Valorant’s newest update dropped some big changes across the board, but if you’re here for the Tejo nerfs, buckle up. Riot Games just handed Tejo a major slap on the wrist, and let’s be real, it was about time.
Since his release, Tejo has been one of the most overpowered initiators in the game. His rocket-heavy kit let players dominate rounds without much risk or counterplay. That’s changing now, and it’s going to affect how Tejo mains (and their enemies) approach every match moving forward.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about the nerfs, the reasoning behind them, and what it means for Tejo’s role in your squad.
Tejo Nerfs Explained: What’s Changing and Why
Tejo came out swinging, literally. His Guided Salvo rocket ability was strong, maybe too strong. It lets players apply pressure from long distances, control space, and even flip entire rounds with minimal investment and risk. Riot picked up on the community feedback (and probably the data), and they’re dialing it back.
Here are the Tejo nerfs in a nutshell:
Guided Salvo
- Cost: 150 credits. Not crazy expensive, but no longer spammable.
- Free charge: You still get one free charge every round.
- Per rocket charge: Every rocket you fire now costs one charge.
- No cooldown: This sounds like a buff, but hear us out, it’s balanced by the limited charges.
- Map Targeting Range: Decreased from 55m to 45m.
This makes the ability more of a high-commitment tool. Spam it blindly and you’re out of rockets with nothing to show. Use it smartly, and it’s still a round-changer. It’s all about calculated aggression now.
Stealth Drone
- Cost increase: 300 >>> 400 credits.
Yup, the drone just got pricier. Riot clearly thinks this utility was too strong for its cost, especially in combo plays with Guided Salvo. Expect to see fewer Tejo players grabbing this on every buy round.
Special Delivery
- Cost decrease: 300 >>> 200 credits.
This is the one buff in the bunch. Tejo’s economy gets a slight shift here to give players more flexibility, especially if they’re skipping the drone.
Armageddon (Ultimate)
- Ult Points: Increased from 8 >>> 9.
This one stings. Tejo’s ult was already strong, and this change lines it up with other high-impact ults like Killjoy’s Lockdown. You’ll need to work harder to earn it now.
Why the Tejo Nerfs Were Necessary
Riot didn’t just wake up and decide to nerf Tejo for fun. According to the patch notes, they’ve been tracking how Tejo’s kit affects overall match health. The main issues?
- Low-risk high-reward plays – Tejo could swing rounds without much cost.
- Oppressive rocket spam – Even uninformed or poorly timed Salvo uses could still pressure teams too hard.
- Economic imbalance – Strong abilities were too cheap, making full-loadout Tejo too common.
The devs want Tejo to still feel powerful, but only when played smart. These nerfs force more intentional use of his tools while still letting him clear angles and set up plays like a proper initiator.
How This Impacts Gameplay Across All Platforms
Whether you’re playing on PC or console, the Tejo nerfs change the flow of your matches. Here’s what to expect:
- More conservative rocket use – Expect Tejo players to be more calculated with Guided Salvo.
- Tighter economy – No more luxury buy rounds with everything in the kit.
- Less map-wide harassment – Reduced range means more positioning risk.
- Longer wait for the ult – You’ll see Armageddon less often, and that’s probably a good thing.
For teammates, this means you can no longer count on Tejo to brute-force every choke. For enemies, it means more breathing room to try different plays and counter-strats.
Other Notable Patch Highlights
While the Tejo nerfs are the headline here, the patch also dropped a bunch of other updates worth mentioning:
- Breach Nerf: Fault Line now takes longer to detonate (1s >>> 1.2s), giving players more time to dodge the stun.
- Gifting Limit Increased: You can now send up to 10 gifts per day starting May 15. Just in time for the new Give Back // V25 bundle.
- Swiftplay Adjustments: Starting ult points now scale better with the cost. Breach, Killjoy, and Viper get +1 starting point to help hit those powerful ultimates mid-half.
- Cosmetic Bug Fixes: Some visual bugs with skins were fixed (and even turned into easter eggs). Riot also plans to fix a new Bolt skinline brightness issue in patch 10.11.
Final Thoughts on the Tejo Nerfs
The Tejo nerfs are a big step in balancing Valorant’s competitive ecosystem. Tejo still has one of the most unique kits in the game, but now it demands more precision, awareness, and smart econ decisions. If you’re a Tejo main, it’s time to adapt. Focus on quality over quantity.
Whether you love or hate the changes, one thing’s clear: Riot’s listening. And they’re making moves to keep the game fair and fun.
Stay sharp, frag smart, and let those rockets fly—just not too many.
