Is Valorant More Toxic Now that Reyna Returned?

Reyna is back in Valorant, but has her return reignited the game’s most toxic trends? Here’s how her presence affects ranked play, team dynamics, and the overall community in 2025.

Why Was Reyna Removed from Valorant?

In Valorant Patch 10.5, a major bug broke Reyna’s Devour ability, preventing the overheal mechanic from activating correctly. The issue became widely known after T1’s Meteor, a champion of Masters Bangkok 2025, reported the glitch during live streams. Within hours, Riot Games disabled Reyna in all modes and even temporarily removed her presence from match histories.

Her removal immediately altered the game’s environment—many players noted a reduction in one-dimensional duelists and better team cohesion across ranks. Riot finally re-enabled Reyna on March 25, 2025, following a hotfix. But was it the right move?

Why Many Players Didn't Want Reyna Back

Reyna has long been labeled as Valorant’s “selfish duelist.” Her entire kit—Devour, Dismiss, Leer, and Empress—is centered around personal kill chains and individual survival. This playstyle is ideal for ranked players focused solely on fragging, especially smurfs and Valorant Elo boosters trying to speed through lower divisions.

Her popularity in lower ELOs is staggering. However, many community members argue that she:

• Promotes insta-lock behavior regardless of team comp.
• Encourages solo play rather than coordinated strategies.
• Disrupts team synergy when players fail to secure kills and misuse abilities.

This led some players to express relief during her absence, noting improvements in overall game balance and communication.

Reyna’s Return: Community Reactions

The Valorant community is divided. On one hand, Reyna mains are thrilled to have their go-to agent restored. Her high skill ceiling and duel-oriented design provide immense satisfaction to players with sharp aim and quick reflexes.

On the other hand, her return brought back concerns tied to toxicity and gameplay disruption. Popular posts on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) shared screenshots of players either rage-quitting or refusing to communicate when denied the chance to pick Reyna.

“The game felt calmer without Reyna,” one user commented. “Now it’s back to ‘gg go next’ after first blood.”

How Reyna Fits Into the Current Meta

Valorant’s agent pool continues to evolve. New agents like Waylay and Iso offer more team-oriented mobility and crowd-control tools. Compared to them, Reyna now feels outdated:

• No entry utility like flashes or movement abilities (beyond Leer).
• Requires kills to activate value, unlike other duelists who can create space passively.
• Lacks synergy in coordinated teams where trading and site executes matter more.

This makes her especially ineffective in higher ELOs or competitive tournaments, where raw aim isn’t enough. While she still dominates in Gold and below, Diamond+ players often opt for duelists like Jett, Raze, or Neon who can initiate and disengage more effectively.

Should Riot Rework Reyna?

There’s growing demand for a Reyna rework to balance her power across all skill levels. Here are some suggestions being discussed:

• Limit Dismiss invulnerability to prevent reckless re-engagements.
• Convert Devour into a team-heal mechanic, making her more cooperative.
• Adjust Leer to provide better synergy or utility for allies.

These changes could boost her viability in high-tier gameplay while reducing frustration for casual players who face “insta-lock Reynas” that underperform.

Is Valorant More Toxic with Reyna Back?

Reyna’s presence undeniably influences game behavior. Her playstyle appeals to players who seek solo dominance, often ignoring team dynamics. Whether or not that’s inherently toxic depends on perspective:

• If you're trying to boost your Valorant rank solo, Reyna remains a top-tier choice.
• If you prefer structured, team-based gameplay, her inclusion can feel disruptive—especially in ranked queues without voice communication.

Ultimately, her return doesn’t just bring back an agent—it reintroduces an entire mindset of how Valorant is played in ranked environments.

Struggling with inconsistent teammates or insta-lock duelists? Get the rank you deserve with our Valorant Rank Boosting Services today!