The VALORANT community has been in a state of turmoil for quite some time now, passionately debating the merits of nerfing Tejo, the Colombian initiator agent. For many, Tejo’s abilities have been considered nothing short of broken, making him nearly unbeatable on the field. His guided missiles have allowed him to wreak havoc on enemy teams, sending two damaging missiles anywhere within a 55-meter radius. His ultimate ability, a death strike, has been a game-changer, capable of taking out enemies in its path of fire.
As a result, fans have been clamoring for Riot Games to take action and nerf Tejo’s abilities. Although he did receive a minor nerf during Patch 10.04, alongside Iso, it was clear that more needed to be done. When VALORANT released the Patch Notes for Patch 10.08, many were left wondering if Riot Games was even aware of the game’s state, as there was no mention of Tejo. This sparked a heated debate within the VALORANT community, with many questioning the developer’s inaction.
Riot Games’s Tejo art (Image via Getty)The community’s pleas were finally answered when Anna Donlon, Studio Head of VALORANT, took to social media to announce that Tejo would indeed be getting nerfed in Patch 10.09. According to Donlon, “Tejo is getting nerfed in 10.09! Turns out – rockets – strong right now. And it creates situations where you don’t have effective ways to counter them. So, we’re taking some of the fuel out of his rockets and bringing him more in line with other Initiators.” The news sent suprisewaves throughout the community, with many breathing a sigh of relief.
The nerfs to Tejo’s abilities are significant, and some have even called them the harshest seen in VALORANT history, rivaling the major nerf to Chamber back in 2022. His signature ability, Guided Salvo, will no longer have a cooldown, but its effectiveness will be greatly diminished. This change could lead to a shift in pick rates, with agents like Skye potentially seeing an increase in popularity.
The statistics also paint a clear picture of Tejo’s dominance. During V25 Act 2, Tejo was the second most picked initiator in the game, with a pick rate of 22.66% and a win rate of 49.13% among players ranked Gold and above. His popularity extends to the professional scene as well, where he has had the highest pick rate in several VCT Leagues, including VCT Americas, VCT APAC, and VCT China.
Riot Games’s Tejo art (Image via Getty)However, with the nerfs, it’s likely that agents like Breach, Kay/O, and Gekko will see an increase in pick rates. Tejo’s role will likely shift to that of an initiator used to delay the defuse during the post-plant, rather than the all-rounder he currently is. As the VALORANT community waits with bated breath to see the impact of Patch 10.09 on the game, one thing is certain: Tejo’s reign has come to an end, and the meta is about to shift in a big way. Only time will tell the full extent of the nerfs on Tejo, but one thing is clear – the Colombian initiator will no longer be the go-to agent that he once was.
The community’s reaction to the nerfs has been mixed, with some players expressing relief and others lamenting the loss of their beloved agent. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Riot Games has taken a major step towards balancing the game and giving players more options. As the game continues to evolve, one thing is certain – the nerfs to Tejo’s abilities will have far-reaching consequences, and the VALORANT community will be watching with great interest. The era of Tejo’s dominance is over, and a new chapter in the game’s history is about to begin.
