Hold onto your keyboards, agents, because the seismic shockwaves of Episode 3 Act 2 have finally rumbled across the servers! As of September 8th, 2026, the landscape of our beloved tactical shooter has been irrevocably altered. I've been grinding through the carnage, and let me tell you, the 3.05 update isn't just a patch; it's a declaration of war on the old meta. We've got a brand-spanking-new map to master, a slew of agent adjustments that will make you reevaluate your entire playbook, and competitive changes that are shaking the leaderboards to their very core. Forget everything you thought you knew; it's time to adapt or get left in the digital dust.

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AGENT APOCALYPSE: The Great Nerfening and Structural Shifts

The balance team at Riot has been busy with the nerf bat, and oh boy, did they swing for the fences! The headlines are dominated by two names: Killjoy and Raze. My precious Killjoy's trusty Turret? Gutted! Its bullet tagging effectiveness has been slashed by a soul-crushing 84.31%. It's less of a sentry now and more of a noisy doorbell. Devastating.

And Raze mains, brace yourselves. Her Boom Bot's explosive payload has been significantly downgraded. We're talking:

  • Maximum Damage: Reduced from a lethal 125 to a mere 80. šŸ’„

  • Minimum Damage: Slashed from 50 down to 30. šŸ˜¢

The one silver lining? The cost of this now-peaceful protest bot has been reduced from 400 to 300 credits. A small consolation for a monumental nerf.

But the changes run deeper! The fabric of ability interaction has been rewoven. Breach's Aftershock, Brimstone's Orbital Strike, and Sova's Hunter's Fury now smartly target and destroy pesky utility. We're talking about a clean sweep for:

  • Killjoy's Nanoswarm and Alarmbot

  • Cypher's Trapwire

  • Sage's Barrier Orb

  • Sova's Recon Bolt (watch out for your own arrows!)

  • KAY/O's Zero/Point dagger

This is a game-changer for post-plant scenarios and clearing entrenched defenses. No more hiding behind a Sage wall!

COMPETITIVE COSMOS: The Immortal Ascension Returns!

The ranked ladder just got a whole lot more interesting and terrifying. The legendary Immortal 1, 2, and 3 rank tiers have made their glorious return, bringing back the prestige and the pain. The leaderboard now properly reflects the hierarchy of skill among the elite.

Updated Ranked Grouping Restrictions:

Your Rank You Can Queue With...
Diamond 1 Up to Immortal 1
Diamond 2 Up to Immortal 2
Diamond 3 Up to Immortal 3

But that's not all! To ensure we all learn the intricacies of the new battleground, Fracture will have its own dedicated queue for two weeks before being integrated into the standard map rotation for Unrated and Competitive. No more Insta-locking Fracture in a desperate hope to learn it; we're all going to school together!

SOCIAL & PROGRESSION PERKS: Sweetening the Deal

Looking to blaze through the Battlepass? Riot is offering a tantalizing carrot. Upgrade to the Premium Battlepass, and you'll receive a permanent 3% XP boost towards tier progression for the entire duration of Act II! The earlier you upgrade, the more value you extract. Just remember, this boost doesn't apply to Daily or Weekly Missionsā€”those you'll still have to grind the old-fashioned way.

PERFORMANCE POLISH & BUG SQUASHING

The wizards behind the curtain have been tweaking the engine for a smoother, more responsive experience.

  • Ping Calculation: Updated to exclude server frame time, giving you a more accurate representation of your true network latency.

  • NVIDIA Reflex: Updated markers allow Reflex to better pace frames, reducing system latency for those with compatible hardware. Every millisecond counts!

And of course, a host of pesky bugs have been exterminated:

  • Agents: No more visual nightmares from overlapping Viper smokes. Omen won't get eternally stuck in geometry after using From the Shadows. Weapon draw speeds for Omen after Dark Cover and Astra after exiting Astral Form have been corrected. And KAY/O's ultimate waves will no longer unnecessarily shatter the glass on Ascentā€”preserving tactical sound cues!

  • Competitive: Various backend fixes to ensure the ranked experience is as fair and stable as possible.

So there you have it, soldiers! The 3.05 patch is a tectonic shift. It demands new strategies, punishes outdated habits, and rewards intelligent, adaptive play. The Fracture awaits, the meta is in flux, and glory is there for the taking. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a new map to get lost in and a crippled Turret to mourn. See you on the battlefield! šŸŽÆšŸ”„