VALORANT Ares Buff: Crouch Accuracy and Headshot Multiplier Boosted

Big news for Ares fans in VALORANT—Riot Games is rolling back the nerf on crouching benefits from 25% back to 40%. That means crouching now works just as well with the Ares as it does with the Odin, giving you a much better accuracy boost. And if that wasn’t enough, the headshot multiplier has been bumped from 2.4 to 2.5, so now you can drop enemies in two headshots within 30 meters. Previously, it only dealt 144 damage, but now it’s all about precision.

This change levels up the Ares’ headshot damage to rival other guns, making it an excellent option to hold down an area against multiple enemies. Even better, Riot didn’t mention touching the price—so we presume that it will still be sitting at 1550 credits. Add to that the fact that the Ares has 20 more bullets than the Spectre and can still shoot through walls, and you’ve got a recipe for a seriously buffed weapon.

Ares vs. Vandal and Phantom: Who Wins?

Believe it or not, the Ares has the same time to kill (TTK) as a Vandal up to 30 meters. And it even outperforms the Phantom between 15 to 30 meters. So if you miss your headshots and the Ares user fires first, you might find yourself heading to the respawn screen—at a cost of 1350 credits less than a Vandal.

But There’s a Catch…

While the Ares and its big brother, the Odin, are undeniably powerful—especially when aimed down sights (ADS)—they come with downsides. Slow movement speed and low mobility can make them tricky to maneuver with. The Ares is designed to pack a punch but not completely replace the Odin, the king of HMGs. However, with these buffs, pro players are already dreading the potential spam they might face from this buffed-up relentless beast, despite its heavy recoil.

Also Read: Vyse Agent Tips and Tricks in VALORANT: Abilities, Playstyle, and Strategies

Is This A Strategy? 

Riot Games seems to be following a familiar strategy with their recent Ares buff in VALORANT, which mirrors how they’ve handled balancing in their one of their earlier Patch notes. In patch 2.06, they made a significant buff to Viper, who, until then, wasn’t a popular pick in competitive games. This change made her incredibly strong for a short period, causing a surge in players wanting to try her out.

After realizing she was slightly overpowered, Riot dialed back some of the buffs, but by then, many players had already started to see her value and continued using her. This tactic of making underused characters or weapons more appealing through buffs, only to nerf them later for balance, has been part of Riot’s playbook for years.

For example, in League of Legends, champions like Nidalee received significant buffs that made them must-picks, only to be rebalanced after they became too dominant. But by then, players had already gotten used to playing them and could see their potential even after the nerfs.

The same concept seems to apply here with the Ares in VALORANT. Before the buff, no one considered it a must-buy, not even in save or half-buy rounds. But after the adjustments, players are now eagerly picking up an Ares by the second round, recognizing its power and affordability. Riot might be hoping to make the Ares more popular, similar to how they reinvigorated Viper's presence after her buffs. It’s a clever move to refresh the meta and encourage players to experiment with different options.