TL;DR
- Riot Games confirmed running accuracy nerf is in development following community feedback
- Running and gunning has been disproportionately effective across all competitive tiers
- Senior designer Max Grossman responded directly to pro player Nicholas ‘nitr0’ Cannella
- The change will significantly impact Valorant’s tactical gameplay dynamics
- Riot’s communication approach contrasts with Valve’s historical developer silence

Since Valorant’s closed beta phase, both professional competitors and recreational players have expressed consistent dissatisfaction with movement-based shooting precision. The development team at Riot Games has now officially acknowledged these widespread concerns and committed to implementing corrective measures.
In precision-focused tactical shooters like Valorant and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, optimal play typically involves methodical positioning and deliberate movement when attacking or defending objectives. This strategic approach stems from the fundamental game mechanic that rewards stationary aiming with superior bullet placement consistency. When operators are sprinting, their targeting reliability should experience substantial degradation, mirroring realistic combat scenarios where movement compromises shooting stability.
The technique commonly referred to as “running and gunning” should theoretically serve as a situational tool deployed only when players calculate minimal retaliation risk.
However, Valorant enthusiasts rapidly identified that firearm precision—including dominant rifles like the Vandal—doesn’t sufficiently deteriorate during sprinting maneuvers. This mechanical oversight has transformed aggressive movement shooting into an unexpectedly potent tactical option. Transitioning from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive presents particular adaptation challenges for veteran players, who frequently find themselves unprepared for opponents aggressively advancing with Phantom rifles while maintaining surprising accuracy.
The effectiveness of mobile shooting precision has generated extensive community discourse spanning all competitive ranks. Both novice Iron-tier participants and elite professional competitors have collectively voiced apprehensions regarding weapon reliability during rapid movement sequences. This universal concern highlights a fundamental gameplay balance issue affecting the entire player spectrum.
Professional competitor Nicholas “nitr0” Cannella from 100 Thieves opted to communicate his criticisms directly to Valorant’s development team via social media. He humorously suggested that reducing movement-based shooting accuracy represented his primary gameplay improvement desire.
A Riot Games developer provided a substantive response to the social media post, surprising many community members with their direct engagement. This transparent communication approach demonstrates Riot’s commitment to community-driven development.

“In keeping with seasonal generosity, I can confirm our team is actively developing this adjustment,” stated senior game designer Max Grossman in his reply.
The development representative clarified that the balancing modification wouldn’t appear in the imminent update but occupies the highest priority position on the design team’s development roadmap.
This developer interaction received enthusiastic community approval, with players noting that such responsive communication was rarely experienced with competing developer Valve during their Counter-Strike: Global Offensive participation. Riot Games has maintained significantly greater transparency compared to Valve’s traditional approach, frequently addressing gameplay concerns through social media platforms and community forums.
Although the movement shooting nerf implementation might require several weeks, confirmation of its development trajectory provides substantial reassurance for the Valorant community. Players should begin preparing for a meta shift that will reward deliberate positioning over aggressive movement tactics.
For those transitioning from other tactical shooters, understanding weapon mechanics and strategic positioning will become increasingly crucial. The anticipated changes will likely influence agent selection and ability usage patterns, potentially increasing the value of controllers and sentinels who excel at area denial.
Action Checklist
- Practice stationary shooting drills and counter-strafing techniques
- Analyze current running and gunning success rates in your gameplay
- Study tactical positioning in our complete tactical guide
- Experiment with different agent classes to identify optimal post-nerf selections
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » Valorant devs claim nerf to running accuracy is finally coming Riot Games confirms running accuracy nerf in Valorant after community feedback from all skill levels
