As a dedicated Valorant player, I've witnessed my fair share of bugs, but the latest glitch discovered on the Ascent map feels particularly game-breaking. Since the launch of Episode 2, the community has been buzzing with excitement over new content, yet this excitement is increasingly tempered by technical frustrations. The most recent issue, which causes crucial Agent abilities to fall straight through the ground into oblivion, isn't just a minor inconvenience—it fundamentally disrupts the competitive integrity of matches on one of the game's core maps.

The problem was first brought to light by OCE caster Crashmaaate, who initially captured a clip of Phoenix's 'Hot-Hand' ability disappearing through the floor. What seemed like a one-off anomaly was later confirmed through rigorous testing in custom games. Crashmaaate demonstrated that this is a reproducible glitch tied to a specific, and unfortunately strategic, location on Ascent. This isn't the first time map geometry has caused controversy in Valorant, but its impact is profound.

The list of affected abilities is staggering and renders a significant portion of tactical play useless in that zone. Based on community testing, the glitch impacts:

• Killjoy: Nano Swarm (molly)

• Viper: Snake Bite (molly) & Poison Cloud (orb)

• Sova: Recon Bolt & Shock Dart

• Cypher: Cyber Cage

• Raze: Paint Shells (grenade) & Showstopper (ultimate)

• Brimstone: Incendiary (molly)

• Yoru: All abilities are suspected to be affected

😮 That's over half of the current Agent roster! This includes the latest addition, Yoru, whose introduction in Episode 2 has already been accompanied by other technical hiccups, like his 'Gatecrash' ability sometimes causing fatal fall damage.

The core issue is the glitch's location. This isn't some obscure corner of the map; it's a perfect strategic spot commonly used to throw utility to control space, delay pushes, or flush out enemies. When a player invests a valuable ability cooldown into this area, watching it vanish without effect is more than frustrating—it can cost rounds and, ultimately, games. The psychological impact is real; players are now second-guessing their utility usage on Ascent, which shouldn't be part of the strategic calculus.

Aspect	Impact
Strategic Play	Severely compromised in a key map area.
Agent Viability	Over 50% of the roster has utility neutralized.
Competitive Integrity	Matches can be decided by a bug, not skill.

As of now, Riot Games has not issued an official statement regarding this specific Ascent glitch. The development team is undoubtedly busy, currently engaged in a high-profile lawsuit against cheat developers. However, this bug is part of a growing list of issues that have surfaced since Episode 2 began. The player base is understandably hoping for a swift response. We need a hotfix for Ascent and, more broadly, a stable competitive environment. While new Agents and content are thrilling, the foundation of a tactical shooter is reliable gameplay. Here's hoping our abilities stop falling into the void and start affecting the enemy team where they belong—on the battlefield.