inner circle delivers lethal damage while the outer ring inflicts reduced injury, creating predictable but efficient gameplay patterns.
Critical to this system is the visibility check mechanism that determines whether explosive damage can reach a target. This system evaluates whether there’s an unobstructed path from the explosion center to the player character.
In standard scenarios, this approach functions reliably. However, complex environmental geometry can disrupt the calculation process, particularly in confined areas where collision detection becomes challenging.
For players looking to master explosive abilities, understanding these mechanics provides significant tactical advantages in positioning and ability timing decisions.
The specific failure in meL’s case occurred when Raze’s Showstopper rocket penetrated environmental geometry, specifically slipping inside a pallet object. This penetration caused the visibility check system to incorrectly determine there was no valid path to the target.
Riot Nu identified the core issue as a collision detection problem where the explosion’s origin point registered inside solid objects rather than in open space. This placement triggered failure in the damage calculation pipeline.
The developer outlined two primary remediation approaches: modifying collision parameters on problematic environmental assets or enhancing the visibility check algorithm to better handle confined spaces.
The fix here is to either adjust the collision settings on the problematic pallet or to adjust the logic driving the visibility checks to better handle small spaces. (9/9)
— Riot Nu (@RiotNu) February 11, 2021
This type of bug demonstrates the constant balancing act game developers perform between computational efficiency and gameplay accuracy. Similar issues can affect other explosive abilities including Raze’s Paint Shells grenades and Boombot deployments.
Advanced players should note that positioning near complex geometry might occasionally provide unexpected protection, though relying on such bugs is risky as they’re typically patched quickly.
Beyond simply understanding the technical glitch, competitive players can extract valuable strategic insights from this incident. Understanding that Valorant’s explosion system uses simplified geometric calculations rather than realistic physics enables more informed decision-making.
When facing Raze or using her abilities, consider these tactical adjustments: position yourself in clear open areas when expecting explosive attacks, avoid clustering near complex environmental objects that might trigger detection issues, and recognize that similar mechanics govern all explosive abilities in the game.
The incident also highlights the importance of reporting unusual gameplay behavior, as professional players like meL provide crucial data that helps improve the game for everyone.
For those looking to deepen their understanding of Valorant’s core systems, our Complete Guide provides comprehensive coverage of game mechanics that can enhance your competitive performance.
Mastering ability interactions is crucial for success. Check out our Class Guide to optimize your agent selection and gameplay approach based on these technical understandings.
Action Checklist
- Position in open areas when anticipating explosive attacks to ensure consistent damage application
- Report unusual ability behavior through official channels to contribute to game improvement
- Study explosive ability ranges and visibility requirements to optimize your gameplay
- Analyze complex environmental geometry on maps to understand potential collision detection issues
- Experiment with Raze’s other explosive abilities to identify consistent mechanical patterns
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Cloud9 Mel highlights a bug in Raze ult, Riot developer responds Understanding Raze's Showstopper bug mechanics and how Valorant's explosion system actually works