VALORANT Patch 12.05 Leaks Reveal Major Clove Nerf and Yoru Changes Ahead of Act 2

The FPS community needs to prepare for two major changes because the upcoming massive VALORANT Patch notes leaks imply that all game mechanics will change during Act 2. Data miners discovered multiple roster balance changes after Masters Santiago ended with the Clove nerf VALORANT becoming the most awaited adjustment by Valorant players. Here's everything you need to know about the Clove and Yoru nerfs.

Clove Nerf: End of the Post-Death Dominance?

Clove has an exceptionally high win rate since its introduction because players can use their abilities to change match outcomes after they get killed. The Valorant Clove Nerf that leaked targets the character's main power by reducing their "life after death" powers to 50 per cent of their original strength.

• Ruse (Smoke): Smoke duration is reportedly being slashed from 14 seconds down to 6 seconds when cast while dead.
• Meddle (Decay): The area of effect will reduce from 6m to 4m, which makes it simpler to evade the debuff in narrow spaces.

The 6-second smoke duration is a game-changer. The smoke no longer lasts long enough for Clove players to execute their strategies through death, which forces them to respond to their enemies who attack their base.

Those looking for rewards can check out our separate coverage on exclusive items in VALORANT.

Yoru Nerf: Changing the Duelist Meta

Meanwhile, Controller agents are not the only ones receiving nerfs; the dimensional traveller, too, has his abilities reduced. The Yoru Nerf Valorant fans are hearing about in the leaks means Riot wants to cut down on his overwhelming map pressure and those get-out-of-jail cards.

• Gatecrash(TP): Teleport tether duration is being cut by half from 30 seconds to 15 seconds. This drastically hinders Yoru's ability to perform distant cross-map lurks.
• Blindside(Flash): Yoru's nerfs also consist of a reduction in flash charges from 2 to 1, thus substantially lowering his solo-entry capabilities.

What These Changes Could Mean for Patch 12.05

The changes revealed in these first-round patch notes represent a move to a more deliberate utility usage. Though Clove is still the only Controller capable of smoking while dead, the time frame for the opportunity is now very narrow. In the same way, Yoru players must now act faster on their plays. The patch will most likely be released with Episode 12, Act 2, scheduled for March 18, 2026.

The game also recently brought back 2 classic VALORANT maps to the competitive pool. This was our complete coverage of the Clove nerf Valorant.