TL;DR
- Judge shotgun price increases from 1600 to 1850 credits in upcoming update
- Most other weapons receive price reductions to improve accessibility
- Professional players and streamers have criticized Judge’s overpowered close-range performance
- Weapon economy changes will significantly impact competitive strategies
- Update expected in Episode 3 after Patch 2.11 skipped weapon pricing changes
Certain firearms in Valorant consistently create frustration within the player community, with the Judge shotgun standing out as particularly problematic since launch. Recent intelligence from credible sources indicates this notorious close-range dominator has finally captured the attention of Riot Games’ balancing team for necessary adjustments.
ValorLeaks maintains an established reputation for accurate Valorant intelligence, with their latest revelation focusing on comprehensive weapon pricing modifications. Their report suggests numerous firearms will receive significant price reductions in forthcoming updates, while the Judge encounters a deliberate cost increase.
Future Weapon Price Changes |
#VALORANT
~ Frenzy : 500 >>> 450
~ Stinger : 1100 >>> 950
~ Bucky: 900 >>> 850
~ Judge: 1600 >>> 1850
~ Bulldog: 2100 >>> 2050
~ Guardian: 2400 >>> 2250
~ Marshall: 1000 >>> 950
~ Operator: 5000 >>> 4700
~ Ares: 1600 >>> 1550— Mike – Valorant Leaks & Info (@ValorLeaks)
June 7, 2021
The leaked pricing data reveals strategic economic recalibration across Valorant’s arsenal. While eight weapons receive cost reductions between 50-300 credits, the Judge stands alone with a 250 credit price hike. This selective adjustment targets the weapon’s accessibility during eco rounds and force buy situations where it currently dominates.
Valorant’s weapon ecosystem generally maintains solid balance, yet community demands for Judge modifications have intensified over recent seasons. This budget shotgun delivers devastating performance in confined spaces, requiring minimal aiming precision while offering exceptional cost efficiency. Within close engagement distances, the Judge can eliminate fully armored opponents using just nine rounds, with headshots inflicting double damage to accelerate time-to-kill dramatically.
Is the Judge overpowered in Valorant?
Despite carrying the highest shotgun price tag at 1600 credits, the Judge’s damage output creates exceptional value proposition. Numerous competitors conserve substantial resources by utilizing the affordable Judge even during full purchase rounds. This approach can degrade match quality for opponents wielding premium rifles like Vandal and Phantom when engagements occur in tight corridors and confined areas. Both ranked competitors and professional players consistently highlight how the Judge’s current balance disrupts competitive integrity, and developers appear responsive to these concerns.
- Twitch streamer Shroud wants shotgun Judge deleted from Valorant
Intelligence confirms the Judge’s cost will escalate in future game versions. The shotgun’s new 1850 credit price represents a meaningful nerf through economic adjustment. While most firearms experience notable price reductions, the Judge receives its long-requested balancing through this pricing strategy. Mechanically, the weapon operates similarly to other shotguns while delivering superior effectiveness, justifying the development team’s decision to regulate its usage through economic barriers.
The Operator sniper rifle will become more accessible with its price reduction, alongside the Frenzy, Stinger, Ares, Bucky, Bulldog, and Marshall. These comprehensive pricing modifications will profoundly influence in-game economy management and overall match tempo. Notably, primary assault rifles escape these adjustments, with both Vandal and Phantom remaining at their current 2900 credit cost.
The implementation timeline for these economic adjustments remains uncertain. Patch 2.11 recently deployed without incorporating weapon pricing modifications, suggesting players should anticipate these changes arriving with Episode 3’s deployment. This staggered implementation allows for proper community adaptation and meta evolution tracking following the significant economic restructuring.
Action Checklist
- Practice with soon-to-be-cheaper weapons like Stinger and Operator to prepare for meta shift
- Develop alternative close-range strategies beyond Judge dependency for post-nerf adaptation
- Analyze your current economic patterns to optimize for new pricing structure
- Watch professional play to observe how top players adapt to the economic changes
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Leak shows price increase for Judge, other guns get cheaper Valorant's Judge shotgun faces price nerf while other weapons get cheaper in upcoming economy update