u/AspectFTW_

Hello everyone.

I have been playing Valorant since mid of 2023 and have reached my peak at Platinum 2.

I had (and still have) rank anxiety, I cannot bring myself to play solo queue on this game. I think this is because I fear getting bad teammates and losing my rank matches. As a result, I have played 577 hours of unrated and a meagre 1050 hours of competitive as of date.

I wait for a team to come online so I can duo or 5 stack.

A while back, I was at my prime, winning every duel and winning almost every game I queued climbing up to Platinum.

And now, I can barely cross over Gold 1.

I think I have hit the gamer's equivalent of a writer's block.

I have a machine that gives me decent performance, but I play on wifi with the tightest bandwidth and half of the time either I miss shots that should have registered, or teleport all over the map.

Also, I work a 9-6 and by the time I sit down to play competitive, my mind is already exhausted and I am running on fumes - heightening my frustration.

Should I not play Valorant for sometime and play storymode games to relax my mind? I tried doing that but I get an intense fear of missing out and again start playing Valorant.

Here is my tracker for reference:
https://tracker.gg/valorant/profile/riot/her%20poodle%23ILU/overview?platform=pc&playlist=competitive

I’ve been developing a concept for a Sentinel agent that Riot could potentially introduce into Valorant, built around the idea of time manipulation as a core mechanic. The intention is to design a character who can control tempo, stall enemy advances, and create opportunities for outplays through positioning and prediction. While the kit takes some loose inspiration from existing agents, it aims to remain distinct and cohesive in how it influences the flow of a round.

For the name, options like “Anchor” or “Stronghold” feel appropriate, as they reflect the agent’s role in locking down areas and stabilizing defensive setups.

His abilities could be:

Time Snare -
This ability allows the agent to deploy a device that can be attached to surfaces both vertically and horizontally. When triggered, it pulls an enemy back to the position they occupied one second earlier and applies a brief slow effect. Its primary purpose is to interrupt aggressive plays - such as fast site entries or dash-based engagements - by forcing enemies to lose momentum and re-establish control of space. It adds a layer of strategic depth, as opponents can attempt to bait it out or prepare to quickly adjust their aim after being repositioned.

Recall Button -
The agent can place a beacon that serves as a return point, enabling them to teleport back to it while within a certain range. A key aspect of this ability is the option to fake the teleport, producing an audio cue without actually relocating. This introduces a strong mind-game element, allowing players to take calculated risks, fake rotations, or create confusion during high-pressure situations. However, it also presents counterplay opportunities, as enemies can monitor the beacon location or force the player into using the ability prematurely.

Temporal Zone -
This ability creates a field in which time is slowed for everything inside it. Movement speed, fire rate, reload speed, and projectile velocity are all reduced, making engagements within the zone feel noticeably constrained. It serves as an effective tool for delaying pushes and disrupting coordinated attacks, particularly in choke points or during site holds. Enemies are often forced to either wait out the duration or rely more heavily on utility rather than direct gunfights.

Chrono Lock (Ultimate) -
The ultimate marks a large area and records its state for a limited duration. Once the effect concludes, all enemies within that zone are returned to their original positions at the start of the ability. This can significantly disrupt coordinated plays, such as site executions or post-plant setups. For instance, a team attempting to secure a plant could be repositioned away from the site, effectively undoing their progress. This forces opponents to make quick decisions - either commit and exit the zone in time or disengage entirely.

Overall Concept
This agent is designed to excel at delaying pushes and punishing overly aggressive strategies. The kit emphasizes timing, prediction, and awareness, rewarding players who can anticipate enemy movement and use utility proactively. At the same time, it maintains reasonable counterplay, as more patient teams can adapt by baiting out abilities or avoiding unnecessary commitments.

I’d appreciate feedback on this concept, particularly regarding its balance, clarity, and overall fit within Valorant’s gameplay. Additionally, I’m curious whether an agent centered this heavily around time-based mechanics would align with Riot’s design philosophy, or if it might be considered too disruptive for the game’s pacing.

For context -
I made an in-app purchase on the application 'Hungry Shark Evolution' on my iPhone. I bought the item 'Bucket Full of Gems' which consisted of 230 gems for $11.99.

I purchased a shark with the said gems, but got bored soon and wanted to refund the purchase - effectively removing the shark from my collection.

I made the purchase on the 27th of April 2026.

Applied for a refund for the purchase through the URL 'reportaproblem.apple.com'.

And the request got updated to the status 'Refunded 28th April 2026'.

But neither has the money been refunded back to my account nor has the shark that I purchased disappeared.

I have used an E-COM card issued by my bank which was then later unlinked from my apple account.