Being a controller main in VALORANT isn’t easy, and having to use separate tactical maps to deploy abilities and ping locations doesn’t make for a better experience. Thankfully, Patch 9.03 fixes the limitation for good.

The August 13 patch revamps the special tactical maps used by Brimstone, Omen, and Clove, allowing players to now use the ping function and deploy abilities from the same spot. Simply put, you no longer need to open the global minimap to ping locations or flag situations like danger or needed support. You can do it right from your agent’s minimap.

An improvement specific to map-centric mechanics, this QoL update only affects four abilities in VALORANT, including Brimstone’s Sky Smokes and Orbital Strike, Omen’s From The Shadows, and Clove’s Ruse. Needless to say, it should simplify the player experience considerably, especially for those who prefer the ping function over voice communication. No one asked for it, but it’s certainly a cool change.

Additionally, Patch 9.03 brings other welcome agent changes to improve the player experience. These include changes to ground-spreading abilities like Viper’s Snakebite and Brimstone’s Incendiary to reduce inconsistencies in how they deal damage. You should no longer take damage from areas outside of their molly’s visible range.