TL;DR
- Shorty price doubled to 300 with reduced reserve ammo and damage falloff
- Frenzy minimum spread increased significantly affecting early bullet accuracy
- Movement-based accuracy penalties enhanced across all weapon categories
- Both pistols now require more strategic positioning and economic consideration
- High-stakes gameplay will see reduced viability for these previously dominant sidearms
Riot Games has implemented significant balancing adjustments to Valorant’s pistol ecosystem in patch 6.11, specifically targeting the Frenzy and Shorty that have dominated early-round engagements.
While these secondary weapons remain technically functional, competitive players increasingly avoid them during critical moments due to their inconsistent performance under pressure. Mastering either firearm demands precise utility coordination and exceptional movement mechanics, particularly with the Shorty requiring calculated positioning. Despite their situational effectiveness, both weapons demonstrated overwhelming power in specific scenarios, prompting developers to implement these crucial balancing measures.
Alongside Viper modifications, the Frenzy and Shorty receive substantial adjustments that will reshape their role in the current meta.
Frenzy and Shorty Accuracy Adjustments
The Shorty undergoes comprehensive nerfs targeting its economic accessibility and combat reliability. It transitions from being an affordable round-two purchase to a strategic investment requiring careful economic planning. The compact shotgun now carries substantially fewer reserve rounds while experiencing meaningful damage reduction at key engagement distances.
Examine the complete adjustment details below:
- Reserve ammo adjusted from 10 >>> 6
- Price adjusted from 150 >>> 300
- Damage at no falloff adjusted from 12 >>> 11
- Damage at first step falloff (7 meters) adjusted from 8 >>> 6
Traditionally effective within approximately 15 meters due to damage falloff characteristics, the Shorty now presents even greater risk-reward dynamics with these reduced effectiveness parameters.
Pro Tip: The Shorty’s doubled cost means you can no longer purchase it alongside full utility in eco rounds. Consider pairing it with a light armor purchase instead of attempting to maintain full utility sets.
Riot’s balancing efforts extend to the Frenzy with multiple handling characteristic adjustments that impact its combat performance.
Key technical modifications include:
- Minimum spread increased from .45 to .65
- Spread curve has been adjusted for the maximum spread to reach 5 bullets instead of 6.
- Recoil Pitch has also been adjusted for the max recoil of the Frenzy to be reached with 5 bullets instead of 6. Total recoil is lowered to compensate.
These changes translate to noticeably reduced accuracy, particularly during sustained fire. The increased minimum spread means your first shots will be less precise, while the accelerated spread progression reduces effective burst duration.
Common Mistake: Players often overcommit to Frenzy sprays beyond 15 meters. With these changes, controlled 3-4 round bursts become essential, and full-auto spraying should be reserved for emergency close-quarters situations only.
The recoil compensation attempts to maintain some controllability, but the fundamental accuracy reduction demands adjusted engagement strategies and more disciplined trigger control.
Beyond direct weapon adjustments, Riot has modified how accuracy functions during movement on ropes, ziplines, and ascenders. The minimum spread while using these movement mechanics now increases to 65% of standard walking spread values.
Specific numerical adjustments across weapon categories:
- Rifles from .8 >>> 1.3
- Classic from .35 >>> .55
- Frenzy from .35 >>> .52
- Ghost from .35 >>> .6
- Sheriff from .35 >>> .78
- SMGs from .3 >>> .65
These universal accuracy penalties create consistent disadvantages when firing during rotational or transitional movement. The changes particularly impact aggressive playstyles that rely on movement mechanics for positioning advantages.
Strategic Insight: These adjustments reward players who establish positions before engaging rather than those who shoot while traversing. Consider these mechanics when planning your map control strategies and rotation timing.
These comprehensive modifications represent Riot’s ongoing effort to balance Valorant’s pistol meta while maintaining distinctive weapon characteristics and strategic diversity in patch 6.11.
Action Checklist
- Adjust eco round purchases: Shorty now costs 300, plan your utility budget accordingly
- Practice Frenzy burst patterns (3-4 rounds) at 10-15 meter ranges
- Master Shorty positioning within 7-meter optimal range
- Develop movement discipline: avoid shooting while on ropes or ziplines
- Analyze opponent pistol purchases to counter new economic strategies
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Riot has nerfed Valorant’s most deadly pistols in patch 6.11 Valorant patch 6.11 rebalances Frenzy and Shorty with accuracy nerfs and economic adjustments