Riot Games has released VALORANT Patch 11.04 with key updates for agents and maps before VALORANT Champions 2025. Regional playoffs are still on the old patch, but 11.04 gets players ready for international matches. These changes could affect team strategies at the year’s biggest event.

The patch gives useful buffs for Sage and Chamber. Sage’s Barrier Orb now reaches 15 meters instead of 10. Her Resurrection ultimate also reaches 12 meters. This helps her stay safe and save teammates more easily. Chamber also gets changes that give players new ways to use his abilities.

On the map side, Icebox is removed from competitive play, and Abyss returns. The map favours careful control in the middle of rounds and gives an advantage to teams that move smartly.

The tall areas and tight choke points make mistakes costly. This gives teams like G2 Esports, who play in a structured way, and Paper Rex, who can take advantage of mid-round chaos, an edge.

While Patch 11.04 won’t change the current playoffs, it will start a new meta for the Champions tour. Teams have time to adjust strategies and try out the new features. This prepares players for the exciting games fans can expect at the international event.

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Tyson ‘TenZ�Ngo is back in action after stepping away from the pro VALORANT scene. The 23-year-old Canadian star is set to stand in for Cubert Academy during the VCT Challengers Stage 2 Playoffs. His return follows Cubert’s recent roster shake-up, after Logan ‘skuba�Jenkins transferred to NRG’s VCT roster, opening a slot for the same role.

During this period, TenZ won’t only appear on broadcasts; he’s also streaming his own POV of the matches on both his YouTube and Twitch channels. This is due to his strong viewership, which counts over 100,000 viewers.

TenZ’s first match with Cubert Academy was against Winthrop on Tuesday, May 20, which ended at 2-0. The VCT playoffs follow a double-elimination format, which means fans will see TenZ play at least two matches with the roster.

TenZ last played in pro in August 2024 before shifting to content creation and streaming. His move to Cubert is not a full-time return but rather a short-term sub role. 

TenZ and the Sentinels

On May 8, TenZ announced that he had officially ‘parted ways�with Sentinels. However, the official Sentinels and their CEO Rob Moore shared that their split was made to open more opportunities for TenZ. ‘TenZ will always be Sentinels family� the Sentinels posted.

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