There are a lot of changes coming to both Pearl and Abyss in the VALORANT patch notes 11.08. Let’s dive into all of them.
Pearl and Abyss are finally being reworked. VALORANT Patch 11.08 brings a wave of major updates, marking the start of a new era for the game. From agent ability cooldown adjustments to map reworks and rifle tweaks, Riot Games aims to shift the focus back to pure skill and smart decision-making, moving away from a reliance on heavy utility.
But first, let’s dive into all the changes coming to maps. All the updates will go live in-game on Oct. 15, 2025. The Game Changers Championship will be played under these new patches.
Pearl changes focused on the B site
For the Portuguese-inspired map, Riot explained that the goal was to “encourage more on-site play for both teams.” The adjustments to the B site aim to push attackers away from the long area, which was a popular spot for post-plant setups. “We want to make planting for the main more risky and predictable,” Riot added.
That long sightline from B Long has been removed with the addition of a new box that limits visibility for players holding that angle. Now, if your teammate plants on the opposite side of the box, you won’t be able to see the spike from the main entrance.
In B Long, there’s also a new angle that offers extra cover when you’re under heavy pressure or defending against a push. While you can still play for post-plant from B Long, it’s no longer the most favorable position. Retakes, especially in a meta dominated by ability usage, often felt overwhelming, which ultimately motivated these changes.
On the left side of the B site, a new angle has been added that was not present before. This provides an additional opportunity for both defense and attack, allowing players to hold the angle and take shots. It could also be a solid position to play post-plant if you decide to go for a default spike plant.
Like Pearl, the Abyss updates focus primarily on the B site. While there are some adjustments to the mid entrances, most of the changes target the B site itself.
A more defensive Abyss
Just like Pearl, Abyss hasn’t exactly been a fan-favorite map. Previously, entering the B site was almost too easy, making it a real challenge for defenders to hold their ground. On top of that, post-plant situations were difficult to manage due to the sheer number of angles attackers had to cover.
When you enter the site, you’ll see a smaller space in front of the tower, preventing Omen players from teleporting in that corner and getting you from a difficult position. The tower spot will also be slightly shorter.
On-site, the corridor connecting B Danger to the site has been reworked. Under the tower, there’s now a new corner designed for post-plant situations, giving players a better position to hold or watch B Link. This change also improves visibility, letting you spot anyone jumping down from the tower, so you’ll be spared those mid-round jump scares.
In the same location, under that big box in the middle of the site, you will also have a new corner where you can plant more hidden and hold better angles in post-plant situations. Before this rework, the player who planted and ended up standing there suffered from being too open to every place, from the tower to the lurker that came from the main, and even the players in the site that could come from both the right and left side. Now, you will have a safety spot you can use in your attack.
On the B site, a new box has been added to create stronger trading opportunities and shooting angles, enhancing on-site play for both teams while also making main post-plants riskier.
Abyss mid
But the updates for Abyss aren’t over yet. The Mid area is also getting some tweaks. Following the B site changes, the Mid Bend connecting Mid to B Main will feature new angles for players looking to gain an advantage during rotations. Attackers rotating from A to B will now have an additional corner to clear, adding more depth to the map’s strategic options.
Additionally, the Mid Bend will be repositioned. Rather than sitting so close to Attacker Spawn, it will shift slightly forward, closer to the mid boxes. This slows down attackers rotating to B from Mid. At the same time, it will be easier for lurkers to access the B site through the Mid Bend.
The Mid Catwalk will also be more open to attackers. This will force defenders to fall back slightly instead of taking safer fights directly in that passage.
Many changes are coming to both Pearl and Abyss, so take your time to review all of them. That's all for now. Stick around for more VALORANT news, guides, and updates on esports.gg.
