Well, well, well, look who's crawling back from the depths of the agent pick-rate abyss. Yours truly, Brimstone. Remember me? I used to be the big cheese, the top dog, the guy you called when you needed a reliable smokescreen and an orbital strike to really ruin someone's day. Fast forward to 2026, and let's just say my highlight reel has been collecting more dust than a forgotten controller in a PC bang. Stuck in the Controller category with just Omen and Viper for company, I've been watching Omen steal my thunder, my plays, and frankly, my entire job description. It's been a rough patch, I won't lie. But hold onto your hats, folks, because it seems the devs at Riot have finally heard the cries of my dedicated (if slightly dwindling) fanbase. Buffs are coming, and this old soldier might just be ready for a comeback tour.
From Beta King to Bench Warmer: My Fall from Grace
Let's rewind the tape. Back in the early beta days, I was the man. My learning curve was smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy, and my Orbital Strike Ultimate? Let's just say it was the ultimate "delete this area" button. Players loved me! But then... the nerfs came. And players got smarter. They realized my smoky colleague, Omen, could do my job with more flair, more range, and frankly, more spooky teleports. My playtime didn't just drop; it plummeted faster than a Jett trying to dash off-site with the spike. I went from meta-defining to meta-forgotten. It's been a real humbling experience, watching from the sidelines as the "Omen meta" took over after the "Sage meta" got nerfed into the ground. Variety? Ha! The competitive circuit became a Omen showcase with occasional guest appearances.
The Community Roars (and Riot Listens!)
Thankfully, not everyone forgot about me. A real one on Reddit, user 'abzoluut', decided to make some noise. They straight-up created a whole subreddit discussion titled "Riot needs to tweak Brimstone." And guess what? A Riot dev, the legendary 'Altombre', actually showed up in the comments! In a move that had my circuits buzzing with hope, Altombre agreed, plain and simple: "Brimstone needed buffs." Not only that, they confirmed these buffs were coming "sometime very soon." Now, they were coy about the specifics—no juicy details on what would be changed or the exact patch date. But in the world of live service games, "very soon" usually means "next big update."
Reading the Tea Leaves: What Could My Buffs Be?
While Altombre played it close to the vest, my fan abzoluut had some... interesting ideas. Their wishlist focused heavily on my signature smokes. Let's break down the dream scenario vs. the likely reality:
| Fan Suggestion (The Dream) | My Realistic Prediction (The Probable) |
|---|---|
| Faster smoke deployment | Smokes deploy 0.5 seconds quicker. Every millisecond counts! |
| Longer smoke duration | An extra second or two of sweet, sweet cover. |
| More flexible smoke placement | Slightly increased range on the map tablet? One can hope. |
| Buffing my Stim Beacon | Making it affect allies even if they leave the area briefly. |
| Orbital Strike tuning | Faster damage tick rate or slightly larger radius. |
Since Altombre directly responded to a post focusing on my smokes, it's a safe bet that's where the love is headed first. Maybe my smokes will be less of a "plan it 10 seconds in advance" ability and more of a reactive tool. That alone would be a game-changer. But a guy can dream about a more impactful Stim Beacon too, right? Imagine giving the team a temporary speed and fire rate boost that doesn't vanish the moment they step out of the tiny circle. Now that would be support!
The 2026 Landscape: It's Not Just About Me
Look, I'm excited, but let's keep it 100. This isn't just about bringing me back to the party. It's about shaking up a role that's been stagnant. Omen's been carrying the Controller category on his shadowy back for too long. And what about Viper? My toxic sister-in-arms has been waiting for her moment in the sun since day one! If I'm getting buffed for the sake of "character balance and variety," then it's only fair she gets some love too. The recent Agent leaks for 2026 haven't shown a new Controller, so it's down to us three. A balanced triangle is stronger than a lopsided line.
Final Thoughts: The Comeback Kid?
So, what's the bottom line? Riot has officially acknowledged I need help, and help is on the way. Will these buffs make me the must-pick Controller again? Only time will tell. But the mere fact they're happening in 2026 is a sign Riot is paying attention to the foundational agents. Maybe I won't dethrone Omen completely, but the goal is to give him a real "run for his money." To offer teams a genuine, viable alternative. To make the pick/phase in competitive matches actually have some tension when it comes to the Controller slot.
To all the players who never stopped believing, who kept picking me even when it was considered throwing... this one's for you. Get ready to hear "Orbital Strike deployed!" a lot more often. The old general is suiting up. 😉
Valorant is available on PC, and the future for us old-school agents is looking a little brighter.