The VALORANT community has been in a frenzy over the last few months, passionately debating the potency of Tejo, the Colombian initiator agent. For a significant amount of time, fans have clamored for Tejo to be nerfed, citing his broken abilities as a reason for his overpowered presence in the game. His guided missiles have allowed him to send two damaging missiles anywhere within a 55-meter radius, making him a formidable opponent. Moreover, his ultimate ability, a done strike, has been capable of killing any enemy in its path of fire, making him nearly unbeatable.
Recently, Riot Games finally acknowledged the concerns of the community, announcing major nerfs to Tejo’s abilities in the upcoming Patch 10.09. This move comes as a response to the fervent discourse within the VALORANT community, with many fans calling for Tejo to be brought in line with other initiators. As Anna Donlon, Studio Head of VALORANT, noted, “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 nerfs are significant, marking one of the harshest nerfs to a VALORANT agent since the last major nerf to Chamber in 2022. In recent memory, the last time an agent received multiple nerfs at once was Neon in 2024. The extent of the nerfs will likely have a substantial impact on Tejo’s presence in ranked mode and VALORANT Esports.
Riot Games Nerfs Tejo in VALORANT (Image via Getty)Statistics from V25 Act 2 reveal that 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 agents ranked Gold and above. His signature ability, Guided Salvo, had a cooldown, but following Patch 10.09, he will no longer have it. This change could lead to Tejo being picked alongside Skye, who had the second-lowest pick rate among initiators.
The nerfs will likely have a significant impact on VALORANT Esports, where Tejo has dominated the pick rate charts. In several events, Tejo had the highest pick rate, and his absence from the top spot in VCT EMEA was the only exception. With the ongoing issues at the venue, it remains to be seen if Tejo will continue to be a top pick.
Riot Games Nerfs Tejo in VALORANT (Image via Getty)The nerfs to Tejo will likely pave the way for other agents to rise to prominence. Agents like Breach, Kay/O, and Gekko may see an increase in pick rate as players adapt to the changes. Tejo’s role will likely shift, with him being used primarily as an initiator to delay the defuse during the post-plant, rather than as a primary damage dealer. Only time will tell the full impact of the Patch 10.09 nerf on Tejo, but one thing is certain – the VALORANT meta is about to undergo a significant shift. As the community waits with bated breath, one thing is clear: the era of Tejo’s dominance is coming to an end. Riot Games has finally taken steps to address the concerns of the community, and it will be interesting to see how the changes play out in the coming days.
The changes will likely have a ripple effect throughout the VALORANT community, with players and teams adjusting their strategies to adapt to the nerfs. As the game continues to evolve, one thing is certain – the VALORANT community will be watching with great interest to see how the changes impact the game. The nerfs to Tejo mark a significant shift in the meta, and it will be exciting to see how the community responds to the changes. With the game’s competitive scene constantly evolving, it will be interesting to see how teams and players adapt to the changes and adjust their strategies accordingly. The impact of the nerfs will be felt throughout the community, and it will be exciting to see how the game continues to evolve in the coming days.
